DIRECTV this week has quietly dropped its cheapest advertised programming package, effectively raising the entry price for new subscribers by $5 a month. (The increase does not affect existing customers.)
The satcaster used to offer a ‘Select’ plan for new customers for $59.99 a month for the first year of a two-year agreement. The Select plan could be purchased at DIRECTV.com or by calling DIRECTV’s customer service department.
(In year two, Select’s monthly price rose to $85; prices for DIRECTV’s packages nearly double in year two. Taxes and regional sports fees are not included in those prices.)
Select, which offered 155 channels, was DIRECTV’s lowest-priced advertised plan. The Choice plan, which offers 185 channels and free NFL Sunday Ticket for one year, is next, starting at $69.99 a month for year one.
However, the Select package is no longer available as an option for new customers at DIRECTV’s web site or via the 800-line customer service department. Instead, the lowest-priced plan is now ‘Entertainment,’ which offers 160 channels for $64.99 a month. (Choice remains at $69.99 a month for year one.)
The TV Answer Man this morning asked AT&T (DIRECTV’s owner) for a comment and will report back here if we get one. We also called AT&T’s DIRECTV customer service department and was told that “effective yesterday, the Select plan is no longer available.”
Update: Ryan Oliver, an AT&T spokesperson, tells the TV Answer Man that “we’ve stopped offering the Select package for new DIRECTV customers in an effort to align package offerings across DIRECTV and AT&T TV.“
AT&T’s base increase for new DIRECTV customers follows a recent price increase on all DIRECTV plans for new customers.
On June 28, AT&T raised Select from $49.99 a month to $59.99 a month for the first year; $59.99 a month for the first year of its Choice plan (185 channels) to $69.99 a month; $79.99 a month for the Xtra plan compared to $69.99 previously; and $84.99 a month for the first year of its Ultimate package (250 channels) compared to $74.99 a month previously.
But now the Entertainment plan is the lowest available package for $64,.99 a month.
DIRECTV has lost roughly six million subscribers since AT&T purchased it for $49 billion in 2015, and there have been various reports (including one from Friday’s Wall Street Journal) that AT&T wants to sell it. The telco, which has shifted attention and resources to streaming, has acknowledged that it does not believe the satellite TV industry has a vibrant future.
Have a question about new TV technologies? Send it to The TV Answer Man at swann@tvpredictions.com. Please include your first name and hometown in your message.
— Phillip Swann
Hey, I have a great idea for attracting new customers – let’s raise our prices! What a brilliant business strategy. What could possibly go wrong?
AT&T finally showed it’s hand.
They want OUT.
How did these so called, “executives”
ever get in control of AT&T ?
WALDEJEWP, said it best.
I would schedule an unnecessary root canal
for myself before I would ever go back to DirecTV.
It is an absolute mismanaged money pit!
Another option with your Credit Card,
tell your bank it was stolen.
They will issue you a NEW card & Number.
I would schedule an unnecessary root canal for myself before I would ever go back to DirecTV. It is an absolute mismanaged money pit! My advice to anyone who tries to cancel – Tell them you are moving out of the country and if you have direct pay to a credit card or bank account instruct your financial institution to block any attempted billings after your last legitimate one is paid. That is how I had to do it and they did keep trying to charge my card. After 3 months they finally gave up. Also keep your receipts that you get when you return your equipment because you will probably need them when they try to bill you for not returning the equipment that you did return.
Before AT&T I was a happy DirecTV customer.
The Root Canal is LESS Painful,
The Dentist speaks English and gives you Novocaine