Directv Negotiatons

[cincygrad]

Anyone tried to bargain for reduced Sunday Ticket prices this year? I'm getting ready to make my annual call -- They gave me a bunch of 12 month discounts last July (waived HD cost, waived second receiver, 15 off package) and a modest saving on the ticket. Overall I was pleased. Now I'm staring at a big jump in my bill and need some ideas for negotiation. I think we're still at least a year away from Directv offering streaming for everyone.

 

[DanBengalfan]

Anyone tried to bargain for reduced Sunday Ticket prices this year? I'm getting ready to make my annual call -- They gave me a bunch of 12 month discounts last July (waived HD cost, waived second receiver, 15 off package) and a modest saving on the ticket. Overall I was pleased. Now I'm staring at a big jump in my bill and need some ideas for negotiation. I think we're still at least a year away from Directv offering streaming for everyone.

be careful, when I said I was thinking of canceling due to the cost all my rep did was walk me through the cancellation process. She didn't f*** around.

 

[fordman84]

Do a google search for "cord cutting" and make sure to use plenty of hipster words related to that. Make mention of "cutting cable and satellite" and then throw in "my brother has been happy since dropping U-verse and going with netflix+hulu+amazon prime and is saving $100 a month now" (especially hurtful since AT&T is direcTV now), and if all else fails just cancel with them if you can do without their services. Sunday Ticket is available without DirecTV this year.

 

[SDGuy73]

Do a google search for "cord cutting" and make sure to use plenty of hipster words related to that. Make mention of "cutting cable and satellite" and then throw in "my brother has been happy since dropping U-verse and going with netflix+hulu+amazon prime and is saving $100 a month now" (especially hurtful since AT&T is direcTV now), and if all else fails just cancel with them if you can do without their services. Sunday Ticket is available without DirecTV this year.

It is? Does this mean Dish people can get it? I never understood why the NFL only allowed DirecTV to offer it. They are losing out on a lot of $$.,

 

[alf8478]

It is? Does this mean Dish people can get it? I never understood why the NFL only allowed DirecTV to offer it. They are losing out on a lot of $$.,

You have to enter an address to see if you're eligible. There's 3 different packages. One for online, one for gaming systems, and some deluxe one.

https://nflst.directv.com/DTVAPP/nflws/index.jsp

 

[cincygrad]

Do a google search for "cord cutting" and make sure to use plenty of hipster words related to that. Make mention of "cutting cable and satellite" and then throw in "my brother has been happy since dropping U-verse and going with netflix+hulu+amazon prime and is saving $100 a month now" (especially hurtful since AT&T is direcTV now), and if all else fails just cancel with them if you can do without their services. Sunday Ticket is available without DirecTV this year.

This isn't exactly true -- My address does not qualify. Particularly since I've had Directv here for years and the new streaming service is for those that can't get the dish.

I'm sure there will be a way around this -- It's a common practice for Directv users to use bogus service addresses if they are in range of desirable local programming. I'd figure the same can be done with the new streaming service - Give them a bogus address and get the service..... But this hasn't been tested yet and I'm hesitant to count on the streaming service in year 1. My hope is that we could get through one more season of the ticket and then cut the cord in January. I figure by next year at this time there would be some suggestions about the new streaming service..... And if there's not, Directv will likely be interested in giving me a deal after not having me as a customer for 8 months.

 

[flamingrey]

Boom!

Thanks for that link! I had no idea they were offering Sunday Ticket without DirecTV. My address is eligible (even though I've had DirecTV for 4 years).

I've had my DirecTV on suspend for 5 months. I switched everything over to Verizon. I was going to turn DirecTV back on for the season if they gave me a good deal on the Sunday Ticket. Now no longer necessary, I can just cancel my DirecTV.

 

[flamingrey]

So, can anyone shed some light on how this exactly works? If I were to get Sunday Ticket without Directv, on what channels would I watch?

When I proceed to the next step, it asks for my billing information and address, but it doesn't ask me who my carrier is (Verizon). I want to make sure I understand what I'm getting into.

 

[cincygrad]

So, can anyone shed some light on how this exactly works? If I were to get Sunday Ticket without Directv, on what channels would I watch?

When I proceed to the next step, it asks for my billing information and address, but it doesn't ask me who my carrier is (Verizon). I want to make sure I understand what I'm getting into.

Crazy that you get it even though you've had satellite..... The way they've started to market the product was only for those that can't get a dish -- Obstructed views, some apartments, etc. I wish I had access.

To answer your question -- You'll need a vehicle to deliver the stream. Unfortunately for now if you want it on your HDTV that means that you need a modern Xbox or Playstation. There were rumors that it would run on Apple TV or on Roku, but apparently they have decided against that for this season. You could always buy the cheaper streaming option and watch it on a computer, tablet or phone..... I'm also guessing that if you have decent connection speeds you could airplay it (or a similar tactic) from the computer to your television but results might vary.

 

[alf8478]

So, can anyone shed some light on how this exactly works? If I were to get Sunday Ticket without Directv, on what channels would I watch?

When I proceed to the next step, it asks for my billing information and address, but it doesn't ask me who my carrier is (Verizon). I want to make sure I understand what I'm getting into.

It's online. So you'd have to watch on a computer, tablet, phone. Or if you get the gaming system one, you can watch on a ps or Xbox

 

[alf8478]

Last season I used the free online version that came with buying madden 25. I alternated watching on my laptop and my ipad. It seemed fine, the only issue was that the feed was delayed by about a play or two, so as I followed the game thread or twitter, I would know what was gonna happen.

 

[fordman84]

It's online. So you'd have to watch on a computer, tablet, phone. Or if you get the gaming system one, you can watch on a ps or Xbox

When I had directv I was paying about $120 a month. YOu could get the package and a new PS4 for about 6months worth of DirecTV.

 

[cincygrad]

When I had directv I was paying about $120 a month. YOu could get the package and a new PS4 for about 6months worth of DirecTV.

Still pretty tough to justify the ~700 bucks if you are already paying for television from another service.

I wish they'd just go with a streaming service for everyone -- Let those with Apple TV or other common devices pony up $300 for a digital subscription...... You'd get a lot of customers.

 

[flamingrey]

Crazy that you get it even though you've had satellite..... The way they've started to market the product was only for those that can't get a dish -- Obstructed views, some apartments, etc. I wish I had access.

To answer your question -- You'll need a vehicle to deliver the stream. Unfortunately for now if you want it on your HDTV that means that you need a modern Xbox or Playstation. There were rumors that it would run on Apple TV or on Roku, but apparently they have decided against that for this season. You could always buy the cheaper streaming option and watch it on a computer, tablet or phone..... I'm also guessing that if you have decent connection speeds you could airplay it (or a similar tactic) from the computer to your television but results might vary.

I live in a townhouse, so that may be the reason. There are some townhouses in this subdivision that most likely cannot get DirecTV.

I saw the $329 option and thought it was for TV given it's the same price as normal Sunday Ticket DirecTV. Sucks. Maybe I will still try to negotiate with DirecTV for a good deal on Sunday Ticket as I'd prefer to watch on TV and not take the risk of a bad connection.

 

[flamingrey]

Does anyone have any experience using a gaming system? Is it better than streaming online? Is there still the high potential for a bad stream or buffering like with online?

 

[cincygrad]

I live in a townhouse, so that may be the reason. There are some townhouses in this subdivision that most likely cannot get DirecTV.

I saw the $329 option and thought it was for TV given it's the same price as normal Sunday Ticket DirecTV. Sucks. Maybe I will still try to negotiate with DirecTV for a good deal on Sunday Ticket as I'd prefer to watch on TV and not take the risk of a bad connection.

Yeah..... Given that you've been disconnected for 5 months you might qualify for a decent offer. At the very least, you can probably get the lowest tier package and a ticket subscription for much less than you would pay for a console a digital subscription that may or may not work.

 

[flamingrey]

Yeah..... Given that you've been disconnected for 5 months you might qualify for a decent offer. At the very least, you can probably get the lowest tier package and a ticket subscription for much less than you would pay for a console a digital subscription that may or may not work.

I'm not sure so. Last year DirecTV gave me nothing (either that or they eventually caved...can't remember). I was told I was ineligible due to the fact that I had received so many discounts the 3 years prior totaling some $700+.

 

[cincygrad]

Does anyone have any experience using a gaming system? Is it better than streaming online? Is there still the high potential for a bad stream or buffering like with online?

It depends on two factors, one of which is impossible to answer. The first factor is how good your ISP is..... If you are getting good download speed you will be fine. Until recently I had a crappy DSL connection that couldn't reliably support a subscription to MLBTV -- Buffering, poor picture, etc. I've upgraded and now streaming works appropriately.

The second factor is Directv..... Seems to me that there could be some issues from their side when they first roll out the service.

 

[fordman84]

Does anyone have any experience using a gaming system? Is it better than streaming online? Is there still the high potential for a bad stream or buffering like with online?

I've never streamed sunday ticket over my PS3, but it streams netflix, amazon, and plenty of other media from the net spectacularly. I'd expect the PS4 to be even better, but waiting for a game I care about to force me to buy it before I do

PS3 streams WAY better than Roku, as well. Wii doesn't do HD, but can stream most things too.

and what cincygrad said too. I have a great Fios speed since I'm not on cable/satellite.

 

[jeep99tj]

Now I know why my bill goes up every year.