Total Choice Grandfathered Package

Used to be you logged into your account online as grandfathered packages weren't available for public view. Unfortunately that has since been removed.

You would need to call for someone to look into their historical records to get the channel listing. However, in most cases you are paying more for less in those grandfathered packages as the key channels they were for either no longer exist or were moved into a lower package.

I would review what channels matter for you and compare that against the current packages to see if you should stay on what you have or update to a current one.

DirecTV Packages & Channel Lineup 

Being a legacy account, be prepared for when you call in they will probably go over equipment upgrade options as well. Many new agents aren't familiar with older setups, so I would suggest before you call to post back in the forum with the models of your boxes so you can get guidance from other customers. That way you are ready in case you get a agent who doesn't provide you the options that are best for you personally.

Thank you, greatly appreciated!!

You're welcome. Post back if you have further questions.

I just found this post. 

I would like to compare my listing to what is available now. My package is from 2004 and has 135 channels for $120 + the regional sports fee (grr) for $135 total.

With all my other equipment I pay about $170/ month.

I have an old round 18" dish with a twin line multi switch, I can't "see" the HD satellite without major logging. I have a TIVO THR 22 for my main receiver and a current DTV receiver as well.

I don't have any high def equipment so I'm ok with what I have. I'm not ok with the regional sports fee, which the agent said my only option to remove it is to change packages. When looking at DTV's line up it seems that they all include the fee! Highway robbery.

Thanks for any suggestions you have.

@bearbig 

As a note, your SD dish will eventually fail to receive your local channels as directv is shutting down all SD local channels, although the national channels (100 onward) will continue to operate. This would require you to replace your equipment (depending on the receiver models) IF you want to continue receiving local channels. If not, you can hold off on a swap for the time being (a couple years). 

As far as the regional sports fee, the agent was correct that you must change your package to Entertainment or below in order to remove the fee. 

Just to confirm the status of your equipment, what are all of your receiver models? The THR22 is theoretically an HD capable DVR receiver, it is a hybrid receiver so it can be set for HD when you change the current dish to a SWM HD slimline dish (the technician does this free of charge for you since the SD to HD swap is mandatory in order to retain local channels). 

@bearbig 

What is the exact name of your package? Sounds like you have a grandfathered one, which unfortunately wouldn't have a listing you can look at anymore. I would review the channels in the current lineup to see what of the current packages best matches what you use and then compare the base package cost.

The THR22 is the special TiVO HDDVR. So you should already have the $10 HD service on the account along with your DVR service and TiVO service.

DirecTV is shutting down the MPEG-2/SD-only feeds. That means that 18" round will eventually no longer work.

Packages Choice and up have the RSN fee. This is because they include the RSNs for where you live. Used to be this fee was hidden in package cost, but they itemized it to be more transparent including the price being specific to where you live instead of everyone the same.

If you don't watch sports channels, then I would check with DirecTV to see if the Preferred Xtra package is still available. No RSNs, so no RSN fee. It is similar to the channels in Xtra, but with no RSN fee the end cost is similar as if you were on Choice.

To

detuch254

 I don't have locals from DTV as I can get more channels via OTA antenna. I am near Canada, so can receive Montreal channels.

@bearbig 

So if you are fine with SD it will continue to operate for national channels for a few years. If you want to do the swap now, you can go for it but no rush if you dont care about the loss of locals.

If you can't get an HD dish installed without major logging to get good signal, then I would prepare for one day going to a different pay TV provider or just using antenna TV. Something to consider for the foreseeable future. Unfortunately broadcasts have moved into an HD world so SD is (slowly) coming to a close.

The THR22 is a modified HR22 HD MPEG4 DVR to run Tivo software. The round dish will continue to receive the MPEG4 channels DTV sends from the 101 sat.