Noonan

This is pretty much required for DTV with all the filler PPV channels. Spend 20 minutes setting it up and save yourself the frustration.

Josh-da-man

Yeah, you can hide all of the channels you don't watch. I'm surprised how many people out there don't actually do this; when I'm at someone's house, four times out of five, they still have all of those informercial channels and PPV channels in their guide.

I went through and hid (and even put parental blocks on many of them so I can't even accidentally click them) every channel I'll never watch: all of the informercial crap, the PPV channels, the foreign language channels, the religious channels, QVC, HSN, Fox News, and a few others I can't even remember.

DJariya

I don't see this as a big deal. If you want out of market local news, there are apps on Roku for that. And shows are almost always streamed the next day on plenty of legal apps. It's a waste of money IMO to pay to have access to these out of market stations.

Noonan

Only really a deal if your local affiliate is blacked out due to contracts. I had to use the NH affiliate of ABC for a while not too long ago.

bralph

LOL! I've been a subscriber for 20+ years, and I did not know this. Although, I can't say that I ever really just scroll the guide. If I do, I just skip to the channel numbers of my frequent targets. It helps that most of what I watch is clustered together.

JeffTheAlpaca

I am jealous of the people that got all or most of the local out of market channels in the 90's on Directv

It was cool to get SNL or the late night talk shows after 8:30pm on the West Coast.

DJariya

Called DirecTV yesterday.

My 1 year worth of promos was expiring on Monday ($55 off per month) and I wanted to see what they could offer me.

The 1st person I spoke to couldn't really help me as she was just a regular CS rep. So I asked to be transferred to customer loyalty/retention. The woman I spoke to was awesome. More than willing to work with me.

She gave me $85 off per month for the next 6 months. I was more than happy to take that. She said since I've been a customer for 17 years, we are more than happy to take care of you.

I was very pleased overall. I can keep my service and not have to look at all these hit and miss Live IPTV streaming services that may or may not have the channels I want.\

and DirecTV also gave me a free season of NFL Sunday Ticket with Red Zone back in April, so I'm very happy for the rest of 2020 for my entertainment needs.

Bill Needle

I was just fixing to place a call in the next week or so. Thanks for the update on your experience. Hope I have as much success.

JeffTheAlpaca

Did you get Epix too in that deal?

JeffTheAlpaca

Showcase or channel 548 is now SHOxBET wihich replaces SHO Beyond, the Showtime plex channel focused on sci-fi, fantasy and horror films.

Bill Needle

So I finally called and found out I already had been given 2020 NFL Sunday Ticket Max for free without my knowledge (they never notified me). I also received $70/month for 12 months. So not as good as what you got but I don't have to call back in 6 months

To remind everyone, do yourself a favor if you plan on calling and direct dial the loyalty line 1-800-824-9077. It saves you from having to jump through the hoops to get to them.

JeffTheAlpaca

Showtime Women on channel 552 will be dumped on Nov 11 and replaced by Showtime Family Zone.

fujishig

What number do you call now when you want to reup a deal? The normal number and just say cancellation like usual, or something else?

emanon

I usually check the recent posts in the slickdeals megathread on DTV retention deals. From there, I get the most recent number to call, as well as an idea on where to set my expectations on what they're currently offering.

DJariya

Call the number in your AT&T bill and ask for customer retention.

You can tell them that money is tight in your house because of COVID and would like help. I’m in the middle of a 6 month promo.

Bill Needle

TGM

so, what's the best number to call or department to ask for to get the most out of re-upping with them?

General Zod

Cancellation. Just tell them you want to cancel and go to youtube tv or something.. they'll offer you a good deal. If they don't hang up and try again. it's a game.

DJariya

You know there's a dedicated DirecTV thread in TV Talk?

https://forum.dvdtalk.com/tv-talk/50...s-updates.html

I called last week and got $60 off my bill each month for 1 year. Just ask for retention. You have to call AT&T customer service.

This is AT&T customer service's number

800.288.2020

The must important thing when calling them is to be nice and conversational. Dont be a jerk.

Bill Needle

This cannot be emphasized enough. You saved $720 for the effort of a 15 minute phone call. Pretty decent paying work when you can get it.

DJariya

Just got an email today from DirecTV saying they are giving me 3 months of EPIX for free. YMMV for the few here who still subscribe to it.

dvd-4-life

I called A T & T last week about my dad having problems receiving phone calls from my area and without asking they gave me 35 dollars off a month for a year for DTV and they gave my dad the DTV sports pack(mostly RSNs) for free for 6 months.

They also gave me NFL Sunday Ticket for free for the past two seasons(2020 and 2021).

tommyp007

I got the same

GoldenJCJ

So I recently got my first 4K tv. I called Directv to upgrade to 4K and they told me I had to purchase a main cable box for $400 and then the smaller boxes were free upgrades. That can’t be right, can it? I’m not going to pay $400 for a cable box that I don’t even own.

For those who upgraded to 4K, did you have to buy a new cable box?

bralph

I literally just did this last week. I went through retention and was able to get three all new receivers for free (including a Genie 2), but did have to do a two year agreement. It would have been something like $750 without the two year agreement. I've been with them for 20 years, so what do I care about being tied for another two...