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DirecTV pushing prices upwards in March
So, you thought all those cable carriers out there were going to raise prices while DirecTV sat idly by, adding enough HD channels to push it well over the 100 mark and be totally content with its current revenue stream? Wrong. Word on the street has it that the satcaster will be pushing rates up on a number of packages starting March 4th. We've got to say -- if there's one operator out there that can justify marginal increases, it's DirecTV. We mean, it's the HD leader, after all. The list of changes is far too long to cover here, so tap the read link and start pinching those pennies.[Thanks, Vanbrothers]
Sony XEL-1 OLED TV lands in the UK, now twice the price
Good news: The world's thinnest and first commercially available OLED television -- the Sony XEL-1 -- is on sale in the UK today. Bad news: It'll cost Brits £3,489 (about $4,944) -- that's more than twice the price of the same set sold in the US. Look, we knew the European price hikes were coming from Sony in 2009, but we weren't expecting this. Then again, if you're the type who thinks dropping a couple of thousand Quid on an 11-inch television makes sense, well, you probably won't even notice.[Via OLED-Display]
Sirius XM plans official rate hike for March 11th
Yep, the deed's done. Er, it will be come March 11th, and there's no avoiding it. Unless, of course, you lock in a lower rate now, but we suppose that's the point of Sirius XM coming out with this information over a month in advance. As of now, both XM and Sirius' separate websites have "lockin" pages hosted up, with XM's noting that after March 11th, subscriptions will no longer include internet listening gratis. For those who renew their existing contract now, you'll be grandfathered in and continue to listen for free; after that deadline, it'll be $2.99 per month for the premium (and only) stream. Over at Sirius, we're told that the SIRIUS Everything plan will rise from $6.99 per month to $8.99 per month unless you lock yourself in prior to the eleventh day of March. So, should you stay or should you go?[Via The Wolf Web]Read - XM's pageRead - Sirius' page%Gallery-43289%
Tesla admits to underpricing Roadsters, still hopes profitability is near
Here's a tip: you should probably research the bill of materials before pricing the item you're building to sell. In an effort to calm down potentially irate early buyers, Tesla Motors Elon Musk has issued an email confessing that it had no idea actual production costs for the $92,000 Roadster would run closer to $140,000. The automaker is hoping the changes in "manufacturing approaches, the car's drive train, heating and air conditioning system, wiring and even the supplier of body panels" will lower production costs to somewhere between $90,000 and $100,000 soon, which certainly gives a little insight into the $128,500 starting price of the recently unveiled Roadster Sport. In order to recoup some of the losses, Tesla is asking pre-orderers to pony up an extra six large for a high-speed charging cable and custom wheels -- both of which consumers were expecting to be included in their original purchase price. At any rate, the firm is aiming to get build costs down to $80,000 by summer, with profitability following close behind. And you thought the automotive problems began and ended in Detroit.[Via Edmunds]Update: Response from Tesla is after the break.
Sirius XM reportedly seeing rate increase this March
Sirius XM hasn't even been one for long, and yet we're already staring an impending price increase in the face. According to Sirius Buzz, company support representatives are now confirming to the general public that a rate hike will go into effect starting March 11, 2009. They're encouraging current subscribers to lock in their current rates for three years in order to be grandfathered in, but should you choose not to, you'll likely be paying $2 more for additional subscriptions and a $2.99 fee for the online internet radio service. If there's any good news here, it's that the latter fee will give you access to that oh-so-amazing 128k "premium" feed, though we're still left in the dark about any future channel expansions stemming from the increase.
AT&T hiking U-verse TV package rates for new customers... in Wisconsin, anyway
Those of you who reckoned AT&T was simply "above" those ignoble price hikes that cable companies are so famous for have some reality to check. Within the last week and change, the operator has announced that it will be pushing up some U-verse TV prices in February, ditching the whole "free access to Flickr Pro" thing and now, raising rates for new subscribers in the Badger State. According to a new writeup in Madison-based The Capital Times, a company spokesman has affirmed that three of its primary TV packages (U100, U200 and U-family) will increase by $5 per month for new customers, while existing subs will narrowly escape the hike for now. The changes are set to go into effect on February 1, 2009, and of course, they come hot on the heels of Charter's decision to push prices skyward. So much for competition driving prices south, huh?
AT&T pushing up some U-verse TV prices in February 2009
It was only a few months ago that AT&T struck a nerve with HD subscribers due to a $5 monthly increase for three new channels, and now it seems it's back to the tried-and-true nickle and dime approach once more. Customers are beginning to receive email notifications (posted in full after the break) that beginning February 1, 2009, the monthly rates for a few services will be headed skyward. For starters, those non-DVR U-verse receivers will soon cost $7 per month versus the $5 per month that they cost now. Additionally, the Movie Package will shoot up from $15 to $20 (monthly) and Paquete Español will increase from $10 to $15 (also monthly). Got any other impending hikes we should know about, AT&T?[Thanks, Darrell]
Insight Communications to raise cable rates in January
We already counted four major cable providers who either already have or soon will increase their rates in one aspect or another, and now you can make it an even five. Insight Communications will be hiking rates for many customers by around $3 per month come January, and while it would be easy to link said increases to the recent Digital 4.0 update, spokeswoman Sandy Colony says it's actually just due to "higher programming costs from various channels." Of note, those who subscribe solely to basic cable won't see a change, but anyone utilizing the "classic cable service" will be asked to hand over three more bucks per month. Ah well, at least this increase is easier to swallow than most -- having a full plate of HD to chew on for the next 12 months makes the pill go down that much smoother.
PS3 price increase in Canada?!
On Thursday we reported about reasonably priced Xbox 360s for Canadia's Fanboys. While comments gave mixed reviews regarding Factory Direct's customer service and product quality, that doesn't hold a candle to the latest deal ripoff from the competition. As if the whole "PGR: HD" ordeal wasn't enough, Sony figured a price change was in order for their "Friends to the North". Future Shop, as well as its owner Best Buy, are both selling the 60GB PS3 for $699.99 CDN, which is $50 more than the list price was on November 17th. Why would Sony, or perhaps the retailers themselves, do this? The Canadian Dollar has been doing fine in terms of exchange rate next the American Dollar, recently. In any case, this isn't the best way to sell an already overpriced console. If Sony keeps at it with these missteps, do you think the PS3 will be able to recover?[Thanks, Miguel]
