AT&T ruined Directv

[TPD]

Lemme see if I have this correct - you all are going from large corporate money grabber to an even larger corporate money grabber that is also known for censoring content? Yeah I’m sure that will work out well for everyone. Report back in a couple of years and lemme know how it’s working.

 

[mitzi]

I had ABB out here again today. This time a bad cable line from the pole. I only have the internet service. Each time I call for service (which is quick getting a tech out), they try to up sell me to get the TV/DVR service. No thank you, it's close to $200 a month.

 

[BernieP]

I agree 100%!! We have had Direct TV for the past 24 years. I was reasonably happy with their customer service and their prices. Since AT & T took over, its been nothing but an expensive P.I.A. We renewed our contract 2 years ago because we upgraded to the Genie. That has finally ended. I am shopping around now for another service, but, we have to have the local channels so hubby can watch football. He was thinking of getting an antennae. It may be the way to go.

Because AT&T isn't in the satellite business, they want to sell you terrestrial services like cell phones and internet services.
So they jack the prices, send customer service back outside the country. They are not competing, they simply are looking to drain every last dime out of the acquisition then dump it.

Here's the hidden problem with streaming content. There are people who are just can't or don't want to deal with the technology.
Not that it's difficult to set up or use, but to them they want to tune a channel, they want a guide, they have a hard time with switching between inputs on the TV, let alone finding the right app to open and then the show they want to watch. Simply put, they are overwhelmed by the amount of content. I will admit the GUI is often difficult to figure out, remotes are much more compact and some of the buttons are very small.

So while you can replace pretty much all the content of either cable or satellite with the internet, it isn't as easy to use as the former.

 

[Goldenhawk]

"more profitable accounts" = "people willing to continue paying exorbitant prices without thinking about their monthly bills."

 

[mitzi]

Not that it's difficult to set up or use, but to them they want to tune a channel, they want a guide, they have a hard time with switching between inputs on the TV, let alone finding the right app to open and then the show they want to watch. Simply put, they are overwhelmed by the amount of content.

I admit I was at first. I still miss having a guide at times.

 

[Ken King]

Yep, DirecTv isn't what it was in the 90s, ATT sucks. Unfortunately, I chose to move to the sticks so no cable opportunity at all for high-speed internet. I'm hoping that SpaceXs Starlink will be what it claims and I can ditch DirecTv by using all those streaming services you guys can get through cable.

 

[Goldenhawk]

Investigate Dish. Might serve you better than DTV. Prices are better.

 

[BernieP]

Investigate Dish. Might serve you better than DTV. Prices are better.

that just adds a problem, there are services (channels) that are only available on DirecTV

 

[Ken King]

Investigate Dish. Might serve you better than DTV. Prices are better.

Don't you enter into a two-year contract with Dish? If StarLink launches next year as expected it seems foolish to switch from DirecTv to Dish.

 

[tuffenuff2]

I get Pluto tv free through Roku and it has a guide. It has loads of channels - including a James Bond channel, music only channels, news channels etc.

 

[BernieP]

I had ABB out here again today. This time a bad cable line from the pole. I only have the internet service. Each time I call for service (which is quick getting a tech out), they try to up sell me to get the TV/DVR service. No thank you, it's close to $200 a month.

I fought gong to ABB (Metrocrap) but finally caved. The law allows cable companies a monopoly, I guess because if they didn't certain communities wouldn't get served because of the cost of the infrastructure. So Verizon and Comcast aren't coming to the rescue with fiber optic service anytime in this century. But I will say I have been getting damn good speed and service with ABB - knock on wood. I think what helps is the relative age of the cable runs and equipment. One big advantage is no telephone polls, everything is buried. I've got a number of devices hooked up to my wifi and my router, the entire house is wireless, and the internet access is very fast. Streaming content is not a problem, even on multiple TV's

 

[Clem72]

They are not competing, they simply are looking to drain every last dime out of the acquisition then dump it.

This could end up being good. If the FCC would allow Hughes to purchase it, then like XM/Serius merger you could end up with DirecTv/Dish cross-compatible receivers and they could spread the total channel line-up across both constellations and end up with much higher quality video & a greater total number of channels. They would also be in a better position to bargain with the networks for better pricing.

That's assuming Hughes/Dish wouldn't turn into complete dicks (they have always been the more reasonable satellite service in the past as far as pricing/service goes).

 

[BernieP]

This could end up being good. If the FCC would allow Hughes to purchase it, then like XM/Serius merger you could end up with DirecTv/Dish cross-compatible receivers and they could spread the total channel line-up across both constellations and end up with much higher quality video & a greater total number of channels. They would also be in a better position to bargain with the networks for better pricing.

That's assuming Hughes/Dish wouldn't turn into complete dicks (they have always been the more reasonable satellite service in the past as far as pricing/service goes).

I thought Huge(sic) use to own DirecTV?
The three networks are getting very powerful and with the broad range of content, can dictate to providers like DirecTV, Dish and even cable companies like ABB.

You have the big three

1. COMCAST / Universal / NBC
2. DISNEY / ABC
3. VIACOM / CBS

and then DISCOVERY which as far as I know is not affiliated - yet.

 

[Clem72]

I thought Huge(sic) use to own DirecTV?

You're correct, I misspoke. Dish owns Dish

 

[MiddleGround]

ABB isn't bad at all... as long as you get a good technician.

I believe MOST of the problems users experience around here with ABB is due to 2 main problems. The first being old modems/routers. People... you have to upgrade! Those 8-9 year old devices aren't going to give you optimum speed and performance.

The second is quality of work from the technicians. Every time I have had ABB come out to look at something, I follow them around and see what they are "fixing." Each and every time, it was a cluster due to the 'previous technicians' horrible work.

 

[spr1975wshs]

I thought Huge(sic) use to own DirecTV?

The history of Hughes Satellite and DirectTV are intertwined.
DirectTV is a company originally formed by Hughes to oversee their participation in the then new venture of satellite TV.
DirectTv became the senior company after Newscorp bought them.
DirectTv sold off the last of their stake in Hughes to Echo several years ago, which does satellite communications, not including TV.

 

[mitzi]

I fought gong to ABB (Metrocrap) but finally caved. The law allows cable companies a monopoly, I guess because if they didn't certain communities wouldn't get served because of the cost of the infrastructure. So Verizon and Comcast aren't coming to the rescue with fiber optic service anytime in this century. But I will say I have been getting damn good speed and service with ABB - knock on wood. I think what helps is the relative age of the cable runs and equipment. One big advantage is no telephone polls, everything is buried. I've got a number of devices hooked up to my wifi and my router, the entire house is wireless, and the internet access is very fast. Streaming content is not a problem, even on multiple TV's

I fought gong to ABB (Metrocrap) but finally caved. The law allows cable companies a monopoly, I guess because if they didn't certain communities wouldn't get served because of the cost of the infrastructure. So Verizon and Comcast aren't coming to the rescue with fiber optic service anytime in this century. But I will say I have been getting damn good speed and service with ABB - knock on wood. I think what helps is the relative age of the cable runs and equipment. One big advantage is no telephone polls, everything is buried. I've got a number of devices hooked up to my wifi and my router, the entire house is wireless, and the internet access is very fast. Streaming content is not a problem, even on multiple TV's

My speed is good now since they've been out and fixed my problems. It's been terrible since summer.

 

[BernieP]

The history of Hughes Satellite and DirectTV are intertwined.
DirectTV is a company originally formed by Hughes to oversee their participation in the then new venture of satellite TV.
DirectTv became the senior company after Newscorp bought them.
DirectTv sold off the last of their stake in Hughes to Echo several years ago, which does satellite communications, not including TV.

Sounds like that happened around the time AT&T took over DTV. Two changes that happened real fast when AT&T put their brand on the business.
The customer service line and help desk was now off shore - you could tell by the accent (funny english) and that they didn't get what you were saying. I remember talking to the help desk, just chatting, while we were waiting for something to go through. They would tell you the town and state they were in. Comparing notes on the weather.
The second thing I noticed is that all the "On Demand" channels were streamed. Use to be they were downloaded from the satellite, now all that stuff comes via your ISP. Slow internet meant no movies or specials - while it saved me cash, it also was the source of fights because a certain someone was the person who wanted the movie and didn't understand SLOW INTERNET with DSL,

 

[spr1975wshs]

Sounds like that happened around the time AT&T took over DTV. Two changes that happened real fast when AT&T put their brand on the business.

Fuzzy edges of memory says you are right.

I wonder how much different things would be if they'd never broken up Ma Bell?

 

[abbfan]

Fuzzy edges of memory says you are right.

I wonder how much different things would be if they'd never broken up Ma Bell?

Dish just left my house about 2 hours ago. Can't wait to call Directv in the morning and tell them to cancel my service. I'll probably tell them a lot of other things too.