[sigma1914]

I'm trying to help my folks be practical on their Directv and would like some input. It's not about "getting the cheapest deal," but it's about getting their bang for the buck. We have 2 HDDVRs Here's a look at their current charges:

TOTAL CHOICE PLUS - Charge
$54.99
$3.44
Primary Leased Receiver - LeaseFee Free Rcvr
(-$4.99)
(-$0.41)
Primary Leased Receiver - Charge
$4.99
$0.41
Leased Receiver - Charge
$4.99
$0.41
HD Access - Charge
$9.99
$0.62
HBO and STARZ - Charge
$25.00
$1.56

This equals out to $101. Would it make sense to upgrade to Premium? What's the total bill for Premium with 2 HD DVRs? The addition on ESPNU & Showtime would be great if it won't cost an arm and a leg. What are you guys paying?

Note: I tried modifying the plan online and it indicated I'd need a new plan. I'm a bit more confused, lol.

 

[harsh]

The DVR fee seems to be missing. What's up with that?

Premier would not save money as it starts at $104.99 for the package before taxes. Receiver costs and HD Access would remain the same.

The price difference should be an additional $25 plus taxes. The current Premier package isn't the value it used to be.

 

[dtrell]

id say keep what they have and dump hbo and starz...thatll save em almost 30 bucks right there.

 

[jimb726]

I'm trying to help my folks be practical on their Directv and would like some input. It's not about "getting the cheapest deal," but it's about getting their bang for the buck. We have 2 HDDVRs Here's a look at their current charges:

TOTAL CHOICE PLUS - Charge
$54.99
$3.44
Primary Leased Receiver - LeaseFee Free Rcvr
(-$4.99)
(-$0.41)
Primary Leased Receiver - Charge
$4.99
$0.41
Leased Receiver - Charge
$4.99
$0.41
HD Access - Charge
$9.99
$0.62
HBO and STARZ - Charge
$25.00
$1.56

This equals out to $101. Would it make sense to upgrade to Premium? What's the total bill for Premium with 2 HD DVRs? The addition on ESPNU & Showtime would be great if it won't cost an arm and a leg. What are you guys paying?

Note: I tried modifying the plan online and it indicated I'd need a new plan. I'm a bit more confused, lol.

If I am not mistaken, Total Choice PLus is an old package which has been replaced with one that is 3.00/mo more. Thats why you are getting the message that you need to change your package. If you just want to add something just call in and the CSR can add it without deleting the old package.

 

[bigwad]

If you have an older plan, I wouldn't change it. To get what I have now it would cost me quite a bit more. I get the Golf channel and a few others I'm grandfathered into. That has kept me from upgrading my package to anything else. I had the Total Choice Plus, now it costs more and is just Total Choice I think.

 

[ronsanjim]

Though not on their website, why not have them get the Preferred Choice plan @$32.99? 120 channels with many great one's for "adults".

 

[Justin23]

Preferred Choice is a base package for "WorldDirect". It can not be a standalone package, you need to add a WorldDirect language and have a special WorldDirect dish. And its over 60 channels in English, not 120.

J

 

[Justin23]

Total cost for changing from what you currently have to Premier with 2 receivers and HD and DVR is $126. Do they even watch HBO and Starz? If not, drop them from the package. If they do, with the Plus HD-DVR package with 2 receivers and HBO, Starz & Sports Pack would be $113. Do you have your DVR service grandfathered into your Total Choice Plus package?

J

 

[ronsanjim]

Preferred Choice is a base package for "WorldDirect". It can not be a standalone package, you need to add a WorldDirect language and have a special WorldDirect dish. And its over 60 channels in English, not 120.

J

The CSR told me I could always cancel the language programming and just keep the Preferred Choice at $32.99, or the Direct Basic package at $9.99. There is no time minimum when getting an International dish/programming. You simply had to keep Direct for 18 months, because of the new dish added to your roof. Adding one of the cheaper languages (say Italian for $9.99) and its still less than the higher regular packages. With no installation charges it was a great deal for me. And it does state 120 channels in English in their listing.

 

[Justin23]

XM Satellite Radio channels are included in that 120 total.

Here is a link:
http://directv.com/see/pdf/DTV_International_Channel_Lineup.pdf

J

 

[mogulman]

Anyone know if these channels include any regional sports channels? I'm mostly interested in Altitude Sports for Colorado.

 

[Justin23]

Which channels?

J

 

[ronsanjim]

XM Satellite Radio channels are included in that 120 total.

Only 50 XM Radio channels are included, the rest are English channels Also see my edited post explaining you do not have to keep any language programming for a minimum time, as you can always cancel that part. The CSR stated you can always remove the langauge portion, but of course must keep a Direct basic for at least 18 months.

 

[heisman]

The CSR told me I could always cancel the language programming and just keep the Preferred Choice at $32.99, or the Direct Basic package at $9.99. There is no time minimum when getting an International dish/programming. You simply had to keep Direct for 18 months, because of the new dish added to your roof. Adding one of the cheaper languages (say Italian for $9.99) and its still less than the higher regular packages. With no installation charges it was a great deal for me. And it does state 120 channels in English in their listing.

That's the package I have during non-football season. I pay $53 a month with HD access and DVR service. Well worth it.

 

[ThomasM]

I wonder if the super-secret "Select" package is still around?

It was $42.99 and only can be activated by the retention group.

I was annoyed at the high price for Total Choice Plus but wanted more than FAMILY so this package was offered. (This was before I had a programming commitment, of course)

It includes a bunch of "variety" channels (TNT, USA, FX, etc.) and a bunch of news channels (CNN, FOX, etc.) but you LOSE a number of nice channels in FAMILY like National Geographic, Hallmark, etc. But there are no kids channels to speak of.

Ultimately, I determined that it wasn't worth the extra $13 so I dropped back to FAMILY which is fine for me nowadays. But it may be an option for you...

 

[CJTE]

I wonder if the super-secret "Select" package is still around?

Yes. But only veteran CSR's know about it, AND, as of May 15th, access to that package was revoked. There are some Supervisors (and I mean, enough to count on one hand) that can still do it.

It was $42.99 and only can be activated by the retention group.

Ummm. Last I checked it was between Family and Choice, sitting at $32.99.
Retention wasnt the necessarily the only ones who had access to it, and unfortunately due to some new policies most retention CSRs dont have access to it even if they knew what it was.

Definetly will have a better chance if you email it in versus phone it in.

Things that go through the email dept actually tend to get reviewed, and most of the time even sent to a specific handler who knows about the subject. Whereas calling in you just get a Customer Service/Protection Plan C.S.R.

 

[newsposter]

for the fun of it, here's the pricing details

104 for premier not shown. I'm thinking of ditching it and maybe keeping one movie channel plus 5 dvr fee of course. Or maybe just the extra pak

FAMILY™ - Locals Included
$29.99 Monthly
Offering over 45 channels, including locals, this package features a variety of general entertainment channels the whole family will enjoy

CHOICE™ - Locals Included
$52.99
This value-rich package offers over 150 top channels featuring movies, sports and family favorites, as well as your local channels.

CHOICE XTRA™ - Locals Included
$57.99
Our most popular package, CHOICE XTRA™ features over 200 channels, including locals, for the best in movies, sports, music, specialty and family programming.

PLUS DVR™ - Locals Included
$62.99
Everything in the CHOICE XTRA™ package, including over 200 channels with locals, plus DVR service.

PLUS HD DVR™ - Locals Included
$72.99
PLUS HD DVR combines CHOICE XTRA's 200+ channels with HD Access and DVR service to deliver an unbeatable full-featured entertainment package. Locals are included

http://www.directv.com/DTVAPP/global/comparePackages.jsp?assetId=3190001&tab=3

 

[BillN96]

I was just offered the "super secret" SELECT package and I took it. Does anyone have a channel lineup for this package? I would like to know what channels I am paying for. From what I was told, this is the cheapest package that includes the ESPN channels.