DirecTV raises a new satellite & its prices
By Richard Lawler 
posted December 29th 2009 4:39PM
posted December 29th 2009 4:39PM
With the successful launch of DirecTV 12 yesterday the satellite company has already announced it will expand to more than 200 HD channels. Of course, by the time it starts operating in Q2 of 2010, viewers will already be paying off that launch in the form of increased rates. Multichannel News points out the email currently going out. highlighting increases from $3 to $5 for programming while DVR fees rise from $5.99 to an even $7 beginning February 9. At the same time subscribers will lose access to XM Satellite Radio channels in lieu of audio from SonicTap. Check out the rate increases for yourself (warning: PDF link) and tell us, are more channels and the prospect of a new DirecTiVo and 3D enough to keep you around?
Nope I unfroze my DTV account and canceled due to the price increases and Tivo delays. I also canceled my mom's account and she has Fios coming out next week. . If Sunday Ticket ever becomes non exclusive, I know other people who would quickly drop them also especially since many of them pay for basic cable in addition for all the times they lose satellite due to the weather.
@brennok
What really pisses me off about DirecTV is that I signed up for one price, and am contractually OBLIGATED TO PAY FOR TWO YEARS, but they are allowed to raise the price? WTF?????? How does this NOT invalidate the contract? They changed the terms of the contract midstream! This will now be TWICE! No wonder Washington State is suing them. I hope we get something out of this.
I have directv and love it, it does everything i need. I cant stand the sci at boxes here in Southern nevada. Just checked out SonicTap too. looks like crap in a bag.
No Windows Media Center = your service doesn't exist to me.
I'm with directv for the moment but this was the last straw for me... either going to cable (cablecrd) or dish. Either way I'm going to media center full time so I'm going to decide which way I'm going in a few weeks at CES.
Well, it's either that, or Comcast. Had a terrible experience with Comcast which was what caused us to switch - signal kept flaking out (and we lost internet at the same time, a couple of times causing me to lose international phone calls). Comcast sent techs a couple of times, and after the third time to check the wiring in our house (which was less than a year old), we gave up and switched. There was a 2 month period where you could watch the new satellite dishes in our neighborhood go up every week, it was clearly effecting a large number of homes (none of which is really relevant, but y'all said on the last podcast you'd never heard of anyone complaining about Comcast, so I figured I'd fix that for you).
So for us, it's a case of sucking it up, or switching to terrestrial only. Honestly, the latter along with netflix seems kind of tempting.
The rumor is that Dish Network is going to raise some of their prices too. Not in programming, but they are re-structuring their receiver leasing fees. This will go into effect around February too.
Jerks, the Sat radio was one of the best things. Now I have to activate one more damned sat radio for the house.
I've got one word to type: NFL Sunday Ticket
I'm a long LONG time DirectTV user and I'm extremely unhappy about the fact they are going to be getting rid of XM. Someone is going to have to explain to me why reducing the amount of features I have is going to equate to raising my prices... hmmm?
SonicTap's website looks like crap. I am notfeeling like I am going to enjoy this at all. They should make packages minus the music channels so I can buy the xm antenna/tuner card for my receiver and use the discount for service.
How do I get rid of the unverified status. It says I am logged in.
@(Unverified) twitter josh, he fixed it for me pretty quick
While I am just as unhappy about the rate increase--and this being a convenient time since my two-year commitment ends in about a week--I am more than surprised that others actually used the D* music offerings.
But, considering that Sirius and XM culled favor from the FCC to merge, I do not believe that culling of favors will stop with audio. It could be that D* finds XM Sirius a future threat in services rendered.
Now, as for the rate hike it does not surprise me at all. But considering I am in a black hole for competitive offerings (with external hard drives I get about 120-180 hours of HD recording capacity, none with Comcrap locally because my franchise uses older Moto boxes that afford only 14 hours), I think I will stay a little longer.
What I will do, though, is probably consider reducing the number of receivers in the home and implement video switching to the various locations, There are only two people in my home.
I do not know where this measure of additional HD is coming from. When you look at individual subscriber benefit I just do not see it. Its more likely to support more HD PPV as it isn't HD locals. The locals in Atlanta are only half-represented with D*.
I love direct tv !
I switched to Comcast a few years ago and haven't looked back. I was a long-time DirecTV customer, but got tired of the rate increases and signal dropouts. I also would have to cut down several large trees at our new place to get a clear view of the sky.
The only thing I miss is the NFL Sunday Ticket, but now that Comcast carries the RedZone HD channel, it really isn't too painful.
I never listened to the XM stuff anyway, so I could care less. Plus my bill is only going up 4 bucks and I have 9 more months of my referrer a friend credit. As long as more HD channels start coming, I'm all good.
I've had DTV since the mid 90's and wouldn't dream of going back to cable or Dish. Consumers need to understand that it's hard for these companies to make money and need to raise prices from time to time to be able to offer us a
good product / service. I'd rather pay a little more to a company and have them invest it back into the products we use. If they didn't invest into new HD equipment and partnerships with Tivo and the NFL I'd understand the complaining but DTV is far better that any other option so I'll gladly pay it as long as they keep investing it. Just my .02!
My question is this: If all the channels (well, a great majority of them) are in HD, can/should they still charge an HD access fee?
Glad I cancelled that garbage. OTA works for me, for free!
As soon as FIOS drops their cable (legally obligated to do so by 2013 in my area as part of their contract) I am off satellite and away from Crapcast for Internet access. It sucks being where I am at, because I live in the extreme south end of my city, so FIOS had 5 years from the time they started offering service to get their act together and offer it EVERYWHERE in the city. That was 2008.... so we wait.
@Slappy Wag
I'm with u there it's been since about that time for me for food to drop and I am patiently waiting. Everything is better about FIOS and I don't have to call 2 companies everytime there is something wrong.
The lost of XM radio isn't a big deal, there is so much free radio out there with stations like Pandora, Slacker, and Last.FM I won't miss it a bit, but what DirecTV better watch is that people are starting to look at their favorite shows over the Internet, companies like DirecTV, TWC and ComCast days are numbered. You don't think it will happen? I bet the newspapers 20 years ago said the same thing.
I'd be willing to pay the extra $3 if IFC becomes available in HD. But other than that, all the channels I watch (which totals to about 10) are already in high def.
I'd be more excited if I didn't believe most of the new HD capacity will be taken up by Pro sports, pay per view, premium, and HD shopping channels. Good god they already have almost 100 shopping channels, who needs an HD channel selling pocket knives? There just aren't that many regular HD channel feeds that they don't have already. They are missing Turner Classic HD, MSNBC-HD, Travel-HD and a couple others, but the rest don't have HD versions yet.
I hated directv when I had them 2 years ago because of there DVR and lack of good customer service... I'm now a Verizon. Fios customer and am very happy with their service and picture quality is amazing it's a big differnce compared to directv crappy HD quality
As far as I am concerned, whoever has NFL Sunday Ticket wins. Been a DirecTV subscriber for 10 years now and no complaints. NFL Sunday Ticket is incredible and SuperFan makes it a real keeper!
DirecTV will probably buy Sirius XM this year, so I'm not too worried about that.
With so many other places to get music the XM channels don't really bother me. I love DTV and have no plans to drop them. It's still cheaper than cable and I have zero issues with signal strength and reliability.
I've always gotten a fair shake from DTV customer service and I've never had issues with the price based on everything they give away. Outside of charging another $50 bucks a month for less than what they offer now, I don't see myself ever going to cable.
I agree
I'm not sure why this is news. Every provider raises prices on a regular basis, and DirecTV is no different.
People have to choose whether they want to continue receiving the service at the going rate, switch to another provider, or do without the service.
I love DirecTV and will continue to use it no matter what the price is.
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TJ Rohleder