NFL Sunday ticket...Is it worth it??

Originally posted by SteveWallacesHelmet:
Not to completely change the subject here, but I bet you we are only a few years away from having an "a la carte" cable service provider.

Yep, which is too bad because consumers really don't understand what they're asking for.

Sports fans in particular are gonna have to start actually paying for the content they desire, rather than having their viewing preferences MASSIVELY subsidized by non-sports fans. (e.g. once every cable subscriber who doesn't watch ESPN isn't subsidizing the cost of broadcasting ESPN to the tune of 5 dollars per month, ESPN watchers are gonna have to pay that difference through a la carte, and it's gonna be a HUGE one).

I don't think people understand that it's the bundling/licensing model which has created this second golden age of scripted television (in addition to massively subsidizing live-sports viewing).

Originally posted by WRATHman44:

Originally posted by PopeyeJonesing:

Originally posted by 49AllTheTime:
No but it's a service, that's like sueing direct tv because you only want one channel


It's the whole Chris rock...how much is it for one rib..not one order..just one rib

LOL. Great comparison, and exactly right.

It isn't a great comparison, because Directv has a monopoly on Sunday ticket. They don't have a monopoly on tv networks, so they can choose packages to offer, and consumer demand and competition will keep them honest. When no one else can offer Sunday Ticket, there is no competition to keep them from ripping off customers. They can argue that they offer a decent value for the number of games they provide, but the value isn't there for a customer that has no desire to watch the extra games. They are being forced to accept lesser value because there is no other company that can allow them to watch all of their team's games. That's supposed to be illegal. We'll see if the courts care.

No. Just no.

1) They don't have a "monopoly" on Sunday Ticket. They have exclusive rights for Sunday Ticket. That's not even remotely illegal, just as it's not illegal for ESPN to have exclusive rights in broadcasting Monday night games, or NBC having exclusive rights in broadcasting Sunday night game.

2) Just because you choose to not engage with other football products (e.g. the arena league, CFL, or college football) doesn't mean that there's monopoly, it means that the product that you prefer is only sold by one company and you can either buy from them or change your preferences. Just because you really prefer the Honda Civic doesn't mean that Honda has a "monopoly" on Civics, it means that Honda sells the car you want and you can either buy it from Honda or get another car. That you don't like other mid-sized cars as much as the Civic and wish that Honda sold it for less in neither here nor there.

So, the comparison is actually pretty perfect. Just because you'd prefer one rib doesn't mean that the BBQ spot has to sell you one rib. If you're really intent on just buying one rib maybe you can try another BBQ spot that you like a little less and see if they'll sell you just one rib. If nobody will and your dead set on just one rib, maybe you decide you're gonna go eat something else. If enough people stop eating ribs because nobody will sell them just one, then maybe the BBQ spot responds by selling ribs one-by-one, or maybe they don't. They get to decide. That's NOT a monopoly, it's the way that business works.

Originally posted by PopeyeJonesing:
No. Just no.

1) They don't have a "monopoly" on Sunday Ticket. They have exclusive rights for Sunday Ticket. That's not even remotely illegal, just as it's not illegal for ESPN to have exclusive rights in broadcasting Monday night games, or NBC having exclusive rights in broadcasting Sunday night game.

2) Just because you choose to not engage with other football products (e.g. the arena league, CFL, or college football) doesn't mean that there's monopoly, it means that the product that you prefer is only sold by one company and you can either buy from them or change your preferences. Just because you really prefer the Honda Civic doesn't mean that Honda has a "monopoly" on Civics, it means that Honda sells the car you want and you can either buy it from Honda or get another car. That you don't like other mid-sized cars as much as the Civic and wish that Honda sold it for less in neither here nor there.

So, the comparison is actually pretty perfect. Just because you'd prefer one rib doesn't mean that the BBQ spot has to sell you one rib. If you're really intent on just buying one rib maybe you can try another BBQ spot that you like a little less and see if they'll sell you just one rib. If nobody will and your dead set on just one rib, maybe you decide you're gonna go eat something else. If enough people stop eating ribs because nobody will sell them just one, then maybe the BBQ spot responds by selling ribs one-by-one, or maybe they don't. They get to decide. That's NOT a monopoly, it's the way that business works.

This, not really a monopoly, yes only they carry it, but it's not their choice neccessarly, that was the NFL's idea, so what DirecTV choose to bid the highest.

As for other leagues, AFL is only on local, ESPN(Like ESPN2, ESPN for the Arena Bowl, and ESPN3.com), and CBS Sports Network(1 time a week at most, rest are ESPN based), CFL I don't know who has it now, NFL Network had it at one point, but was one game, and College, that's a different thing, if you want a seasonal thing, it's ESPN based.

Like I said earlier, I don't have an issue with DirecTV, it's the NFL, they choose how it's distributed, not DirecTV, so don't blame them, blame the NFL, Owners, and Goodell. I prefer the all or nothing approach, I rather pay an extra 100 bucks for all 32 teams, then pay say 150 for just the 49ers.

I think it's a great idea for some, but a lot of people do fantasy and either they want to watch different games, or redzone channel, which is great too, but I prefer seeing what I want when I want. If I want to see the Seahawks and whoever they are playing, I choose that channel, if they're on at 1PM EST, 4PM EST I watch 49ers only.

And if you want a true monopoly, look at Time Warner Cable, or Comcast, take TWC for example, in my town, it's either TWC for Internet, or well, nothing else, no FiOS, no DSL, no nothing, unless you want Satellite internet, which isn't worth it IMO. Now that's having a monopoly, since no other cable company or internet provider is in that area, same for other areas, a lot of NY is Time Warner only, they aren't letting FiOS in most of where I live, or around where I live. That pisses me off, I hate TWC with a passion, but I have to have them as Internet if I want good speeds, and no bandwidth cap, which Satellite has.

Originally posted by jeepzilla:
Or since 1999!
I have had sunday ticket since 1999...
Any way for me to get a free year?

I was able to get NFL Sunday Ticket free for the last two years. I was unable to do it this year, after calling 4 separate times. Here is what I have done in the past....

1. Look at your bill, determine when your monthly billing cycle begins...more on this later

2. Pick something legitimate that you don't like about the service. For us it was the PAC-12 network. They don't offer it. We have small kids, the cost, time and work involved in having them sit through every U of A game isn't worth it, but since Dish Network has the PAC-12 network, it would be a welcome change. Another one that has worked for me is "I've been a loyal customer for X years, and I'm upset that new customers are being given the ticket for free".

3. Don't budge. They will throw every promotion at you from $10 off a month for a year to free premium channels. If you take on of these you will not get the ticket offered.

4. Ask to speak to a supervisor. If the first retention specialist can't get you Sunday Ticket, their supervisor most likely will.

5. Remember that date from the billing cycle? Tell them that you intend to cancel your service on that date. You can cancel the cancellation, so give yourself at least a week between the end of your billing cycle and when you make the call. They will try to call your bluff but stick with your guns.

6. Tell them straight up that if you don't get Sunday Ticket you will leave. Have them schedule you for disconnection at the end of your current billing cycle. This will more than likely work but if they call your bluff then schedule the cancellation. In a few days call and cancel the cancellation and try again in a few weeks. In my case I was told that since I have had it free for the last 2 years there is no way I can get it for free this year. My persistence was rewarded with $30 off my bill for 12 months, or roughly the cost of Sunday Ticket. They will work with you. Just stick to your guns.

Just got my bill down to $48/mo, got a $100 credit, and free Sunday Ticke with the tablet access. Lovin' me some Directv right now. Also happened to save $35/mo by bundling my internet.

In all, saved about $120/mo and got the free Ticket.

Originally posted by AZ9erfan520:

I was able to get NFL Sunday Ticket free for the last two years. I was unable to do it this year, after calling 4 separate times. Here is what I have done in the past....

1. Look at your bill, determine when your monthly billing cycle begins...more on this later

2. Pick something legitimate that you don't like about the service. For us it was the PAC-12 network. They don't offer it. We have small kids, the cost, time and work involved in having them sit through every U of A game isn't worth it, but since Dish Network has the PAC-12 network, it would be a welcome change. Another one that has worked for me is "I've been a loyal customer for X years, and I'm upset that new customers are being given the ticket for free".

3. Don't budge. They will throw every promotion at you from $10 off a month for a year to free premium channels. If you take on of these you will not get the ticket offered.

4. Ask to speak to a supervisor. If the first retention specialist can't get you Sunday Ticket, their supervisor most likely will.

5. Remember that date from the billing cycle? Tell them that you intend to cancel your service on that date. You can cancel the cancellation, so give yourself at least a week between the end of your billing cycle and when you make the call. They will try to call your bluff but stick with your guns.

6. Tell them straight up that if you don't get Sunday Ticket you will leave. Have them schedule you for disconnection at the end of your current billing cycle. This will more than likely work but if they call your bluff then schedule the cancellation. In a few days call and cancel the cancellation and try again in a few weeks. In my case I was told that since I have had it free for the last 2 years there is no way I can get it for free this year. My persistence was rewarded with $30 off my bill for 12 months, or roughly the cost of Sunday Ticket. They will work with you. Just stick to your guns.

I go about it a little different...

I've gotten the ST and my bill reduced around 6 or 7 times. All I say is that cable/internet is now offered in my neighborhood by X company and That I'm thinking about switching because it's so cheap through them. They'll start throwing stuff at you. Say, I don't know, it's still cheaper through the other company and they'll offer the Ticket and multiple discounts. I'm not pushy. I sound undecided and say that I'm looking at the numbers and it's cheaper with cable.

I also got offered the Genie, HBO, Playboy, Showtime, and whatever other channel I wanted. I turned it down because I wouldn't watch that stuff anyway. Wife probably wouldn't have liked the playboy too much, was tempted though..

Originally posted by strickac:
I go about it a little different...

I've gotten the ST and my bill reduced around 6 or 7 times. All I say is that cable/internet is now offered in my neighborhood by X company and That I'm thinking about switching because it's so cheap through them. They'll start throwing stuff at you. Say, I don't know, it's still cheaper through the other company and they'll offer the Ticket and multiple discounts. I'm not pushy. I sound undecided and say that I'm looking at the numbers and it's cheaper with cable.

I also got offered the Genie, HBO, Playboy, Showtime, and whatever other channel I wanted. I turned it down because I wouldn't watch that stuff anyway. Wife probably wouldn't have liked the playboy too much, was tempted though..

You really have to watch when they start throwing equipment at you though. Make sure that you aren't going to be surprised in 6 months when you start getting charged an extra $30 a month for the equipment they gave you for "free". Same with the premium channels.

Originally posted by AZ9erfan520:

You really have to watch when they start throwing equipment at you though. Make sure that you aren't going to be surprised in 6 months when you start getting charged an extra $30 a month for the equipment they gave you for "free". Same with the premium channels.

Exactly, that's why I stayed away from the Gemie.

It's so easy to deal with their customer service. I've only had a guy give me trouble once and I just said I'd think about it and called back later that day. This chick today sounded like she wanted to give everything, her panties included.

Jailbroken iPad, Euro version of Gamepass App, and the Flex App with the appropriate modifications made makes me not care about Sunday Ticket...at all!

Originally posted by weezie49er:
Jailbroken iPad, Euro version of Gamepass App, and the Flex App with the appropriate modifications made makes me not care about Sunday Ticket...at all!

What is the app called?

I've had it the last three years for free but I had to cancel this year. I am going to call and complain about costs to try and get it free again.

Has anybody been able to lower their bill with a year left on their contract ?

Originally posted by 49erfaninAZ:
I've had it the last three years for free but I had to cancel this year. I am going to call and complain about costs to try and get it free again.

Has anybody been able to lower their bill with a year left on their contract ?

usually its a 2 year contract ?

how did or why did you get a 3+ year contract ?

.

Originally posted by 49AllTheTime:

usually its a 2 year contract ?

how did or why did you get a 3+ year contract ?

I had a two year contract. I added a extra receiver when we moved (1 year into contract) not knowing it added a year on to my existing contract. I was never told this when I requested a new receiver so I'm a littl ticked about that. I should of known to ask.

Originally posted by 49erfaninAZ:
.

Originally posted by 49AllTheTime:
usually its a 2 year contract ?

how did or why did you get a 3+ year contract ?

I had a two year contract. I added a extra receiver when we moved (1 year into contract) not knowing it added a year on to my existing contract. I was never told this when I requested a new receiver so I'm a littl ticked about that. I should of known to ask.

we didn't get extended, we did the same thing when we moved (added the Genie Receiver)

Originally posted by AZ9erfan520:
You really have to watch when they start throwing equipment at you though. Make sure that you aren't going to be surprised in 6 months when you start getting charged an extra $30 a month for the equipment they gave you for "free". Same with the premium channels.

Uh, I don't know where you get being charged $30 a month after 6 months, it's 6.50 per extra receiver, 10 for DVR Fee(Not per DVR like Cable, that's for all DVRs), and 3 bucks for Whole Home DVR setup.

Trust me there are no hidden costs with DirecTV, I have had a Genie since 2013, and have never been charged this supposed 30 a month, or anything out of the ordinary.