[mikepinkerton]

Hey all


Just curious if everyone is seeing the Channel 205 message about Pegasus service. I'm not a pegasus customer, though my area used to be (about 4-5 years ago) before it became considered part of the DC metro area.


Just want to make sure that D* doesn't think I'm a pegasus member, though my $$ goes to D* every month.


--Mike

 

[Chris Gerhard]

It just shows the message on the channel guide but if I select it, I get something like this program isn't available in your area. So no the message is not available to everyone.


Chris

 

[TheFerret]

I bet there are ten times the number of DirecTV (non-Pegasus) customers seeing the message that ONLY applies to Pegasus customers. Why couldn't they simply email this message instead of harassing everyone, like the millions of non-Pegasus customers!?!


Someone at DirecTV needs to get a !#%& clue.

 

[Steve Mehs]

Calm down. Harassing everyone? How do you figure this is any sort of harassment, it's just probably a slide show explaining to Pegasus customers what is going on. And how in the world is DirecTV supposed to find out the email addresses of the 1.5 million customers effected, provided witch some probably don't even have computers. Putting an info channel up about it is the most practical solution, and I'm sure any other company would do the same. If this doesn’t effect you just ignore the channel, or remove it from your line up, it takes up very list bandwidth, there is nothing harmful going on here.


I don't have access to this channel as I'm not on an NRTC area, and have removed the channel from my channels I receive list.

 

[TheFerret]

I've seen this message several times on every STB I have. Why send notices to 12 million subcsribers when

 

[Scooper]

TheFerret - YOU are WAY over-reacting about this. If D* not only started the channel, but also FORCED yoiu to tune to this channel - THEN you would have a point. This isn't any different than your local broadcasters breaking in on the NETWORK programming with weather or news advisoraries, now, isn't it ?

 

[TheFerret]

No Scooper, you and Steve are over-reacting. I used some special characters to illustrate a point at how some can get emotionally upset for them being inconvenienced in this manner. Its unnecessary, IMO. I have offered that DirecTV could have notified this exclusive minority of customers without annoying the bulk of the subscribers in the manner they chose.


Why should non-Pegasus be distracted several times over for something that doesn't pertain to them? This is like my local news reporting the local high-school scores for a high-school 2000 miles away. Instead, the cheapest method was employed regardless of the level of annoyance.


Additionally, the poster illustrates another point that only adds confusion, and I am willing to bet will only add to customer service calls. I am illustrating a point that if this level of annoyance is found by the operating staff at DirecTV where will it potentially lead to? If no one complained then what is to keep them from committing further adulteration.


Now, if you find it acceptable then please do yourself a favor and call DirecTV and tell them you are ok with receiving messages like this even if it has nothing to do with your service. I am sure their marketing guys would live to sell you some OxyClean in this manner. LOL

 

[Scooper]

For God's sake - YOU HAVE to tune to the channel !!


IMHO - YOU are over-reacting..


It's only TV - go get a life...

 

[mikepinkerton]

No, actually, you don't have to tune to the channel to be annoyed by it. On all of my STB's i get a message, overlaid on whatever channel I'm watching 2 or 3 times a day, saying to tune to channel 205 for "important information". I guess you guys aren't seeing this.


They're obviously pushing the message to my STB, it's more than just creating a channel for info. That's why I wondered if others were receiving this pushed message, not just being able to see the channel. I can see the content on channel 205 but my zip is not an NRTC area (like I said, it used to be...)


--Mike

 

[TheFerret]

Does anyone know how long this is going to continue? I called and the CSR was clueless.

 

[Martin Tupper]

My guess would be until the end of August, when their agreement with Pegasus will suposedly end. Until then, enjoy

 

[TheFerret]

This will just make me cancel DirecTV.

 

[leesweet]

Huh?! The only reason I even knew 205 was there was that I read about in the 'ding dong the witch is dead' thread about Pegasus dying on 8/31 (supposedly).


You mean you have overlays on other channels saying 'You need to come to 205!' ?! Now that is overdone.


Before I got to that post I was wondering what the heck eveyone was so upset about.... there are tons of channels (one was about taxes in Arkansas or something?) that was identical... popped up in the guide, but no one else could see it, since you were in the territory affected.

 

[CablerMN]

Lee;


Yes, seems every hour on the hour. A banner pops at the bottom of the screen asking the viewer to switch to channel 205 for important information.

 

[CCarncross]

Quote:

Originally posted by TheFerret I bet there are ten times the number of DirecTV (non-Pegasus) customers seeing the message that ONLY applies to Pegasus customers. Why couldn't they simply email this message instead of harassing everyone, like the millions of non-Pegasus customers!?! Someone at DirecTV needs to get a !#%& clue.

Must be something specific to certain channels or certain subscription areas cos I've never seen it...


Seems like a simple call to CS support and maybe get it eleveated to level II supoprt should get them to fix the prgramming bug.


Course if you prefer to act like a spoiled child I guess thats your choice as well

 

[TheFerret]

Nope, its been seen on a variety of channels. I was most annoyed while watching Bikini Destinations (HDnet) last night and they through up the friggen overlay. Happen again during a new episode of Coupling (BBCA), and on several other channels. I've seen the damn thing at least a half dozzen times today alone. Even when I've gone to channel 205 the overlays continue.


CCarncross, read post #10, please. I already called them and the CSR was clueless.

 

[leesweet]

Well, I have to add, I've never seen this overlay either.... perhaps it is in certain areas, like NRTC...


You might want to call Retention... they might have a technical supervisor who can either fix it and/or give you $$$ !! (seriously)


I really bet this is a geographic thing. I can't tune to the Peg channel, and I can't tune to the Arkansas (whatever) taxes channel, and I've never seen an overlay. (I was watching a lot of channels on D* yesterday, some HD, mostly CNN, and nothing.)

 

[TheFerret]

Maybe you are right, Lee. Instead of calling the regualr customer service people maybe the retention department can fix it. Its doing it this morning on HDnet (watched a couple of shows this morning, including SCCA racing and SmartTravels and during both of these shows I got the message).