Programming packages ?!

[pigskins]

So what is the lowest cost programming package offered that includes the ESPNs and the sports channels NFL Network, MLB Network, NHL Network??

[Stuart Sweet]

I think you could get Choice for $29.99 a month locked in for two years as a new customer, but I think it's about $45/month for existing customers.

[mreposter]

Directv has a page on their website that compares the channel lineups for the four primary packages - Family, Choice, Choice Xtra and Premiere. There's also a "Basic" 80-channel pack and some international packages, but this page is a good starting point:

http://www.directv.com/DTVAPP/compare/compareChannels.jsp?packageType=ENGLISH

[PCampbell]

I only use 20 channels or less so LaCarte at 2 bucks a channel would be a big price cut for me. It would be nice to see what Directv pays for each channel and what they could sell them for on an LaCarte menu.

[BattleZone]

I only use 20 channels or less so LaCarte at 2 bucks a channel would be a big price cut for me. It would be nice to see what Directv pays for each channel and what they could sell them for on an LaCarte menu.

The problem is that the networks don't negotiate prices that way; they negotiate prices for all of the networks they own at the same time, as well as negotiate which programming tier they will be in. And your a la carte prices are WAY too low; if a la carte ever existed, you could expect to pay $5-6 a channel. But it won't ever exist, due to a handful of companies each owning a dozen or more TV networks, and only selling them as bundles.

[ecates]

I just looked at there page and looks like if you need all the channels listed you would have to get Choice Extra. You could save money and get Choice, but you would not get NHL. Yes they do have great pricing to new customers, but if you have been a customer that long i would think they would give you the discount pricing if you agree to a two your contact.

[Maleman]

I have a question, i looked at the packages a bit closer. I currently have the Choice Xtra + HD DVR for $79.99.

I really don't see much difference between my package and Choice Extra $63.99

How much extra would I pay to get HD and DVR fees? $17 ($10HD + $7)

Or could I switch to the Choice Extra, call in for the free HD x 24 months on autopay? and save myself money?

I am a bit puzzled.

Thanks

[Beerstalker]

Yes you could save yourself about $10 a month if you switched to Choice Xtra and added HD Access and DVR service, then signed up for auto bill pay and requested the 24 months of free HD Access.

Not only that but you would also then be on a current plan, which means you can add and subtract premiums online instead of having to call in all the time (people with grandfathered packages can't add/remove premiums online). I myself did this a few months ago for this reason.

[Maleman]

Yes you could save yourself about $10 a month if you switched to Choice Xtra and added HD Access and DVR service, then signed up for auto bill pay and requested the 24 months of free HD Access.

Not only that but you would also then be on a current plan, which means you can add and subtract premiums online instead of having to call in all the time (people with grandfathered packages can't add/remove premiums online). I myself did this a few months ago for this reason.

I would pay $10 plus $7 on the Choice Extra? then request a credit of $10 for HD access?

[Maleman]

Hmmm choice xtra states 50 plus HD channels versus 40 plus HD for my current package YET when I compare I see no extra HD channels for the choice xtra? what am I missing?:confused:

[Beerstalker]

Yes. Go to DirecTVs website and click on My account, Account overview. Make sure the My Programming tab is highlighted, and it is showing your current TV package. Click on Change Package, then click on Update underneath Choice Extra, and follow the rest of the directions. I believe it will automatically add HD Access and DVR service to your account after you change your package since you have a HD-DVR active on your account. Then you will just have to sign up for auto bill pay, and call DirecTV to ask for the 24 months of free HD Access for being on auto-billpay.

Hmmm choice xtra states 50 plus HD channels versus 40 plus HD for my current package YET when I compare I see no extra HD channels for the choice xtra? what am I missing?:confused:

I'm pretty sure the website is just wrong. The Choice Plus HD-DVR package, and the Choice Xtra package have the exact same channel line-up.

[Maleman]

Yes. Go to DirecTVs website and click on My account, Account overview. Make sure the My Programming tab is highlighted, and it is showing your current TV package. Click on Change Package, then click on Update underneath Choice Extra, and follow the rest of the directions. I believe it will automatically add HD Access and DVR service to your account after you change your package since you have a HD-DVR active on your account. Then you will just have to sign up for auto bill pay, and call DirecTV to ask for the 24 months of free HD Access for being on auto-billpay.



I'm pretty sure the website is just wrong. The Choice Plus HD-DVR package, and the Choice Xtra package have the exact same channel line-up.

Or are they deceiving customers ;) but thanks for confirmation on channel line-up are the same. I think I will call this in just to make sure I can get the $10 credit for HD access upon autopay.

Thanks again

[Cyber36]

Having a hard time understanding why on the choice package the MLB & NFL channel are free, but NOT the NHL network?? Being a huge hockey fan, I thought the NHL was trying to create/attract more fans? Hell, I'd even agree to pay 5 bucks extra a month for it, but that's not an option........:nono2:

[RACJ2]

Having a hard time understanding why on the choice package the MLB & NFL channel are free, but NOT the NHL network?? Being a huge hockey fan, I thought the NHL was trying to create/attract more fans? Hell, I'd even agree to pay 5 bucks extra a month for it, but that's not an option........:nono2:You do have that option, its called Choice Xtra. Choice is $58.99 and Choice Xtra is $63.99, a difference of $5. FYI, if you subscribe to NHLCI and have Choice, you should get NHLN during the hockey season. Unless something changed recently.

[maartena]

I only use 20 channels or less so LaCarte at 2 bucks a channel would be a big price cut for me. It would be nice to see what Directv pays for each channel and what they could sell them for on an LaCarte menu.

That's not how it works....

First off, DirecTV has other costs besides the costs of channels. Such as employee wages, maintaining satellites and equipment, planning for future investments, etc, etc... They would NEVER be able to charge you for just the cost of the channels, because it would not cover all of their other operating costs. They would have to start with charging a base fee of $20 or so, so they can.... you know.... pay their employees?

Second, channels themselves don't want a-la-carte. They have to sell advertising, and a channel such as ESPN which costs about $5 per subscriber (sport is expensive) can't tell their advertising clients that they have a fluctuating number of DirecTV subscribers that may or may not have opted to subscribe to the channel based on an a-la-carte system..... no, they want to be able to tell them: We are included in the package of 20 million potential viewers. They don't want to be sold a-la-carte, they want to be in a package that reaches a guaranteed amount of viewers.

And last but not least, multiple channels (but not all) are owned by a single company. Discovery Networks owns about 15 channels or so, and when they negotiate a deal, they negotiate all or nothing. They may split it up in two, maybe three bundles at best, but you are negotiating for a bundle of channels, not just for 1. So even though you may only want Discovery Channel, you will get Oprah's new channel bundled in, because both channels are owned by the same parent company.

[Cyber36]

You do have that option, its called Choice Xtra. Choice is $58.99 and Choice Xtra is $63.99, a difference of $5. FYI, if you subscribe to NHLCI and have Choice, you should get NHLN during the hockey season. Unless something changed recently.

I'm grandfathered in Total Choice, & don't plan on going anywhere as far as that goes. I also knew about it being included in C.I. as I subscribed last season...

[RACJ2]

I'm grandfathered in Total Choice, & don't plan on going anywhere as far as that goes. I also knew about it being included in C.I. as I subscribed last season...Based on the Feb price hike, your Total Choice will be $60.49 and Choice Xtra will be $65.99 [link (http://www.dbstalk.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=24259&d=1293388009)]. So it will be $5.50/mo more for NHLN and several more channels. So just think of the $5 going toward the NHLN and $.50 paying for all the other channels. Unless now your going to tell me you have total Choice Limited.