DIRECTV’s 2021 price increase for existing subscribers went into effect over the weekend, but the satcaster is keeping its first-year promo prices for new customers.
AT&T, which owns the satellite TV service, on Sunday officially raised prices on most DIRECTV programming packages for existing customers by $1 a month to $9 a month. The company first announced in November 2020 that it would raise prices for existing subs starting on January 17, 2021.
However, DIRECTV’s first-year promo prices for new subs have not changed. If you order DIRECTV’s Entertainment plan, the first-year price is still $64.99 a month; the Choice package is still $69.99 a month; and the Ultimate plan is still $84.99 a month.
New subscribers must agree to a two-year contract to get the promo prices (and other incentives, such as free NFL Sunday Ticket and NBA League Pass). While DIRECTV’s first year prices for new customers have not increased, the fine print of the agreement does show a second-year increase in the promotional plans. Entertainment is now $102 a month in year two, compared to $97 a month before the hike; Choice is now $122 a month in year two compared to $115 before; and Ultimate is $151 a month in year two, compared to $142 a month before.
AT&T’s decision to keep the one-year promotional prices for new subscribers shows that the company is still aggressively trying to generate new business for its flailing satellite service. The Choice plan and above includes the free Sunday Ticket and League Pass as well as a free year of HBO Max and three months free of Cinemax, Showtime, Starz and Epix.
DIRECTV has lost roughly six million subscribers since AT&T purchased it in 20015, and multiple news reports say the telco is seeking bids to purchase a minority or majority stake in the satcaster.
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Being the “SELECT” Package was Dropped,
Does that mean Everyone has to pay a “SPORTS FEE” ?
As AT&T ( YOU KNOW what the “A” stands for !!)
THE TERMINAL TELCOM COMPANY spirals in to the BLACK HOLE of BANKRUPTCY, they STILL “think” ppl will sign a “contract” !! YOU can JUST STOP paying the morons at AT&T and there is ABSOLUTELY NOTHING they can do about it !! NOTHING !! JUST CANCEL the CARD you auto bill to and or say it was STOLEN and get a NEW NUMBER and DO NOT give that number to the MORONS at AT&T…THEY can NOT come after you because it ill cost them MORE then then can EVER get back !!
DIE AT&T !!
WE are PROUD to say that MY “organization” is COSTING THEM OVER 10000 LOST CUSTOMERS every single day and THEY can DO NOTHING to stop us !!
I LOVE IT !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Don’t they still have enough info about you to report you to the credit bureaus?
Interestingly, I just got an email with my new bill for January. The Ultimate package went up $9 and this is my first full bill as a new customer. So much for not raising rates on new customers under contract!
Update: I called DirectTV to inquire about my rate increase on my first full bill. Ironically, the increase was implemented the same day as my billing cycle rollover. As a result, I was told that even though I should not see an increase, the bill still reflected it and DirectTV decided not to credit it across the board…rather depend on the customer to call and request the ongoing adjustment. If the customer did not call in then the increase would stay!
Later on the the conversation with the customer service representative, I was also told another increase was a result of an automatic addition (post installation) of the service plan…the same price as the rate increase. Basically, I was being charged $18 for errors and padding my services! The rep also said DirecTV automatically adds the protection plan 30 days post installation! I explained the package price had gone up $9 and the service plan added another $9 to the bill which was ridiculous. I requested the service plan be removed, credit me for the charge, reduce my package plan back to the promotional rate and credit me for that charge. She agreed and I guess next month’s bill will HOPEFULLY be correct!
Moral to the story…even if DirectTV does something wrong with your bill you have to call them to correct the issue. No automatic fixes period!