D* Announces New Rates Starting 2/9/2010

I understand saving money and will agree that currently D* has lost their edge. Although, based on what we are hearing, about the time you drop sercvice, they will once again have the competitive edge. The good news is, you will get all kinds of D* promos to sign back up, once you make the switch.

 

1930Ray, I'm with you. Customer since 1998, on Social Security, and this is getting really tough with hard decisions on what I can afford in life coming.

BUT, how is everyone finding out about "price increases"??? I've not received any mailer or e-mail. My bill is due on the 2nd of the month and I just paid it today (old amount), meaning what? My next bill for Premier (and other services) will be suddenly increased 03/02/10 with no notice?

 

Oops. Not enough coffee. I mean increase on next bill 02/02/10 (not 03/02/10) ... lol.

 

Your next bill will be the old amount, with a notice stating that it'll be going up the following month. Right now, it's only posted on DirecTV's website.

 

You'll receive an email notification or an insert in your next bill about the price increase.

The good news is since you sub to premier you have some options for removing some programming to make it in your budgett. In todays economy some people are struggling to afford the Family package.

 

I'll probably do a similar move to Fios TV with Internet. I'll be saving big time plus the networkable HD DVR is a nice touch, in addition to the $150 visa gift card you get. Pricing after their promo is still good and I only have to commit to one year. After that, I'll go back to D*.

 

To bad the small HDD in the fios box only has room for about 20 hours HD.

 

One question. How many hours of HD will you be able to record on the HD DVR? With most cable company's it aint much.

 

Cant u just add an esata drive....1 TB gets u about 240 HD hours.

 

To a cable DVR? I have no clue. I think the cable co here has HD DVR's that hold like 20 hours HD.

 

I am not aware of any cable DVR (provided by the company, not Moxi or Tivo) that allows storage to be expanded.

 

So on Fios dvr u cant add an esata ? wow didnt know that....major drawback.

 

We're only seeing a sliver of the grumbling that subscribers are doing concerning cable and sat rates.....I would bet that over the next couple of years we will see a significant reduction of subscribers to ALL pay services offered and most of those that remain will make significant cuts to their packages.

I'm not solely harping on D* here it is an INDUSTRYwide problem regarding increasing costs....

Bottom line is that unlike electricity and a roof over your head, "entertainment" is NOT a necessity and many folks are finally realizing that this economy is not looking like it will improve for the general populace for a long, long time....The is no question in my mind that we are in a DEPRESSION. The experts are talking about a "jobless recovery" and for the everyday "joe" that means perpetual unemployment for many.

 

:crying::crying::crying:

 

I suspect that this is all just the tip of the iceberg on the subject of rates and competitive offerings.

We've already started to see some hard-nosed negotiations from content providers with cable and sat companies with recent agreement renewals, and there will likely be more and more of that throughout 2010 and 2011.

It would not surprise me to see:

1) Several existing content providers consolidate, terminate, or migrate their HD channels - including one or more of the premium movie channels

2) A few HD channel content providers fail altogether

3) More diversity seen between cable and satellite resulting in new/different "packages" of HD channels

4) Prices continue to go up in 2010, and then thereafter perhaps level off a bit once agreements are negotiated or re-negotiated.

When you read about the national TV networks and their financial woes, as well as the reality of some of the smaller content providers trying to keep up to date with HD technology and the corresponding costs, there is reason to believe we'll see some significant changes over the next 24 months...and not all of them will be good (unfortunately).

 

With this rate increase, they need to stop charging a lease fee and fees for each box activated. To me thats a fair exchange. Really, why do I need to pay $4.99/mth or $5.99 cant remember for each additional box in my house when Im already getting the signal from my dish?

 

It's fair to you, but not to DirecTV. Find me any other service that simply gives additional boxes away, and then you can make an argument. Otherwise, you're just dealing with fantasy.

 

The good news is that the Fios DVR is so crappy you won't want to use it anyway, so not being able to add an esata won't be a big deal. Anyone considering going to Fios will need to invest in new Tivo's.

 

Bollocks. They own the equipment, period. While that technically gives them the right to charge whatever they like (which encourages some to say the equivalent of "Don't like it, then shove off"), the fact that the equipment isn't mine and can never become mine should place some rights (other than cancelling) into my hands. I should be able to have a reasonable number (currently, DTV defines reasonable as '1' - it could easily be made 2,3 or more since there's no risk to them) of receivers for my home without being nickle and dimed for the "privilege" of powering their equipment to send the signal for which I've paid, to the equipment of my choice.

Frankly, I'm more annoyed about the DVR fee. Come on, a fee to use a built-in feature of the equipment? It's an outrageous abuse of the customer carried out in the name of "free enterprise". I think it's a sad reflection on the state of corporate responsibility and customer service.

 

Yah when I first got Directv I was shocked they charged a DVR fee lol, coming from north of the border their has never been a DVR fee from any provider. Money grab for sure.