Making television easy again. By Phillip Swann
Q. I was thinking of getting AT&T TV which I was reading about yesterday. But is there anything I should be concerned about? I was wondering about the two-year contract. Is that a good deal? The prices seem really good. — Tim, Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Tim, as you know, AT&T TV is an Internet-based service
Q. I read today that AT&T is shutting U-verse down because they have a new TV service. I have had U-verse for several years. Am I going to lose my service today or this week? How will this happen? Will I get a refund? — Helena, town not given. Helena, you can calm down. Let
AT&T TV, the company’s online alternative to DIRECTV’s satellite service, is now available nationwide after a seven-month trial in select markets. The new AT&T TV is an Internet-based service that offers DIRECTV’s programming packages over a company-supplied set-top. Once you connect the set-top, you can also watch AT&T TV on tablets, smart phones and some
Q. I want to watch as many baseball games this season as I can, particularly the Pittsburgh Pirates where I used to live. DIRECTV told me I could watch the Pirates on AT&T SportsNet Pittsburgh if I get the Sports Pack. Is that true? — Gene, Omaha, Nebraska. Gene, before I explain, a little background
Q. I can not get the new Chicago Cubs channel on DIRECTV on channel 664! Can you please help me. It’s not in my guide and I call DIRECTV’s customer service and they have no clue, of course. — Ben, Racine, Wisconsin. The Marquee Sports Channel, the new TV home of the Chicago Cubs, debuted
Q. I read your story about DIRECTV not carrying the Los Angeles Dodgers channel. So I have a question. If I get the MLB Extra Innings plan from DIRECTV here in Arlington, Virginia, will I be able to watch the Dodgers game even though they don’t have the channel? I grew up in LA and
Q. Do you think there’s any chance that DIRECTV will carry the Dodgers TV channel? It really is hard to believe that no one besides Spectrum has it. Don’t you think DIRECTV will carry it this season? Aren’t they losing subscribers and all? — Fred, Manhattan Beach, California. See April 1 update on this story:
Dish Chairman Charlie Ergen today said a merger between his company and DIRECTV is “inevitable.” Speaking to financial analysts following Dish’s release of its fourth quarter report, Ergen noted that the pay TV industry has lost millions of subscribers in the last few years due to rising subscriber fees caused by escalating programming costs. “The
Q. Do you think AT&T TV, the so-called DIRECTV replacement, is the answer for AT&T? Do you think it will be a successful replacement for DIRECTV? And what does it offer that’s any better than DIRECTV if I was going to replace one with the other? — Abbie, Abilene, Texas. Abbie, as you may know,
Q. I read your story about how DIRECTV isn’t giving price cuts to current subscribers because many of them are in two year contracts. My question is why do people sign two year contracts? Does DIRECTV require them? If so, with all the TV services available now, why would anyone sign a contract for TV?
Q. I am so mad right now. I read your post about DIRECTV cutting prices for new customers, but what about us, the people who have had DIRECTV for years. When will we ever get a break? I am so fed up with these people!! — Stacey, Laurel, Maryland. Stacey, you’re right. AT&T, which owns
Q. I’ve been reading your stories on DIRECTV and AT&T and how they are losing subscribers. Thank you for writing them. I have found it interesting that many customers are complaining about DIRECTV’s customer service team being unable to speak English very well. I have found that to be the case, too. It seems like