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Cable companies, U-verse, and FiOS aren’t alone in raising prices in the New Year. Satellite provider DirecTV has mailed a rate hike notice to its subscribers effective February 9, 2010. Many of their packages are being streamlined, and some existing subscribers to packages not noted below are also impacted with price increases. Most will see an increase averaging $3 a month. Thanks to The Gadgetress at The Orange County Register who put it all in chart form.
DVR fees will also increase, from $5.99 to $7 a month.
Those on promotional price packages or a contract term will see no change in pricing until their promotion or contract expires.
| DirecTV service | 2009 price | 2010 price | Increase |
|---|---|---|---|
| Premier | $109.99 | $114.99 | 4.5% |
| Lo Maximo | $109.99 | $114.99 | 4.5% |
| Choice Xtra | $60.99 | $63.99 | 4.9% |
| Choice | $55.99 | $58.99 | 5.4% |
| Preferred Choice | $35.99 | $38.99 | 8.3% |
| Jadeworld | $36.99 | $39.99 | 8.1% |
| Optimo Mas | $44.99 | $47.99 | 6.7% |
| Total Choice Mobile | n/a | $63.99 | n/a |
| Plus HD DVR | $75.99 | $79.99 | 5.3% |
| Plus DVR | $65.99 | $69.99 | 6.1% |
| Select | $48.99 | $51.99 | 6.1% |
| Basico | $32.99 | $35.99 | 9.1% |
For those who are curious, the 2010 prices are between 9.5 percent to 60 percent higher than 2008’s prices:
| DirecTV service | 2008 price | 2009 price | 2010 price | 08-10 increase |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Premier | $104.99 | $109.99 | $114.99 | 9.5% |
| Lo Maximo | $104.99 | $109.99 | $114.99 | 9.5% |
| Plus HD DVR | $72.99 | $75.99 | $79.99 | 9.6% |
| Plus DVR | $62.99 | $65.99 | $69.99 | 11.1% |
| Choice Xtra | $57.99 | $60.99 | $63.99 | 10.3% |
| Familiar Ultra | $54.99 | $57.99 | $60.99 | 10.9% |
| Choice | $52.99 | $55.99 | $58.99 | 11.3% |
| Preferred Choice | $32.99 | $35.99 | $38.99 | 18.2% |
| Select | n/a | $48.99 | $51.99 | n/a |
| Basico | $29.99 | $32.99 | $35.99 | 20.0% |
| Basic (international) | $9.99 | $12.99 | $15.99 | 60.1% |
DirecTV E-Mail to Subscribers:
Dear DIRECTV Customer,
Your business is important to us. We want you to know about any changes to your DIRECTV® service as far in advance as possible. That is why we are writing to let you know of a potential change to your DIRECTV bill.
On February 9, 2010, new pricing will be applied to DIRECTV programming packages and services.
DIRECTV is the leader in satellite television and will continue to bring you the best in entertainment:
New Rates for DIRECTV® Service: New prices take effect February 9, 2010, and will appear on billing statements issued after that date. See the detailed information below as it relates to your service. If your current DIRECTV base package price is part of a national promotional 12-month or “Lock in Your Price for 12 Months” offer, you will continue to receive this price for the remainder of your offer period. As of next month’s bill, your promotional price will be shown on your statement as the new price along with a credit. Note: if you change your current base package, you may no longer be eligible for the credit.
Base Packages: Base packages include local channels, where available. Packages and their new prices: CHOICE™ $58.99/mo. CHOICE XTRA™ $63.99/mo. PREFERRED CHOICE™ $38.99/mo. PREMIER™ $114.99/mo. TOTAL CHOICE® MOBILE™ $63.99/mo.
The following legacy base packages* and their new prices: BASIC $15.99/mo. BÁSICO™ $35.99/mo. DIRECTV LIMITED $27.99/mo. FAMILIAR™ $51.99/mo. FAMILIAR ULTRA™ $60.99/mo. OPCIÓN ESPECIAL® $35.99/mo. OPCIÓN EXTRA™ $43.99/mo. OPCIÓN EXTRA ESPECIAL® $52.99/mo. OPCIÓN PREMIER® $108.99/mo. OPCIÓN ULTRA ESPECIAL® $54.99/mo. OPTIMO MÁS PLUS DVR $53.99/mo. PLUS DIRECTV $36.99/mo. PLUS DVR™ $69.99/mo. PLUS HD DVR™ $79.99/mo. SELECT CHOICE® $41.99/mo. TOTAL CHOICE® $57.49/mo. TOTAL CHOICE® LIMITED $48.99/mo. TOTAL CHOICE® PLUS $61.49/mo. SELECT will increase $3.00/mo. DIRECTV® DVR Service fee $7.00/mo.
*These packages are no longer available for sale. Customers who currently subscribe to these packages may maintain them as long as their account is in “good standing”, as determined by DIRECTV in its sole discretion. For complete pricing and packaging information, visit directv.com/packages.
Any one foolish enough to pay that much for TV don’t complain. Barf it up.
Like a fish on a line reel me in Scotty. You do know you are fools. No I think
that is going to take some time. When your TV cost more then your mortgage
you need help. Pay Per View.
No. I don’t agree at all. It depends on how you look at it. It is cheap entertainment for 1 month. It costs me $35 to take the family to McDonalds for dinner. It costs almost $50 to go to 1 movie at the theater. Paying $76 for a month of entertainment is not that much. Saying that, I am looking at ways to keep the cost the same each year. I will be looking this month to move down a package if I can. So net outcome is most likly $5ish dollars less a month from me. Of course,… Read more »
Michael White starts price gouging in his first month as CEO
The Bit Cap has happened in Canada already, we already pay ridiculous fees to connect online and then are only allowed 100GB per month. Assuming I watch my television online (houly specials) I could easily use my whole internet cap in less than a week, not to mention the two ipod touches in my house, an xbox 360, three computers, and a laptop, I feel ripped off by the Cable and Phone companies that provide my internet. They don’t even give me the option of unlimited downloading and uploading anymore.
Anyone find it funny that they purposely leave out the words describing an actual increase in rates? Instead they use “new” price like it is a good deal to get and also throw in there, “DIRECTV is the leader in satellite television and will continue to bring you the best in entertainment:”, like you should be lucky to be with them.
Yea, I saw that. If you ever read dbstalk.com, there are quite a few people in there that think it is a priviledge that DTV even allows people to be their customers…..