I have had DirecTv since 1989. There is NO other option where I live. I'm happy with their service but not their bill. It's them or nothing here. Comcast caters to densely occupied areas. My neighbors have a couple acres minimum. I'm happy to have at least one option. So I pay without complaint. Same with my Verizon Internet. There is no other choice. Sigh. To think I live 5 minutes from town without options is rediculous.

We've had Direct TV for twelve years and have never had a problem. I've never had something taken away but have gotten quite a few things: when the dvr died and the last season of Lost disappeared with it, I complained and got a year free dvr rental. Other things like that.

I'm sorry you're having a bad experience, have you complained?

I have Dirsct Tv. Super annoyed that we will losing Comedy Central. The teenagers are really mad. I guess I will call Comcast. Ugh.

BethP

My dad just switched because they dropped his golf channel. I found using the system to be a huge pain. I don't visit often enough to remember which button you touch first and which you should NEVER touch so the system functions!!

We considered Direct TV when they raised our cable rates. However, the internet offered was much slower so we haggled with cable and got them to lower the price and stuck with them. It's maddening to pay for channels that you don't watch and have garbage come into your home that you don't want. I'm the tv police and I'm sick of it. We basically have cable so my husband can get his ballgames. I briefly checked into some sort of super high powered antenna that you put on your house to get FREE stations, but I couldn't get enough info and wasn't sure if we could get my husband's games.

We had Direct TV in our last home - but that was over 15 years ago and I can't really remember much about it. We have DISH now and I have no complaints. I'd much rather go with one of those systems than our local cable companies.

tina

Well the 26 channels are GONE..

Do you think I'll get a refund for the time
I don't have the channels ?

Anxiously await the increase in my bill :)
And you know that is the only outcome....

I have said this once and I'll say it again, I hate Comcast and the times we've had their tv service I was not impressed.

We had directv for years and years BUT we were over billed by them for over 2.5 years (even though I had originally questioned the bill). Finally during a technical call for problems we were having, a service rep finally admitted to the billing errors and to help compensate us, he offered to upgrade our equipment for free. In the end, his actual goal wasn't to help us at all but to just lock us into another 2 year contract. I was LIVID because we did not want to be bound to their service for any reason. It took many calls and a lot of my time but I finally got a hold of someone in their "executive" section who agreed to rescind the contract. I was so turned off by the whole experience, we switched to Comcast. That didn't last long and now we're with Dish Network. I'm not as thrilled with Dish because we had the Tivo service combined with DIRECTV, (which they no longer offer) and it was heaven, but Dishes packaging and prices are okay. Once our contract is over though, we will most likely cancel it all and just stream. That's what we do 90% of the time now anyways.

We've never had Comcast, but all of our young adult children have. All three hate Comcast. DD2 has DirecTV. Wonder if she knows about the channels. We have DISH. No complaints from us. We get our DISH billed on our phone (Windstream) and save $5 on each a month.

Nope, got a much better deal from Dish Network, more channels took the bundle, fastest internet, and a free DVR
with Direct No Hallmark..not ahhh, not me! I get it all and 200 channels

The only good things in this dispute?

With no MTV shows, there's no Snooki to pollute the airwaves.
And TVLand is on summer break from "Hot in Cleveland" and "Happily Divorced."

But yeah -- I'm SURE that DirecTV is going to respect their paying customers by pro rating its service. We basically have an oral contract with it, even if our "official" 1-year or 2-year contracts are up.

I just passed on getting Verizon's "Triple Play" (FiOS Internet/TV/phone) because DirecTV carries some channels Verizon doesn't. Just my luck ...

But I also am awaiting my Roku player, so I can stream movies -- and now I think I'll be looking into Hulu Plus for TV shows. I need to buckle down and see exactly what shows I want to watch nowadays (and, yes, there are not too many that are worthwhile anymore, you're right about that) and figure out alternatives. DirecTV charges up the whazoo for no good reason.

(I just hope Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert have all their houses and kids' college educations paid in full, because 20 million DirecTV subscribers no longer can contribute to their ratings.)

I cancelled 3 yrs ago and have not looked back. Daughter too just recently. The cost was eating up more than just my budget. My viewing is probably different than most, the channels dropped wouldn't have bothered me. Most of my viewing is now Hulu, direct from channel sites, yahoo or other options. Even paying for favorite shows is far less than sat.

I have a TV aerial and get quite a few channels. Know this isn't possible for everyone, depending upon their location.

Could never understand why they never went to a menu for channels wanted. Probably due to contracts with them. The companies are definitely going to have more changes, options for viewing will change due to online availability. Tech is moving fast for all of this.

And I do not miss shoveling snow off the sat on the roof or putting up with wind/ice lines from cable.

After listening to Comcast tales and now DirectTV I guess I'm grateful for Cox. Noticed DirectTV also dropped Sundance.

I'm lost, I have no idea what you're talking about! lol. I have DTV, almost the full package except for Cinemax.

Did we lose channels or something?

We thought about Dish, but they don't carry some of the good channels DTV does.

Either way it's expensive.

Oakley: Go through your guide on the remote and search for Comedy Central and click on it. See what you get. Also try it for TVLand and MTV -- you'll get the same screen of DirecTV's chairman (or some other exec) explaining why it's big, bad Viacom's fault only that you're not getting that programming right now.

I don't have tv of any kind any more, but those of you missing Jon Stewart and Steven Colbert can find their shows online the day after airing. For free.

If we didn't have a diehard sports fan in the house, I would just have netflix steaming and nothing else. I can get news on the laptop.

Lukki; DTV has receivers that record; you don't need the tivo. It's not bad but my son has an employee discount & you would all hate me if I told you what he pays for service to 4 TV's with 2 DVR's

I didn't know anything about it until clicking on this thread. Probably losing Nick Jr will be the only effect on our household (for 4yr-old grandson), but coincidentally, DTV repairman was just here yesterday AM.

We live in an area of the country that experienced derecho winds on 6/29/12, with power/phone outages for several days. Our time slot for DTV service was yesterday, which in fairness, I didn't schedule until after electric was restored.

After adjusting the receiver, which was knocked askew by the winds, the repairman came in the house to make sure the TV was working properly. I remember he said to my grandson, "Hey, buddy, now your Nick Jr is back." No mention that it was only for a day!

I will be charged at least $50.00 for this service call, even though it was as a result of the storm. The next time they want to charge for a service call, I'm dropping it. We have enough Disney, etc., videos to keep GS busy for a long time.

We do have DirecTV and I do wish we paid less, but I've been very happy with them as compared to Time Warner Cable and Comcast. Customer service has been way better. Only once have I had a bigger problem and it was taken care of immediately just as some of the minor issues we've had. In comparison to Time Warner cable where it was year long issues before something finally got fixed.

Actually our reception has been much better during bad weather than Comcast and Time Warner ever was combined.

As for the missing channels, that was the case with Time Warner back when we had it too. Also a dispute over them wanting more money. Same thing though - no warning. I can't remember which channels it was though.

Now I really wish we could just buy a package of the channels that we watch instead of having to have all these other channels that we never watch because a few of the channels we want are in that package. However this was the case with cable too.

"Now I really wish we could just buy a package of the channels that we watch instead of having to have all these other channels that we never watch because a few of the channels we want are in that package. However this was the case with cable too."

I second you on that! There's very little we want to watch - but when I want to watch something, I want those specific channels! I'm think Direct or Dish used to have "a la carte" where you could pick what you wanted.

Cable is not a good option in our somewhat rural location.

And yes, there is DVR with Dish, although we've never used ours LOL.

tina

Oh Roselvr, I know it's their non tivo system that I really didn't care for. When we first got DTV, it was when you had to buy your own boxes and we have 2 of them. The trouble for us started when they got so old they started going on the sprits and reception got poor There is nothing available that can compare with the interface of Tivo. Hands down it is the best.

Ok, forb, forgive my earlier placation. I can't find several of the channels that carry the shows my Dad watches each evening, namely MASH (TV land?)and Law and Order, SVU. I think they have been cut.
I also can't find, via google, a complete list of the channels dropped. I'm mad too!!

Bumblebeez~ This is the list from Viacom.

Nickelodeon, Comedy Central, MTV, BET, VH1, CMT, Logo, Spike, TV Land, MTV2, VH1 Classic, Palladia, Nick Jr., NickToons, TeenNick, Nickelodeon West, Tr3s, Centric, MTV India, Nickelodeon HD, Comedy Central HD, MTV HD, BET HD, VH1 HD, CMT HD and Spike HD.

We now get the Encore channels for free 'till July 31.
I wish they would throw in some HBO or Showtime for free !

The reason I really like DirecTv is that I'm on the west coast
so I get some shows 2-3 hours earlier than if I had Comcast.

Well, Viacom has pulled the online availability of Jon Stewart and other comedy central shows. Grrrr. If I paid them money and if I didn't have ad blocker installed so I don't see their ads anyway, I'd boycott them! lol

Lukki; I didn't care for it either when we 1st switched from Comcast; but it's gotten better in the last year; they actually have sharing too between the rooms.

My son has worked there since 2006; we loved Comcast & stayed with them about 3 years until Comcast had a large increase & we reevaluated paying that much just to watch TV. When my son priced it; I think Comcast was 3x as much.

forboystoo- thanks for posting the channel list. The only show I watch is the Teen Mom series on MTV & honestly; can do without it as it's getting too "commercial" for me. It was good in the beginning years but I hear the original moms are now making $75,000 an episode. They're all driving around in new cars which is very unlike a single moms life.

They do not have enough hit shows for me to pay extra to watch Viacom. I have a feeling this will be those that want it; will have to pay a viacom premium package rate

Looks like DTV is trying; they added a Disney Jr channel today; also did something with baseball.

I'm liking Viacom less & less every day...

On its own page, Viacom took a bit of a cheap shot Wednesday afternoon, posting an image of Nickelodeon cartoon favorite SpongeBob SquarePants with this text:

"Who lives in a pineapple under the sea? I don't know. I have DirecTV."

DTV

If this dispute were over pennies, it wouldnt be happening. We dont think a $1 billion bonus to buy channels whose ratings are faltering is any pittance.

Contrary to what Viacom has been saying, they indeed have been at the center of many programming disputes in the past with Time Warner Cable, Brighthouse Networks, and DISH. Do these spots ring any bells? They sound familiar to us

A lot has changed in the seven years since Viacom and DIRECTV last renewed their agreement. More than 5.2 million more families have come to DIRECTV, making it the most popular video provider in the Americas with 19.9 million homes in the U.S. alone. Ratings for many of Viacoms networks have plummeted and Viacom has shunned its pay television businesses to become one of the most prolific providers of free Internet video. Sanford Bernstein reports the one out of every five former Nickelodeon families are watching online. DIRECTV will always pay fair market value for any service, but when performance declines, youre not entitled to a huge raise. Just ask the families were trying to serve.

DIRECTV will do what it takes to defend our customers when we believe programmers are trying to take advantage of them. Some channel owners feel theyre entitled to get exorbitant raises every year, even when the value of their programming doesnt warrant it. Whether its Viacom or anyone else, when they try to extract more money from their viewers without justification, they shouldnt be surprised when we push back.

{{gwi:1513640}}

Sorry I didn't get back earlier, I just found out which stations are missing because DGS spent the night. What sucks is in the LR is where we have the HD TV, and the only childrens shows remaining aren't in HD, so they're kind of blurry. Thankfully he didn't watch too much TV.

I have to agree with DTV on this one. I record a lot of shows to watch late at night, and I never record any of the shows on the missing stations.

I think this will clear up pretty soon because both companies, TV shows, actors, are losing a lot of money.

Well my 23 yo DS called and complained to DirecTV last week
and they took off $10.00 a month for the next 3 months..
Not bad, but here's the kicker....

Yesterday he was at BestBuy getting a stereo put in his truck
and the sales man was very pleasant and most helpful...
Now the install tech was another story .
When he got home he called the corporate office to complain
about the treatment he received..
You guessed it .They're sending him a $25.00 gift card..

I hope this doesn't create a monster.....

Ha! I say good for him! He's becoming a proactive consumer and that's a good thing! My daughter is the opposite, fairly lazy when it comes to this sort of thing and not willing to invest the time it takes to stick up for her consumer rights. It drives me nutty sometimes.