[trnsfrguy]

Could this have anything to do with Directv going with leasing equipment on 3/1/06 ?

 

[speedcouch]

I think if this comes to pass I'm gonna be making my first serious complaint call to DirecTV in 11 years and cutting programming down to a minimum package for awhile for the first time ever just to make a point (and test my ability to live with the lesser package ).

Funny, only one price increase that I remember from DirecTV (since 1995) BEFORE Rupert took over and what, this will be like the third one in the last couple of years?

I know I can't live without the Premiere package, so they've got me (and the bastards know it). :down: Last time someone called (last year) for a survey about my satisfaction and I questioned the last price increase, the dweeb had to nerve to say "well, cable raised their prices, so we did too." IOW, we don't care what you think, we're gonna stick it to you because cable does...

Cheryl

 

[skaeight]

But Earl, 2 weeks after they bragged about not raising rates and said they would not rasie them this year? This coupled with the coming changes for HDTV are just making cable look a lot more attractive.

That's' what gets me. They either flat out lied or only did it because Dish raised their rates. I just really don't get why they wouldn't stay where they were for at least a year. It would have been such a competitive advantage over Dish. They would have had a lot of converts, and when a new subscriber was looking at both services people would have said, "ok more channels for less money? That's a no brainer."

 

[dswallow]

But Earl, 2 weeks after they bragged about not raising rates and said they would not rasie them this year?

That's precisely why I'm more than annoyed. A net $5 increase isn't troubling by itself. Though there's other reasons...

1) No net channel additions
2) A channel I was paying $9.99 a month for and liked was removed
3) For the first time ever I found the picture qualilty of an SD channel atrocious (SciFi during "The Triangle")
4) A less than impressive overhyped DVR replacing existing products that were impressive isn't confidence-inspiring, coupled with a price increase for DVR service
5) That ridiculous announcement about creating their own content as a lure to teens to get their parents to subscribe. What a waste of money.
6) The focus on a fake "on demand" service that is nothing at all comparable to a real "on demand" service -- they're in denial and they're wasting resources
7) An HD local channel rollout that doesn't give any market all its HD local channels. Smart uncompetitive move and a waste of billions of dollars
8) The apparent degradation of customer service to a level as frustrating as the worst cable companies have been
9) Increasing fees on receivers and increasing cancellation penalties -- counting on discouraging cancellations through penalties ratehr than discouraging cancellations through providing excellent service and an excellent product

I'm just tired of the erosion that DirecTV has been creating over the last year. It hasn't added one single thing to their lineup that didn't also add a drawback of some sort.

As I mentioned in another thread, I could cancel DirecTV completely and barely notice anything missing since all my network and local stations are in HD and receivable by antenna. All I need is a HD TiVo to use. But in the meantime, while waiting, I can reduce my subscription with DirecTV to make a point while keeping my HD TiVo DVR's active for OTA; and if this price increase comes to pass, it's time to start making a point with DirecTV, most likely in anticipation of eventually cancelling the service entirely.

 

[ebonovic]

But Earl, 2 weeks after they bragged about not raising rates and said they would not rasie them this year? This coupled with the coming changes for HDTV are just making cable look a lot more attractive.

I agree with that one... not sure whey did that...
Maybe it was one hand not talking to another... (just like changing the FX channels and not telling someone to send a message out to TiVo users)

It is is ODD and very bad for their PR.

I don't mind the upcomming changes to the HD... at least at this point.
A lot to be decided when formal announcements and real life reports on how that swap out goes.

Frankly... surprised it has taken 10 years to have them start to push a technology shift... but that is a debate for another day.

Even still... I still loath Comcast in this area of the country... Gosh I wish I had access to DSL for FIOS for my internet... I think they cable in my ground is causing the nice discolored line between my access box and my house box...

 

[ebonovic]

3) For the first time ever I found the picture qualilty of an SD channel atrocious (SciFi during "The Triangle")

So I am not going crazy that this week SCI-FI signal has gone in the toilet...
I bet comes Saturday morning we start to see a ton of posts when people start to watch SCI-FI Friday and see it...

 

[minorthr]

Well this increase just about seals it for me. Come one comcast tivo or series 3 I'll take either at this point.

Over the last 2 years D* really has added nothing of value to me or then HD NY feeds of cbs, fox and ABC I cant get nbc because of affiliate issues. I'm not moving to MPEG4 because there is no dvr for it yet and even when that comes out it seems like its going to be a POS.

 

[BillyT2002]

Well this is just gonna turn into that one extra straw someone should've held back. To have the nerve to talk about price decreases then to raise base package rates across the board...

I think if this comes to pass I'm gonna be making my first serious complaint call to DirecTV in 11 years and cutting programming down to a minimum package for awhile for the first time ever just to make a point (and test my ability to live with the lesser package ).

Take up playing Everquest, Dark Age of Camelot or World of Warcraft and you'll never look back to television to provide all of your entertainment needs.

 

[dswallow]

Take up playing Everquest, Dark Age of Camelot or World of Warcraft and you'll never look back to television to provide all of your entertainment needs.

Everwood, Rome and Charmed works better for me.

 

[vigfoot]

i feared murdoch would ruin things. i will drop the premier package and go to total choice next month, and will now actually read cable's mail offerings instead of throwing them directly in the trash. i have no idea wtf FIOS is, but will now research it.

it used to be easy to champion D to all that would listen- i was able to sign 2 people up during the referral promotion.

not gonna help D anymore.

oh well. @ssholes.

 

[Cap'n Jack]

All of this can be traced back to the rising price of energy. Get ready for a couple years of hyper price increases to bring oil back to historic percentages.

 

[dswallow]

All of this can be traced back to the rising price of energy. Get ready for a couple years of hyper price increases to bring oil back to historic percentages.

It's those damn gasoline powered satellites they're using. I knew they should've gone solar.

 

[pianoboy000]

raising rates? what a joke.

 

[moonman]

It's those damn gasoline powered satellites they're using. I knew they should've gone solar.

Yeah, and think of clearing outer space of all that smog!!

 

[purwater]

And to think I left Dish after 7.5 years to get the channels I watched in a cheaper package plus the reliability of the Tivos. Luckily I switched in time to get my Tivos, but I'm not so sure about the pricing now. Damn yous Directv!

 

[ebonovic]

You don't think DISH isn't going to follow suite soon?
Only took them two days to release "their" family package....

And if the true reason in increased cost in programming... Dish is going to have to eat that cost soon... Plus they are going to be like... .Hey if CableCo and DirecTV can raise rates... we will leave them low for a few months to get their ticked of customers, then we can raise ares using the same reasoning...

 

[Mr2sday]

If they'd get TNT-HD I bet most of these complaints would go away temporarily. Will they ever get the hint that this is a channel we want?

I'm also dropping HBO to make up for it.

 

[BlankMan]

That's precisely why I'm more than annoyed. A net $5 increase isn't troubling by itself. Though there's other reasons...

1) No net channel additions
2) A channel I was paying $9.99 a month for and liked was removed
3) For the first time ever I found the picture qualilty of an SD channel atrocious (SciFi during "The Triangle")
4) A less than impressive overhyped DVR replacing existing products that were impressive isn't confidence-inspiring, coupled with a price increase for DVR service
5) That ridiculous announcement about creating their own content as a lure to teens to get their parents to subscribe. What a waste of money.
6) The focus on a fake "on demand" service that is nothing at all comparable to a real "on demand" service -- they're in denial and they're wasting resources
7) An HD local channel rollout that doesn't give any market all its HD local channels. Smart uncompetitive move and a waste of billions of dollars
8) The apparent degradation of customer service to a level as frustrating as the worst cable companies have been
9) Increasing fees on receivers and increasing cancellation penalties -- counting on discouraging cancellations through penalties ratehr than discouraging cancellations through providing excellent service and an excellent product

I'm just tired of the erosion that DirecTV has been creating over the last year. It hasn't added one single thing to their lineup that didn't also add a drawback of some sort.

As I mentioned in another thread, I could cancel DirecTV completely and barely notice anything missing since all my network and local stations are in HD and receivable by antenna. All I need is a HD TiVo to use. But in the meantime, while waiting, I can reduce my subscription with DirecTV to make a point while keeping my HD TiVo DVR's active for OTA; and if this price increase comes to pass, it's time to start making a point with DirecTV, most likely in anticipation of eventually cancelling the service entirely.

Very good points and well said Doug, you should mail this to them.

And LOL on your gas powered sats.

I too will be reading those TWC flyers now, this is getting to be too much. I can get a discount on TWC through work also which may make it even more attractive. Well I won't have to worry about MPEG-4 I guess. I've been telling DTV the last 3 times they called me HD locals mean nothing to me I receive them fine OTA with an antenna in the attic, give me some HD programming I don't get. Now, the only thing left is to figure out how to use my HR10-250 to record OTA once I cancel DTV.

 

[The Flush]

Does the rumored rate increase affect the Para Todos packages?

 

[purwater]

You don't think DISH isn't going to follow suite soon?
Only took them two days to release "their" family package....

And if the true reason in increased cost in programming... Dish is going to have to eat that cost soon... Plus they are going to be like... .Hey if CableCo and DirecTV can raise rates... we will leave them low for a few months to get their ticked of customers, then we can raise ares using the same reasoning...

Oh I know Dish will follow suit. I just was hoping to get cheaper pricing a little longer after switching services. My main reason for switching was the Tivo. I was tired of hoping my Dish DVRs would record my shows. When my Dish 510 DVR finally decided one night to delete the last 8 episodes of 24 back in the summer that was my last straw. The cheaper pricing was icing on the cake. Now I just got cake, but it is good cake.