Cable TV prices on the rise - RecordOnline.com - The Times Herald Record (http://www.recordonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20081224/BIZ/812240337)

New year, same story.........................

I guess we will to have to wait and see if we will se big price jumps, like our friends at dish are looking at??

I guess talking about price jumps are like season changing. The next season change will be "Will you be renewing sunday ticket/superfan"

I'd be willing to bet that it's the usual $3 to $4 increase. What I don't understand is why folks get upset when prices go up, it's a fact of life. IMHO the issue would be is the increase out of line with the norm or something out of line, like a $10 increase that some E* customers will be looking at.

I'd be willing to bet that it's the usual $3 to $4 increase. What I don't understand is why folks get upset when prices go up, it's a fact of life. IMHO the issue would be is the increase out of line with the norm or something out of line, like a $10 increase that some E* customers will be looking at.

Well, a lot of the economists are saying that we are in a period of deflation right now. If everything else is going down in price, even a modest rise in subscription TV rates really stand out

Well, a lot of the economists are saying that we are in a period of deflation right now. If everything else is going down in price, even a modest rise in subscription TV rates really stand out:up

Well, a lot of the economists are saying that we are in a period of deflation right now. If everything else is going down in price, even a modest rise in subscription TV rates really stand out

That would be true is EVERYTHING else was going down but everything else isn't. If the MSO's have multi year contracts which have automatic price increases in them with the content providers then while they might not want to raise prices they may not have any choice if they want to remain profitable.

I'd be willing to bet that it's the usual $3 to $4 increase. What I don't understand is why folks get upset when prices go up, it's a fact of life. IMHO the issue would be is the increase out of line with the norm or something out of line, like a $10 increase that some E* customers will be looking at.



yep. i don't get it either why some are surprised or upset over this. it's our way of life whether we want it or not and if we're a in a period of deflation why don't i see prices coming down besides gasoline? Most were using gas as an excuse for raising their prices so what's their excuse now for not lowering them? enough time has passed since gas started dropping prices for others to begin to do so too.

They are jacking our rates up BECAUSE THEY CAN. It's just like all those extra fees Dish Network tacks on. Its BECAUSE THEY CAN fees. They are making money on the little fee increases because they add their increase on top of that.

Whatever juan, Charlie's doing it to you too. Here's a task worth undertaking, find a multichannel provider that's not raising rates.

And? I havent really seen anyone say that rates WOULDNT go up, the discussion I have seen everyone have is by how much. $3 or $4 like they usually do, or a larger increase like E* did this time. I guess we will just have to wait and see

Yea really . This is nothing New for any provider. My mother pays about $70 just for Digital Cable. They could have been paying D* $70 with D* and had DVR and 2 rooms of service. But Cable must be easier for them I guess. So I ended up back with their D* equipment . I hardly use it , But both are hooked up in the Garage anyway. But I'm paying about $63 per month for Choice, DVR and a D12, thats too much. So not really what would happen if rates went up $4. Most likly send back R16 Or wait and put it into another apartment I,m looking to rent out.

... $3 or $4 like they usually do, or a larger increase like E* did this time. I guess we will just have to wait and see

The so called "larger increase" is only for the HD-Only packs.

When the "HD Absolute" pack was out for $29.99, everyone was complaining how could they not add the regional sports pack with it and so on. My prediction was not only that, the "HD Absolute" pack would have to go up in price soon or go away.

I also said for anyone who cared only for the HD channels and RNS add on, a higher priced package would be needed. Then the TurboHD packs came about, priced well below normal but higher than the "HD Absolute", probably due to lack of HD channels.

In Feb 2009 if enough new HD channels will be added to make the TurboHD packs a true alternative to the standard AT pack, even with the large price increase, the TurboHD packs will still be a serious threat. The only thing to find out is how many new HD channels E* will add to make the large price increase worth a while.

In another word, what the TurboHD will look like in Feb 2009 is the only thing people need to wait and see.

All else will be just like another of those annual increases, and increase only for the sake of increase, not for increased service, nothing special, whether cable, E* or D*.

In Feb 2009 if enough new HD channels will be added to make the TurboHD packs a true alternative to the standard AT pack, even with the large price increase, the TurboHD packs will still be a serious threat. The only thing to find out is how many new HD channels E* will add to make the large price increase worth a while.

In another word, what the TurboHD will look like in Feb 2009 is the only thing people need to wait and see.

All else will be just like another of those annual increases, and increase only for the sake of increase, not for increased service, nothing special, whether cable, E* or D*.
I agree with most of this, and the kicker is highlighted above. If HD channels are added, sure, it wont seem as bad. If they arent it will. Chances are some will be added, but that goes for both companies more than likely. In any case, the HD only packs should be a major draw (they SHOULD be now for that matter) assuming they have all of the channels that one watches. For me, they are close, but still not there yet.

Anyway, if D* can keep the price increase inline with past increases, I think that would be the wise decision. They fact is though, we simply dont know what they are going to do yet.

Always has been.. every new years comes around, then everything goes up..!

I understand they will be taking english speaking channels (i.e. BET) away from the spainish pack and adding some music channels to compensate

I understand they will be taking english speaking channels (i.e. BET) away from the spainish pack and adding some music channels to compensate

Ok......not that it matters to me personally (or most subs for that matter), but do you have a link?

...In any case, the HD only packs should be a major draw (they SHOULD be now for that matter) assuming they have all of the channels that one watches. For me, they are close, but still not there yet...

I don't think they are there yet either, and to add an extra $10 will kill it, unless of course the new HD added "will be finally there" for most people.

I noticed quite a few very major HD pay channels will launch around Feb 2009. The timing does give hope. D* can of course adde them too, but the price will not be competitive to TurboHD.

Well let's see the latest Beyonce commercial states New DirecTV subscriber's rates are locked in until 2010.So it would look like DirecTV can expect some new customers.;)

Well let's see the latest Beyonce commercial states New DirecTV subscriber's rates are locked in until 2010.So it would look like DirecTV can expect some new customers.;) thats NEW customers

thats NEW customers


That's what I said.;):)

That's what I said.;):) its the existing customers who need the vaseline

its the existing customers who need the vaseline


Since DirecTV has more national basic channels,and more HD,and more sports,plus different programming on T101 like concerts,series,and comedy shows,I believe that what ever raise DirecTV needs,I will accept it.I am very happy with DirecTV,but that's only because I have already had Dish and cable before and I believe what I have read that FIOS and UVerse are just the same as the cable company.;)

its the existing customers who need the vaseline

Maybe...we just dont know yet

New DirecTv customers - $23 off per month for a year plus the rate is not increased until 2010. OK, fine, 2010 comes around, BEND OVER!!! Your bill goes up $23 PLUS the rate increase of 2009 PLUS the rate increase of 2010 so you could be looking at $26-30 more per month all of a sudden and you are in a two year contract so guess what? You are stuck paying those higher fees for a year before you can get out of the penalty for cancelling contract early.

New DirecTv customers - $23 off per month for a year plus the rate is not increased until 2010. OK, fine, 2010 comes around, BEND OVER!!! Your bill goes up $23 PLUS the rate increase of 2009 PLUS the rate increase of 2010 so you could be looking at $26-30 more per month all of a sudden and you are in a two year contract so guess what? You are stuck paying those higher fees for a year before you can get out of the penalty for cancelling contract early.

Don't understand your problem with the $23 off for a new customer, that's money that they're saving for a year. And they don't have to pay for a 9 or 10 months of the 2009 rate increase which they would have been paying if not for this deal, more money saving. Yea, 2010 comes and your bill will make a big jump, but only to what all the other subs have been paying that weren't new customers. If you're planning to cancel after only a year then why sign up for DirecTV in the 1st place, you'll have the penalty no matter what.

Don't understand your problem with the $23 off for a new customer, that's money that they're saving for a year. And they don't have to pay for a 9 or 10 months of the 2009 rate increase which they would have been paying if not for this deal, more money saving. Yea, 2010 comes and your bill will make a big jump, but only to what all the other subs have been paying that weren't new customers. If you're planning to cancel after only a year then why sign up for DirecTV in the 1st place, you'll have the penalty no matter what.


Face it rad.The Dish supporters are trying to put down the new DirecTV deal because evidently Dish isn't going to match it.Mainly because Dish needs to increase fees because of the operating costs,programming costs,and lawyer costs and lost subscribers cost.;)

Amazing that no one put down Dish when they locked in prices.:confused:

Face it rad.The Dish supporters are trying to put down the new DirecTV deal because evidently Dish isn't going to match it.Mainly because Dish needs to increase fees because of the operating costs,programming costs,and lawyer costs and lost subscribers cost.;)

Amazing that no one put down Dish when they locked in prices.:confused:I'm loving my 23 dollars off a MONTH!!:D:up I love the fact i have one dish! I really like the fact i have three dvr's and pay ONE dvr fee. Have my dvr's networked set timer's from my iphone. I love that i get all of my locals. I really wish there was a integrated HD over the air tuner that does not need a satellite signal to work! Other then that i LOVE Directv!!:up

Wow, all this discussion over an idiotic post started by, who else?
The only real news here would be if there was no price increase, that would be shocking.
But hey Juan, if it made you feel better, so be it. Do you really care if D* customers pay more?
Let me see....do I get more this year than I did last year, well, yes I do. I would expect there to be some sort of increase. Every year about this time, someone from the other side points a finger and says, Na na na....your bill is going to go up. I guess it was Juan's turn.

I'm loving my 23 dollars off a MONTH!!:D:up I love the fact i have one dish! I really like the fact i have three dvr's and pay ONE dvr fee. Have my dvr's networked set timer's from my iphone. I love that i get all of my locals. I really wish there was a integrated HD over the air tuner that does not need a satellite signal to work! Other then that i LOVE Directv!!:up

+1
Me Too!.;):D

Since my Uncle Sam is giving me a nice cost of living this year,that means more DirecTV!.:D