$8 rate increase

Hello @lezebra ,

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DIRECTV Moderator

This is a public forum of other customers, not official DIRECTV support. Unfortunately, the pay-TV industry these days is subject to constant inflation rates on programming to carry specific TV networks from broadcast companies, such as Disney, for example. Therefore, in order for DIRECTV to align with current costs, they pass monthly rates onto the customer.

Whether you’ve noticed or not, DIRECTV has had a yearly rate increase for the past several years, so this definitely isn’t an unexpected occurrence. 

Hello @lezebra. We understand your frustration with Disney Channel blackouts and rate hikes. Rising content costs mean we must adjust prices, but we're committed to keeping them as low as possible. Please visit TVPromise.com for more information. Kharl, DIRECTV Community Specialist

@lezebra 

Operating costs go up, such as networks requiring to be paid more to be carried, and the TV providers have to raise bills accordingly. This is basic economics for the TV industry.

Would you rather DirecTV just cave to Disney's increase and add even more than what you're already complaining about? DirecTV is negotiating to minimize the impact (ideally avoid but realistically the networks still get some increase). There is no blunder. Disney just wants to be paid more, so they've pulled the feed as normal negotiating tactic (as is their right).

DirecTV has dealt with a annual price adjustment for many years. Though that should not be a surprise, last year and this year they changed what month it went through.

If by "reducing" you mean your package, you'll need to call DirecTV to do so. However if you mean paying less than what your bill shows, that doesn't work as charges remain valid no matter how much you dislike the situation.

As this is a public forum, 'we' didn't raise your rates. Most of us posters are other customers like yourself, with only a small forum help team and moderators that might respond.

I understand that this is not Directv official support.  They do not offer any way to contact them with such input.  Clearly, no service providers are interested in being in contact with their paying customers unless they are trying to get paid. 

My issue is NOT the rate increase, so much as the timing of the increase notification.  I am 79 years old and I spend a lot of time being entertained by streaming broadcasts.  I also pay a pretty penny for it, as you all do.  As an avid tennis fan, you can imagine my frustration when that contract outage notification appeared on my screen instead of the quarterfinals of the tournament.  

While rate increases have become annual, and since my income does not increase anywhere or ever, my anger is ever growing.  I can't reach human beings, I can't chat online and I can't vent my frustration.  If any of you are elderly like myself, you are likely to understand.

Sure they do, you call them.   All content providers love it when their contracts expire near major sporting events so they can use it to anger the TV providers customers to make them cave and then have to raise their rate  even more.

No need to be snide.  I'm apologize for not understanding and bothering you.  I will go elsewhere.

@lezebra 

I think there was a misunderstanding as I didn't read @shannon02 to be snide. And you are not bothering anyone. This is just polite discussion with understandable frustration all around.

They verified you still call DirecTV to speak to a live person. Sometimes this needs to be clarified as more and more people seem to think that email, text message, or other computer options are all that exist anymore.

And yes content providers, that is the channel/network owners (Disney this time) do seem to prefer their carriage agreements end around major sports events. This way they can use us viewers as leverage against the TV provider. Unfortunately this upsets the people who cry "I want it and I want it now" who don't realize this is what drives costs up.

Costs of many things going up but the money to support (salary or retirement) not matching is a common issue. Unfortunately that does not cause the price of pay TV (entertainment) to go down. As for the timing of the adjustment, that is a bit odd. Normally the new rates start in January, but last year was November and this year October. Without more info, my best guess is they are moving out of the start of tax season as works better for either managing their budget or not as roughly received by the customer.

Hopefully soon DirecTV and Disney can come to terms so all can move on. At least until the next network owner that does this.