NFL, NHL, NBA customers should start to receive HD Swap calls this week

[Satelliteracer]

Customers with any one of those three sports packages that have MPEG2 HD equipment (who have not already swapped) will start to get automated calls this week informing them of a HD swap which is necessary for the upcoming season's HD games.

Customers that are on a do not call list, however, will not be receiving those calls but will be notified via letter in their renewal notices.

NFL Sunday Ticket SuperFan games will all be in MPEG4 this year. NHL and NBA the same for the 2008-09 season (though most are already in MPEG4 this year).

Just giving you the heads up. Installation availability will be dependent on where you live so we advise the sooner the better. Don't wait until just before the season starts.

[OverThereTooMuch]

I thought that if you had a business relationship with the company, then they could still contact you even if you were on the DNC list?

This is great news! What's the source of the info?

[D*HR-20]

This is great news! What's the source of the info?

He is the source. He works at DirecTV and works on the subscription sports packages. He joined the forum to seek comments on NASCAR Hot Pass and has since given info on NFL Sunday Ticket, NHL Center Ice, NBA League Pass, Mega March Madness, MLB Extra Innings, and maybe other packages I have not noticed him help with. The moderators of this site have been shown proof that he does indeed work at DirecTV in the subscription sports department.

[OverThereTooMuch]

He is the source. He works at DirecTV and works on the subscription sports packages. He joined the forum to seek comments on NASCAR Hot Pass and has since given info on NFL Sunday Ticket, NHL Center Ice, NBA League Pass, Mega March Madness, MLB Extra Innings, and maybe other packages I have not noticed him help with. The moderators of this site have been shown proof that he does indeed work at DirecTV in the subscription sports department.
Ah, thanks. I'm new here, so I don't know who all of the reliable sources are :) Sorry.

Satelliteracer - Do you know if there will be specific upgrade offers associated with these calls? Or is it like normal, where the offers depend on your account history and/or the person you happen to be talking to?

[JLucPicard]

I thought that if you had a business relationship with the company, then they could still contact you even if you were on the DNC list?

This is great news! What's the source of the info?
You are absolutely right about the the first point that a business relationship with a company allows them to still call even if you are on the National DNC list. For customers that have actually asked DirecTV to put them on DirecTV's Do Not Call list, those people more than likely will NOT get these calls.

Chris Blount also posted the offer information shown above in another thread, so I would say in both instances that the information is solid:
http://www.dbstalk.com/showthread.php?t=123118

[Earl Bonovich]

Also note... during that phone call (and other automated DirecTV phone calls)... they are giving the option to you to opt out of any future phone calls.

Their own internal Do Not Call list.

[heaphus]

Are they only calling people that don't have any new equipment? I already have a slimline and one HR20-100, but would love to upgrade my HR10-250. I am a sunday ticket/superfan subscriber. Should I get a call? Thanks.

[VandyCWG]

Are they only calling people that don't have any new equipment? I already have a slimline and one HR20-100, but would love to upgrade my HR10-250. I am a sunday ticket/superfan subscriber. Should I get a call? Thanks.

I believe in the past, if you had any legacy equipment, you would get the offer to swap out the mpeg 2 stuff. DirecTV wants everyone on mpeg4.

[JLucPicard]

I think (think, mind you) the key is people with legacy equipment that has not been swapped out. I have an HR10-250 currently active on my account, but I also upgraded it to the HR20-700 when I moved - just kept it active anyway. I would not expect to get any phone call or offer on that one.

If you have an HR10-250 that has not yet been swapped out but also have the newer HD DVR, you still might get an offer.

Not sure how they would handle an HR10-250 that had been swapped out already on someone else's account (like a person bought one on eBay and the original owner had already swapped it). I would guess there wouldn't be an upgrade offer on one of those.

[demisod]

I had hoped they would have made a formal announcement about mirroring programming off the 110 & 119 on the new satellites before moving Sunday Ticket. If I have to have a new dish put in that can pick up all 5 satellites, I am SOL.

[Earl Bonovich]

I had hoped they would have made a formal announcement about mirroring programming off the 110 & 119 on the new satellites before moving Sunday Ticket. If I have to have a new dish put in that can pick up all 5 satellites, I am SOL.

99.999% chance you are SOL.

If anything... they may broadcast the MPEG-4 versions from the 101/110/119 slots... but it won't be a "mirror"

At a minimum you will need one of the MPEG-4 receivers.

[Steve Robertson]

I hope all the channels in the 70's convert to MPEG 4 real soon as you can really see a difference from MPEG 2

[demisod]

If I could make do with 101/110/119, that would be fine. I assume the MPEG-4 receivers would support MPEG-2 as well. Doesn't sound too likely though. I doubt enough of their sports subscibers would have LOS problems that would necessitate such a policy.

[PurdueGradMem]

I hope all the channels in the 70's convert to MPEG 4 real soon as you can really see a difference from MPEG 2

Any speculation on when this could occur? I am having trouble with getting signal for the MPEG2 HD channels, and have been putting off having a tech come look at the Sat.

[Steve Robertson]

Any speculation on when this could occur? I am having trouble with getting signal for the MPEG2 HD channels, and have been putting off having a tech come look at the Sat.

I don't know when this will happen but givin the fact they are trying to get the last of the stragglers to convert I would think it would be fairly soon meaning maybe sometime this year or 1st 1/4 of next this is just a guess on my part however.

[ktabel01]

Are they also making calls to their MDU providers to get them off their a*! and make the upgrades? If I can't get these subs in HD, I'm not renewing, and I imagine there are a fair amount of people in this situation, with their money staying in their pockets instead of DTV's.

[bigpuma]

I got the call yesterday. Of course I also got the call back in November for the same HR10 and I had already upgraded this same HR10 back in 2006 so this would be the 3rd time I "swapped" the exact same HR10 if I took advantage. I don't need another HD DVR so I will pass. :)

[Talos4]

I got the call being a Hot pass subscriber several months ago, I have MPEG-4 gear, but I also have legacy gear. I upgraded an H10 in the rec room to an H20.

[oakwcj]

Customers with any one of those three sports packages that have MPEG2 HD equipment (who have not already swapped) will start to get automated calls this week informing them of a HD swap which is necessary for the upcoming season's HD games.

Does your omission of MLB mean that this season's EI package will continue to be MPEG2? I hope not, because of disc space issues.

[Tom Robertson]

Does your omission of MLB mean that this season's EI package will continue to be MPEG2? I hope not, because of disc space issues.

MLB EI had their calls earlier this year, if I recall correctly.

Cheers,
Tom

[anubys]

well, that explains why I got the call two days ago...serves me right for not checking this forum first :lol:

it wasn't automated, though...it was a real person..and he indicated that they would give me a max of two receivers...which was fine since I had two HR10-250s to replace...

anxious to see what they bring me (HR20 or HR21?)...I already have two HR20...

[OverThereTooMuch]

Several weeks later, still no call and no letter from DTV. Am I the only one w/ a sports pack and MPEG2 hardware that's still waiting?

My negotiating skills suck, so I'd prefer if they called me with a valid offer. Otherwise when I call, they'll flag me as someone just begging for a deal, instead of a valued customer :D

[Ken S]

By purchasing something from the company, you established a business relationship with the company. As a result, even if you put your number on the National Do Not Call Registry, that company may call you for up to 18 months after your last purchase or delivery from it, or your last payment to it, unless you ask the company not to call again. In that case, the company must honor your request not to call. If they subsequently call you again, they may be subject to a fine of up to $11,000.

An established business relationship with a company also will be created if you make an inquiry to the company, or submit an application to it. This kind of established business relationship exists for three months after the inquiry or application. During this time, the company can call you.

If you make a specific request to that company not to call you, however, then the company may not call you, even if you have an established business relationship with that company

[mluntz]

I'm sure all this comes with another 2 year committment, correct?

[MurrayW]

Customers with any one of those three sports packages that have MPEG2 HD equipment (who have not already swapped) will start to get automated calls this week informing them of a HD swap which is necessary for the upcoming season's HD games.

Customers that are on a do not call list, however, will not be receiving those calls but will be notified via letter in their renewal notices.

NFL Sunday Ticket SuperFan games will all be in MPEG4 this year. NHL and NBA the same for the 2008-09 season (though most are already in MPEG4 this year).

Just giving you the heads up. Installation availability will be dependent on where you live so we advise the sooner the better. Don't wait until just before the season starts.Satelliteracer, is there a "special" do not call list for those who have had 2 HR-250's swapped out but still need a 3rd one? :rolleyes:

I got a call earlier this week saying that I needed a new dish and HD receiver for the new channels. I said great, I don't need the dish since you already replaced it with my first swap, but I do have 1 more HR10-250 that has not been swapped out yet, when can I expect it? After a little stumbling around she said, "you are not eligible for another swap". I then asked why she called. She said their records didn't show I already had a swap. I then asked her if she would update the records so I don't get any more calls if I am not eligible. She said no, she couldn't do that. I asked if she could contact someone who could do it? No, she couldn't, but that it will get straightened out. I asked her how and she said "it just will". She then asked if I wanted to be placed on the DNC list. I said, yes for this offer, but I DID want to be called again when my 3rd box became eligible. She said she could do that! :sure: I asked her 3 times that she was sure there was this special DNC list that would allow me to be called when my 3rd box was eligible and she kept emphatically saying YES. I know it was just to get me off the phone, but it amazes me that some people have to lie rather than telling the truth when both would result in the same thing...getting me off of the phone.

Murray

[Artwood]

how much better will MPEG4 look compared to MPEG2?

[inkahauts]

how much better will MPEG4 look compared to MPEG2?


Depends on How paticular you are... I'm extremely paticular... Night and Day for me...

[Incog-Neato]

Yes they are and they are also providing some incentives to the sysops. But at $30-40G's for a building (no, I'm not referring to a 10 unit trailer park) to upgrade it won't happen so quickly without a lot of negotiation between building owner and their provider. Biggest issue is contract. If a buildings contract is going to expire shortly (1-2 years) there will need for negotiations for a contract renewal (or for the property to pay for the upgrade). ROI is the key. Some buildings with 400-500 subs may only have an HD penetration of 5% so the incentives (which are based on PRE-existings HD subs) don't help much. Are they also making calls to their MDU providers to get them off their a*! and make the upgrades? If I can't get these subs in HD, I'm not renewing, and I imagine there are a fair amount of people in this situation, with their money staying in their pockets instead of DTV's.

[OverThereTooMuch]

I still haven't gotten the call. Anyone else with MPEG2 equipment still waiting for this?


My account online doesn't show anything about being eligible for a free upgrade (other folks here mentioned a line item showing up on their current activity; don't remember the exact text, but I know I don't see it :)


I noticed after the recent website upgrade that ST was no longer on my account (though SuperFan remains).

[heisman]

Depends on How paticular you are... I'm extremely paticular... Night and Day for me...

Yeah, we can tell. :rolleyes:

[d max82]

I still haven't gotten the call. Anyone else with MPEG2 equipment still waiting for this?


My account online doesn't show anything about being eligible for a free upgrade (other folks here mentioned a line item showing up on their current activity; don't remember the exact text, but I know I don't see it :)


I noticed after the recent website upgrade that ST was no longer on my account (though SuperFan remains).





I've still got an owned H10. No call for me yet, although I do have several HR20s.

[rey_1178]

Depends on How paticular you are... I'm extremely paticular... Night and Day for me...

will the sd be mpeg4 also?

[TimGoodwin]

will the sd be mpeg4 also?


No, just HD at this time.

[bonscott87]

No, just HD at this time.

Actually any of the SD locals that have launched have been in MPEG4. But all the main SD channels will remain MPEG2 for quite some time.