DirecTV introduces "tiered" pricing - screws HD customers.

Samdari · 05-19-2005, 11:28 AM

http://www.directvsports.com/Packages/NFLSundayTicket/

Looks like the only way to get HD games from Sunday Ticket is to pay $300 ($199 as a renewal subscriber, plus $99 for the superfan package). Since I got the HD set, and saw how bad their compression makes standard definition stuff look, Sunday Ticket has been the only thing keeping me with DirecTV. If they keep this pricing plan, I will not be getting ST, so they will likely lose me as a subscriber altogether. Seems crazy, them willing to do this, since Sunday Ticket has always been a loss leader for them.

moriarty · 05-19-2005, 01:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Samdari

http://www.directvsports.com/Packages/NFLSundayTicket/

Looks like the only way to get HD games from Sunday Ticket is to pay $300 ($199 as a renewal subscriber, plus $99 for the superfan package). Since I got the HD set, and saw how bad their compression makes standard definition stuff look, Sunday Ticket has been the only thing keeping me with DirecTV. If they keep this pricing plan, I will not be getting ST, so they will likely lose me as a subscriber altogether. Seems crazy, them willing to do this, since Sunday Ticket has always been a loss leader for them.

This completely blows. Perhaps the worst part of it is that despite my overriding urge to cancel the Sunday ticket ... I'll probably end up forking over the extra $100.

Cringer · 05-19-2005, 01:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Samdari

[url] how bad their compression makes standard definition stuff look

I always thought DirecTV looked pretty good....

Samdari · 05-19-2005, 02:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cringer

I always thought DirecTV looked pretty good....

So did I - until I bought the 46" DLP set. Now, the standard definition looks terrible - far worse than it did on a 25" tube.

Honolulu_Blue · 05-19-2005, 02:07 PM

Thanks for the head's up. I am heading over right now to order Sunday Ticket. I don't have HD TV, so I wont go for the Super Fan pack. Just finally being able to watch the Lions play will be enough this year.

General Mike · 05-19-2005, 02:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Samdari

So did I - until I bought the 46" DLP set. Now, the standard definition looks terrible - far worse than it did on a 25" tube.

Do you use the S-Video cable?

Samdari · 05-19-2005, 02:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by General Mike

Do you use the S-Video cable?

N0 - DVI, which is supposed to give the best quality. How bad DirecTV's SD stuff looks on a large screen, progressive scan native set is a common complaint at avsforum.

moriarty · 05-19-2005, 02:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Samdari

N0 - DVI, which is supposed to give the best quality. How bad DirecTV's SD stuff looks on a large screen, progressive scan native set is a common complaint at avsforum.

I'm in the same boat. I used to watch DirectTV's SD Sunday ticket, but after having watched HD games on my 50" ... I just cannot go back to watching SD games. It's just horrendous by comparison when you blow it up beyond 30" or so.

Watching the HD Ticket last year for $200 was nice ... paying $320 for it this year ... well, I'm just not sure I want to give them the satisfaction.

Buzzbee · 05-19-2005, 02:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Honolulu_Blue

Thanks for the head's up. I am heading over right now to order Sunday Ticket. I don't have HD TV, so I wont go for the Super Fan pack. Just finally being able to watch the Lions lose will be enough this year.

Fixed.

rkmsuf · 05-19-2005, 02:37 PM

The Super Fan pack...wow some marketing genius went all out with that one.

Ksyrup · 05-19-2005, 02:40 PM

I don't need/want any of those channels, but hey, no one is going to accuse me of not being a super fan! Here's another $100!

moriarty · 05-19-2005, 02:43 PM

One of the bonuses of the "Super Fan" pack is you can get up to 8 games on your screen at once (assuming you have a widescreen). This is kinda cool for the fantasy football junkies ... until you read the fine print:

"†† For full Game Mix functionality, an interactive receiver is required."

I have no idea what an interactive receiver is (and apparently they don't even make an HD one) ... but I'm sure that DirectTV will be willing to sell you one for another few hundred dollars.

rkmsuf · 05-19-2005, 02:44 PM

Everytime I see the "Super Fan" I'm waiting for the Da Bears guys to show up.

Ksyrup · 05-19-2005, 02:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rkmsuf

Everytime I see the "Super Fan" I'm waiting for the Da Bears guys to show up.

How about the guy from the CBS "I'm a Big Fan" commercials? He should be involved in this marketing campaign.

Speaking of which, anyone seen the new Sunday Ticket commercial that's a musical, with Larry David's best friend as the lead? And Peyton Manning, Barry Sanders, Dick Butkus, and a few others singing along with him?

Kinda bizarre.

Maple Leafs · 05-19-2005, 03:06 PM

Hmm... $100 extra for HD is bad.

The fact that this probably won't even be rolled out in Canada for three years is worse.

But... damn, that Game Mix feature looks sweet.

Samdari · 05-19-2005, 03:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by moriarty

One of the bonuses of the "Super Fan" pack is you can get up to 8 games on your screen at once (assuming you have a widescreen). This is kinda cool for the fantasy football junkies ... until you read the fine print:

"†† For full Game Mix functionality, an interactive receiver is required."

I have no idea what an interactive receiver is (and apparently they don't even make an HD one) ... but I'm sure that DirectTV will be willing to sell you one for another few hundred dollars.

The HD Tivo is not interactive?

Well, they have to roll out some new recievers soon, presumably by football season. When they start offering HD locals (as early as June) to the top 12 markets, those people will need new revievers to get them. I would think these would be interactive.

moriarty · 05-20-2005, 07:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Samdari

The HD Tivo is not interactive?

Well, they have to roll out some new recievers soon, presumably by football season. When they start offering HD locals (as early as June) to the top 12 markets, those people will need new revievers to get them. I would think these would be interactive.

Not to my knowledge. Then again, I'm not entirely sure what they mean by "interactive". Looking at the AVS boards, I would say, 'No'.

I'm not sure they're going to have the new satellites up and operating by football season (and I'm pretty sure it won't happen by June). They haven't even announced what their receiver plan will be (e.g. replace your receiver for free, make you buy a new one, etc..) to my knowledge, and there's some pretty big logistics in swapping out equipment.

Blackadar · 05-20-2005, 07:45 AM

Buzzbee · 05-20-2005, 10:09 AM

Blackie, that picture is wrong. He should be bent over, takin' it up th' ass.

Blackadar · 05-20-2005, 10:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Buzzbee

Blackie, that picture is wrong. He should be bent over, takin' it up th' ass.

I'll let you post that one.

05-19-2005, 02:07 PM	#5
Honolulu_Blue Hockey Boy Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: Royal Oak, MI	Thanks for the head's up. I am heading over right now to order Sunday Ticket. I don't have HD TV, so I wont go for the Super Fan pack. Just finally being able to watch the Lions play will be enough this year. __________________ *Steve Yzerman*: 1,755 points in 1,514 regular season games. 185 points in 196 postseason games. A First-Team All-Star, Conn Smythe Trophy winner, Selke Trophy winner, Masterton Trophy winner, member of the Hockey Hall of Fame, Olympic gold medallist, and a three-time Stanley Cup Champion. Longest serving captain of one team in the history of the NHL (19 seasons).

05-19-2005, 02:37 PM	#10
rkmsuf Head Coach Join Date: Dec 2001	The Super Fan pack...wow some marketing genius went all out with that one. __________________ "Don't you have homes?" -- Judge Smales

05-19-2005, 02:40 PM	#11
Ksyrup This guy has posted so much, his fingers are about to fall off. Join Date: Nov 2000 Location: In Absentia	I don't need/want any of those channels, but hey, no one is going to accuse me of not being a super fan! Here's another $100! __________________ M's pitcher Miguel Batista: "Now, I feel like I've had everything. I've talked pitching with Sandy Koufax, had Kenny G play for me. Maybe if I could have an interview with God, then I'd be served. I'd be complete."

05-19-2005, 02:44 PM	#13
rkmsuf Head Coach Join Date: Dec 2001	Everytime I see the "Super Fan" I'm waiting for the Da Bears guys to show up. __________________ "Don't you have homes?" -- Judge Smales

05-19-2005, 03:06 PM	#15
Maple Leafs Coordinator Join Date: Jan 2002	Hmm... $100 extra for HD is bad. The fact that this probably won't even be rolled out in Canada for three years is worse. But... damn, that Game Mix feature looks sweet. __________________ Down Goes Brown: Toronto Maple Leafs Humor and Analysis

05-19-2005, 02:43 PM	#12
moriarty College Starter Join Date: Nov 2000 Location: A negative place	One of the bonuses of the "Super Fan" pack is you can get up to 8 games on your screen at once (assuming you have a widescreen). This is kinda cool for the fantasy football junkies ... until you read the fine print: "†† For full Game Mix functionality, an interactive receiver is required." I have no idea what an interactive receiver is (and apparently they don't even make an HD one) ... but I'm sure that DirectTV will be willing to sell you one for another few hundred dollars.

05-20-2005, 07:45 AM	#18
Blackadar Retired Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: Fantasyland

05-20-2005, 10:09 AM	#19
Buzzbee College Starter Join Date: Jun 2002	Blackie, that picture is wrong. He should be bent over, takin' it up th' ass. __________________ Ability is what you're capable of doing. Motivation determines what you do. Attitude determines how well you do it. - Lou Holtz

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