Not happy with Directv decision to drop Sirius/XM

[jeffski]

Maybe this isn't the right forum but I just need to vent. 2 days ago,Directv in their infinite wisdom,dropped Sirius/XM and went with Sonic Crap...er Tap. I know their contract ran out with them but I had no idea and either did plenty of other Sirious/XM listeners out there. I called them to complain as I was hoping maybe to get a deal of some sort to keep me at bay,no dice. I asked what's the cost as of today to early terminate ($360...ouch)
 Not sure if my chances are that good but I emailed TWC and explained the situation to them (yes I know,they don't have XM either,but either way I go,I wont get it...Dish isn't an option as their cost to put dish in my yard was outrageous.
 Anyways,I'm waiting to hear back from TWC and am curious how badly they want me back as a customer. I suggested to them that if I signed to a 2 yr.commitment,would they be willing to lop off $30 a month for 12months(hence,the $360 if I cancel DTV early) Go figure that a few months after leaving them,they finally add a slew of hd.
 Of course,DTV suppose to add more as well so I may just sleep on this for awhile (if I get a good offer) but as of now,Im not happy. Plus would be nice to get unslightly dish out of our yard.

[LoadStar]

Frankly, as much as I was a fan once upon a day, I haven't really missed them in quite a while thanks to online services like Slacker Radio. True, they don't have the talk and entertainment programming that Sirius XM has, but that's what podcasts and such are made for.

(And no matter what they replace Sirius XM with on DirecTV, it's STILL gotta be better than Music Choice, the service Time Warner uses. Awful, pure audio torture.)

[jeffski]

Frankly, as much as I was a fan once upon a day, I haven't really missed them in quite a while thanks to online services like Slacker Radio. True, they don't have the talk and entertainment programming that Sirius XM has, but that's what podcasts and such are made for.

(And no matter what they replace Sirius XM with on DirecTV, it's STILL gotta be better than Music Choice, the service Time Warner uses. Awful, pure audio torture.)

I've been an XM sub.since 2004,have it in the car and thru stereo @ work with skyfi2. Was nice to hear it thru my surround sound and now that's been taken away.:(It's just that this has been the final straw. Lately my dtv box has been freezing when trying to change channels(batt.in remote are new and box has been rebooted) From day 1 I was never happy with the lag the box has when changing channels. TWC box didn't have any lag. I hope TWC comes back with a sweet offer as I'd love to stick it to DTV. (btw, Deep Tracks ALONE is worth my subscription...a true throwback to the days of free-form fm radio when fm was listenable)

[Tom Snyder]

They used to have Music Choice, and when they dropped it, I dropped DirecTV just out of principle, although I came back when we moved to Jackson because I didin't like what I had heard about Charter.  I'm still a Sirius/XM subscriber, so I can listen to those channels regardless, so for me, it may be a good thing if it gives me some musical choices I don't already have. I guess I need to check out the replacement.

BTW, I agree with Jeff on DeepTracks.

[Talos4]

Honestly I cannot remember the last time I actually tuned in to one of the music channels on D*.

I have Sirius in my car and my office and have the ability to get it in the house. I listen to Sirius mostly for talk radio and sports (NASCAR 128!!) Music is not the biggest draw for me.  

At home there are just too many sources for music, 400 CD changer, Multiple ipods all with very diverse music on them, Concert DVD's, my vinyl collection,  Heck I can even listen to Pandora on my phone.  

Terrestrial radio is not a good option. (there's nothing on worth listening to)  

I do understand that some are bothered by this but in reality with the sources I listed above does anybody really rely on the D* music channels as their primary music source?

[Matt Heebner]

Not a comment on the Directv thing...but seriously you guys are the only people I know who even subscribe to any type of satellite radio. I can not think of a single friend/family member who does.

We had Sirius free for year with the new Grand Caravan we bought in 2008, it was cool, loved the hairnation station...but there is no way I would pay $12/mo to subscribe...but thats just me.

[Nels Harvey]

My Dish Network still has Sirius.  I hope it continues, and doesn't get canceled like DirecTV did.

[Steve Mann]

The only time I've ever used the music stations on D* is around the holidays for Christmas background music.

There are no talk shows or anything like that on the music stations on D*.  So, is there really that big of a difference between Sonic Tap and Sirius? I scanned them briefly and they seem to have just about the same categories of music selections.

[RLJSlick]

I had Sirius for 5 years, and I did enjoy but then they start increasing the prices and start taking away services. They first took way my Pro Basketball then the college game went to XM and then they took away my internet radio BUT increase the cost of the service and wanted me to start paying for internet radio.  I was DONE, I couldn't get out of that service fast enough.
I don't miss it at all, I for what I got it wasn't worth it.  I got new car with a MP3 player in it and have hundreds of my favorite jazz on it, and I use Pandora for my internet radio ALL FREE.
I don't see Sirius/XM lasting that much longer personally.  The upfront cost is too high and the service need to continue increase fees to survive.

[jeffski]

The only time I've ever used the music stations on D* is around the holidays for Christmas background music.

There are no talk shows or anything like that on the music stations on D*.  So, is there really that big of a difference between Sonic Tap and Sirius? I scanned them briefly and they seem to have just about the same categories of music selections.

Listened to 8 tracks channel 840 (former Deep Tracks) and after hearing Beach Boys' Wouldn't it be Nice' and Bad Co.'s Rock Steady' I knew right then their side-by-side chart comparision was WAYY off the mark. I don't EVER anticipate hearing BeBopDeluxe,Wishbone Ash(OTHER than Blowin' Free) Frank Zappa,Glass Harp or many other worthy and obscure artists as well as obscure tunes by well-known artists.
 I've said it before and it's worth repeating, Deep Tracks at work and in my car is MORE than worth my subscription. :rock:

[jeffski]

Also,this Mark genius who I talked to at Directv said Sonic Tap channels don't have djs. He just DOESN'T get it! That's what makes Deep Tracks unique,the laid-back sound of the djs inbetween the great tunes and also announcing what lp they're from and other pertinent info.

[Talos4]

Most music channels on any service be it satellite or terrestrial seem to programmed by by the same people. They think that we want to hear the same songs by the same groups.

I agree with Jeffski,

Would it be so hard to throw in some Lady Whiskey, July Morning or Kan Evil 9?

Thank goodness for ipods.

[Chinatown]

My Dish Network still has Sirius.  I hope it continues, and doesn't get canceled like DirecTV did.

http://www.dishnetwork.com/packages/detail.aspx?pack=AT250

[oz]

Anyways,I'm waiting to hear back from TWC and am curious how badly they want me back as a customer. I suggested to them that if I signed to a 2 yr.commitment,would they be willing to lop off $30 a month for 12months(hence,the $360 if I cancel DTV early)

I doubt TWC will do much for you, but AT&T Uverse offered to buy me out of my TWC contract plus give me $100 for switching.  I'm not sure of the exact amount but I think it's probably around $300.

[jeffski]

I doubt TWC will do much for you, but AT&T Uverse offered to buy me out of my TWC contract plus give me $100 for switching.  I'm not sure of the exact amount but I think it's probably around $300.

That would be tempting if u-verse would ever come to Muskego