[TimG517]

I don't believe I have the Superfan package this year (yet) but I am currently watching the Lions / Falcons game in HD with ST.

Is this a free preview for this week, or will I continue to receive games in HD this year without that dumb superfan package?

Why does DirecTV offer all those HD channels, but then make us pay $99 for Superfan? Some of us that are not in a fantasy league only watch the games in HD, maybe 2 games / week at the most. In my opinion there should be an offering from DirecTV that would not give us the Red Zone channel, or Supercast, or anything else but games in HD.

Just my 2 cents.

Go Lions!!!!

 

[joshjr]

Yes it is a free preview for the 1st week!!!

 

[mishawaka]

you root for the lions, and you live in decatur. worst of both worlds.

 

[TimG517]

Yea, thanks! I am new to Decatur, so it's not THAT bad YET.

But, like usual, the Lions are pathetic. Very Very pathetic.

Glad DirecTV gave me Sunday Ticket for free this year, I would be pissed if I had paid for this garbage!

 

[BattleZone]

Why does DirecTV offer all those HD channels, but then make us pay $99 for Superfan?

Because those HD channels are separate feeds from the SD versions, requiring the use of a lot of precious HD satellite bandwidth as well as lots of additional costs for additional HD feeds from the networks and additional ground control equipment, maintenance, and monitoring. In other words, it costs a lot of extra money to PROVIDE the HD versions, so if you want them, it's gonna cost ya.

TANSTAAFL

 

[generalpatton78]

Because those HD channels are separate feeds from the SD versions, requiring the use of a lot of precious HD satellite bandwidth as well as lots of additional costs for additional HD feeds from the networks and additional ground control equipment, maintenance, and monitoring. In other words, it costs a lot of extra money to PROVIDE the HD versions, so if you want them, it's gonna cost ya.

TANSTAAFL

I've never bought this answer it's just BS. It's because they wanted a premiere service for ST. Gamemix and Redzone didn't give them the subscribers they wanted for that service so they ripped the HD versions from ST. With your logic they should charge extra for SD next year because after the big switch it will be the SD feed that will need extra work to get it up.

 

[BattleZone]

I've never bought this answer it's just BS. It's because they wanted a premiere service for ST.

Of COURSE it's a premiere service, and no, it's not BS. All of the equipment and infrastructure to get ST to you in HD is new, and had to be purchased, installed, configured, connected, and monitored. That's expensive, and those costs has to be recouped somehow. And since all that expense was for a small subset of users, those users have to pay for it. How is that difficult to understand?

Now, 5 years from now, when we no longer think about SDTV or HDTV, and just think TV (i.e., virtually all TV will be HD), you will probably see the SD version eliminated completely and HD will be a standard part of ST. But by then, all of the initial expenses will be paid for (and a profit made).

That's how all companies do things.

When Mercedes put air bags in their S-class cars in the 80s, it was a super-expensive option. Today, all new cars have them, the price is included in the cost of the car for everyone, and the wholesale cost is much, much lower. I could give you dozens of other examples.

TV is ENTERTAINMENT; a luxury item. Sunday Ticket is even more of a luxury item, and Super Fan even more so. Not everyone who'd like them can afford them, but it's available for anyone who can afford to pay. If it has no value for you, don't pay, but don't get upset that it isn't free.

I'd like to drive a Ferarri F430, but I choose to make due with my Honda Civic, and don't "blame" Ferarri for making the F430 too expensive.

 

[joshjr]

Of COURSE it's a premiere service, and no, it's not BS. All of the equipment and infrastructure to get ST to you in HD is new, and had to be purchased, installed, configured, connected, and monitored. That's expensive, and those costs has to be recouped somehow. And since all that expense was for a small subset of users, those users have to pay for it. How is that difficult to understand?

Now, 5 years from now, when we no longer think about SDTV or HDTV, and just think TV (i.e., virtually all TV will be HD), you will probably see the SD version eliminated completely and HD will be a standard part of ST. But by then, all of the initial expenses will be paid for (and a profit made).

That's how all companies do things.

When Mercedes put air bags in their S-class cars in the 80s, it was a super-expensive option. Today, all new cars have them, the price is included in the cost of the car for everyone, and the wholesale cost is much, much lower. I could give you dozens of other examples.

TV is ENTERTAINMENT; a luxury item. Sunday Ticket is even more of a luxury item, and Super Fan even more so. Not everyone who'd like them can afford them, but it's available for anyone who can afford to pay. If it has no value for you, don't pay, but don't get upset that it isn't free.

I'd like to drive a Ferarri F430, but I choose to make due with my Honda Civic, and don't "blame" Ferarri for making the F430 too expensive.

Very well put. I dont think I could of said it any better.

 

[TimG517]

It's not that I can't afford it at all.
I was just thinking that if I pay for HD service, and subscribe to ST, then I should get ST games in HD.

I do understand the logic here.

I was just asking a question, stating my thoughts.

I still love DirecTV. Will never have cable again.

 

[MIAMI1683]

It's not that I can't afford it at all.
I was just thinking that if I pay for HD service, and subscribe to ST, then I should get ST games in HD.

I do understand the logic here.

I was just asking a question, stating my thoughts.

I still love DirecTV. Will never have cable again.

You're right to a degree. If you have ST and sub to HD the HD feeds should be included IMHO. Now the RZ and Gamemix and player tracker, and Supercast should be an "upcharge" if you ask me.

 

[lwilli201]

ST/SF are definately luxury items. I had ST back in the 90's but it got just to expensive. The cost just became more than it was worth to me.

 

[CTJon]

Last year the first couple of weeks were "free" - which of course means that those who pay actually get less for their money than they think.
Extra cost? The games are broadcast in HD by the networks that cover them, sure there is some extra cost (probably more to carry both SD and HD than the extra for HD).

It is a way to make money, plain and simple as every other charging plan and issue. They should start charging extra for carrying SD games.

 

[dodge boy]

Of COURSE it's a premiere service, and no, it's not BS. All of the equipment and infrastructure to get ST to you in HD is new, and had to be purchased, installed, configured, connected, and monitored. That's expensive, and those costs has to be recouped somehow. And since all that expense was for a small subset of users, those users have to pay for it. How is that difficult to understand?

Now, 5 years from now, when we no longer think about SDTV or HDTV, and just think TV (i.e., virtually all TV will be HD), you will probably see the SD version eliminated completely and HD will be a standard part of ST. But by then, all of the initial expenses will be paid for (and a profit made).

That's how all companies do things.

When Mercedes put air bags in their S-class cars in the 80s, it was a super-expensive option. Today, all new cars have them, the price is included in the cost of the car for everyone, and the wholesale cost is much, much lower. I could give you dozens of other examples.

TV is ENTERTAINMENT; a luxury item. Sunday Ticket is even more of a luxury item, and Super Fan even more so. Not everyone who'd like them can afford them, but it's available for anyone who can afford to pay. If it has no value for you, don't pay, but don't get upset that it isn't free.

I'd like to drive a Ferarri F430, but I choose to make due with my Honda Civic, and don't "blame" Ferarri for making the F430 too expensive.

I call BS because all the NFLST channels are just Local CBS or FOX affiliates, and those networks are in HD already, all they do is rebroadcast them..... They should get rid of all the SD feeds that have HD overlap, all they need is an SD receiver that will receive and down rez HD, oh wait the R22 already does that.

 

[dcowboy7]

I don't believe I have the Superfan package this year (yet) but I am currently watching the Lions / Falcons game in HD with ST.

Is this a free preview for this week, or will I continue to receive games in HD this year without that dumb superfan package?

Why does DirecTV offer all those HD channels, but then make us pay $99 for Superfan? Some of us that are not in a fantasy league only watch the games in HD, maybe 2 games / week at the most. In my opinion there should be an offering from DirecTV that would not give us the Red Zone channel, or Supercast, or anything else but games in HD.

Just my 2 cents.

Go Lions!!!!

if u call directv u will probably be able to get superfan for free.

 

[KAL]

if u call directv u will probably be able to get superfan for free.

Exactly what I did. Although I was a very new customer and im pretty sure that played a big part in it.

 

[curt8403]

I've never bought this answer it's just BS. It's because they wanted a premiere service for ST. Gamemix and Redzone didn't give them the subscribers they wanted for that service so they ripped the HD versions from ST. With your logic they should charge extra for SD next year because after the big switch it will be the SD feed that will need extra work to get it up.

it is a carry over from the days when there were no SD / HD feeds on the same channel. when SF first started, there were no HD feeds on Directv of the SD channel. just 5 or so channels which you paid extra for. Perhaps it should change now, but who do you talk to ???

 

[BattleZone]

I call BS because all the NFLST channels are just Local CBS or FOX affiliates, and those networks are in HD already, all they do is rebroadcast them..... They should get rid of all the SD feeds that have HD overlap, all they need is an SD receiver that will receive and down rez HD, oh wait the R22 already does that.

So, the networks shoot the game with HD cameras, and create an HD and an SD feed. Now DirecTV has to pay for the second (HD) feed to get the signal to the uplink station, has to buy additional HD equipment to process, monitor, and mix that feed at the uplink station, then uplinks the feed to HD transponders that *could* be used for other things, such as national HD channels that generate more revenue. But instead, all that extra expense is used to create a second feed (the HD feed) for Sunday Ticket.

Whether anyone wants to admit it or not, there are very real costs associated with making an HD version of ST available, especially since the paying audience is a fairly small percentage of DirecTV's subscriber base. Also, I'll bet that the NFL is taking a cut of that money to help pay for the HD feeds and equipment at the stadiums, as well.

Plenty of people pay for SuperFan, so it obviously has value. Again, if you personally don't find value in it, don't subscribe.

 

[WoofusMaximus]

Exactly what I did. Although I was a very new customer and im pretty sure that played a big part in it.

FWIW, I've had ST the last few years, and this was the first year I thought about not getting it, especially if I had to pay for Superfan - I wanted the games in HD, wasn't really prepared to watch in SD, since I finally got an HDTV, and the price point considering how many games I'd watch wasn't worth it to me.

I called DirecTV, and ended up with free Superfan. Others may have gotten more, but the point for me is that I was going to cancel the service, and would have gone through with it otherwise. This is the first time I've called for such a price issue, so that may have added to it in my case.

WoofusMaximus

 

[evan_s]

So, the networks shoot the game with HD cameras, and create an HD and an SD feed. Now DirecTV has to pay for the second (HD) feed to get the signal to the uplink station, has to buy additional HD equipment to process, monitor, and mix that feed at the uplink station, then uplinks the feed to HD transponders that *could* be used for other things, such as national HD channels that generate more revenue. But instead, all that extra expense is used to create a second feed (the HD feed) for Sunday Ticket.

Whether anyone wants to admit it or not, there are very real costs associated with making an HD version of ST available, especially since the paying audience is a fairly small percentage of DirecTV's subscriber base. Also, I'll bet that the NFL is taking a cut of that money to help pay for the HD feeds and equipment at the stadiums, as well.

Plenty of people pay for SuperFan, so it obviously has value. Again, if you personally don't find value in it, don't subscribe.

Since they seem to share the Sunday ticket channels with the HD PPV channels the hardware cost is not exclusively for Sunday Ticket. Most of the time that hardware and infrastructure is generating revenue for DirecTV as PPVHD. There is some lost revenue from not having the PPV channels up during sunday ticket but it's nearly as much as you make it seem.

As to taking some of the SuperFan to pay for covering the games in HD I don't really buy that either. The games would be done in HD either way so they can be HD for the area's where it's the local broadcast. It might be speeding things up some but it's not the only reason these games are going HD and I'd say it's not even the main reason.

Overall I don't think the superfan is a bad deal and I do find myself liking the other things included but it does seem like a bit of off. I doubt I could consider everything else in the SuperFan worth 99 with out the HD but it does feel like the HD was put there just to get most people to pay the extra 99 dollars.

 

[MartyS]

What I miss from last year is the ability to watch a game, somewhat compressed on the screen, but having constant scores show around the game. Like to stay on top of what's going on in the league.