DirecTV has slowly been adding more and more in-guide ads and banners. Just now I went to look for a movie to watch and typed in 500. I was greeted with *4* lines of ads, and 2 channels worth of guide. I page down, and there is a fifth in-guide ad. Yes, in 12 lines of guide area, 5 of them are ads. Am I the only one that finds this ridiculously stupid and annoying?
I don't care how colorful it looks it shouldn't be thrown in our faces, that's why there's message inbox for that. Regardless if there's favorites or not, With their commercials about PPV or ch 200 it shouldn't get inundated on the guide.
I don't care how colorful it looks it shouldn't be thrown in our faces, that's why there's message inbox for that. Regardless if there's favorites or not, With their commercials about PPV or ch 200 it shouldn't get inundated on the guide.
I agree. I just got in the habit of typing in "502" instead of "500" to skip to the movie channels in the guide. You used to be able to skip the banners by typing in "501", but they apparently fixed that.
Here's an issue. If I'm on ch 501 watching it and I want to check the guide, when I push guide its a full screen of ads! Ridiculous you can't even check the guide if tuned to 501 on a DVR!
Row 1: Game of thrones catch up OD
Row 2: Max OD (why isn't this next to max?)
Row 3: Showtime OD (why isn't this next to Showtime?)
Row 4: HBO OD (redundant with GoT OD)
Row 5: Starz OD (why isn't this next to Starz?)
Row 6: Encore OD (why isn't this next to Encore?)
Sure there's the blue button mini-guide but sadly it cannot be configured to show 2 or 3 lines like on Cable's "I-guide". Or there's no Xfinity X1 or Fios like side by side "mini" guide either.
Here's an issue. If I'm on ch 501 watching it and I want to check the guide, when I push guide its a full screen of ads! Ridiculous you can't even check the guide if tuned to 501 on a DVR!
Row 1: Game of thrones catch up OD
Row 2: Max OD (why isn't this next to max?)
Row 3: Showtime OD (why isn't this next to Showtime?)
Row 4: HBO OD (redundant with GoT OD)
Row 5: Starz OD (why isn't this next to Starz?)
Row 6: Encore OD (why isn't this next to Encore?)
Sure there's the blue button mini-guide but sadly it cannot be configured to show 2 or 3 lines like on Cable's "I-guide". Or there's no Xfinity X1 or Fios like side by side "mini" guide either.
That still doesn't explain why the banners are not next to the prospective channels.
Max OD next to 515.
Starz OD next to 525.
Encore OD next to 535.
Showtime OD next to 545.
Also under settings > display put a line item for mini guide size with options of 1(default), 2, 3, 4 row. I would change it to 4 row and just use the blue button mini guide 90% of the time. I liked the mini guide on cable.
That still doesn't explain why the banners are not next to the prospective channels.
Max OD next to 515.
Starz OD next to 525.
Encore OD next to 535.
Showtime OD next to 545.
Also under settings > display put a line item for mini guide size with options of 1(default), 2, 3, 4 row. I would change it to 4 row and just use the blue button mini guide 90% of the time. I liked the mini guide on cable.
They are where they are because that is where they want them. They are very effective from what we do know. They serve a purpose. That's the only explanation any of us need. It takes a single button press to move past them. We will survive this tragic event.
They are where they are because that is where they want them. They are very effective from what we do know. They serve a purpose. That's the only explanation any of us need. It takes a single button press to move past them. We will survive this tragic event.
Obviously this is not a tragedy but people are allowed to vent their feelings. There is no need to belittle people for their personal feelings. For instance, while I didn't mind a few lines of ads, I do mind a full screen. Sure, it is "one button"... plus any delay.
They are where they are because that is where they want them. They are very effective from what we do know. They serve a purpose. That's the only explanation any of us need. It takes a single button press to move past them. We will survive this tragic event.
How more effective can you be than simply arrowing left to the channel and following the on screen instructions to go to on demand. It clearly says press select to see on demand. If the triangle isn't clear enough then maybe color the channel cell with a colorful background indicating select me!
But still I think an EASY fix would just be put each on demand banner next to its appropriate service. I have Max, Encore and Starz hidden (don't subscribe) so why would I need to see those banners attached to HBO? Trying to download content off those other banners would result in an error for me anyway.
I'm not terribly upset by the ads in the guide, but it IS a bit ridiculous when you are in the guide, punch in "501" and go to a point in the guide that doesn't even show the channel you selected. You have to press page down AND down arrow once, just to see the detail of what is actually on 501!
I'm not terribly upset by the ads in the guide, but it IS a bit ridiculous when you are in the guide, punch in "501" and go to a point in the guide that doesn't even show the channel you selected. You have to press page down AND down arrow once, just to see the detail of what is actually on 501!
It used to be you type 501 and it would show 501 at the very bottom as the only channel listings. 5 rows of ads would be on top. Then we all got to discussing this in the thread here, and I swear DirecTV is playing games with us! Now 6 rows of ads! I'll stand by my solution that on demand banners should be next to their appropriate channel.
It used to be you type 501 and it would show 501 at the very bottom as the only channel listings. 5 rows of ads would be on top. Then we all got to discussing this in the thread here, and I swear DirecTV is playing games with us! Now 6 rows of ads! I'll stand by my solution that on demand banners should be next to their appropriate channel.
They want to push the fact that some on demands can be pushed through the sattelite dish depending on bandwitdh. Hopefuly they will allow a software update to make this an option to turn off.
With OWN going to HD today, how is one supposed to see the banner ad if its attached to the HD channel? Even though the number is the same, the system cannot make that connection and automatically upgrade to the HD feed of OWN on the favorites list.
With the banner ad attached to a channel that is hidden, the whole marketing reach thing is BS. There's no marketing reach at all. You would be better off sending TV Mail or emails.
With OWN going to HD today, how is one supposed to see the banner ad if its attached to the HD channel? Even though the number is the same, the system cannot make that connection and automatically upgrade to the HD feed of OWN on the favorites list.
With the banner ad attached to a channel that is hidden, the whole marketing reach thing is BS. There's no marketing reach at all. You would be better off sending TV Mail or emails.
My guess is because very few people use the custom guides. I know most of the people I know with DirecTV never used them until I set them up for them. Most installers set it to channels I get, and hide SD duplicates, and the customers just leave them that way. So in that case the new HD channel does automatically show up in their guide, and they will see the ad and might check out the channel to see what it looks like in HD. It may also remind them to change their series links to the new HD channel.
I can understand not using custom guides with cable (in fact most provides you can't). But with as many infomercial / shopping as DirecTV has... I couldn't imagine not running a custom guide. It seriously has like 10 times more infomercial channels than cable, all in random places. Plus there's so many items that still show up under channels I get - even if you don't get them.
I just wish the system made that connection when a channel went HD. If the channel was in your favorites, the HD upgrade should come along too. If that's not possible then simply attach the banner to the SD channel or a channel or two prior / after and mark it as unhideable (like those refer a friend or directv everywhere banners).
I understand about not wanting to mess with favorites lists. I'm just saying if the channel is the same virtual number, and its aware of that SD-HD connection. (Since hide SD/HD duplicates works correctly), then let it upgrade the channel in the list. Now if its a NEW number and has no existing SD-HD backend pairing, that I could see not messing with our lists.
I hate them. I have called them more than once about these, sent several emails about them.
The one thing I suggest to them all the time is to change the Bright White area on the right end of them to the orange / yellow color like the select button and it would cut way down on the glare from them. Needless to say I get no intelligent response.
One thing I notice is that they do not show up on the NON DVR receivers. Makes me want to add one of those so I can get rid of the banner ads.
This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.
Related Threads
?
?
?
?
?
DBSTalk Forum
3.6M posts
111.9K members
Since 2001
A forum community dedicated to digital bit streaming enthusiasts. Come join the discussion about programming, content, and reception, home theaters, displays, models, styles, satellites, reviews, accessories, classifieds, and more!