2.00 Regional Sports Fee?

Nomo1 said:

What the heck is this, and why was there no advance notice of this fee? It's only 2 bucks, but that's not the point.

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New DirecTV Prices

ChicagoBlue said:

It's new. Was announced with their pricing increase but it only impacts certain parts of the country. Where they have very high RSN costs they are imposing that fee if you have a base package that has RSNs in it. The New York area, for example, where there are four RSNs (SNY, MSG, MSG+, YES) would have it but a place like Phoenix with just one RSN would not.

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Nobody at directv can explain what this is for. I have the sportspak for college basketball season. Is this just an increase on the 12.99 I already pay? Ridiculous that they just tack on a fee without advance notice. The CSR said it was in a flyer that came in my bill. I assume he means the bill I don't get because I have to have paperless billing to get the HD credit.

What if you never watch sports? Can you have this fee (and regional sports channels) removed?

It's bad enough everyone subsidizes sports even if they never watch but to be hit with a line item sports surcharge is outrageous!

"ThomasM" said:

What if you never watch sports? Can you have this fee (and regional sports channels) removed?

It's bad enough everyone subsidizes sports even if they never watch but to be hit with a line item sports surcharge is outrageous!

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Now THAT I agree with.

Does anyone know what markets this fee is for. I am in the Boston dma and do not see it on my recent activity.

"cnmurray8" said:

Does anyone know what markets this fee is for. I am in the Boston dma and do not see it on my recent activity.

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It is only for markets with multiple regional sports networks, like the example given in the quoted post by ChicagoBlue.

Blurayfan said:

It is only for markets with multiple regional sports networks, like the example given in the quoted post by ChicagoBlue.

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Well, Boston has two RSN's (NESN and CSNE). So do I get this also? This is going to add up to close to a 10% price increase, between the package price rise, DVR fee increase, and now the RSN fee.

I am in a DMA where I get the New York RSN's, and so far no fees on the bill, but if I have to take a $2 fee for them, and can't opt out, I'm going to be mad...especially since CSN Philly (the only one I'd want) isn't even available. Keep feeing it up D*...one step closer to dish retirement.

ThomasM said:

What if you never watch sports? Can you have this fee (and regional sports channels) removed?

It's bad enough everyone subsidizes sports even if they never watch but to be hit with a line item sports surcharge is outrageous!

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Yes-it's called the Entertainment Package.

I have five RSN. I have no problem with the fee. Why should the rest of the country subsidize my riches.

YES
MSG
MSG Plus
SNY
Sportstime Ohio

I've noticed they're using different terminolgy with their billing (Advanced Receiver-DVR Charge, Advanced Receiver-HD Charge, Primary TV Free-PrimaryTVFree).

"stoutman" said:

I have five RSN. I have no problem with the fee. Why should the rest of the country subsidize my riches.

YES
MSG
MSG Plus
SNY
Sportstime Ohio

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Agreed if you watch them. But as poster has stated, what if he does not want them at all? Why should he have to pay the extra $2 line item? I understand package prices and having to pay what's in it but if your area is being charged an extra $2 and you don't want them to begin with I think they should be able to opt out in that case.

That is not how the business operates. All providers have sports in their base tier due to contracts requirements of the provider.

Yes, I do watch them. This is why I subscribe to Directv..."The Sports Leader"

stoutman said:

That is not how the business operates. All providers have sports in their base tier due to contracts requirements of the provider.

Yes, I do watch them. This is why I subscribe to Directv..."The Sports Leader"

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It's one thing to pay for channels you don't watch (sports or otherwise) because they are part of the package you subscribe to, quite another to be forced to pay a surcharge on top of that to pay for those same channels that you don't watch. Like adding insult to injury.

Boston Fan said:

It's one thing to pay for channels you don't watch (sports or otherwise) because they are part of the package you subscribe to, quite another to be forced to pay a surcharge on top of that to pay for those same channels that you don't watch. Like adding insult to injury.

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5 sportschannels versus Philly residents with none is the problem. I get the arguement, but unlike cable, Directv has national pricing. Something has to give. You could always go to Dish and not have to worry about sports channels costs, because they carry none of my five.

You cannot drive a Lexus and pay for a Chevy is the analogy that fits.

"stoutman" said:

5 sportschannels versus Philly residents with none is the problem. I get the arguement, but unlike cable, Directv has national pricing. Something has to give. You could always go to Dish and not have to worry about sports channels costs, because they carry none of my five.

You cannot drive a Lexus and pay for a Chevy is the analogy that fits.

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It seems as we are arguing two different points. I have Choice Xtra I think or whatever it's called now. It runs me $68.99. Anyone with this package pays the same price. No one is arguing over that. The $68.99 is not the issue. It's the people paying an extra $2 for RSNs on top of that in which they do not watch. They have a valid argument. I live in Florida. I don't think I get hit with a $2 fee. It's really not right to tell someone "yeah this is your base package, plus we are adding $2 on top of it for channels you don't watch. Yeah we know it's not being charged to everyone but we are charging your area because you have several of these. No, it doesn't matter you don't watch them and we are not removing the charge." I'm sorry but adding an additional charge to channels which are in the basic package to some areas and then not allowing people in those areas to opt out is wrong in my view.

I get it, but the argument of opting out is with the RSN. No RSN will allow opt out, therefore Directv either becomes like Dish and bail out on sports or creates a surcharge for areas like mine. Cable does it in a circuitous way. They have pricing for gepgraphic areas to adopt to unique market conditions.

Hey, I loved the last 16 years of my Directv when all of you subsidized me, but I understand at $1.50 to $2.00 a pop per sports channel means the freeloading has to stop. In my case, i am still freeloading

stoutman said:

No RSN will allow opt out, therefore Directv either becomes like Dish and bail out on sports or creates a surcharge for areas like mine.

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In a sense RSNs do allow opt out as the new Entertainment package shows. I think this is rather shady of D* to do this without allowing opt out of those channels. I can see why they would want to add this fee as 5 RSNs per subscriber in certain areas must add up quick.
Ideally though your local RSN(s) should be an add on fee like this so non-sports viewers don't subsidize them. NYC viewers could probably save $10-$12 off their bill by opting out of them.

Thanks, Satelliteracer.

How is DIRECTV treating those in the Philly area who receive NO local RSNs but have all of the NY RSNs thrust upon them? Charging a region more for RSNs that aren't even their own seems like a bad way to come at it. THAT is really rubbing salt in the wound.