[FloridaGamer]

Maybe this is a dumb question, but would I be able to add Setanta Sports for just one day a week...then cancel it online, and only get charged for 1 day of the $14.99 charge per month.

Here's why I ask. I would like to watch Premier League Soccer Games on Setanta on Saturdays, but I can't afford an additional $14.99/month for just ONE additional channel. Call me a cheap-ass or whatever, but that is alot for just one channel that I would only be watching 4 times a month. I've noticed I can add the channel online at directv.com, and presumably could cancel it on directv.com. But would they charge me the full $14.99, or would they pro-rate it for just the one day?

(I guess this post would also apply to people who wanted to add HBO just on Sundays to watch True Blood -- just an example)

Thanks!

 

[jimb726]

I think they charge you a 10 dollar fee if you cancel within the first 30 days. To prevent folks from doing this exact thing.

 

[Ken S]

If you don't keep a channel for 30 days they charge a disconnect fee. I think it's $10. You used to be able to switch between premiums freely, but I'm not sure if that's still the case.

 

[ejjames]

premiums get charged as well.

 

[506PIR]

Just cancelled a premium channel before the 30 day limit and indeed it is $10 disconnect fee.

 

[macca]

I'm with you on this, only it's the one or two NRL games a month that I would like to see. I remember being able to do it with Fox Sports World back in the day and not having to pay disconnect fees. I got what I wanted and DTV got a few extra $ from me by prorating the monthly fee. But now they have just made it so unattractive that I resort to whatever I can find on the Internet and they get no extra $ from me. I don't understand their logic.

 

[Newshawk]

I got what I wanted and DTV got a few extra $ from me by prorating the monthly fee.

But since DirecTV pays for Setanta (HBO, Showtime, etc) on a monthly basis-that is, they pay on the number of customers that purchase the channel(s) times 30 days- DirecTV is losing money every time someone cancels a premium channel before the first 30 days are up. It's kinda like filling up a 44 oz. cup of soda, taking a few sips, then setting the cup down on the counter and expecting to pay only for the few ounces you drank.

 

[macca]

But since DirecTV pays for Setanta (HBO, Showtime, etc) on a monthly basis-that is, they pay on the number of customers that purchase the channel(s) times 30 days- DirecTV is losing money every time someone cancels a premium channel before the first 30 days are up. It's kinda like filling up a 44 oz. cup of soda, taking a few sips, then setting the cup down on the counter and expecting to pay only for the few ounces you drank.

I suppose if that is the way that Setanta and Directv have agreed to operate then Directv has to pass on the cost to the consumer. Bottom line is that I am not paying package pricing for a package containing mostly stuff I don't want.

 

[sundude90]

Yep, it's a 10$ fee if you do this!! Sorry about that.

 

[sundude90]

That's how D* make their money by charging these extra fees if you cancel early and stuff.

 

[dcowboy7]

then just dont cancel early and stuff.

 

[bdowell]

$14.99 a month = approx. $0.50 per day. If you can't find $0.50 worth of value on the days when you aren't currently watching that's understandable, but then the math probably becomes something like $3.50 per week to see what you want to see every Sunday. Compare that to the cost of a pay-per-view movie, or worse yet a pay-per-view event, which is cheaper?? Compare it to the cost of a ticket to a movie at the megaplex... Compare it to the cost of a pack of cigarettes or a frothy coffee or beer... Compare it to the cost of a meal at a fast food restaurant... and finally compare it to an event at a major league sporting facility/team.

The amount of money you're trying to save by adding and dropping these channels in the way described in the original post is pretty darned small on the grand scale. If you can't afford the $14.99 a month for the package, then you should probably be asking yourself if you can afford the monthly fees for the subscription at all, or at least you should really be looking at your financial priorities to find the $$ you need to get what you want.

 

[BJM]

What bdowell said. If the premier league game (games?) isn't worth $4./week, then don't get it.