DIRECTV revealed today that it will raise prices on programming packages for existing subscribers by anywhere from $1 a month to $10 a month, effective January 22, 2023.
The satcaster joins Dish and Comcast in announcing end-of-year price hikes for programming packages as well as its sister services, DIRECTV Stream and U-verse.
DIRECTV also said it’s starting a new regional sports channel tier that will cost $13.99 a month, which is $2 a month higher than the service’s previous high RSN fee of $11.99. It’s unclear which markets will get the $13.99 a month rate.
“Starting on January 22, 2023, Regional Sports Network (RSN) fees are being adjusted by ZIP code viewing area to better align with content. As a result, some customers will see no change, and others will see a slight increase,” DIRECTV says.
DIRECTV subscribers can see the RSN rate for their market here.
The satellite TV service tonight posted the new 2023 prices on its web site. The notice states that the price increase is necessary due to the increased cost of acquiring programming, and the nation’s rising inflation rate. U-verse, a sister TV service to DIRECTV, earlier in the day offered a similar reason for increasing prices next month.
Click Amazon: See Today’s Holiday Deals!
“Due to increased programming costs, we’re adjusting the price of our video packages,” DIRECTV says at its web site. “Periodically, TV network owners increase the fees they charge DIRECTV for the right to broadcast their movies, shows, and sporting events. In addition, this year we have experienced higher-than-normal inflation across our suppliers.
DIRECTV last January also raised prices on most programming packages for existing customers by $1 a month to $10 a month.
Here is the DIRECTV price increase (by package) that will take effect on January 22, 2023:
$1 a month increase
BASIC CHOICE
BASIC
FAMILY
$3 a month increase
PREFERRED CHOICE
$4 a month increase
ENTERTAINMENT
ENTERTAINMENT CLASSIC
SELECT
SELECT CLASSIC
SELECT CHOICE
$5 a month increase
OPCION EXTRA ESPECIAL
OPTIMO MAS
OPCION PREMIER
FAMILIAR ULTRA
OPCION ULTRA ESPECIAL
$6 a month increase
MAS ULTRA
MAS ULTRA ORIGINAL
FAMILIAR ULTRA
OPCION ULTRA ESPECIAL
$7 a month increase
CHOICE
TOTAL CHOICE
TOTAL CHOICE LIMITED
TOTAL CHOICE Mobile
$8 a month increase
CHOICE
TOTAL CHOICE
TOTAL CHOICE LIMITED
TOTAL CHOICE Mobile
XTRA
PREFERRED XTRA
CHOICE XTRA CLASSIC
ULTIMATE
$9 a month increase
LO MAXIMO
PREMIER
$10 a month increase
MAX
PLUS
Have a question about new TV technologies? Send it to The TV Answer Man at swann@tvanswerman.com Please include your first name and hometown in your message.
— Phillip Swann
@tvanswerman
So it looks like it will be time to search for another provider (if one can find another provider) I understand that rates are going up happens all the time, but Retired folk do not have to luxury of endless funds. Guess we will make that decision when we see the new rates.
This is nuts. Every year. I think it may be time to drop them and just use OTA and streaming.
Once the NFL season is over, I am going to drop DIRECTV so fast. I have been a loyal subscriber for many, many years. DIRECTV, will not care in the least, about losing my business.
DirecTV is always looking for more and better ways to shed paying customers. They are getting pretty good at it. They ejected me 4 years ago after yet another price hike. I went OTA with streaming and I have never looked back. Canceling proved to be a bit problematic but I did an end run on them by instructing my credit card company to reject any charges from them after my cancellation date. Believe me, they tried! My monthly cost for DirecTV and Optimum internet back then was about $250 / month. Today with just OTA, Paramount Plus (commercial free) Amazon Prime (which I would have anyway) and Verizon FIOS is $50 / month in total not including Amazon Prime – which I have had since 2009 and would have even if I had no TV.
So first they take away all our ABC stations but still have to pay for them and now Direct is going to raise our monthly cost? Damn Direct, you really are greedy bastards! I was always told that we get what we pay for. Not if we have Direct TV. What a mistake signing with them!
You all act like prices have never gone up before on any TV service. It is that time of year. You expect them to lower their prices when the cost of doing business is forever increasing? Ask the TV networks that you all demand to see why they keep raising the costs of their broadcast rights. That is where you should be taking out your anger on. So shop around and switch. Go to Spectrum. Go to Comcast. Go to DISH. Go to any other streaming service and then complain about them also.
Nobody is forced to use any of them. It’s a personal choice. When, in my estimation, their cost exceeded their value I found what I consider to be a viable alternative, a significantly less expensive alternative as well where the value I get significantly exceeds the price I pay.
With this price Increase they should ADD / Re-Adjust their Programming.
In the SELECT / ENTERTAINMENT Packages they are MISSING
some channels that should have been there from the beginning.
DirecTV’s “SELECT” Package is close, but it is lacking a few channels.
Cooking Channel, Destination America Channel, Discovery Life,
DIY/Magnolia FLIX, FYI, Great American Family, Lifetime MOVIE Channel, Logo, OWN, Science Channel, The REAL Weather Channel.
These channels cost pennies. With a $ 4.00 INCREASE,
They should be Included. Especially the REAL WEATHER Channel.
A conversation overheard in the DirecTV Boardroom in 2014 went something like this:
Board Member – “I have an idea on how we can make DirecTV a billion dollar company.”
Chairman – “We are already a 50 billion dollar company.”
Board Member – “I know, but we will sell DirecTV to AT&T for 50 billion dollars and AT&T will do the rest! Think of it as golden parachute time.”. The rest is history!
The annual increases have been a regular thing for approximately 15 years.
A big part of the reason why this is a problem for numerous people is because their annual incomes are not experiencing likewise annual increases.
This may be an uncomfortable topic. But it is the reality.
why is the DIRECTV stream choice package going up 10 dollars more a month but premier and ultimate are 5?
Why is the DIRECTV choice package going up 10 dollars more per month but premier and ultimate are only 5?
Paying almost $200 a month for TV!?!?! Outrageous. Streaming is not an option for us (poor connectivity). We don’t watch 3/4 of the channels we are paying for and can’t even opt out of “Sports Fee” and “Movies Extra package”! But they removed NewsMax, which we DO watch!!! DISH not much better.
not happy dropped News max and ONA
After News max drop, gained some IQ points