You maybe able to raise your channel package online but to lower it you have to call.
AFAIK that is a grandfathered package so you may lose or gain channels by changing it so you may want to check out what channels are in current packages.
Since Choice Xtra Classic is grandfathered, you must call to change your package. It is well due to be changed, since it's attraction was having Cloo, Chiller, and SoapNet for cheaper than raising to Ultimate and those channels were shut down by their respective owners a few years ago.
The closest equivalent would be Xtra for about $2 cheaper. But depending on what you watch you may be able to lower further. Compare the channels you watch to be sure. DIRECTV Channel Lineup List (att.com)
They cleaned up their naming of packages. So instead of being Choice, Choice Xtra, and Choice Ultimate, they are just Choice, Xtra, and Ultimate. Fixes confusion by no longer having 3 packages with part of the name being the same.
The channels you mention have still been in Xtra. Unless that package is also grandfathered (a concern since it is not in the current channel lineups), then at the very least that would be a better package. Not just saving the $2, but new channels don't get added to grandfathered packages and historically those grandfathered packages tend not to qualify for most discounts.
But yes, if Xtra is now grandfathered then I would definitely be very careful on checking the channel lineup as there is a decent difference from that and Choice. Hopefully that is not the case or the OP may have waited a few years too long to change package since for most the current version of Xtra was better once those special channels went off the air.
Many had to call to lower package, remove optional services, essentially anything that lowered revenue to them. The key difference here is that this is a grandfathered package, and the online access is only set to work with current options. So for anyone who has a grandfathered package, they have had to call regardless of raising or lowering.
Would be nice if they allowed all this online these days. Perhaps with a big warning message about changing from a grandfathered package.
Oh a note: Used to be you had 30 days to reinstate a grandfathered package (changed your mind, it was done in error, etc.), but the new billing account system might not have that allowance. So best to be absolutely sure before you make the change.
And if your equipment is older as well, I would post pack with those models before an agent starts offering "upgrades", just to be safe.
Xtra is lower than Choice Xtra Classic by price ($2 last I checked), but with the removal of those genre specific channels is practically the same lineup. It was a great package for a few years after being grandfathered, but as of a few years ago when those channels went away (Cloo, etc.) then it no longer was.
What 14 channels are you saying that it has that Xtra doesn't? I am curious about any further changes.
Used to be that Xtra was less. Though I hadn't compared the prices between them in a bit so price adjustment pushed Xtra over then.
The Smithsonian channel has been part of the Movies Xtra Pack add-on, not in any package. Hallmark Movies & Mysteries was the first to be added to any package (Select, Entertainment, Premier, and the too short lived Preferred Xtra) which was well after Choice Xtra Classic was grandfathered.
Inspiration is in all packages.
OAN is in packages Entertainment and up (though I believe Select as well since 4 sports channels were the only difference between the two). But not added to grandfathered packages.
Nick JR essentially swapped with Boomerang which packages they are in during their last Viacom negotiation so yes that one is only in certain packages.
I would recheck where you are getting that channel lineup from as that doesn't match how Choice Xtra Classic, or grandfathered packages in general, have worked for years.
shannon02
ACE - Expert
•
20.7K Messages
4 years ago
You maybe able to raise your channel package online but to lower it you have to call.
AFAIK that is a grandfathered package so you may lose or gain channels by changing it so you may want to check out what channels are in current packages.
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Juniper
ACE - Expert
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22.4K Messages
4 years ago
@57phred
Since Choice Xtra Classic is grandfathered, you must call to change your package. It is well due to be changed, since it's attraction was having Cloo, Chiller, and SoapNet for cheaper than raising to Ultimate and those channels were shut down by their respective owners a few years ago.
The closest equivalent would be Xtra for about $2 cheaper. But depending on what you watch you may be able to lower further. Compare the channels you watch to be sure. DIRECTV Channel Lineup List (att.com)
They cleaned up their naming of packages. So instead of being Choice, Choice Xtra, and Choice Ultimate, they are just Choice, Xtra, and Ultimate. Fixes confusion by no longer having 3 packages with part of the name being the same.
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sandblaster
ACE - Expert
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2K Messages
4 years ago
Its been a few years but I was able to lower my package online. I did not have to call.
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Juniper
ACE - Expert
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22.4K Messages
4 years ago
@Loyalty94
The channels you mention have still been in Xtra. Unless that package is also grandfathered (a concern since it is not in the current channel lineups), then at the very least that would be a better package. Not just saving the $2, but new channels don't get added to grandfathered packages and historically those grandfathered packages tend not to qualify for most discounts.
But yes, if Xtra is now grandfathered then I would definitely be very careful on checking the channel lineup as there is a decent difference from that and Choice. Hopefully that is not the case or the OP may have waited a few years too long to change package since for most the current version of Xtra was better once those special channels went off the air.
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Juniper
ACE - Expert
•
22.4K Messages
4 years ago
@sandblaster
Many had to call to lower package, remove optional services, essentially anything that lowered revenue to them. The key difference here is that this is a grandfathered package, and the online access is only set to work with current options. So for anyone who has a grandfathered package, they have had to call regardless of raising or lowering.
Would be nice if they allowed all this online these days. Perhaps with a big warning message about changing from a grandfathered package.
@57phred
Oh a note: Used to be you had 30 days to reinstate a grandfathered package (changed your mind, it was done in error, etc.), but the new billing account system might not have that allowance. So best to be absolutely sure before you make the change.
And if your equipment is older as well, I would post pack with those models before an agent starts offering "upgrades", just to be safe.
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Juniper
ACE - Expert
•
22.4K Messages
4 years ago
Xtra is lower than Choice Xtra Classic by price ($2 last I checked), but with the removal of those genre specific channels is practically the same lineup. It was a great package for a few years after being grandfathered, but as of a few years ago when those channels went away (Cloo, etc.) then it no longer was.
What 14 channels are you saying that it has that Xtra doesn't? I am curious about any further changes.
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Juniper
ACE - Expert
•
22.4K Messages
4 years ago
Used to be that Xtra was less. Though I hadn't compared the prices between them in a bit so price adjustment pushed Xtra over then.
The Smithsonian channel has been part of the Movies Xtra Pack add-on, not in any package. Hallmark Movies & Mysteries was the first to be added to any package (Select, Entertainment, Premier, and the too short lived Preferred Xtra) which was well after Choice Xtra Classic was grandfathered.
Inspiration is in all packages.
OAN is in packages Entertainment and up (though I believe Select as well since 4 sports channels were the only difference between the two). But not added to grandfathered packages.
Nick JR essentially swapped with Boomerang which packages they are in during their last Viacom negotiation so yes that one is only in certain packages.
I would recheck where you are getting that channel lineup from as that doesn't match how Choice Xtra Classic, or grandfathered packages in general, have worked for years.
(edited)
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