DirecTV offers to customers who complain about dropped Viacom channels

[gigahurtz]

I've been with DTV for 3 total years, but recently signed up again in December. Is it worth it call up?

 

[kattheaunt]

If I missed any of the Viacom channels I would call up to get a refund. I really don't miss any of the channels , so I am not going to call.

I feel the same. Since I don't ever watch any of the channels except the Comedy channel once in a great while, I'd feel like I was cheating to ask for something. Just my way.

 

[Jimbo]

I guess being a customer since 1994, and paying over $150 a month doesn't count for much. I'm out of contract, all I was offered was the ST MAX for $150, and $10 off for 6 months, she did say there was a "better" ST offer yesterday, but it was unavailable now....

If this dispute is not resvolved soon, my 4 kids bugging me about NICK being gone are going to drive me nuts...

Lets see, ST is $ 199 or $299

$ 199, they offered you it for $ 150 and gave you $10 off for 6 months as well, so you got the ST package for $ 90 and your not happy ?

 

[Jimbo]

I've been with DTV for 3 total years, but recently signed up again in December. Is it worth it call up?

Yes, as long as they have the programming you want (outside of this dispute)

 

[ingramba]

All I got was $5.00 off a month for being enrolled in Auto-Bill pay. Maybe its because I only have 6 months left on my contract and own 2 of my 3 receivers.

 

[harshness]

I do have more faith the D* will get these channels back, than Dish putting AMC back on anytime soon.

Given the relatively paltry amount that Viacom was asking, I wouldn't count on it.

DirecTV Is Wrong, And Viacom Is Right - Seeking Alpha

 

[JerryVolunteer]

Given the relatively paltry amount that Viacom was asking, I wouldn't count on it.

DirecTV Is Wrong, And Viacom Is Right - Seeking Alpha

I don't see the amount they are asking for as paltry at all.

 

[raoul5788]

Given the relatively paltry amount that Viacom was asking, I wouldn't count on it.

DirecTV Is Wrong, And Viacom Is Right - Seeking Alpha

$200 million a year is a relatively paltry amount? No wonder you have a credibility issue here.

 

[StanUbankit]

I guess being a customer since 1994, and paying over $150 a month doesn't count for much. I'm out of contract, all I was offered was the ST MAX for $150, and $10 off for 6 months, she did say there was a "better" ST offer yesterday, but it was unavailable now....

If this dispute is not resvolved soon, my 4 kids bugging me about NICK being gone are going to drive me nuts...

That's the story of my life, a day late and a dollar short.......but enough about me! I don't understand why a business does not take care of it's top tier customers, with what it costs to acquire a new customer and the freebies/incentives they offer. Any service provider is gonna have churn but it would make more sense (to me) that your higher paying subs equal a higher profit margin. Oh well, even when the ceo's perform poorly, they are still laughing all the way to the bank.

 

[harshness]

I don't see the amount they are asking for as paltry at all.

It depends on how you spin it. DIRECTV is calling it a 30% increase but given that it covers a 7 year contract, the blow is not as gargantuan as DIRECTV would have you believe. Independent analyses suggest that the old trend was for around 27% anyway so 30% is a bump, not a mountain of difference.

Those who look at the dollar figure are ignoring the scale of things. Remember that this is divided out over 20 million (give or take) customers.

 

[jerseyfla]

Would today be a good day to try and get freebies and American retention CSR's or should I wait until Monday for that?

 

[Mr Tony]

$200 million a year is a relatively paltry amount? No wonder you have a credibility issue here.

we refer to that as trolling

 

[satjay]

Would today be a good day to try and get freebies and American retention CSR's or should I wait until Monday for that?

For what it's worth, I remember folks saying Monday was a good delay for credit discussion, but maybe with the channel pulls may be a good time

 

[bfranci]

I got $20 off for a year and 6 months free Starz/Showtime. I got free Sunday Ticket as well, but that required a 1 year contract. Thank you Viacom!

FYI I called Saturday at Noon PT.

 

[Jimbo]

It depends on how you spin it. DIRECTV is calling it a 30% increase but given that it covers a 7 year contract, the blow is not as gargantuan as DIRECTV would have you believe. Independent analyses suggest that the old trend was for around 27% anyway so 30% is a bump, not a mountain of difference.

Those who look at the dollar figure are ignoring the scale of things. Remember that this is divided out over 20 million (give or take) customers.

The OLD contract was for 7 years, not a new one.
A 30% increase is HUGE regardless of the number of subs.

If they decided to up YOUR bill 30% for ANY of your services, you would not agree to it.

 

[Lkr]

Best they'll do is $10 for 6 mo on ST. I went ahead and took it. No showtime promo for me. I guess that's what happen when you enter a new agreement and already get $30 off for 12 mo

Sent from my iPhone

 

[Nitehawk]

I called in and got the 10 bucks off for one month and 6 months of Starz. Not to bad. We really enjoy movies. Hope this get's resolved soon. Viacom is greedy no doubt. D* told us they want it at 4%. So will see.

 

[lsilvest]

I feel the same. Since I don't ever watch any of the channels except the Comedy channel once in a great while, I'd feel like I was cheating to ask for something. Just my way.

Same here. I don't watch any of them so if they reduce our bills and leave them off I'd be all for it. Also have another 100+ channels they can have.

 

[JUCJ85]

I added on the Showtime for free for 3 months, but receivers say not authorized, shows up on my account, is anyone else having issues with that?

 

[webdog]

I posted this Thursday, but in the wrong thread. :doh:

After reading the previous posts and seeing that some folks got the NFL ST for free for the upcoming season, I figured I'd give it a shot and call in. I did the standard "cancel" twice thing, but the first CSR I got connected with only offered me $5 off per month for a short term (I think 3 months) and Starz free for 3 months. I told him no thanks and that I'd still wanted to cancel. Then I got transferred to a female CSR, who was nice but also didn't offer much. Now I'm on hold and it's over 30 minutes and I get a hold of a young friendly CSR from the south and I nicely let her know that my young daughter misses the NICK channels and I'm looking into cancelling service. She mentioned she'd look at my bill and see if there's anything she can offer me. After looking at my bill, she said they could offer me a one month credit for about half of the bill (-$70 or so off). At which point I said thank you, but do you have any promotions for the NFL ST? She said "let me check." So after a minute or so she gets back to me and lets me know she could throw it free for the upcoming season! But I would need to agree to a 1 year contract (I am currently off contract). And back to Starz, she said she could also throw that in free for 3 months. I told her that's cool, but I could really take or leave Starz. But I got it too.

So I guess because of this whole Viacom thing, I'm getting Encore free (which everyone is getting) thru the end of July. NFL ST free for the upcoming season (after agreeing to the 1 year contract). And Starz free for 3 months.

I didn't rob the bank compared to some of the previous posts, but I really only wanted NFL ST for free if they'd give it to me. Mission accomplished. Well worth the time spent on hold. Thanks DTV!

PS: I forgot to add, I've had the NFL ST for about 3 years straight. This will be year# 4.