I had seen just 2 weeks ago DirecTV' site where the "promotional" price was clear, and next to it was slightly higher price crossed out, leading one to believe that the crossed out price was the "regular" price or the price one would pay AFTER the promo ended. There were NO indications of any kind that this slashed out price was NOT the REAL full price one paid at end of promotion. It was only my knowledge or DirecTV package prices that led me to scratch my head that a $69 package showed a $29 price slashed. I KNEW that package was NOT the price one would pay at end of promotion. It took me about 5 full minutes until I scrolled all the way to the very bottom of the page, in small print, and saw the disclaimer that the regular price for the package was much higher about $69, and that would be the rate subscribers would have to pay at the end of promotion. I don't think I've seen ANY other MVPD use such practices on their website.
Also, AFAIK, DirecTV was the ONLY MVPD who would renew a subscriber's 2 year equipment without telling the subscriber upon replacing a RMA set-top-box. DirecTV was singled out not only because of its UNIQUE deceptive practices, but also because DirecTV subs complained to the govt. in sufficient numbers. DirecTV is a good service, but I know a lot of people who were victims of what the FTC says DirecTV did. Those folks were plenty angry, and it is sad that such a great service like DirecTV had to stoop so low, but that is because it is a very expensive service and has a hard time competing in price, but even Ergen alluded to DirecTV's higher cost and more expensive "network" some time after he had seen DirecTV's books of the failed DTV and Echostar (Dish) merge. It was a quick remark, but not one that would have violated the NDS agreement, but does reflect that DirecTV just can't cut much from its pricing tiers to compete on price, and NFL ST is a big part of that, as well. Al these practices are WHOLLY under the Mike White era. Yes, MIke does well for DirecTV on Wall Street and Mike has had DTV respond well under terrible competitive pressure, but at a terrible price to DirecTV's credibility. Now, the ugly cable companies are more forthcoming and many do NOT require a commitment and will pay any sat ETF's. It is not good when DirecTV makes the cable cos. look like angels. And when Mike White makes Cheap Charlie look wholly reputable, that's when you know DTV has gone too far. I hope Mike and DTV find their way back and out of the FTC's cross hairs. DirecTV used to have such CLASS before the current CEO.
I recently upgraded to DWS at Dish, and was offered to have the disclosures emailed to me to peruse and approve if I did not want to accept a verbal disclosure. That was before the FTC filed it charges.
What we'll see here is some agreement and maybe a discount of $10 to DTV subs, but we hope a cleaner Mike White DTV era from that day on.