I'd like your DU opinion - DirectTV/Dish Network

[LynneSin]

is it worth it?

I'm tired of paying $150 a month for my TV/land line/Internet and I'd like to shave some cost of that off - see if I can get the total cost down to around $75-$80 a month.

DirectTV has a great package for $35 a month that includes the channels I want, 3 months of HBO (enough to get me thru True Blood then I'll let it lapse) and free HD receiver (I have HD).

But is it worth the hassle. Outside of True Blood and 30 rock - there aren't that many shows I really watch but I do enjoy flipping the channels from time to time.

Please advise!

[taterguy]

1. Seriously, only you can decide what it's worth to you

But since you live in that wasteland known as Delaware, what else are you gonna do with your time and money?

[madinmaryland]

2. I've calculated it more than a several times, and it is basically a wash.

Basically they whack you for channels like HBO, and if there is any discount it will last only at most for a year. Then you lose your discount from your other provider. Catch-22.

[LynneSin]

5. Not really if you play your cards right

The thing about these Cable providers - if you threaten to walk they dig out the freebies.

First - I need HBO 3 months out of the year. I gotta watch my True Blood but after that I really don't need the channel. I've actually made it a point to not watch any new HBO shows just because I would love to unload it all together but I am hooked with True Blood.

Also, I do recognize that the $36/month is only good for a year then they up it to $66 a month. But usually after you complain you can get the price package extended or threaten to switch which then I'd get a great deal from someone else.

[rurallib]

3. we got DISH many years ago just for FreeSpeechTV

Direct has it now also.
I like DISH much better than my local choices, but we live in a rural area and the local choices suck.
My kids have Direct and they like it - does what they need to do.
About all I have to say.

[femmocrat]

4. We got DirecTV a couple of years ago and have been very satisfied with it.

We got that same offer that you described. I don't know how the fees compare, though, sorry.

In our case, I just wanted to get rid of the evil Comcast for moving MSNBC to the higher tier. Occasionally DirecTV has free premium (HBO or Encore) channels on the weekends. There are a lot of sports channels.

DirecTV has been great about service calls, too. The only complaint I have is that there are too many junk channels that are totally worthless. They are nothing but constant informercials.

And so far, we don't have Free Speech TV -- no idea why not. (I've been meaning to call about it.) And I wish we had Universal Sports.

[Throd]

6. It works for me, however...

...I really wish these things were presented a-la-carte. There are 10 channels I watch a lot, another 10 I watch on occasion, and 90 I never watch. I have never needed to buy an antler handled buck knife at 3:00am and I resent paying for the opportunity.

[csziggy]

7. I've been a satellite TV subcriber for over 15 years

And I love it. But then, I am a TVholic and have it on in the background nearly all the time. I've had both DirecTV and DISH at different times. When you need to upgrade equipment, sometimes it is cheaper to switch services, though I think they are starting to get better about customer retention practices.

For the premium movie channels, I like the Starz package rather than HBO or Showtime. Not only do you get a group of recent movie channels, you get a whole group of genre channels that run older movies - Western, mystery, romance, etc. And Starz has the new Torchwood series - just started this weekend!

DirecTV has Free Speech, Current, and Link channels, all of which have some good progressive programming. I am not sure at which tier those are available, though. Other channels to watch for are TMC, ION, NASA, Science, and HDNet. I think they give you all the channels to start so they can suck you into upping your subscription level.

If you have broadband you might want to compare satellite to getting a box that will stream Netflix and internet programming, like Roku. There is a DU Netflix Streaming Videos & DVDs Group - http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=441x1 - for more information on that technology. I'm thinking of trying Roku out but haven't made the jump yet.