Directv Going To Lease Only On 3/1/06

**The Tate** · 01-12-2006 07:40 PM

Originally Posted by syphix

Wow, Longhorn...that's a mighty rosey picture you paint for DirecTV. Where's all this coming from (just curious, an HDTV/DirecTV newbie)?? Once all these services (phone, "WiMax-like" internet/VOD etc. etc.) are in place, would DirecTV change their name?? Seems like they'd be offering many more services than just television, and might want to position themselves as a multi-media conglomerate..

Directv works with many company's for phone and broadband right now. For example if you have bell south phone service and directv you receive a discount on your phone bill.

**Ghost** · 01-12-2006 07:46 PM

I'm fed up with E* and am churning on over to D*. I sat down to place the call and thought I'd check the board first. Glad I did!

So, do I go ahead and call or wait until 1 march?

**uncrules** · 01-12-2006 08:09 PM

Originally Posted by Scott Greczkowski

New Customer Hardware
Upfront Hardware Lease Fees
Total Monthly Costs to Customer
Commitment Period/Early Cancellation Fee
1 Standard Receiver
$0
$0 Lease Fee (no fee for first receiver)
+Monthly programming
1 Year/ $150 prorated
1 Standard Receiver + 1 DVR
$0 (after $100 mail-in rebate*)
$0 Lease Fee (no fee for first receiver)
+ $4.99 Lease Fee (for second receiver) + $5.99 DVR Service Fee (Whole House)
+ Monthly Programming
2 Years/ $300 prorated
2 DVRs + 1 HD
$197 (after $100 mail-in rebate*)
$0 Lease Fee (no fee for first receiver)
+ $4.99 Lease Fee (for second receiver)
+ $4.99 Lease Fee (for third receiver)
+ $5.99 DVR Service Fee (Whole House)
+ Monthly Programming
2 Years/ $300 prorated
1 HD DVR
$299 (after $100 mail-in rebate*)
$0 Lease Fee (no fee for first receiver)
+ $5.99 DVR Service Fee (Whole House)
+ Monthly Programming
2 Years/ $300 prorated

Sounds like not a whole lot is going to change. To get an HD DVR you still got to pay $300 after rebate. With cable it is 0 upfront plus some monthly rental charge. You aren't going to gain any cable converts with this.

**dlsnyder** · 01-12-2006 08:31 PM

One thing is changing and I wondered how much consideration they have given to it. Ownership of equipment, especially expensive HD DVRs, is a disincentive to churn. I wonder how much churn may increase as time goes on and the installed base of lease-only subscribers grows.

**kbcrowe** · 01-12-2006 08:37 PM

Originally Posted by uncrules

Sounds like not a whole lot is going to change. To get an HD DVR you still got to pay $300 after rebate. With cable it is 0 upfront plus some monthly rental charge. You aren't going to gain any cable converts with this.

Well, lets see on Feb 28th you pay $300 for a HD DVR and you OWN it forever. On March 1st you pay $300 for an HD DVR and D* OWNS it. That's a bit different.

**uncrules** · 01-12-2006 08:42 PM

Originally Posted by kbcrowe

Well, lets see on Feb 28th you pay $300 for a HD DVR and you OWN it forever. On March 1st you pay $300 for an HD DVR and D* OWNS it. That's a bit different.

That sucks.

**dragon002** · 01-12-2006 08:46 PM

Originally Posted by syphix

Wow, Longhorn...that's a mighty rosey picture you paint for DirecTV. Where's all this coming from (just curious, an HDTV/DirecTV newbie)?? Once all these services (phone, "WiMax-like" internet/VOD etc. etc.) are in place, would DirecTV change their name?? Seems like they'd be offering many more services than just television, and might want to position themselves as a multi-media conglomerate..

syphix,

directv is owned by a multimedia conglomerate, NEWS CORP.

sister companies are , 20th century fox studios, fox TV empire, fox regional sports, BskyB , SKY ITALIA, newspapers and magazines around the globe. directv group is controlled by a 30% voting block that K. RUPERT MURDOCK bought in 2003. other major investors are the GM pension fund and the HOWARD HUGHES CHARITABLE TRUST, this company is an octopus, there are tentacles EVERYWHERE.

this isn't dish net that owns a few sats in space.

**wobbie** · 01-12-2006 08:51 PM

Looks to me like they are starting to copy E* with the lease plan additional outlet fees. I'm just waiting for D* to come out with their rate increase, we all know it is going to happen, what hasn't increased yet this year?? Gas? Heat? Electricity? Interest rates??

**satjay** · 01-12-2006 08:54 PM

Sounds like allot is on the Horizon over the next two years, hopefully we will see some of it this year. So if I am reading this post right. If you currently own, your receivers, your mirror fee will be a lease fee basically? Even though your not leasing

Any kind of price drop or different channel packages is good to hear (I think their channels packages have been the same for a while now) Even if its just rumors at this stage!

**dragon002** · 01-12-2006 08:56 PM

Originally Posted by charper1

The same, just renaming it as I read it.
It also states that they can still sell hardware to users.

charper,

seems to me not much is changing other than they are ramming the old insurance program down all the subs throats, and calling it lease.

im a tech with no need for insurance, but i will buy a mpeg 4 HD dvr before the cutoff date, even if a cousin has to buy in my name in a mpeg 4 city. i aint paying no stinkin lease /insurance fee.