DirecTv Prices Soaring

1mtnman wrote:
With the advent of Chromecast, Ruku and several more media that allows us to stream from our computers to our TV's the existing cable and satellite companies will only continue to loose customers.

It depend on what you're willing to pay for content. First-run shows are not inexpensive, and that's what I get and pay for with satellite/cable. I also stream at home using fiber internet, but the content is limited. I like old Law & Order and Hawaii-5-0 episodes, but that's just me.

If you happen to like older shows, streaming is great, but doing that through your mobile phone will get very expensive. Like the other poster, I really don't get bothered by the cost, I'm willing to pay for it.

I have not seen the bill yet as I just negotiated it, but I got them to extend the Advanced reciever credit for 12 months with auto pay (-10.00), Customer loyalty credit (-10.00), Premier agreement 12m (-20.00).

I also see on the bill that just came out another -5.00 for show time for 6 months, -7 for Stars for 6 months. and -10.00 for 6 months for sports package.

Now I do subscribe to the premier package, but I found that as long as I call and work with the customer retention department I can keep the price down pretty well. I also have 5 recievers (1 genie and 2 HD at home, 1 SD DVR and 1 SD reciever in the RV.) I could drop back a package, but every time I do they scrape up enough discounts that over 12 months that it negates it. I will always be in the higher package due to some of the channels I enjoy.

Once ATT gets them you may as well find a new source. The telephone company went from the absolute best customer service to the absolute worst in just a few years.

JamesBr wrote:
I call and work with the customer retention department I can keep the price down pretty well.

I did also. In fact I went up 2 levels and the best they would do is give 3 months free of movie channels we don't watch or send me the boxes to return equip.

YMMV I guess. Heck I got verizon to discount their internet 10 a month....and verizon doesnt discount a darn thing if you dont bundle with them.

Have D TV since they bought out Primestar. Always got them to give me discounts and HD for life. THEN they talked me into the Genie, now I had a two year comitment. Said my bill would be the same. Lied, it went up. Called and ended sending a receiver back to keep bill down. Guess I died because my HD for life went away. Refused to give it back. I'm so sick of the BS I think I'm going to be one of those persons that changes providers every two years.

Well. they feel they have you, as they say, "By the short hairs" and can thus make you pay pay pay.. What's worse is they (In cooperation with cable TV) have tried to put over the air broadcast TV out of business.

NOW: I have a DISH VIP-211K,, Not currently active,, I have an automatic in-motion dome (Also not currenctly active)

I'm watching Over The Air.

You may have seen the ads for assorted Cable or Sat services that go something like this:

ONLY _____ Lets you record in one room watch in any room pause and resume in a different room or even take it with you on your portable device or computer"

Well.. THEY LIE

You see, I do that with Over the Air TV.. I can watch a show recorded in the bedroom, in the living room, or the the other way around, Start in one room finish in another.. Download to my host computer and serve it to any of my computer devices (Phone/Tablet/laptops) and watch anywhere. Store on the half Terabyte drive (This laptop) for later viewing on the TV's. Burn to DVD if I wish. All with OVER THE AIR television, a Winegard Sensar II with Batwing and Sensar Pro, two ATSC digital converters, Two REPLAY TV DVR's and if I want to watch a 3rd show while two are recording... Well.. The TV's can do that live.

My problem is not lack of TV, it's so many shows, not enough hours.

Still, thinking about putting my FTA Sat TV receiver on the other DVR.. I mean.. There is always NASA TV (which is on Sat 119, Dish, and is not encoded last I checked) That's the one channel I miss.

2oldman wrote:

1mtnman wrote:

It depend on what you're willing to pay for content. First-run shows are not inexpensive, and that's what I get and pay for with satellite/cable.

Not true anymore. Hulu carries many first run shows a day or two after they run. Nearly every network, cable networks included make new shows available for free on their web sites 3-7 days after they air them. Apps like Yidio help bring it all together. All you're really getting with cable these days is a nice package that makes it easy to find shows.

Its because of this we're getting close to dropping cable.

Campfire Time wrote:
. Hulu carries many first run shows a day or two after they run. Nearly every network, cable networks included make new shows available...

I guess that depends on which shows, and are you willing to wait?

Try getting a football fan to record the game and watch it 2 hours later!

2oldman wrote:

Campfire Time wrote:
. Hulu carries many first run shows a day or two after they run. Nearly every network, cable networks included make new shows available...

I guess that depends on which shows, and are you willing to wait?

Try getting a football fan to record the game and watch it 2 hours later!

Sports is a definite exception. Studies have been done on TV watching habits. Most people time shift, that is record and watch days later. Unless you've got serious addiction problems, waiting is no big deal. We prefer it because then we can watch at our leisure and not be tied down to a schedule.