Just Curious Why Are HD PPV Movies $2 More?

[CraigerCSM]

Sorry I should have said $1 more.

Why couldn't DTV have a universal price of say $5 for SD, HD PPV and VOD movies?

[HDTVsportsfan]

Because they can. They have to pay the bills.

[litzdog911]

Because they set the prices. It's also possible that the movie studios charge DirecTV a bit more for the HiDef movies.

[CCarncross]

Sorry I should have said $1 more.

Why couldn't DTV have a universal price of say $5 for SD, HD PPV and VOD movies?

Its no different than going to the video rental place and having to pay a premium to rent BD disks over DVD's. HD is still a premium over SD.

[dubber deux]

I'd like to tell the OP that PATIENCE IS EVERYTHING!

If you're willing to wait a year or so that movie will be on one of the premium channels for pennies on the dollar. You have to ask yourself....is that movie REALLY worth all the extra cash just so you can see it right after it appears in theaters? Of course not!

[JoeTheDragon]

Sorry I should have said $1 more.

Why couldn't DTV have a universal price of say $5 for SD, HD PPV and VOD movies?

cable is the same way.

it may be the people who own the movie wanting more.

[Gocanes]

I'd like to tell the OP that PATIENCE IS EVERYTHING!

If you're willing to wait a year or so that movie will be on one of the premium channels for pennies on the dollar. You have to ask yourself....is that movie REALLY worth all the extra cash just so you can see it right after it appears in theaters? Of course not!

I couldn't agree more. If you watch a lot of movies subscribe to premiums and wait a little and the cost per movie is very low (even in HD) or if you only watch a few movies then get a Netflix plus Blu-ray subscription. The netflix 2 move a month plan with Blu-ray is $5.99 so you get 2 HD movies (in better quality) for the price of 1 DirecTV HD PPV.

[ronsanjim]

There are so few movies worth paying $4.99 or HD $5.99. Not only are you out the $$, but your time may have been wasted as well. I have purchased possibly 2 movies since I've had Direct the past 20 years or so.

I go with Netflix for 1 month, then suspend for several months, until my Q is once again loaded with the flicks I "might" enjoy. During that month, I usually get 15 to 21 movies.

[Shades228]

Who cares it's $1. Not to be crass but every person on this forum blows a $1 on something stupid every month. The reason they charge more is because they can and it does cost them more. They lock up a transponder spot that only a portion of customers can use rather than one anyone could. There could be a price increase as well from the studio but that's just speculation. The first 2 reasons are facts.

[bidger]

I've never done much PPV in the 12 years I've been with DirecTV, but when the 24 hour rule kicked in it effectively removed the option for me. I really don't care what they charge for it, either HD or SD, because Netflix is such a better option.

[marquitos2]

I quit getting pvv long time a go, 2.99 back in the days.

[CraigerCSM]

I was also just curious because Blockbuster Video stores has lowered their rentals to $4 for both SD and BluRay movies and a $1 a day late fee. I am not sure if that is the way at all their stores but it is at my local Blockbuster, as long as we still have one. One closed by us but their was still another one close that is still open.

I have thought about doing Netflix but their are some months that I don't rent movies.

[sigma1914]

I was also just curious because Blockbuster Video stores has lowered their rentals to $4 for both SD and BluRay movies and a $1 a day late fee. I am not sure if that is the way at all their stores but it is at my local Blockbuster, as long as we still have one. One closed by us but their was still another one close that is still open.

I have thought about doing Netflix but their are some months that I don't rent movies.

Blockbuster is going bankrupt nearly $1 billion in debt...they might as well lower prices.

[dubber deux]

I really have a hard time believing that with the dire economy that D* is getting too many "impulse orders" of PPV movies and events. My guess is that the PPV business is probably hurting pretty badly. I'll be interested to see if they try and offer a lower price point at sometime in the very near future.

[sigma1914]

I really have a hard time believing that with the dire economy that D* is getting too many "impulse orders" of PPV movies and events. My guess is that the PPV business is probably hurting pretty badly. I'll be interested to see if they try and offer a lower price point at sometime in the very near future.

I'd guess you're wrong. PPV is a big money grab for them, otherwise they wouldn't keep pushing it.

[Jeremy W]

I really have a hard time believing that with the dire economy that D* is getting too many "impulse orders" of PPV movies and events.
Yeah, the "dire" economy. :rolleyes: I don't know anyone who has changed their PPV habits. The people that bought them still buy them, the people that didn't still don't.

[dubber deux]

I'd guess you're wrong. PPV is a big money grab for them, otherwise they wouldn't keep pushing it.


They keep "pushing it" because they are trying to create that impulse buy...The fact that they have stepped up "pushing it" by way of endlessly annoying spots tells me that folks are not buying as much. :lol:

[Herdfan]

I really have a hard time believing that with the dire economy that D* is getting too many "impulse orders" of PPV movies and events. My guess is that the PPV business is probably hurting pretty badly.

My take is that it would be exactly the opposite. Couple wants to see a movie. Brand new PPV in HD $6, microwave popcorn $1, 2 liter, $1. Total $8 vs. $10+ per ticket plus popcorn.

Services like D* do well in down times because the value they provide for the $ is much higher than other entertainment options.

[CraigerCSM]

My take is that it would be exactly the opposite. Couple wants to see a movie. Brand new PPV in HD $6, microwave popcorn $1, 2 liter, $1. Total $8 vs. $10+ per ticket plus popcorn.

Services like D* do well in down times because the value they provide for the $ is much higher than other entertainment options.

PPV and VOD are actually what is getting rid of the brick and mortar video stores in addition to the other movie rental offerings.

[CraigerCSM]

Blockbuster is going bankrupt nearly $1 billion in debt...they might as well lower prices.

I know that too bad they didn't lower their prices sooner maybe that could have helped?

[dubber deux]

My take is that it would be exactly the opposite. Couple wants to see a movie. Brand new PPV in HD $6, microwave popcorn $1, 2 liter, $1. Total $8 vs. $10+ per ticket plus popcorn.

Services like D* do well in down times because the value they provide for the $ is much higher than other entertainment options.


Problem is herdfan....that the current economic situation is not any ordinary "down time" all the indicators with the "exception" of wall street indicate that this is a extreme recession with depression like elements.

I'd agree with you in other cases but not this time...Many folks are just struggling to make ends meet. They don't have the extra cash to waste on frivolous things like PPV.

Incomes are dropping or stagnant, inflation is up, unemployment is not 9.7% if you include those that stopped looking for work, are PT, or underemployed.

The actual number is more like 17%. And quality living wage jobs are not coming back in large numbers, instead many will have to settle for low wage jobs that will barely pay the basics in life much less pay tv.

[CraigerCSM]

Problem is herdfan....that the current economic situation is not any ordinary "down time" all the indicators with the "exception" of wall street indicate that this is a extreme recession with depression like elements.

I'd agree with you in other cases but not this time...Many folks are just struggling to make ends meet. They don't have the extra cash to waste on frivolous things like PPV.

Incomes are dropping or stagnant, inflation is up, unemployment is not 9.7% if you include those that stopped looking for work, are PT, or underemployed.

The actual number is more like 17%. And quality living wage jobs are not coming back in large numbers, instead many will have to settle for low wage jobs that will barely pay the basics in life much less pay tv.

I was thinking that DTV's PPV and VOD would reallly take off if they lowered they price to say $5 for both SD and HD or maybe $4 for both SD and HD with the economy the way it is.

[dubber deux]

I was thinking that DTV's PPV and VOD would reallly take off if they lowered they price to say $5 for both SD and HD or maybe $4 for both SD and HD with the economy the way it is.

I believe the same here.

I do think that D* probably has contractural agreement with studios that were made before the crap hit the fan and that may be the reason why the prices have not come down. I think they really need to be around $3 for SD and maybe 4$ for HD for them really to generate a decent number of buyers and all the while they would still make a reasonable sum on each purchase.

The studios need to get their head out of their a55es and realize that folks just don't have the extra to buy at the current prices. Greed is definitely a huge factor here.

I know that the media elite have been using the "talking point" that theater revenues and patronization is up recently even during the recession BUT I don't believe it. The reason WHY is that all the elements that are used where they have to pay for services to produce the films have decreased their rates, including these star actors...if Hollywood was still raking in the bucks why would they need to reduce the pay to such entities..unless the studios are not making as much in profits..

[Gloria_Chavez]

dubber, you are correct. Studios set the price, not Directv. And Directv is feeling the higher price point. From their last earnings release.....

The average monthly bill rose 2 percent to $92.36 as price increases and orders of HD, DVR and the NFL package more than offset DirecTV's promotional offers and lower pay-per-view revenue.

Also, PPV revenue is being impacted Redbox, which the studios are very concerned about. Blockbuster rents for 4 dollars, but Redbox for 1 dollar. And Blockbuster is getting in the game, teaming up with NEC to place kiosks throughout the country, also for 1 dollar.

[chascan66]

PPV is for impatient rich people. Got to see it now, got to have it now whatever the cost.

[dubber deux]

Gloria...the bottom line is that most folks are now questioning whether that movie is really worth the price. Most of the time there is no logical reason NOT to wait and see that movie after a slightly longer time out of the theaters, and most folks don't have a choice now because of the serious economic woes.

After all it IS just a movie!

I find too that so many of the movies today that come out are just awful with a few exceptions. Poor storylines, bad acting, and incoherent as well. I find myself mostly looking at small independent films most of the time today because that is where the best quality and talent is.

The instant gratification society that we once had is really going away, all except for the top 1 or 2 % of the population.

[JLucPicard]

There also could be DirecTV customers who have cut back on their packages and may spring for a PPV movie once a month or so and not carry the monthly expense of a Netflix subscription and/or may not have invested in BlueRay equipment.

I haven't yet reduced my package, but have been seriously considering turning off a couple of owned HD DVRs. I have a standard DVD player and have not had the money to invest in buying a BlueRay player. I've had my Netflix subscriprion on hold much more in the last couple of years than I've had it active - in fact, the only time it's been active in the past year was around Christmas time when I had a few extra days off work.

If I had someone coming over and it would be nice to see a movie that's currently playing on PPV, I may order one for that occaision. And in that situation I'd spring for the extra buck for HD.

For people who would be much more inclined to order movies on a much more frequent basis, I would probably try to steer them toward Netflix or something similar. Frequent orders of DirecTV PPVs are much less economical in that case.

[Shades228]

Dubber you love preaching about the economy. However the economy doesn't mean every person out there is broke. It doesn't mean that most people are screwed. What it means is that more people right now are having hardships than prior years. My 401k wasn't even impacted that much compared to what's going on. DirecTV has 18.5 million customers. If 20% of them had economic hardships that still leaves about 15 million customers that are ok. Jump that number to 50% and it's still over 9 million customers. If 1% of those ordered 1 PPV movie a month that's still 90,000 PPV movies ordered every month.

Stop preaching about the economy because for some it wasn't an issue what happened. Not everyone lost their job, had a loan they shouldn't have gotten, or worked for a company that got killed because of bad business models. I feel bad for people who are in a bad spot right now because of the economy but on an optional pay for service forum saying that the economy is an issue for their business model is just silly.

They're in business to make money. They target a specific client base with key demographics that are more insulated to financial issues than other companies. They're still making money and signing up new customers. They're obviously doing something right. Just because you don't like the fact that they make money while the "ecomony" sucks is something you'll have to get over.

[mjwagner]

I do suspect that D* is looking for the right price point for PPV movies. I had not bought any PPV movies in a LONG time. Recently I started getting a coupon for $4.99 discount off of 2 PPV movies in the mail from D* just about every month. I use them every time. Works out to about $3.70 per HD PPV movie taking into account the postage for sending back the coupon. That is about the right price for me. For others it obviously won't be. And about 2 per month is about as many as I find worth paying for. YMMV

[DaveC27]

As an added emphasis to Shades, Cinema Box Office revenues are 10% higher than at this time last year and with the advent of 3D people are paying much more for tickets than they were paying for 2D. So though there are many people suffering from the recession there are a lot more people who aren't

[Gocanes]

You would think/hope that the people who are struggling to make ends meet aren't paying for a monthly DirecTV subscription to start with. For somebody who is truly struggling to make it, pay TV should be the first thing you eliminate. It certainly isn't a "need". There's a lot cheaper ways to pass time then pay for DirecTV.

Problem is herdfan....that the current economic situation is not any ordinary "down time" all the indicators with the "exception" of wall street indicate that this is a extreme recession with depression like elements.

I'd agree with you in other cases but not this time...Many folks are just struggling to make ends meet. They don't have the extra cash to waste on frivolous things like PPV.

Incomes are dropping or stagnant, inflation is up, unemployment is not 9.7% if you include those that stopped looking for work, are PT, or underemployed.

The actual number is more like 17%. And quality living wage jobs are not coming back in large numbers, instead many will have to settle for low wage jobs that will barely pay the basics in life much less pay tv.

[amorse2183]

You would think/hope that the people who are struggling to make ends meet aren't paying for a monthly DirecTV subscription to start with. For somebody who is truly struggling to make it, pay TV should be the first thing you eliminate. It certainly isn't a "need". There's a lot cheaper ways to pass time then pay for DirecTV.

While that may be true, I also think that anyone struggling to pay a monthly bill would struggle even more to pay an ETF to get out of their contract. Most people are stuck. I don't think Directv is doing anything wrong by charging for pay per view services. after all, the service is self explanatory.

however, a good faith effort by directv to keep costs at a reasonable level will help them more in the long run. my mother and father both started working at a steel mill in 1973. my mom is still there now, and my father died 3 years ago. anyway, I am 30 years old and from when I was born until I was 6 I don't think there was a year where either of them were not laid off for a few months. if you think the economy sucks now, imagine the late 70's and early 80's..that was really bad.

many were laid off at that time, and it made it hard to pay bills. companies like Montgomery ward (who extended credit to thousands of employed people only to have many lose their jobs) were so relentless in their collections and showed no compassion or willingness to settle the problems that I know dozens of people who would never even set foot inside a ward's ever again.

money is nice, but if you piss off huge numbers of people during a downturn of the economy it can come back to bite you later.

[Jeremy W]

While that may be true, I also think that anyone struggling to pay a monthly bill would struggle even more to pay an ETF to get out of their contract. Most people are stuck.
Nobody is stuck. Everyone has the option of suspending their service for up to six months. It also suspends your contract, but it's better than having to pay for something you can't afford for six months.

[amorse2183]

Nobody is stuck. Everyone has the option of suspending their service for up to six months. It also suspends your contract, but it's better than having to pay for something you can't afford for six months.

how many people really know about that though? Yes, it's in the contract. I would venture to guess that 99% of Directv customers signed it without reading it. Has the account suspension option been available for a long time? If I were to call a CSR and say I want to stop my service would they even offer that as a suggestion? How about retention?

Don't get me wrong. The prudent thing to do would be to suspend the service, but I bet if you asked 10 average directv customers if that was an option all of them would say no.

if they don't know about it, they are stuck. they would want to do something to make sure their credit rating doesn't take a hit, and that would be to scrounge up the ETF.

[Jeremy W]

Has the account suspension option been available for a long time?
Very.
If I were to call a CSR and say I want to stop my service would they even offer that as a suggestion? How about retention?
I've never cancelled DirecTV service, so I have no idea.
if they don't know about it, they are stuck.
Only because of their own ignorance. Most subscription services offer suspensions. DirecTV is not at all unique in this.

[amorse2183]

Very.

I've never cancelled DirecTV service, so I have no idea.

Only because of their own ignorance. Most subscription services offer suspensions. DirecTV is not at all unique in this.

I agree that the suspension isn't unique to directv. Before the thread goes any other directions, I am not saying this is directv's fault in any way. if you sign a contract, you live up to it and pay the bill.

ignorance or not, they are still stuck. if you are unaware of the avenues available to lessen or remove a monthly pay service, and you believe (as i contend most do) the only option is to pay the ETF, you are stuck.

[bidger]

ignorance or not, they are still stuck.

If they lack the initiative and/or skills to make a toll-free phone call to tell a rep what their current situation is and to ask what their options are, then yeah, I guess they're "stuck". I'd imagine that most reps that when faced with a situation where a customer is calling to cancel will ask why, and when told the caller lost their job would offer up account suspension as an interim solution.

[djzack67]

The price is not as must of an issue as the 24 hour viewing window. thats a deal breaker for me.

[mikeargo]

Is anyone still getting those coupons for "buy 2 movies & get a $4 credit?

[mikeargo]

This might have been discussed before, but has anyone heard if D will be offering a PPV movie plan similar to Netflix? I am getting tired of waiting for movies to be available. If D would offer different plans like 8 p/month for $30 or something similar I would sign up and cancel Netflix.

[Beerstalker]

We originally thought they might be doing something like that, because there was a statement made about them offering a "Netflix Like" service. However, after the interview that was released yesterday it does not sound like that is going to happen.

http://www.dbstalk.com/showthread.php?t=175927

[oldengineer]

I'm a cheapskate on rentals.
I won't pay D* 5.99 for an HD flick.
I won't pay Netflix 9.00 a month for "Very Long Wait" tags on new releases

However I will drive 3 miles to a Redbox and pay a buck a day for rentals. I just got done watching The Lovely Bones and I think it was just released today.

[VLaslow]

Is anyone still getting those coupons for "buy 2 movies & get a $4 credit?

Yup. I am. But, I don't like the 24 hr rule, so I don't use them.

[Shades228]

I don't care about the 24 hour window. With netflix I usually get a movie, watch it and it's back in the mail box that same night. With PPV it's the same thing. I record it, buy it when I'm going to watch it and then it expires the next day.

[mjwagner]

Yes, see my previous post in this thread.

[wavemaster]

Specific to the post topic I believe the added bandwidth needed to send it in HD is a big factor. They could have 4-5 SD PPV's in place of the single HD.

As far as the pricing in general,

Many times in recession you actually see an increase in comfort/home spending. Booze, tobacco, entertainment etc. per user average goes up. During tough times people tend to pull back. This creates more time at home.

The question is, what is the right price point for the movie? We don't usually get more than one or two of them a year and price isn't usually a factor, we just get them elsewhere or later on. So we would be a bad example because we would pay anyway if we wanted to see it.

However marketing 101 - What does it cost me? (D's cost from the producers) And what would I rather have 100,000 buy at $6.00; 120K buy at $5.00 or 150k buy at $4.00? Or is it 100k at $6.00 or 800k at $4.00

Those are made up numbers but that is the basic formula. The hard part is when you have to assume the numbers PRIOR to making the change ;-) .

[pfp]

Because they can.

So true

[Thaedron]

Why couldn't DTV have a universal price of say $5 for SD, HD PPV and VOD movies?

They should. IMO, we're paying an HD Access Fee of $10 / month. That has been explained many a time as a technology fee to cover the delivery of HD over and above SD. This should apply to PPV as well.

But why are they... because they can.

[gregjones]

But why are they... because they can.

More specifically, because the market has shown that it will bear that cost. As long as they see a significant number of people willing to pay the price they charge, there is no encouragement for them to lower it.

On this forum, many people do not use PPV. We are not representative of the whole population.

[amorse2183]

If they lack the initiative and/or skills to make a toll-free phone call to tell a rep what their current situation is and to ask what their options are, then yeah, I guess they're "stuck". I'd imagine that most reps that when faced with a situation where a customer is calling to cancel will ask why, and when told the caller lost their job would offer up account suspension as an interim solution.

well I can tell you with 100% certainty they will not always offer suspension. How do I know? I called and said I lost my job and couldn't afford to pay anymore, and I was told my only option was cancellation and the ETF. I specifically asked about any suspension program and I was told no such program exists and I was misinformed. I had 5 other directv subscribers call and say the same thing and they were all given the exact information. I can chalk 1 up as a CSR not knowing about all of directv subscription and contract policies, but 6 different people calling at 6 different times were all told the same thing. This all says to me that people really are stuck if they can no longer afford their directv bill in this economy.

now I'm certain I will have people say that this is the exception rather than the rule, but after 6 times, I think there might be something to it. others would say i should have asked for retention. I did. no change.

i can afford my bill, and i have and will continue to always pay it on time. but if i really couldn't pay my bill and found my only option was to pay a higher amount of money than my monthly bill in order to get rid of the contract, that leaves a horrible taste in my mouth.

[bidger]

Not disputing the fact you were told those things, but I'd suggest calling back and asking why this web page (http://support.directv.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/1907/related/1) exists on their site. Fact is there are some NFL Sunday Ticket subs who activate for the exhibition games and suspend some time just before or after the SB.

One other thing, how far along are you into a commitment?

[Jeremy W]

if i really couldn't pay my bill and found my only option was to pay a higher amount of money than my monthly bill in order to get rid of the contract, that leaves a horrible taste in my mouth.
How else would you expect to get out of your contract? It wouldn't be much of a contract if you could just walk away from it with no penalty.

[amorse2183]

How else would you expect to get out of your contract? It wouldn't be much of a contract if you could just walk away from it with no penalty.

I never said I wanted to get out of a contract with no penalty. I said that the ETF for breaking the contract is most likely significantly higher than the average customer's monthly bill, and if there is an option to suspend an account it leaves a bad taste in my mouth when the CSR's at Directv flat out told me there as no suspension of accounts and that the only way out is paying the ETF

[amorse2183]

Not disputing the fact you were told those things, but I'd suggest calling back and asking why this web page (http://support.directv.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/1907/related/1) exists on their site. Fact is there are some NFL Sunday Ticket subs who activate for the exhibition games and suspend some time just before or after the SB.

One other thing, how far along are you into a commitment?

I have been with Directv for 12 years.

Why would I search out something on Directv's website about suspension when I was already told there was no option. Why would I waste my time? There are many people who don't use computers at all so what good is a website that the customer will never see?

[dubber deux]

More specifically, because the market has shown that it will bear that cost. As long as they see a significant number of people willing to pay the price they charge, there is no encouragement for them to lower it.

On this forum, many people do not use PPV. We are not representative of the whole population.

The reality is that D* PPV movies are suffering declining viewership...

Read up!

[DrummerBoy523]

Yeah, the "dire" economy. :rolleyes: I don't know anyone who has changed their PPV habits. The people that bought them still buy them, the people that didn't still don't.

wrong. When they raised prices and then set the 24hr limit, we quit buying them. We are a Netflix family now.

[Jeremy W]

wrong. When they raised prices and then set the 24hr limit, we quit buying them. We are a Netflix family now.
Wrong? I don't know you, so I don't see how what I said was wrong. You also admitted that it wasn't just the price that stopped you from buying PPVs.

[gregjones]

The reality is that D* PPV movies are suffering declining viewership...

Read up!

Declining amongst people here. Even with a significant drop, they might still be very profitable.

[dubber deux]

Declining amongst people here. Even with a significant drop, they might still be very profitable.


No!

Actually the article states that purchases are declining among all D* subs.

[SPACEMAKER]

No!

Actually the article states that purchases are declining among all D* subs.

But are they still making money?

[sigma1914]

No!

Actually the article states that purchases are declining among all D* subs.

:confused:What article?

[SPACEMAKER]

:confused:What article?

dubber deux seems more concerned with posting exclamation points than he is with posting a link to the article of which he seems so fond.

[dubber deux]

dubber deux seems more concerned with posting exclamation points than he is with posting a link to the article of which he seems so fond.


Trying to find the article......It is pretty recent..I'm sure I saw it in Broadcasting & Cable....

[SPACEMAKER]

Trying to find the article......It is pretty recent..I'm sure I saw it in Broadcasting & Cable....

:)

[dubber deux]

The average monthly bill rose 2 percent to $92.36 as price increases and orders of HD, DVR and the NFL package more than offset DirecTV's promotional offers and lower pay-per-view revenue.


From D* own earnings report.



Also, PPV revenue is being impacted Redbox, which the studios are very concerned about. Blockbuster rents for 4 dollars, but Redbox for 1 dollar. And Blockbuster is getting in the game, teaming up with NEC to place kiosks throughout the country, also for 1 dollar.


This is going to grenade that over priced PPV price at D, E and the cable companies!!!!! Great news indeed!

This will force the pay tv services to reduce their prices as well!

[SPACEMAKER]

Lower PPV revenue doesn't mean that it's not profitable. They may lose more than they gain by reducing their per-movie margin. They may even raise prices. Without knowing all of the details it's hard to say what (if anything) D* does concerning PPV.

[sigma1914]

From D* own earnings report.




This is going to grenade that over priced PPV price at D, E and the cable companies!!!!! Great news indeed!

This will force the pay tv services to reduce their prices as well!

Lower PPV revenue doesn't mean that it's not profitable. They may lose more than they gain by reducing their per-movie margin. They may even raise prices. Without knowing all of the details it's hard to say what (if anything) D* does concerning PPV.

Also, events like UFC, Boxing, WWE, etc. may factor in, too, for PPV revenue.

[SPACEMAKER]

Also, events like UFC, Boxing, WWE, etc. may factor in, too, for PPV revenue.

Excellent point. It makes sense that big ticket PPV could suffer given current economic conditions.

[dubber deux]

Excellent point. It makes sense that big ticket PPV could suffer given current economic conditions.

And those pricey events ARE taking quite a beating when it comes to subscriber purchases....If the pay tv providers want to continue to have PPV MOVIES be a draw for consumers they have no choice but reduce the price...as most folks are getting increasingly savvy and few will be willing to pay upwards of 5$ per movie when you can head down to the super market and pick up FIVE first run movies for the price of only ONE D* PPV movie at say a Redbox!

[SPACEMAKER]

And those pricey events ARE taking quite a beating when it comes to subscriber purchases....If the pay tv providers want to continue to have PPV MOVIES be a draw for consumers they have no choice but reduce the price...as most folks are getting increasingly savvy and few will be willing to pay upwards of 5$ per movie when you can head down to the super market and pick up FIVE first run movies for the price of only ONE D* PPV movie at say a Redbox!

I will only watch Blu-Ray and HDPPV so Red Box does nothing for me, personally.

[sigma1914]

I will only watch Blu-Ray and HDPPV so Red Box does nothing for me, personally.

Ditto...I bought a HDTV & Blu-Ray player for HD, not DVD 480p.

[dubber deux]

For the time being folks like you are still at the cutting edge of video and that is a extemely tiny segment of potential revenue..the majority of folks, especially today, will gladly watch that first run 480p DVD for a buck and not be dissatisfied at all.
Quite a few HD TVs will upconvert the 480p DVD to make it look like 1080p! Again most people won't notice or care especially in this economy.

I'm sure that in the near future Redbox will also carry BluRay...although I still think the jury is out on Blu Ray even though it won the battle with DVD HD...

[SPACEMAKER]

The jury is still out on Blu-ray? Strange. My local video store has at least 100 titles on Blu-ray and I own a Blu-ray player along with about a dozen Blu-rays. Out my 10 closest friend's households I think 8 of them have a Blu-ray player and/or a Playstation 3.

I also have an upconverting DVD player. The difference between 480P upconverted to 720P and a Blu-Ray is massive. The difference between a standard DVD player and Blu-ray is even more ridiculous.

[dubber deux]

I have heard that the Blu Ray player reliability is not great..and of course it is outrageously expensive to purchase a Blu Ray Recorder. Which is what I would eventually consider. I'm not paying a rental fee for a USED and abused D* HDVR or the like.

[sigma1914]

I have heard that the Blu Ray player reliability is not great..and of course it is outrageously expensive to purchase a Blu Ray Recorder. Which is what I would eventually consider. I'm not paying a rental fee for a USED and abused D* HDVR or the like.

You heard wrong, again.

You can new DVRs, too...There's ways.

[Jeremy W]

I have heard that the Blu Ray player reliability is not great
Where did you hear this crazy talk? Your local tin foil hat meeting?

[SunDevil2012]

Problem is herdfan....that the current economic situation is not any ordinary "down time" all the indicators with the "exception" of wall street indicate that this is a extreme recession with depression like elements.

I'd agree with you in other cases but not this time...Many folks are just struggling to make ends meet. They don't have the extra cash to waste on frivolous things like PPV.

Incomes are dropping or stagnant, inflation is up, unemployment is not 9.7% if you include those that stopped looking for work, are PT, or underemployed.

The actual number is more like 17%. And quality living wage jobs are not coming back in large numbers, instead many will have to settle for low wage jobs that will barely pay the basics in life much less pay tv.

I think everyone likes to think the economy is to blame for everything from their children's braces being too pricey to their PPV movies. But it's not so. Unemployment going up doesn't translate into your bill going up. Most people who are affected by the situation are people who were NOT customers to begin with. I think everyone fails to forget that DirecTV is really a premium television service provider when compared to cable simply because of the price point it hits. If your then a person who has little money to begin with, are you going to be spending $100/month on DirecTV vs $20 or so for Cable? They know they are getting less, but they see it as dollars and cents not channel numbers.

People need to remember that the economy always has this segment (while not as large as it currently is) of people who are disproportionately poor. It's a fact of life. The economy of the past was illusive, it hid these people from us by masking the numbers in so many other good fortunes. Just because the economy hit a stagnant point a couple years ago and has since been recovering, it is in no way as bad as everyone makes it out to be. It may have been really bad when the problem first hit, but for the most part - the VAST MAJORITY are not anywhere near that situation currently. If your employed today making about the same or more as you did before, you should consider yourself unaffected. Likewise, if your one of those unemployed your probably not going to be on here talking about your DirecTV bill, it will be canceled.

DirecTV's value seems to have stayed the same, because nothing else has really changed. How does the value of something go up (as its price is going up) when the prices of everything else are going down? Blu-ray prices are dropping, you can pickup hundreds of movies for under $15, and new releases on ebay for $11! DirecTV's value if anything has gone down over time. I'm one of those people with a $176.98 bill at the end of the month, but I subscribe to all the sports packages. Not to mention, when your talking about the economy - it's done wonders for the consumer, it's lowered prices on almost EVERYTHING. It's a buyer's market. So while those without money may take issue - the most likely case is they never had much to begin with to make any difference (where their petition results in action).

[Shades228]

I have heard that the Blu Ray player reliability is not great..and of course it is outrageously expensive to purchase a Blu Ray Recorder. Which is what I would eventually consider. I'm not paying a rental fee for a USED and abused D* HDVR or the like.

If you had an HD DVR ,and it replaced a receiver you already had, your bill for receiver fees would be the same. So once again your point doesn't make any sense. I'm betting the receivers you received as a new customer were refurbs as well. You've already said many times that you can't pay the upgrade price for the HD DVR so why try and make it about something that doesn't matter. You always complain about the economy. Go do something about it.

[dubber deux]

IUnemployment going up doesn't translate into your bill going up. Most people who are affected by the situation are people who were NOT customers to begin with. I think everyone fails to forget that DirecTV is really a premium television service provider when compared to cable simply because of the price point it hits.


But bottom line is that your bill is going up and significantly over the past few years if you're with D*.

I'd beg to differ about D* customers not being affected by the D* price increases. I constantly see folks right here on DBStalk mentioning about how they will need to either completely discontinue their service or substantially downgrade it...I would bet that outside of folks here the general sub base is even more greatly affected by price increases.

D* never marketed itself as a premium provider... actually it initially was marketing itself as a value leader compared to say cable, just a decade ago.

The bottom line is that a overwhelming majority of ordinary households are knee deep in debt . I seriously doubt that we have seen the worst of this recession. Only the masters of illusion that run the banking and monetary systems are immune for the moment.

[dubber deux]

. You've already said many times that you can't pay the upgrade price for the HD DVR so why try and make it about something that doesn't matter. You always complain about the economy. Go do something about it.

I COULD pay for HD and the HDVR service but there is no way in heck that I am going to pay the outrageous sums that D* is asking for it. The same goes for ANY provider, I can't imagine why anyone except the most wealthy would tolerate the cost vs the real value..

Most of the programming is garbage and even most of that is often repeated on many different channels with lots of commercials inbetween.

That is why come the end of my "contract" I'm dumping all pay tv services.

It is a rip off!

[Jeremy W]

D* never marketed itself as a premium provider
Are you kidding me?