Directv Going To Lease Only On 3/1/06

**aec4** · 01-13-2006 09:39 AM

Question: Is this a good enough reason to convert to cable?

**LonghornXP** · 01-13-2006 10:07 AM

Sorry I'm late on this but I'll try and answer a few questions.

First I've always been told that the future HD DVR products would be a lease with no upfront cost for the customers so I'm not sure about that letter Scott posted. Also Bright House Networks isn't a small cable company. We used to be Time Warner Cable before they switched everything over to Bright House Networks. For the most part any TWC contracts for new programming will also trickle down to all Bright House Networks customers.

**jeff2k5** · 01-13-2006 11:23 AM

Does this mean if I want to upgrade my R10 to an R15 at that time am I also subject to this lease only agreement?

**boba** · 01-13-2006 11:31 AM

Originally Posted by jeff2k5

Does this mean if I want to upgrade my R10 to an R15 at that time am I also subject to this lease only agreement?

After 3/1/06 YES

**timmac** · 01-13-2006 12:06 PM

Originally Posted by projectorsrule

I have wireless broadband. It is a small 11"x8"x3" antenna that mounts on top of your house. It works like microwave transmissions. The wireless is on Cell towers and works within 4 miles of the towers. Our price is $29 a month for 500kps down/256kps upload. My ISP just signed a contract with Direc to sell direc, just add VOIP.
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You call this High Speed Internet? I have 15m/2m. If that's all they are giving, good luck competing with FIOS and cable.

**vurbano** · 01-13-2006 12:15 PM

Originally Posted by mjitkop

I don't know about WeaKnees specifically but I was wondering the same thing for customers in general.
It seems to me that if you don't own the hardware anymore, you won't be allowed to modify it (upgrade to a bigger hard drive). What if you do modify it and comes one day they tell you you must give your receiver back for another model? If they see that you modified it, are you gonna get in trouble financially? Probably, I would say.

Thats why you keep the old hard drive and slap it back in before you even call and report a problem. Or just drop it and tell them its crashed.

**peterl1365** · 01-13-2006 12:28 PM

Originally Posted by LonghornXP

Sorry I'm late on this but I'll try and answer a few questions.
First I've always been told that the future HD DVR products would be a lease with no upfront cost for the customers so I'm not sure about that letter Scott posted. Also Bright House Networks isn't a small cable company. We used to be Time Warner Cable before they switched everything over to Bright House Networks. For the most part any TWC contracts for new programming will also trickle down to all Bright House Networks customers.

Just speculating on the upfront Lease Fee for the HD DVR, but it might be something like a "Rack Rate" for a hotel room. Officially, the Lease Fee will be $300, but in practice that fee will always or almost always be waived as part of a promotion. This would create a perceived value for the product.

**ocnier** · 01-13-2006 02:07 PM

Originally Posted by timmac

You call this High Speed Internet? I have 15m/2m. If that's all they are giving, good luck competing with FIOS and cable.

TMAC, cut'em some slack it's very new in terms of generation. You have to give it time. I see a lot of promise for this product. You still have to remeber that much of the US still can only get dialup. Not being slaved to old generation phone or cable lines is very exciting for a lot of people especially considering most broadband is is about 3m downstream for the average consumer. FIOS is a possible but it is still a ways away in terms of true mass roll out.

**hoopsbwc34** · 01-13-2006 02:46 PM

Here's the big thing that I see being "changed" with this program:

Today I can return my DVR (which cost me the same as their "lease" program..... Free) and end my commitment, starting 3/1/06 that options goes away and I will have to pay the prorated cancellation fee!

**vurbano** · 01-13-2006 03:03 PM

Originally Posted by ocnier

TMAC, cut'em some slack it's very new in terms of generation. You have to give it time. I see a lot of promise for this product. You still have to remeber that much of the US still can only get dialup. Not being slaved to old generation phone or cable lines is very exciting for a lot of people especially considering most broadband is is about 3m downstream for the average consumer. FIOS is a possible but it is still a ways away in terms of true mass roll out.

I certainly wouldnt call it broadband, its way too slow. But it should kill off dialup.