Will you buy DirecTV's HD Extra pack?

[DodgerKing]

Originally Posted by lawnchair13

Sorry, I didn't mean to offend anyone. Like I said, it’s just My opinion. My dad use to say “opinions are like assholes, everyone has one.” ... and to be honest, sometimes I am one.

Respect for you just increased. Thanks for the honesty...

I’m not cheap by any means and an extra $5/mo would go unnoticed in my budget, but I would like a cost/value ratio that applies. I mean it’s just TV.

Agreed

When they launch “HD Extra Pack II” in April and “HD Extra Pack III” in August, I guess every one will buy into those too at $5/mo each. I hear “HD Extra Pack IV” will really be a “Must Have”. If you shop at Neiman Marcus or fill up your Hummer 3x a week, I guess it’ll never affect you, but I’m looking at the long road and the big picture (pun intended).

Actually, this will not be a bad idea. I would much prefer to pay $5 for individual packages of my choice instead of paying one big sum for every HD channel, most of which I don't watch anyway.

After all, isn't this whole issue about choice anyway?

[lawnchair13]

Originally Posted by DodgerKing

Actually, this will not be a bad idea. I would much prefer to pay $5 for individual packages of my choice instead of paying one big sum for every HD channel, most of which I don't watch anyway.

After all, isn't this whole issue about choice anyway?

And if they put 1 or 2 channels in each package that you really, really want you end up paying more for what you had to begin with. It starts with HD Extra Pack 1...

[stonedog23]

Originally Posted by mystic7

I don't think we should even count MHD. Once MTV, CMT and VH-1 go HD who would need MHD? All of the programming on MHD comes from those stations

You cannot discount the importance of MHD. It is clearly more a music channel that the MTV and VH1. I don't watch CMT so I can't comment on that channel. MTV and VH1 are full of reality shows and everything else that has nothing to do with music. MHD is all music; videos and concerts; and no reality shows. So it deserves to be a big centerpiece in this new tier.

[lawnchair13]

Originally Posted by bruceames

HD has not been mandated. Where did you get that from? Maybe you're confusing HD with digital? (as opposed to analog signals)

I knew I was going to get a challenge on this point.

I know HD is not Federally mandated. I consider it to be a Consumer driven Mandate. As more and more HD channels come on line and are picked up by the various providers, we, as consumers, watch fewer and fewer SD channels. SD channels will no longer be able to sell advertisement at the same pricing model as they do now. SD channels will eventually have to go HD or die a slow and painful death.

[drolltroll]

I do not like the way DTV nickel and dimes everyone as well!!!
If you are one of these posters that think DTV is not making a killing, you must be crazy.
For instance, if you order PPV boxing, it costs $10 more to get it in high def, if you order ST, it costs $99 more a year to get other games besides locals in high def!!! It goes on and on and most retailers selling DTV are not even aware of these costs unless they are HD subscribers themselves!
DTV darn sure is not going to tell you this crap prior to you upgrading!
That is kinda like dish network running that commercial lately about getting more of the NFL that "you" want by signing up with them. You know the commercial, the one with Reggie Bush in it.
Now how in the world can they remotely run that commercial when all they can provide you with is your local market games and the ESPN Monday night game, and the Sunday night game???
It is no secret that ST is exclusive to DTV!
DTV does the same marketing crap, just in a different way!

[DodgerKing]

Originally Posted by drolltroll

I do not like the way DTV nickel and dimes everyone as well!!!
If you are one of these posters that think DTV is not making a killing, you must be crazy.

That is it. We are the ones that are crazy? Perhaps you should look into things before you make assumption?

For instance, if you order PPV boxing, it costs $10 more to get it in high def, if you order ST, it costs $99 more a year to get other games besides locals in high def!!! It goes on and on and most retailers selling DTV are not even aware of these costs unless they are HD subscribers themselves!

How much does it cost Direct? Answer this one first, then you may see it is not as much of a killing as you think.

Besides the price is driven by demand.

DTV darn sure is not going to tell you this crap prior to you upgrading!

I knew they were doing this... That just may be me...

That is kinda like dish network running that commercial lately about getting more of the NFL that "you" want by signing up with them. You know the commercial, the one with Reggie Bush in it.
Now how in the world can they remotely run that commercial when all they can provide you with is your local market games and the ESPN Monday night game, and the Sunday night game???
It is no secret that ST is exclusive to DTV!

All commercials spin to sell their products. Nothing new here.

DTV does the same marketing crap, just in a different way!

Refer to the above comment... Which way is that?

[DodgerKing]

Originally Posted by lawnchair13

And if they put 1 or 2 channels in each package that you really, really want you end up paying more for what you had to begin with. It starts with HD Extra Pack 1...

It does? We would pay more by choosing to add the extra pack for an additional $5 to total $15 (or keep the standard HD package for $10) rather than paying $15 for all HD? Which BTW is still $5 less than Dish and cheaper than many cable providers as well.

[lawnchair13]

I've seen the HD comparisons to Dish several times now and one thing occurs to me.

First, I have to acknowledge that Dish is nowhere close to being able to add the HD content D* is, so I can’t really make this apples to apples, but…

Excluding HD access, the same package I have now with D* was $16.00 cheaper on Dish. Yes, I still have a Dish dish on the roof.

So adding $10 + $5 on D* and adding $20 on Dish doesn’t really balance out as Dish being more expensive.

I’ll admit that I’m a D* fan and I have no plans on leaving but that’s not the same as being a D* Sheep or Corporate Shill. Some people seem to spin for D* at all costs, selectively pointing out the positives without even so much as an acknowledgment to the issues others present without putting a D* spin on it.

I’m starting to think there are D* employees spreading the company talking points and propaganda in this forum.

I’m not directing that to anyone exclusively, so please don’t take this as a personal attack.

[lawnchair13]

Originally Posted by DodgerKing

It does? We would pay more by choosing to add the extra pack for an additional $5 to total $15 (or keep the standard HD package for $10) rather than paying $15 for all HD? Which BTW is still $5 less than Dish and cheaper than many cable providers as well.

Uh, if they create 10 seperate packages at $5/mo and spread the programming across those packages in such a way that a majority of people would opt to pay for all 10 packages, still charge a $10 fee for HD “Access” and require a minimum $29 Base Package to even get started, where are we then? Oh and don’t forget to add the HD DVR rental fee and additional receiver charges.

[DodgerKing]

Originally Posted by lawnchair13

Uh, if they create 10 seperate packages at $5/mo and spread the programming across those packages in such a way that a majority of people would opt to pay for all 10 packages, still charge a $10 fee for HD “Access” and require a minimum $29 Base Package to even get started, where are we then? Oh and don’t forget to add the HD DVR rental fee and additional receiver charges.

You said it starts with package one. I was just pointing out the package one being as it it would not cost more.

[DodgerKing]

Originally Posted by lawnchair13

I've seen the HD comparisons to Dish several times now and one thing occurs to me.

First, I have to acknowledge that Dish is nowhere close to being able to add the HD content D* is, so I can’t really make this apples to apples, but…

Excluding HD access, the same package I have now with D* was $16.00 cheaper on Dish. Yes, I still have a Dish dish on the roof.

So adding $10 + $5 on D* and adding $20 on Dish doesn’t really balance out as Dish being more expensive.

I’ll admit that I’m a D* fan and I have no plans on leaving but that’s not the same as being a D* Sheep or Corporate Shill. Some people seem to spin for D* at all costs, selectively pointing out the positives without even so much as an acknowledgment to the issues others present without putting a D* spin on it.

I’m starting to think there are D* employees spreading the company talking points and propaganda in this forum.

I’m not directing that to anyone exclusively, so please don’t take this as a personal attack.

Yeah right?

[lawnchair13]

Originally Posted by DodgerKing

You said it starts with package one. I was just pointing out the package one being as it it would not cost more.

I know, I thought we got off track. You said you would prefer seperate packages to choose from. I thought I'd provide a scenerio that I think would result from that aproach.

Originally Posted by DodgerKing

Actually, this will not be a bad idea. I would much prefer to pay $5 for individual packages of my choice instead of paying one big sum for every HD channel, most of which I don't watch anyway.

After all, isn't this whole issue about choice anyway?

[joed32]

Originally Posted by lawnchair13

I've seen the HD comparisons to Dish several times now and one thing occurs to me.

First, I have to acknowledge that Dish is nowhere close to being able to add the HD content D* is, so I can’t really make this apples to apples, but…

Excluding HD access, the same package I have now with D* was $16.00 cheaper on Dish. Yes, I still have a Dish dish on the roof.

So adding $10 + $5 on D* and adding $20 on Dish doesn’t really balance out as Dish being more expensive.

I’ll admit that I’m a D* fan and I have no plans on leaving but that’s not the same as being a D* Sheep or Corporate Shill. Some people seem to spin for D* at all costs, selectively pointing out the positives without even so much as an acknowledgment to the issues others present without putting a D* spin on it.

I’m starting to think there are D* employees spreading the company talking points and propaganda in this forum.

I’m not directing that to anyone exclusively, so please don’t take this as a personal attack.

Actually almost all of us are D* employees.

[dahur]

[quote=drolltroll;410947]I do not like the way DTV nickel and dimes everyone as well!!!


"It was expensive to put those sats up there. DTV has every right to recover their cost thru higher programming fees."

Yeah, well I feel part of my $1400 every year has ALREADY paid to put them up there, along with everyone else's $.

"For Gods sake. Just eat one less hamburger every month and pay the five dollars!"

One less hamburger here, one less hamburger there, one less hamburger here, pretty soon I'm not eating very much.

"If you don't wanna pay it,. then don't! It's your choice."

I'm not paying it. And the ratings are showing there's a lot of us thinking the same way.

This nickel and dime is just the start. Sure it's only five bucks now. Wait and see.

[TomLewandowski]

...bumping poll to top in lieu of 'sticky topic' abilities...