Cutting the Cable Guide

[Boyd01]

I really don't understand DirecTV

I don't either. They also own Dish and Sling now, but it's not clear to me whether the acquisition (which was announced about a year ago) has been completed yet.

"DIRECTV (the “Company”) and EchoStar (NASDAQ: SATS) today announced that they have entered into a definitive agreement under which DIRECTV will acquire EchoStar’s video distribution business DISH DBS (“DISH”), including DISH TV and Sling TV, through a debt exchange transaction. "

DIRECTV Acquisition of DISH Network

DIRECTV and Dish are coming together to provide U.S. Consumers with More Flexibility and Better Value in the Highly Competitive Video Industry Currently Dominated by Large Tech Companies and Programmers.

www.directv.com

Some speculation about what that means for Sling here, but this was also a year ago

DIRECTV Is Set to Acquire DISH, but What Does That Mean for its Streaming Service Sling TV?

When DIRECTV takes over DISH to create the largest pay-TV provider in the U.S., the question of what happens with their related streaming services remains.

thestreamable.com

 

[dwrufus53]

I really don't understand DirecTV, I see them amping up their marketing lately, which is a good thing, competition is good but when I went to compare DirecTV vs. youtube tv (because of the disney/google hissy fit), i was shocked at how expensive it was. They're the underdog, they need to offer things that Google doesn't if not in features, then definitely in price.

As best as I could discern, the Choice package (the mid-tier package) will run you about 120 bucks a month. Given the channels the wife and I watch, that was the most logical option. Its highly deceptive to see 60.00 bucks a month and while they detail month 2 and 3 prices, they don't for when this promotion ends, i.e., months 4 and up. I had to some googling and it seems that I'd be looking at the aforementioned 120

When DirecTV was (partially) owned by AT&T, they offered some really good discounts for subscribers to both. I got a $25 lifetime credit on DTV (for AT&T service). They also offered a $35/month "loyalty credit" - was with them for 20+ years. The "loyalty credit" is good for 12 months, then it rolls off. If you call and go through their loyalty department they will find something to give you (but was always less that the previous). After a couple of renewals, the "loyalty credit" was $10/month. Then, apparently somebody died because the "lifetime credit" for the AT&T service disappeared. Argued with the agent to no avail.

The new bill was going to be $189 for the Choice package with NO add-ons. That is obscene. I told them to pound sand and cancel immediately. Nope. They only cancel at the end of the billing cycle. Squeezed another $120+ out of me.

If YouTube TV gets their crap together, it's not a bad deal. But way too much for no ESPN or ABC. I could give a crap about the mouse tv... Also seriously looking at Hulu Live (but that's the mouse again).

 

[maflynn]

If YouTube TV gets their crap together

From what I've been reading, its Disney that was pushing a huge increase and Google said nope. Disney needs YT, not the other way around. The other networks largely agreed to a "fair" increase what ever that was, but Disney being the greedy evil empire wanted more. Talk about the pot (google), calling the tea kettle (disney) black - they're both bad, but in this case it Disney wanted boku bucks

 

[Huntn]

From what I've been reading, its Disney that was pushing a huge increase and Google said nope. Disney needs YT, not the other way around. The other networks largely agreed to a "fair" increase what ever that was, but Disney being the greedy evil empire wanted more. Talk about the pot (google), calling the tea kettle (disney) black - they're both bad, but in this case it Disney wanted boku bucks

The Capitalist End Game on our doorstep.