Has directv considered a remapping of their channel line up?

[wall-e]

Has directv considered a remapping of their channel line up?

I have been with directv for over a decade. It is truly one of the best products available. The only major channel remapping I can remember with directv was when they merged with ussb.

I took a few weeks off around thanksgiving and did some traveling in Utah, Nevada, and Calif. I was able to play with several different providers such as Cox, several Comcast markets, and U-verse.

After observing the other providers channel line ups, they had a majority of the same selection as directv, except for their channels being mapped more logically.

Example1: cnn, hln, msnbc, foxnews, cnbc, fbc, bloomberg were all in the same area, where as DirecTV has some in the low 200’s with others in the mid 300’s

Example2: espn, espn2, espnews, espnclassic, vs, and speed were all in the same area where as directv has some in the low 200’s with others in the 600’s


Through the years, I have been able to adapt to the directv channel mapping. I just wonder if directv will ever consider remapping their channels. I see this being an especially strong tool in attracting new customers from cox, Comcast, and/or u-verse.

Thanks for taking the time to read this post

[Shades228]

Some channels are in the broadcast agreements. Right now they're grouped up fairly well and I don't really see a major overhaul coming. Possible movements here or there due to contracts or marketing changes.

[Tom Robertson]

DIRECTV has been moving channels a bit to do better groupings, especially as channels change their programming. As Shades228 correctly indicates, the channels that are out of sequence, down in the very low 200s are mostly there by contract. I don't expect them to move.

To help with that, DIRECTV has the GUIDE-GUIDE combination to let you pick which category of channels you might wish to review.

Cheers,
Tom

[hilmar2k]

To help with that, DIRECTV has the GUIDE-GUIDE combination.....

My least favorite feature.

[wilbur_the_goose]

Remember those ads when they remapped the channels with the actors clad head to toe in white lycra? Wow - those were baaaad!

But yes, the channels should be remapped. We have 4 digits to use now, use 'em!

[inkahauts]

I don;t even sub to any sports packs, but frankly, thats where they need to do the most reorganization.. I'd use the 2000 to 7000 channels and give each team its own home and away channels for all their games... This wouldn't use anymore bandwidth, but it would allow people to always know which two channels their teams where going to be on...'

Otherwise, it actually is pretty logical now, with the exception of cnn and headline news...

Yes, even the espns are more logical now.. They are really only missing one opr two channels in the early 600's that should be moved to the 2teens...

[Coca Cola Kid]

I agree that the above channels should all be grouped by subject.

I also find it odd that some channels with the exact same programming are all on different packages. 2 examples:

1. Pursuit Channel, Sportsman Channel and Outdoor Channel. They all show pretty much the same stuff: hunting fishing, and outdoor sports shows. But for some reason ones on Choice, ones on Choice Xtra, and ones on Sports Pack.

2. Same situation for the college sports channels: Big Ten Network and ESPNU, (both on Choice), CBS College Sports (Choice Xtra), Fox College Sports (Sports Pack) and The Mtn (Choice or Sports Pack depending on where you live).

I know its about their carriage agreements but why do any of them think their programming is more valuable than the others?

[Tim Godsil]

I really dont find it a problem. I have a favorites list of about 20 channels and it takes no time at all to go through the guide.

Back in the mid 90s the guides only went up to 1000 Now it can go up to 1000. I wish directv could make use of those numbers.

[dishrich]

I would be VERY happy if they would just move IFC down with the other "basic" movie channels. (such as TCM, AMC, etc.) Since it has obviously NOT a premium channel for quite some time, this only makes sense.

[Nitehawk^]

One that seems out of place to me is ION on 305 and ION WEST on 347

[dvdmth]

I think DirecTV's lineup is much better organized than our Comcast lineup. The HD channels on Comcast, though all next to each other, have no real rhyme or reason in terms of channel order. Also, the sports package channels (in SD only!) are located at 440-449, 461-470, and 491-494 (with various music channels in the 470's and 480's). The channels still available in analog are still in a seemingly random order, though a couple of them now have 3-digit equivalents that "sort of" make sense with other digital channels.

Though D*'s lineup has its faults, I find the overall arrangement to be much better than Comcast in this area.

[jdspencer]

Since chs 202 and 204 are there due to their contract, why couldn't DirecTV move the other news channels down to the 200's?
Of course, this would require a major remapping of some of the sports channels.

I suspect that once D12 is launched and in operation we may see a major remap.

I'm also hoping that DirecTV will restructure their programming packages. They need a few more lower cost options. This might get more subscribers if a lower cost package is offered.

[n3ntj]

D* did a remap about 5 or 7 years ago... just enough of a change to mess people up who had been with D* since the 1990s (like me). Even the RSN remapping (600s) was a little annoying.

Leave the channels where they are since most of us know what channels specific networks are on.

[Jeremy W]

Since chs 202 and 204 are there due to their contract, why couldn't DirecTV move the other news channels down to the 200's?
I don't think the guys over on 206 would appreciate that very much.
Of course, this would require a major remapping of some of the sports channels.
Which is exactly why it won't happen. Aside from CNN, which channels are front and center? Sports. DirecTV is the sports provider, and the sports channels are the ones that get top billing. It simply makes sense.
I suspect that once D12 is launched and in operation we may see a major remap.
Any particular reason for this, or are you just suspecting out of your rear end?
They need a few more lower cost options.
Why? DirecTV has never aimed to be a budget provider, and they're doing just fine with the packages they have now. There is absolutely no reason to add more lower-cost options, and they're not going to do it.

[JoeTheDragon]

I'm also hoping that DirecTV will restructure their programming packages. They need a few more lower cost options. This might get more subscribers if a lower cost package is offered.

They cost less they comcast Chicago land and other comcast systems for stuff like HD and DVR.

[Msguy]

I read somewhere a good while back maybe 2 years ago that CNN has an agreement with DirecTv to be the "First Channel on the block" that being channel 202 beginning the programming on the basic tier of programming. That said I don't see any kind of channel re-mapping anytime soon. And ESPN and ESPNews also want to appear up close to the top on the basic service. Some people don't subscribe to the sports channels that appear up in the 600's and 700's channel range. Therfore if they were to move the ESPN channels way up into that channel range, the folks who still are eligible for ESPN would have to be searching WAY up in those channels just to find a nationally televised game. So no I don't believe we are going to be seeing a major channel re-map anytime soon. Maybe a few minor channel adjustments here and there as more HD gets added in 2010. But nothing major. Expect channels to remain where they are. And there are ALOT of folks like myself who have been with DirecTv now for more than a decade, (i've been a subscriber since 1997) and I have gotten use to the channels being right where they are and not being moved around much. Us old Veterans are use to going to certain channel numbers now and watching our programs without the channel numbers being changed.

[jdspencer]

I guess you can't teach old dogs new tricks?

I am also a long time customer (13 years) and I would have no problem learning a new lineup. After all that's what favorite channel lists are for.:)

And, with the quick tune feature on the DVRs, you could designate each of the 9 to be at the beginning of the block of channels. Then you surf from there.

Come on people, think outside of the box. :D

Here's another idea. Because the DVRs can tune 4 digits, they could duplicate channels in the higher channel numbers for grouping. Then all of the news channels could be grouped together. No bandwidth is required as the receiver will just tune to the same channel.

A better way would be to allow the subscriber to make their own grouping. Oh yeah, that can be done with the filter the guide screen. :) However, I wonder how many people use that feature?

See this thread for comments on programming packages.
http://www.dbstalk.com/showthread.php?t=169742

[1995hoo]

I like DirecTV's numbering system a lot better than the FIOS numbering (my mother and father have FIOS and I watch it when I visit them; I may also wind up switching to it later this winter if the Versus situation isn't resolved). DirecTV's system allows for the high-def and low-def channels to share a channel number. FIOS's doesn't and you have to go to the 500s to find your local channels in HD (Channel 4 here in the DC area is on 504, etc.) and to find your regional sports network and the like—that is, the low-def channel might be on 4, 72, whatever, but the high-def channel isn't located nearby but is instead in an utterly different location. I find DirecTV's system of assigning the same number and then letting you hide the low-def duplicates to be a much more logical way of doing things.

Of course I suppose it's also a case of what you're used to using.

DirecTV's numbering has never bugged me much, especially since for my most-watched channels (aside from the local network affiliates) I use that thing where you hit the up arrow on the DVR remote's black ring and it brings up the little box with the nine channels you designate.

I don't understand why they haven't done away with the duplicate HD channels in the 70s, though (example: ESPN HD is on both 73 and 206). I know once upon a time when the HD package was more limited than it is now there was a reason to segregate them like that, but now that HD subscriptions are probably the norm rather than the exception it doesn't seem to make sense to have two identical ESPN HD channels like that.

[taz291819]

D* did a remap about 5 or 7 years ago... just enough of a change to mess people up who had been with D* since the 1990s (like me). Even the RSN remapping (600s) was a little annoying.

Leave the channels where they are since most of us know what channels specific networks are on.

Agreed, leave 'em be. There really aren't that many that are out of place anyway. Heck, I remember when the locals were in the 900s, didn't make any sense to me.

Unless some cable companies, at least you can go to the same channel number for the SD or HD version. Our local Charter has all the HDs in the 600s or 700s (I forget which one). So if one of their customers upgrades to HD, they have to learn new channel numbers for all of their HD. I never understood why they didn't remap to their SD duplicate, they have the ability to do so.

[Jeremy W]

I don't understand why they haven't done away with the duplicate HD channels in the 70s, though (example: ESPN HD is on both 73 and 206).
The channels in the 70s are still being broadcast in MPEG2, so that older HD receivers can see them. The reason they're still there is because DirecTV apparently feels that there are still too many of those obsolete receivers out there, and they need to keep providing some HD programming to them. However, I really can't see those channels surviving through the next year.

[HDTVFreak07]

I agree whole-heartedly. I forgot about channel 552 (HDNet movies) of which I already subscribed to and they're way down with paid subscription movie channels. I feel it shouldn't be down there because in my subconscious mind, I do not subscribe to HBO, Cinemax, Showtime, etc. Also for CNN, they should be in a group with the rest of the news channels.

[n3ntj]

I often forget that HDNet Movies even exists due to its channel location, but since it's a movie channel, I guess it's where it belongs. I don't sub to another other movie channels, so I don't go up into the 500s just out of habit.

[Beerstalker]

Why not create a custom list that leaves out all the other movie channels so HDNet Movies is right next to other channels you do get?

[GenTso]

Regarding channels in the 1000s and above: I wouldn't mind the better grouping, but entering the actual digits manually from time to time would be 25% more frustrating than it is now.

I still fail entering the numbers manually probably 40% percent of the time.

Want to go to 706? Enter 706, but the receiver gets hung up "thinking" between the 0 and 6 so it sends you to 70, then throws a 6 up on the screen like it's a new number combination. Wash, rinse and repeat two to three times and a minute later you're on the channel you wanted.

This is my primary complaint with D*, but it's frustrating enough that I'm pretty vocal about it (though also quick to say it's my only complaint ... obviously). If they could fix the processor or whatever it is that causes problems reading IR input, remapping the channels wouldn't be a bad idea.

[erosroadie]

I think DirecTV's lineup is much better organized than our Comcast lineup. The HD channels on Comcast, though all next to each other, have no real rhyme or reason in terms of channel order. Also, the sports package channels (in SD only!) are located at 440-449, 461-470, and 491-494 (with various music channels in the 470's and 480's). The channels still available in analog are still in a seemingly random order, though a couple of them now have 3-digit equivalents that "sort of" make sense with other digital channels.

Though D*'s lineup has its faults, I find the overall arrangement to be much better than Comcast in this area.

Agreed. My mother's cable system in NW Connecticut has a bizarre channel lineup, with ESPNs and HBOs scattered (apparently) randomly throughout the guide. Also, for an HD feed of a local or national channel, one has to add a "7" to the front of the channel number, so to view the HD feed of the NBC station on Channel 30, one has to tune in 730.

D*'s handling of all local stations (everything under 70) always appealed to me better than the E* lineup when I compared them ~6 years ago before going to D*. As many have said, we are used to where the "majors" are now, so let's keep them where they are (though I personally would prefer ESPNU to be with the other ESPNs, perhaps @ 210?)…:sure:

[Steve]

Has directv considered a remapping of their channel line up? [...]About 75% of us thought they should have remapped the channels prior to the HD channel roll-outs that began in 2007.

http://www.dbstalk.com/showthread.php?t=96690

[Jeremy W]

I personally would prefer ESPNU to be with the other ESPNs, perhaps @ 210?
That would screw up DirecTV's little college sports block in the 600s, though. I think it's better to keep ESPNU up there.