What I would do for my customers
If I were DirecTV, or any other provider for that matter, I would do a loyalty program as follows...
It is simple. Subscribers to DirecTV get to vote on what channels you would like to see added next via the website. For each consecutive month (not long in my case) you subscribe to DirecTV, you are given 1 point. DirecTV puts up a list of all the channels available nationwide, and you the consumer can put your points towards the channels you want.
For example, if you have subscribed to DirecTV for 15 months and you REALLY want Travel Channel HD added, you could put all 15 points towards Travel Channel. If you don't really care, you just want more HD, you could spread your points amongst 15 different channels. It would matter because DirecTV would have a tally of what people actually want and how bad. They would do everything within their power, and within reason to add the channels. Obviously, if they cannot work out a deal with the channel, or if the channel is locked into some exclusive deal with Dish Network, than they would have to skip the channel and move onto the next popular channel.
The voting would be dynamic, so you could change your points anytime. If a channel is added, you would then get the points back to spread out amongst your next favorite channel(s).
This would greatly reward the subscribers who stick around for a while. This would give DirecTV great feedback on what the consumers want.
It seems to me that when deciding channels to add, providers weigh heavily on what they think will convince TV watchers to switch to their service. If DirecTV thinks adding more RSNs will get their subscriber base to grow, they will add the RSN in hopes of getting new subscribers. Nevermind the existing subscribers that want another HBO in HD.
There is a true upside to Dish falling behind in HD and losing subscribers. They were FORCED to act and stop the bleeding. After losing many subscribers (self included), they added a bunch of new HD. DirecTV has done wonderfully since adding all that HD, and now they can sit back and collect on their investment. If they started losing subscribers, you can bet they would hurry up and add more.
I realize DirecTV is adding more this month and into the fall. But will we get what we want? I would really like to see all 26 HBO/MAX HD channels one day. Will we get that? Probably not for a while.
A voting system would truly give their subscribers what they want. I mean, seriously, if you call and "ask" for HBO Zone, does it really work? I have been asking cable and sat providers for channels I want at the end of every phone call when they ask if there is anything else they can help me with FOR YEARS. It doesn't work. I was telling BHN to add Cinemax HD (the flagship station, not the multichannels) everytime I called. It didn't work. They still haven't added it and I am not the only one that wanted it.
I am happy with DirecTV now, but a voting system would make it better. Instead of relying on employees to figure out what channels to add, they would be getting direct feedback from customers.