New DirecTiVo fees!

1151 Views 18 Replies 8 Participants Last post by The Old Wizard, Aug 30, 2002

James_F

Discussion Starter · Aug 27, 2002

Well I got the message last night from my TiVo. The new lower $4.95 fees start by 11/02. Annual contract is will no longer be offered as will be the lifetime on 9/24/02. I'm gussing the Series 2 will arrive around October???? Here is hoping!

Save

Status: Not open for further replies.

1 - 19 of 19 Posts

Scott Greczkowski

· #2 · Aug 27, 2002

Its a good price, if you dont have a PVR yet, TRUST ME YOU WANT ONE!

They are hard to explain but make watching TV a pleasure!

Save

Nick

· #3 · Aug 27, 2002

"New DirecTiVo fees!"

Your thread title should have included the word "Lower"

Save

James_F

Discussion Starter · #4 · Aug 27, 2002

I disagree. They aren't lowering them, they are changing the way they are applying them. That is why I chose new. No Annual, no Lifetime. The $4.99 only applies if you have Total Choice Plus or greater, so the fees aren't really lower for all people.

Save

Jacob S

· #5 · Aug 28, 2002

So actually it would be higher over the long term if they were doing away with lifetime fee.

Save

James_F

Discussion Starter · #6 · Aug 28, 2002

Yes and no, I would assume within the next year, the TiVo fee will go away as more and more ads appear. That seems to be the way they are going. Subscriptions don't pay the bill enough. :shrug:

Save

Jacob S

· #7 · Aug 28, 2002

Maybe they are trying to compete against dish's way of doing things, and since they have broken even or soon to break even that they do not have to make as much to be successful and maybe become more successful for making prices cheaper for the customer. I think the reason why the pvr functions prices are going down is just bc of a deal directv and tivo made. It is a good move to entice some to go to tivo and to upgrade their packages.

Save

dishrich

· #8 · Aug 28, 2002

Originally posted by James_F
The $4.99 only applies if you have Total Choice Plus or greater, so the fees aren't really lower for all people.

I was understanding that it was ALL Total Choice (plus or not) that the new pricing applied to. So really the only people that would NOT get the new pricing would be folks on Select Choice or lower. (which there are probably not that many of, also considering D* doesn't even offer SC to new subs anymore)

Save

James_F

Discussion Starter · #9 · Aug 28, 2002

Maybe that was explained to me incorrectly. :shrug: You are probably right though...

Save

Ryan

· #10 · Aug 28, 2002

The pre-announcement inof about this price restructuring indicated that TC Premier subscribers would not be billed any Tivo fees. Is there any confirmation about this?

Save

James_F

Discussion Starter · #11 · Aug 28, 2002

I had heard this myself, but I don't see anthing on DirecTVs website about it. I'm hopeing since I am a PC Premier subscriber.

Save

Ryan

· #12 · Aug 28, 2002

There goes my theory that the message was geared to your current subscription level.

Save

James_F

Discussion Starter · #13 · Aug 28, 2002

Did you get a different message?

Save

BrettR

· #14 · Aug 29, 2002

Originally posted by dishrich

I was understanding that it was ALL Total Choice (plus or not) that the new pricing applied to. So really the only people that would NOT get the new pricing would be folks on Select Choice or lower. (which there are probably not that many of, also considering D* doesn't even offer SC to new subs anymore)

Select Choice is available to existing subscribers but not advertised. Its unavailable to new subs that need a 12 month commitment to Total Choice.

Save

dishrich

· #15 · Aug 29, 2002

Originally posted by BrettR
Select Choice is available to existing subscribers but not advertised. Its unavailable to new subs that need a 12 month commitment to Total Choice.

Are you sure about this - I believe that they will NOT give SC to ANYBODY new, promo or otherwise.

Save

James_F

Discussion Starter · #16 · Aug 29, 2002

You have to ask and you need a good CSR...

Save

Ryan

· #17 · Aug 29, 2002

James: No I got the same $4.99 message, but I don't have TC Premier. I thought maybe the message was geared to each subsciber, but then again, why wouldn't DirecTV take the opportunity to push the Premier package if they could.

Save

BrettR

· #18 · Aug 30, 2002

Originally posted by dishrich

Are you sure about this - I believe that they will NOT give SC to ANYBODY new, promo or otherwise.

Yes, I downgraded few weeks ago to Select Choice and HBO from Total Choice Plus with local channels. I have a S/A Tivo and a Showstopper, so didnt really need the local channels except I get the Allentown PBS station, but I actually didnt watch it ever. I will upgrade to Total Choice later someday again, but I wanted HBO for the original specials which currently are on.

I also was tired of paying $40/mo and paying for ads for Bowflex and other junk 24x7. Its not really the money issue, but I do want to save more money than spend now. I wish I could take the Dish AT 50 package, or customize my own AT 50 package for $22.99 a month. I like Dish Network's AT 50 better, but I'd swap a few channels like TNN for Discovery Health. I dont need cartoon networks or Disney channels, would rather take FOX News. I'd be cheering for a merger, if this was a promise, let subscribers customize their own packages. I'd figure one ESPN would be worth about 4 channels, but for most part the regular basic cable channels arent expensive so each could be counted as one channel each. Maybe a similar AT 50, for $22.99 with locals maybe $30, I'd support merger. Echostar did say they will have increased bargaining power over program distributors. Of course, they could never offer what I suggest as it would be way too customer interest focused, not in interest for business (echostar or program distributor). Certain channels like YES demand to be in the basic packages, so they can collect their $2/sub/mo revenue. They think this is a given right that should be given, so the program distributor would never allow E* to do this. Even if they did, E* would rather us pay more, so their margins are better.

See less See more

Save

The Old Wizard

· #19 · Aug 30, 2002

It was announced at the Tivo Community forums at http://www.tivocommunity.com that if you have either a series 1 or series 2 DirecTivo, & subscibe to Total Choice, or above the subscription fee will be reduced to $4.95 per month. If you subscribe to Total Choice Premier there will be no monthly Tivo subscription fee for both series 1 & series 2 DirecTivos. This has been confirmed by TivoPony who is one of the TiVo Reps that are a part of that forum.

This will probably affect most DirecTivo owners since it was required to subscibe to at least the Total Choice package for one year when we purchased them.

Save

1 - 19 of 19 Posts

Status: Not open for further replies.

Top Contributors this Month