[romy101]

Maybe some of you don't know this so I will tell you. I have the total choice package only for approx $30.


I get HDnet, HBO-HD and SHO-HD without paying anything extra.


I added the showtime package that included the high def then I told them to remove it and leave the hd only. They did and said that since I have a 119 signal then I will get the hd from that sat. With the package you get the signal from the 110 sat.


HDnet was always free. Hbo was the same deal. I ordered the hbo package and then removed it from my account telling them to only keep the high def hbo.


Somehow I am authorized for all hd without the package fees.

 

[DP1]

They're prolly tryin to make up for all that time where they were suckin hind teet to Dish.. .. offering only an HDPPV/demo loop channel and HBO HD for a fee for so long.

 

[ragedogg69]

Yep I get them all free too!

 

[Karnis]

I just lost SHO-HD, I checked mydirectv.com. the free SHO-HD listing was gone. Good news is it came back on when I turned SHO package back on!

 

[jacmyoung]

Lets not get too many people excited and call DirecTV, there is clear sign that DirecTV CSRs are getting aware of us cheapskates and they are sticking to No-TC-No-Showtime-No-SHOHD policy. And if enough of us tie up their phone lines, they will soon start the No-TC-No-HBO-No-HBOHD too. And HDNet will be next. If they ever add Discovery HD, they may even go No-TC-No-All Premiums-No-Locals-No-Spanish-No-Internationals-No-Discovery HD on you.

 

[mbw23air]

The CSR's know about this. It was the CSR who brought it to my attention yesterday. When I called and asked about Sho-HD she said it should be on and I told her I didn't subscribe to Showtime yet and then she said you don't need to and you don't even need HBO to get HD-HBO. I then had her turn HBO off and after that I still got HD-HBO. So, it is no secret, they know.


Mike

 

[romy101]

I agree. Let's not call them and screw ourselves by bringing too much attention to the large number of people who choose to bypass the packages for free hd. It may be free in the short term but if the Directv execs catch wind of the fact that a couple hundred thousand people are watching all their hd for free they might change their policy.

 

[Kipp Jones]

Yes, the word should be kept quiet.

 

[Allen A]

I would expect that the DirecTV execs pretty much know what they are offering, and why. But, it should come as no surprise to any of us that these freebies are almost certainly temporary. It might be that they would like to attract as many of the relatively few of us HDTV subscribers as possible by not charging for the services as yet. But the billing is set up to charge when they are ready to, and once enough good content is there, we can expect the $0.00 to change to positive numbers. Paying a fair fee for HDTV will not be a hard decision for me. It is one thing that they offer that is really worth paying for IMHO.

 

[jdiehl]

You can't get Showtime or any other premium channel now without first having a base package.


I have HBO ala carte, and that's it, but I can't get Showtime-HD without getting rid of my outdated and exceptionally valued package. If I activated Total Choice with Showtime for a day, then cancelled, I wouldn't be able to keep my ala carte HBO in the deal. For me, SHO-HD isn't worth paying for a $32 base package with lots of channels that I already have on cable (can't get rid of cable as I have broadband through the cable company which far outweighs the need for Showtime).


Just wanted to let people know that those of us with the $12 HBO only deal are sorta locked into it....unless we want to upgrade to a newer package (but they you are locked in and can't go back).

 

[jacmyoung]

They will not be allowed to charge a separate HD package for XX dollors. The current contracts with HBO, Showtime and HDNet do not allow that. All three HDs must be added for free as long as you subscribe to their minimum SD counterparts.


The problem is DirecTV in their infinite wisdom, had decided TC ($31.99) is now the minimum package you must pay for, before you even begin to add other things like locals or premiums.


If there is a way to have an HDTV package $10.00, that will save many of us the trouble. But it isn't going to happen until they re-sign those contracts. And you know the chance of this happening is next to zero.

 

[Bobzilla]

Did you add the full package via the web or by calling?


Did you remove the full package via the web or by calling?

 

[jlin]

Why don't you change your subscription from HBO to Showtime ala carte... that way you're paying the same $12 for both HD feeds.. without a basic package?

Quote:

Originally posted by jdiehl You can't get Showtime or any other premium channel now without first having a base package. I have HBO ala carte, and that's it, but I can't get Showtime-HD without getting rid of my outdated and exceptionally valued package. If I activated Total Choice with Showtime for a day, then cancelled, I wouldn't be able to keep my ala carte HBO in the deal. For me, SHO-HD isn't worth paying for a $32 base package with lots of channels that I already have on cable (can't get rid of cable as I have broadband through the cable company which far outweighs the need for Showtime). Just wanted to let people know that those of us with the $12 HBO only deal are sorta locked into it....unless we want to upgrade to a newer package (but they you are locked in and can't go back).

 

[jacmyoung]

That's the problem, any change of programming require TC as the base package to be added.

 

[jdiehl]

Exactly. The sweet ala carte deal that many of us have is now grandfathered in and if it is changed, you can't go back.

 

[S. A. Moore]

Gee, after paying $4000 for that HDTV you get showtime HDTV free !

Whee !


Lovely. Same mentality as buying a $2000 computer to rip off $15 cds.


Let me dust off an old economics text...yes.. here it is "supply and demand".

Appears you have to pay for things or the producers go out of business.


Humm.....

 

[DP1]

Quote:

Originally posted by jdiehl Exactly. The sweet ala carte deal that many of us have is now grandfathered in and if it is changed, you can't go back.

Or you could just drop HBO altogether and get the NFL package (which I trust they still sell ala carte as the contract requires) for about the same price per month. Then have them add the HDTV Package and get HDNet and presumably HBO HD included (as most do) at no charge. Perhaps the Showtime HD line too. Yeah, I know, I know, they could always yank HBO HD out of the picture there though.


But being from St. Louis, you're probably not a football fan these days anyway.

 

[jerndl]

On the MyDirectv screen, does anyone still have a seperate line item listed for SHO-HD? Mine just says HDTV(0.00/month). I just added Showtime yesterday via MyDirectv and SHO-HD was immediately available. I was wondering if I remove Showtime via MyDirectv will I still have SHO-HD? Also are there any charges for changing your programming back and forth on the MyDirectv web site? Thanks.


Jay

 

[Bogney Baux]

Quote:

Originally posted by jerndl On the MyDirectv screen, does anyone still have a seperate line item listed for SHO-HD?

Yes. I just checked and pasted below.



Monthly Services:


TOTAL CHOICE ($31.99/month)

HDTV ($0.00/month)


Monthly Charge for Services Shown Above:

$31.99


Other Charges and Sports Subscriptions:


SHOWTIME HD ($0.00/MONTHLY)

 

[Bobzilla]

I assume you called a CSR, right? Did you just ask for the Showtime-HD package? Or did you sign up for Showtime full package and cancel it?