Subscribers Can’t Believe DIRECTV Is Raising Prices During Disney Blackout

By Phillip Swann
The TV Answer Man –Follow me on X.
Former editor of Satellite DIRECT magazine. Reported on DIRECTV for 30 years.

DIRECTV this week sent e-mails to satellite and DIRECTV Stream subscribers notifying them of next month’s price increase. The alert triggered an outpouring of angry comments, according to social media posts, with hundreds of subscribers complaining the timing could hardly be worse with DIRECTV involved in a carriage dispute with Disney that has blacked out ESPN and other Disney channels.

Here’s a sampling of the subscriber comments on the price increase from the social media site, X, formerly known as Twitter:

“DIRECTV had the nerve to email about a price increase right in the middle of them losing Disney, ESPN, etc. They’re bleeding customers, raising prices in the most horribly generic email ever, and sign it with “Thank you for being a valued customer”. It’s laughable and tone deaf,” wrote @Uninvitedco.

“This is pretty comical that you said @Disney  is trying to raise our prices, yet we just received an email for a price increase when you are still going through negations. So WHO is trying to raise our prices? Cancel now,” wrote ‘Just Here For the Comments.’

“@DIRECTV  is completely out of touch. I cancel on Saturday, and they follow up by sending an email that they are raising the price,” said @runninaverage.

“@DIRECTV  has been missing channels for more than a week, but today sent notice that the subscription price is going up. Talk about clueless timing! #MarketingTips” said @williamreinhard.

“Hey @DIRECTV  maybe don’t announce a price hike when you are in the middle of the worst customer service nightmare of all time,” said @andrewlarsen.

“I received the same email this evening. I then called and cancelled out of principle. I was willing to wait it out another couple weeks, but unfortunately the timing of the $8/month price increase showed a lack of understanding their consumer’s patience,” added @brettmcdonald.

“Meanwhile I just received a notification that my pricing is increasing…like WTH is wrong with this company?? I’ll be cancelling my account as soon as my promo price period ends,” @candala1 said.

“Sad y’all can’t come to an agreement with Disney but you can send me an email informing me of a price increase,” wrote ‘Stephen Foulkes.’

” Isn’t it ironic that Direct TV stream is raising its monthly price when in fact I can not watch any Disney owned channel from them? Not a great PR move. Getting closer to cutting cord everyday,” wrote ‘Steve Briggs.’

“It appears that some people have audacity that is unmatched. @DIRECTV  subscribers haven’t had access to the Disney family of channels in 10 days, and I just got an email saying the price of my subscription is going to INCREASE next month. @DIRECTVhelp  y’all CANNOT be serious,” stated ‘MMD.’

Hey @DIRECTV ! You say you value me as a customer. And yet you remove ABC, ESPN and their affiliated channels AND then a week later raise my price? That is complete nonsense. I’m not sure you know what the word “value” means. #directv pic.twitter.com/Uq7FQZjyGn

— Tyler Brown (@PastorTylerB) September 10, 2024

So in the middle of the fight between DirecTV & Disney, in which I’ve lost access to ESPN for now, I get a $20 credit followed by an email that tells me my subscription price is increasing such to negate about half that credit. 😐 This is so 🤬 stupid. #DirecTV #ESPN pic.twitter.com/hqa1BHuQdc

— Ryan Mackman 🟦 (@rmackman) September 7, 2024

@DIRECTV good riddance. Y’all have the nerve to send out a price increase email during a Disney/espn holdout. Y’all are crazy. Hope some ppl get fired for this bc y’all are gna lose all of your customers. pic.twitter.com/WezFCGBEsp

— Yanksfan101 (@Yanksfan1010) September 11, 2024

@DIRECTV should be ashamed of the shit they charge for their stream service. Price has gone up 20-30$ since starting, pulled the ESPN holdout bs right as football season starts and then STILL have the balls to notify of another increase!
Got 2 words for ya!… pic.twitter.com/c9SaASWB0U

— Justin Raymundo (@Jay_Mundo85) September 11, 2024

The DIRECTV-Disney carriage dispute enters its 11th day today.

The TV Answer Man is veteran journalist Phillip Swann who has covered the TV technology scene for more than three decades. He will report on the latest news and answer your questions regarding new devices and services that are changing the way you watch television. See the bio for Phillip Swann here.

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