Direct TV lost many channels

[SP33Demon]

"fare to pay". I really hope they didn't send that letter out with a stupid typo like that.

The bottom line is that steaming a la carte is the future, and Viacom doesn't understand that more and more people will be cutting the cord b/c we have an infinite amount of other options for entertainment online. Either adapt or die, and Viacom is going to die by sticking with such a stupid model.

 

[cheezy321]

Just called DirecTV. Got NFL Sunday Ticket + internet access for $150, $20 off my bill for 6 months and Showtime and Starz for free (for 6 months).

 

[Linflas]

Anyone have Direct TV and not getting a good number of standard channels? If you have missed the communication from Michael White CEO, here it is.

Michael White (DIRECTV Chairman, President And CEO)
Hi, I’m Mike White CEO of DIRECTV, for the past several months, I’ve been in negotiations with Viacom over how much of your bill is fare to pay for their networks. Unfortunately, Viacom has decided to take their channels away from our customers. It’s a temporary, regrettable tactic to try to force you to pay substantially more for all their networks even the ones you don’t watch or care about. We think that’s unreasonable.

[Michael White]
At the very least we believe Viacom should be willing to give you family the choice to pay for only those channels you watch. But so far they’ve refused. Viacom continues to insist on an all or nothing approach, they demand that you pay over 30% more. That’s an extra billion dollars for the exact same channels you already receive. Rest assured, both sides will come to an agreement. So please ignore any of their scare tactics by standing firm. DIRECTV can continue to keep your monthly bill as low as possible, bringing you and your family the very best television experience at the most reasonable cost is and always will be DIRECTV’s promise to you. To find out more how we are working to resolve this as quickly as possible visit directvpromise.com and thanks for your patience.

Are you aware that Michael White makes 5.9 Million dollars a year!

I’m calling to cancel Direct TV. They would not break the contract, but did offer me FREE showtime and Stars and $5 a month off my monthly billing. If you have Direct TV, give them a call.

Who ever heard of only paying for channels that only you watch? Heck, I only watch 4 or 5 channels and would not mind only paying for 4 or 5 channels.

Are you aware that Viacom CEO Philippe Dauman made 43.11 million in 2011 so wtf does the CEO of DTV making 5.9 million have to do with anything?

 

[hclarkjr]

surprised none of the repost nazis got this thread yet. http://forums.anandtech.com/showthread.php?t=2256962

 

[Kadarin]

"fare to pay". I really hope they didn't send that letter out with a stupid typo like that.

No kidding. That "communication" reads like it was written by a sixth-grader.

 

[Newbian]

What are you really watching that requires you to have cable TV now a days? ESPN? Everything else you can d/l or stream and watch at your leisure. I bought a HDTV antenna for network HD channels, and got my internet service for streaming and d/ling TV episodes I wanna watch.

The problem is it's not legal to download tv episodes here + people still need decent internet connections for the paying services like netflix.

Also with a dvr it makes it even better and using a attenna like that is not available for many people in larger buildings.

 

[Ns1]

The problem is it's not legal to download tv episodes here + people still need decent internet connections for the paying services like netflix.

Also with a dvr it makes it even better and using a attenna like that is not available for many people in larger buildings.

indoor antenna + netflix + amz instant = a whole shitload of content for $15/month.

 

[Newbian]

indoor antenna + netflix + amz instant = a whole shitload of content for $15/month.

Is that before or after you factor in the cost of each item needed to use it?

A antenna around here is useless.

 

[CPA]

Just called DirecTV. Got NFL Sunday Ticket + internet access for $150, $20 off my bill for 6 months and Showtime and Starz for free (for 6 months).

See this is BS. My wife called and only got $30 credit immediately and $10 credit for the next 3 months. Where is the consistency in treating customers?

 

[Ns1]

Is that before or after you factor in the cost of each item needed to use it?

+$35 antenna +$110 blu-ray wifi player

Combine this setup with Redbox and you got $1.50 BluRay VOD.

Pays for itself after 3 cable bills. Only weakness to this setup is live sports.

 

[surfsatwerk]

+$35 antenna +$110 blu-ray wifi player

Combine this setup with Redbox and you got $1.50 BluRay VOD.

Pays for itself after 3 cable bills. Only weakness to this setup is live sports.

Cable companies should get down on their hands and knees and thank ESPN.

 

[Newbian]

See this is BS. My wife called and only got $30 credit immediately and $10 credit for the next 3 months. Where is the consistency in treating customers?

Maybe too many people took advantage of it already or based on how long you have been with them.

 

[Newbian]

+$35 antenna +$110 blu-ray wifi player

Combine this setup with Redbox and you got $1.50 BluRay VOD.

Pays for itself after 3 cable bills. Only weakness to this setup is live sports.

Nearest redbox around here is 30ish miles and generally they have crap when I do look at them.

 

[torpid]

+$35 antenna +$110 blu-ray wifi player

Combine this setup with Redbox and you got $1.50 BluRay VOD.

Pays for itself after 3 cable bills. Only weakness to this setup is live sports.

And high susceptibility to spoilers since for many good shows you will be roughly 1 season behind at all times.

 

[Ns1]

Nearest redbox around here is 30ish miles and generally they have crap when I do look at them.

Get out of the boonies. I got 10 within 3 miles. When you have 10 within 3 miles, easy to find what you want using the website reservation system.

And high susceptibility to spoilers since for many good shows you will be roughly 1 season behind at all times.

For cable yes. For network no, since I actually have the prime time schedules memorized and actually watch the shows live instead of DVR'd lol. I just stay out of game of thrones / breaking bad / mad men threads.

IDGAF since my cable bill is a big fat ZERO.

 

[torpid]

For cable yes. For network no, since I actually have the prime time schedules memorized and actually watch the shows live instead of DVR'd lol. I just stay out of game of thrones / breaking bad / mad men threads.

I think AMC has episodes for purchase pretty quickly. So you should be safe there for a small fee.

 

[Ns1]

I think AMC has episodes for purchase pretty quickly. So you should be safe there for a small fee.

I'm in no rush. I just wait until shows are finished and then watch the whole season in a few days (Dexter).

 

[cheezy321]

See this is BS. My wife called and only got $30 credit immediately and $10 credit for the next 3 months. Where is the consistency in treating customers?

Call again. Be nice to the rep. Ask if they have any other offers available. Ask if they can do better than the offers than what they just said. If not, then take what they give you.

 

[Newbian]

Get out of the boonies. I got 10 within 3 miles. When you have 10 within 3 miles, easy to find what you want using the website reservation system.

Ehhh, I would rather support a local store for almost the same price then use redbox anyways as long as it's not a big chain.

 

[Ns1]

Ehhh, I would rather support a local store for almost the same price then use redbox anyways as long as it's not a big chain.

online reservations + multiple locations > local business

 

[bfdd]

Viacom and DIRECTV are both at fault here. They both want ridiculous amounts of money for their ever diminishing in value services/products they offer. Media is tanking in value and media companies are freaking out over it. The ease of internet and technology for any average joe to put some stupid shit up for others to consume is drastically lower the value of even the most highly expensive produced content. Now DIRECTV has a dying business model too, to few choices and to much cost. More a la carte and lower prices. Hell iTunes 1 dollar a song is to expensive now a days as I have recently paid 10 dollars DIRECTLY to a musician and got 24 songs ON CD and digital download FLAC, it's actually quite easy to buy music directly from muscians/performers now a days.

 

[lupi]

Anyone paying > $100 for cable tv/satellite is an idiot

it's hard not to now that they are making you pay for drm protection.

 

[DrPizza]

You know you can get those channels for free right? I personally like having a lot of cable channels even if I only watch about 15-20 with any regularity, so cable makes sense for me. I don't understand people who are shelling out money to watch channels that are available for free over public airwaves. A subscription to Netflix streaming would be less than you're likely paying for cable and they have every episode of Psych (so far).

Really? How, and how? Not everyone lives close to a major city. And not everyone has the ability to stream seasons of cable television shows.

Ehhh, I would rather support a local store for almost the same price then use redbox anyways as long as it's not a big chain.

I actually thought the same thing, so started using the local store. They only have two prices posted anywhere in the store - new releases for $3-whatever, and 3 non-newly released movies for 3 nights for 3 dollars. I did the new releases a couple of times, then thought I'd watch the whole Bourne trilogy one weekend. Got busy, didn't have time to take the videos back, nor wanted to make a special trip to take them back, figuring the extra rental would work out cheaper than gas for a special trip. Dropped them off two days late. Wtf?! $18 in late fees? I was expecting $3, since that's the regular rental rate. Redbox or netflix or whatever the machine is at the grocery store for future rentals.

 

[Ns1]

Really? How, and how? Not everyone lives close to a major city. And not everyone has the ability to stream seasons of cable television shows.

$100 cable bills is the price to pay for living in the boonies =P




I actually thought the same thing, so started using the local store. They only have two prices posted anywhere in the store - new releases for $3-whatever, and 3 non-newly released movies for 3 nights for 3 dollars. I did the new releases a couple of times, then thought I'd watch the whole Bourne trilogy one weekend. Got busy, didn't have time to take the videos back, nor wanted to make a special trip to take them back, figuring the extra rental would work out cheaper than gas for a special trip. Dropped them off two days late. Wtf?! $18 in late fees? I was expecting $3, since that's the regular rental rate. Redbox or netflix or whatever the machine is at the grocery store for future rentals.

yeah I love redbox. $1 per day late, so I don't really care if I'm late.

I mean FFS Redbox gives you coupons all the time so the total cost of rental usually comes at a dollar AFTER tax.

 

[DrPizza]

I mean FFS Redbox gives you coupons all the time so the total cost of rental usually comes at a dollar AFTER tax.

If you're talking "total cost" then it would be around $5, since I have to drive to get the movie and return it.