HBO HD part of HD Package

[taj2]

I just spent an hour fighting with DTV about my HD DVR rebate from September...

During the discussion I mentioned that I wanted to cancel the HD package as all I watch is HBO and the locals now that football season is over. The woman (in retention) stated that I would lose HBO if I cancelled the HD package. I thought if you subscribed to HBO or Showtime that you got the HD channel?

She gave me Showtime for 6 months so I will keep the package for at least that long but please clear up my confusion....

[dswallow]

They are wrong. If you subscribe to HBO, you get HBO HD as part of the HBO subscription; same for Showtime. The HD Package is not required.

Just ignore what they say; the computer handles it; they don't. Cancel the HD Package, and you'll still have HBO HD and/or Showtime HD if you subscribe to HBO and/or Showtime, respectively.

[taj2]

Thanks for confirming this.

Thier customer service has been really sketchy lately. This mail-in rebate thing really is bothering me. It shouldn't be that hard.

I could not get any information if they will be rolling out any new HD channels other than locals.

[mssturgeon]

Originally Posted by taj2

Thanks for confirming this.

Thier customer service has been really sketchy lately. This mail-in rebate thing really is bothering me. It shouldn't be that hard.

I could not get any information if they will be rolling out any new HD channels other than locals.

DirecTV has always been (and probably always will be) tight-lipped about new channels. You will almost never see or hear anyone give any hint of new channels coming until a press release is issued. Believe me, I've tried ;-)

It comes down simply to dollars (as does everything). With channel contract negotiations, it is much better for both DirecTV and their customers if negotiations are kept secret until everything is signed, sealed, and delivered. Keeps the subscription costs down.

And related to your HBO-HD discussion, dswallow has hit it on the head. The HD package is completely separate. Related to your question, I asked their director of PR while at CES why I couldn't get HBO-HD separate from the other HBO channels, and the simple answer is that HBO doesn't allow it to be sold that way. It's the bundle or nothing.

Cheers,

- Shane

[robn77]

Originally Posted by mssturgeon

DirecTV has always been (and probably always will be) tight-lipped about new channels. You will almost never see or hear anyone give any hint of new channels coming until a press release is issued. Believe me, I've tried ;-)

It comes down simply to dollars (as does everything). With channel contract negotiations, it is much better for both DirecTV and their customers if negotiations are kept secret until everything is signed, sealed, and delivered. Keeps the subscription costs down.

And related to your HBO-HD discussion, dswallow has hit it on the head. The HD package is completely separate. Related to your question, I asked their director of PR while at CES why I couldn't get HBO-HD separate from the other HBO channels, and the simple answer is that HBO doesn't allow it to be sold that way. It's the bundle or nothing.

Cheers,

- Shane

Same goes for the Center Ice channels. I do not subscribe to the HD channels but I can see the games on Channel 97 when they have a HD broadcast on it.

Funny thing is that I sometimes get the NBA games on 94 & 95 as well...