DirecTV price increase

[LEN]

DIRECTV Raising Monthly Prices For HD
Customers will lose three channels unless they pay $4.99 extra, says e-mail notice.
By Swanni
 
Washington, D.C. (October 18, 2007) -- DIRECTV has notified subscribers that they will lose three longtime HD channel favorites unless they pay an extra $4.99 a month starting December 15.

In an e-mail sent to customers this week, DIRECTV said HDNet, HDNet Movies and Universal HD will be moved to a new programming package called "DIRECTV HD Extra Pack."

The three channels have been available for years as part of the satcaster's basic $10 a month HD package,

However, on December 15, the HD Extra Pack, which will also include three recent channel additions (Smithsonian HD, MGM HD and MHD), will cost an extra $4.99 a month.

Both new and current customers will be required to pay the $4.99 monthly fee for the six high-def channels. That will be in addition to the $10 monthly fee DIRECTV customers pay for the remaining HD channels.

DIRECTV says it now offers 74 High-Definition channels, having increased its national HD channel count from nine to 47 in the past three weeks.

In the e-mail to current customers, DIRECTV says the six channels in the HD Extra Pack will be available as part of a "free preview" until December 15.

The six channels apparently were chosen for the HD Extra Pack because they do not have a standard-definition companion channel, although Discovery's HD Theater, which is not in the Extra Pack, does not have a companion standard-def channel, either.

A DIRECTV spokesman was not available at press time. But a call to DIRECTV customer service today confirmed that current customers ---as well as new subscribers -- will have to pay the $4.99 a month fee for the HD Extra Pack

:confused: So if I don't upgrade my dish & Tivo, I'd be paying $10 for 4 HD channels.  I don't mind the upgrade but my dish will have to be moved (trees) and I'm not sure if I want another 2 year contract.
LEN

[vegasvic]

Yeah this was first announced over the summer.  Still a good deal IMO.

[gparris]

LEN, I think $4.95 for SIX more HD channels is better than what I get from TWC:
FOUR HD channels for $6.95 (this includes three of that Directv will give you for the six at $2 less per month).
Still, with Directv adding so many HD channels and the actual cost is less than $15 for all of them, excluding even the HD premium movie channels, it's definitely worth it.
Time to upgrade your DirectvHD service once and for all...!

[mhz40]

LEN, I think $4.95 for SIX more HD channels is better than what I get from TWC:
FOUR HD channels for $6.95 (this includes three of that Directv will give you for the six at $2 less per month).
Still, with Directv adding so many HD channels and the actual cost is less than $15 for all of them, excluding even the HD premium movie channels, it's definitely worth it.
Time to upgrade your DirectvHD service once and for all...!

:huh?:  Its a nice deal, but I think you have your math wrong... or I don't understand the thread enough... :huh?:
-3 + 6 = 3

[gparris]

$6.95/4=$1.73 a HD channel in the TWC "HD Package".
$4.95/6= $0.82 a HD channel in the Directv "HD Extra Pack".

mhz40:
Honestly, I don't see how you can't.:confused:

Maybe if the other three HD channels Directv is offering came with the TWC HD Package even with the HD channel "MOJO", @ $4.95/month
-it would be a better deal, or at least equivalent to Directv's offering.

[gb4fan92]

$6.95/4=$1.73 a HD channel in the TWC "HD Package".
$4.95/6= $0.82 a HD channel in the Directv "HD Extra Pack".

Gparris you have uncovered the real problem at TWC. Brilliant!! They don't understand math!! Let me clear it up

1 HD channel added @ TWC is < than 70 channels added @ DirectTV which = more unsatisfied TWC customers which is < than the the unsatisfied customers @ DirectTV which means more TWC customers coming into DirectTV giving then more $$$ for more HD channels which leaves TWC less $$$ to invest on HD channels which is why they can add only worthless cheap channels like shopping channels.

Perhaps a few good accountants are needed at TWC!!! :wave: :wave: