Another DIRECTV rate hike will greet customers in the new year, as the nation’s largest satellite television company will hike prices on packages and their DVR service in about a month.

The 2012 DIRECTV price increase will take effect on February 9th, and notification began today, as many received e-mail notice of the action.  Customers will also see inserts in their January bill stating the exact details of the price hike.  So if you are a current DIRECTV customer, how much more can you expect to pay in 2012?

Most DIRECTV packages will go up increase by $3 to $5 each month.  Additionally, those with a DIRECTV DVR  will pay an extra buck a month, as the monthly rate will go up from $7 to $8.   Those who subscribe to premiums like HBO and Showtime will breath a sigh of relief, as movie channel pricing will stay the same in 2012.

Here are a few of the pricing details for next year:

DIRECTV Choice package goes from $60.99 to $63.99, a $3 price increase.

DIRECTV Choice Ultimate goes from $70.99 to $74.99, $4 higher.  This package does include a few Encore movie channels.

The DIRECTV Premier package goes from $114.99 to $119.99.  The $5 hike here is the highest of any package, but makes sense considering the package includes the most programming and more than 30 commercial free premium channels.

HD access will remain $10 a month, though many newer customers who utilize Auto Bill pay have this fee waived.  Whole Home DVR service will remain at $3, which is billed out separately from the DVR charge which will now be $8 monthly.

Legacy packages from DIRECTV like the Plus DVR, Plus HD DVR, Total Choice, and Total Choice Plus will all increase in price from $3 to $4 a month, but the most interesting development surrounds the Choice Xtra package.  Heavily promoted in most DIRECTV advertisements over the last several years, existing customers will have the package renamed the Choice Xtra Classic and will see the price rise from $65.99 to $68.99 a month.   DIRECTV is then going to roll out a new “Choice Xtra” package in the next month or so, offering it at the same $68.99 price point.   While the channel details are not yet available, expect the new “Choice Xtra” package to offer less than the current channel lineup, saving DIRECTV some money in programming costs.

In the DIRECTV notice to subscribers, reference was made to the increasing cost paid to content providers – those that own the stations like ESPN, CNN, and Fox.   From the rate hike notice:

This year, the programming costs we pay to owners of TV channels will increase about 10%, but we have chosen to adjust the prices our customers pay by an average of only 4%.

While programming costs are a large expense for DIRECTV, they do not constitute anywhere near the full operational expense incurred by the company.   The argument that “We are being nice to the customer by only raising rates by 4%, when only a portion of our business costs will rise 10%” comes off as condescending, especially with millions struggling to make ends meet in a down economy.

DIRECTV’s main competitor, DISH Network, promised to leave package pricing unchanged until 2013 in an announcement earlier this year.   Rates were hiked 9 and 12% respectively on low end packages, leaving room to leave rates unchanged until early 2013.

If you are a DIRECTV subscriber, you probably enjoy hundreds of all digital channels brought right into your living room.  But if you are no longer enjoying the DIRECTV deal that gives you a reduced rate as a new customer, you probably are looking for ways to reduce you monthly bill.   In this article, we will review a few of the ways that you can save money on your DIRECTV bill.

One of the first things you should do is evaluate your current DIRECTV package.  There are five different programming offers currently available, starting with the Family package at $29.99 a month, and moving all the way up to the Premier package which is priced at $114.99 a month.  With such a wide differential in prices, it is a good idea to review your current programming package and the channels that you watch.  If there is a lower priced DIRECTV bundle that meets your needs, you can simply call up or go online to switch to the new package. Each month you will save the differential in price on your bill.

Now if you pay for high definition with DIRECTV, this is something you should look into.  Ever since DIRECTV began their HD channel deployment in 2006 they have been charging $10 a month for access to high definition channel content.  The rub here for many existing DIRECTV customers is that there is a new promotion offering Free HD to new satellite TV subscribers.  So if you are an existing customer and paying the $10 fee, what can you do?

Many existing DIRECTV subscribers who have called up DIRECTV customer service and asked for free HD have gotten it.  Some report getting a $10 credit indefinitely to offset the $10 HD fee, while others report that they were offered the $10 credit for two years. You may have to go on to automatic payment to get this savings on your DIRECTV bill, but for $10 a month it is well worth it.

Another way to save on your DIRECTV bill is to refer a new customer to the satellite provider.  You may have seen the DIRECTV referral program advertised on television, offering both you and the person you refer $100 if they subscribe.  If you read the terms and conditions of the program, you will actually find that the $100 actually comes in the form of ten bill credits of $10 each.  Referring a few people to DIRECTV will get you nearly a year of savings off of your bill, and they will also get the $10 monthly credit in addition to the current DIRECTV promotions.

Now if you aren’t saving much yet based on these tips your next step is to educate yourself a bit on what competitors of DIRECTV are offering, then make a phone call to customer service and let them know you are considering a switch.  There are plenty of cable TV deals out there designed to entice people away from satellite, and these triple play offers usually give you 12 months worth of savings.   Review what the provider in your area has to offer and let the retention representative make you an offer.

For DIRECTV, it is much cheaper to keep an existing customer happy rather than sign and set up a brand new subscriber.  For this reason, retention representatives have several options to keep you happy whether it is a discount or some sort of free programming.  Of course, if you are still in your satellite TV contract you won’t have much, if any leverage as there are early termination fees for those who disconnect service before their two year contract ends.

A final option to check if you are looking to reduce your DIRECTV bill is to remove any extra receivers and your home protection play.  Each additional receiver is billed at $5 a month, more if you have DIRECTV DVR service included.  The home protection plan is $5.99 a month, but you will be responsible for service call fees in the future if something goes wrong that cannot be fixed over the phone by DIRECTV technical support.  If you have service from the competition, be sure to see our article on how to save on your Dish Network bill.

Time Warner digital cable is available to millions of households across the country.  Like other cable companies, Time Warner has invested millions to upgrade their network over the past five years.  So does this mean digital cable from Time Warner is better than the alternatives like DIRECTV and Dish Network?  It all depends on which features you are interested in, and whether you are willing to pay more money for Time Warner cable.

With TWC digital service, you of course do not have to worry about having a satellite dish installed on the side or top of your home, as the signal is delivered to your residence through a coaxial cable network.  This of course makes Time Warner available in apartments and homes, and to virtually everyone living in the service areas.  It also makes it easy to subscribe to additional services like high speed internet and home phone service, something you won’t be able to do with satellite unless you bundle with one of their telco partners.  But what features and benefits will you enjoy beyond the basic video service with Time Warner cable?

Two of the top features offered with Time Warner digital are the On-demand service and their Start Over feature.  Time Warner On demand features more than 10,000 titles currently, which gives you access to all kinds of entertainment.  Catch up on the latest networks shows after their debut, or simply search for kids shows to keep the young ones in your home entertained.  You can also access premium content on demand if you subscribe to HBO, Starz, or Cinemax.

The Time Warner Start over feature does just that.  If you tune into a show a few minutes late, you can simply look for the “Start over” prompt to appear and you can go back to the beginning of a show.  This does not work though if the show is completely over, and not all shows are Start Over enabled, though Time Warner advertised that more than 20,000 shows now have this feature enabled.  No additional equipment is needed beyond the normal Time Warner digital cable set top box and your remote control.

The next digital cable option is also available with satellite TV providers as well as with telco options like AT&T U-verse.  The Time Warner DVR works in the same way, as you can record dozens of shows on the digital video recorder and then play them back when you are ready to watch.  As long as you subscribe to digital cable, you can utilize the DVR to record one show and watch another.  Another option is to record two shows currently on while watching one previously recorded show.  The only downfall of the TWC DVR is its hard drive space, as you can hold around 80 hours of standard definition content or 35 hours of HD content.  Both Dish Network and DIRECTV offer DVRs with larger storage capacity.  Time Warner also charges quite a bit more monthly for their DVR service.

Other TWC digital features include parental locks and On-screen navigation guide.  These are pretty much standard these days with any cable or satellite television provider.

The downside of Time Warner digital cable is its cost.  While every situation is different depending on the package selected, cable is generally more expensive than Dish Network and DIRECTV, and Time Warner rates just went up again.  Of course if you are a new customer, you can take advantage of the Time Warner deals and the triple play package offers that are out there.  There are also lower package prices for those willing to sign a two year service agreemnt with the cable company, similar to what satellite TV companies have been doing for years.

DIRECTV and Dish Network battle for subscribers on many fronts.  One area where this battle continues to rage is in the foreign language marketplace, where both companies offer programming for those interested in alternatives to English packages.  Filipino satellite TV packages are an example of this.   Previously, we reviewed the Dish Network Filipino packages and in this article we will consider the DIRECTV Filipino options.

The main advantage DIRECTV holds over Dish Network in this particular market is by providing access to TFC (The Filipino Channel) which is probably the most popular Filipino language channel.  This channel is available in the following three DIRECTV Filipino packages.

Pinoy Direct is the most basic Filipino language option available from DIRECTV.  It includes TCF, found on channel 2060 as well as two additional foreign channels.  They are GMA Pinoy and MYX Asian American Music.  The PinoyDirect option is $24.99 a month in addition to the base programming package which we will discuss later.

TFC Direct is the second DIRECTV Filipino package and is offered for $25.99 plus the base package.  Here the GMA Pinoy channel is eliminated, and six other Filipino channels are added.  The other channels are Cinema One Global, Kapamilya Channel (KC), ABS-CBN News channel, GEM NET, and two Filipino radio stations.

The final DIRECTV option is the Filipino Direct package, which basically combines the previous packages together for $34.99 a month.  With this option you will get everything in the TFCDirect and Pinoy Direct plus GMA Life TV which is GMA’s second international channel and caters to Filipino women.  Now once you know which Filipino TV channels you want, you can decide which DIRECTV package is right for you.

To get Filipino programming with DIRECTV, you must first start with a base package.  The good news is you can take advantage of the DIRECTV deals that are available and get lower prices on an English package like Choice Xtra, or go with one of the alternatives.  If you don’t want a lot of English language content, the DIRECTV Basic or the DIRECTV Preferred Choice packages are $19.99 a month and provide limited channel lineups.  The Basic package is regularly priced at $19.99, while the Preferred Choice is discounted by $19 a month for the first year.  If you go with any of the other DIRECTV packages, you can enjoy a $29 discount off of the regular rates for one year.

You can also enjoy Filipino programming with a DIRECTV DVR.  For $7 a month, you will be able to record and playback all of your favorite Tagalog and English shows with the digital video recorder provided with your satellite TV system.  This device gives you much more control over the commercials that seem to dominate the airwaves today.

Carefully reviewing both the DIRECTV Filipino options and the Dish Network options available will help you decide which Filipino programming package is right for you.

The U-verse DVR is an innovative device that has many cable and satellite customers considering a move to AT&T. What can the AT&T U-verse DVR do that your cable digital recorder cannot? How does the U-verse device compare to DIRECTV and Dish Network models currently available?

The main selling point of the Total Home DVR as it is called is its ability to work throughout your home. With the U-verse DVR, you can watch your recorded content on up to 7 other TV sets in the home. While there is not an additional DVR fee to do this, do keep in mind you need a U-verse receiver at the other TV sets, and these are $7 each.

What about the capacity of the U-verse DVR?   Most cable TV DVR boxes run from 80 GB to 160 GB, which usually means at most about 100 hours of standard definition content can be saved on the digital video recorder. The standard U-verse DVR holds 133 hours of SD, or 37 hours of HD content. If you subscribe to the U-verse 450 or if you pay the $10 a month HD technology fee you are entitled to the new, larger DVR. This U-verse DVR will hold up to 233 hours SD/65 hours HD programming. This larger DVR is fairly competitive when comparing its capacity to those offered by DIRECTV and Dish Network DVRs.

Now if you live in a crowded home where there is lots of competition for the TV, U-verse may have the answers for your family. One of the selling points AT&T is pushing is the fact that with U-verse you can record up to four shows at once on a single DVR. This blows cable and satellite DVRs away, as right now they can only do two programs at a time on one digital video recorder. As mentioned earlier, you can also play back any of your recorded content throughout the home, as long as there is a U-verse receiver hooked up.

Other features of the U-verse DVR are similar to those offered by cable and satellite DVR units. You and pause, rewind or fast forward through any content that has been recorded just like with a VCR. In addition, U-verse subscribers can record shows or entire series, as well as manage their DVR content through the remote control and on-screen menu. The AT&T DVR can also be controlled remotely through a hard wired internet connection or mobile phone.

A final consideration that favors U-verse over cable and satellite TV companies is that they include the DVR in may of their packages. The U200, U200 Latino, U300, and U450 bundles all include the Total Home DVR in the base price. If you go with the U-100 or U-Basic packages there is a $15.00 a month DVR price tag attached. This pricing structure is extremely competitive with cable companies, as they usually charge anywhere from $10 to $18 per DVR device.   Satellite TV companies Dish Network and DIRECTV also charge for each DVR that you have in your home, so U-verse has an advantage in this area.

The DIRECTV DVR is the perfect tool to fully utilize your satellite TV subscription. While you will have a monthly fee for each DVR you have in use, it more than pays for itself in the time you will save. Another great selling point is that the DIRECTV DVR has a large hard drive, meaning you can save a lot more recorded content when compared to cable TV digital video recorders.

The two main DIRECTV units that are offered to new customers today are the DIRECTV HD DVR, also known as the HR series (HR20, HR21, HR22 and HR23) and the DIRECTV Plus DVR which is the R22 model. Both of these devices will do all of the things you expect from a digital video recorder, such as pause live TV, rewind and fast forward through recorder shows, and allow you to record series and shows individually at the touch of the button.

The DIRECTV HR20 series is of course designed for those who have a high definition TV set, such as a plasma or LCD. This DIRECTV DVR will record both HD and SD (standard definition) content at your direction. The latest models will hold up to 100 hours of HD content, and up to 400 hours of SD. The capacity here is nice, in that it holds more than most cable DVRs. This also compares well with Dish Network DVR units. If you need more room, you can add something like a Western Digital 1TB external hard drive to your DIRECTV DVR, allowing storage of up to 200 hours of HD programming.

The DIRECTV Plus DVR is designed for customers that still have standard definition TV sets in their home. This device will hold up to 100 hours of SD content for you. Programming is done with your DIRECTV remote control, or you can now program either on of these DVR devices through your computer, cell phone or the iPhone app designed for DIRECTV.

Now if you are looking at the costs involved in getting a digital video recorder, and the ongoing monthly fees, here is a brief breakdown.   Generally, DIRECTV runs a promotion that will get you into the DIRECTV HD DVR at no charge if you sign up for the Choice Xtra package or higher. The normal retail price quoted on this unit is $199, though keep in mind you don’t actually own the DVR.   DIRECTV considers it to be leased equipment, so if you discontinue your subscription be sure you send it back or you will probably face additional charges. If you want additional HD DVR units beyond the first, be prepared to pay for those when you set up service.

Now the monthly DIRECTV DVR fee is right now $6, but that will be going up shortly to $7 a month. Considering the time savings you will enjoy skipping through hours of commercials, this fee is actually one you won’t mind paying.

DIRECTV DVR units have also been integrated into the DIRECTV on Demand platform. Pay per view movies can be accessed on demand without difficulty. If you want full access to all of the on demand programming offered, you will need to hook your DIRECTV DVR into a high speed internet connection. Doing this will allow you access to thousands of titles, many of which are free.

When considering cable and satellite television service, one thing to really examine is the digital video recorder boxes offered by the company you are considering.  While they basically function in the same way, you may get more bang for your buck if you go with a Dish Network DVR.  Why?  Because the DVR devices from Dish Network are generally considered top of the line, even on par with the pioneer of digital video recorders, TiVo.

The good thing to know going into the process is that you can usually obtain a Dish Network DVR at no cost if you are a new subscriber.  The reason for this is that Dish TV is willing to provide you with the DVR hardware in exchange for you as the customer paying them for service for a period of two years. While there is an ongoing monthly service fee for the DVR, it is well worth it when you see how much time you will save, and how convenient it is to use.

The three main Dish Network DVR’s on the market are the DuoDVR ViP 722, the DuoDVR 625, and the Solo DVR ViP 612.  Here is a brief review of what each has to offer.

The Dish DuoDVR ViP 722 is the most popular model currently available.  This model hooks you into one HDTV, and one standard definition TV that can be in a separate room.  Up to 55 hours of HD programming can be saved, or 350 hours of SD programming.   The ViP 722 is a good choice if you have one HDTV, and another older TV in your home where you want to be able to access DVR content.

The Dish DuoDVR 625 supports viewing on two different standard definition TV’s at the same time, or viewing on one set while recording another show.  This DVR holds up to 150 hours of content in standard definition format.  The display resolution is 480i, and you can also use picture in picture or PIP, to watch two programs on one TV.

Finally, the Solo DVR ViP 612 is a good choice if you are looking to hook up one HDTV.  The ViP612 hard drive holds up to 30 hours of HD, and 200 hours of standard def content like the ViP 722.  Display resolutions supported include 480i, 480p, 720p, and 1080i.   You also can hook your home phone line into any of the Dish Network DVR receivers and get on-screen caller ID as long as you have a subscription with your local telephone company like AT&T or Verizon.

Like TiVo or DVRs from the cable company, the Dish Network DVR is easy to use.  The interactive menu is controlled with the same remote used to change channels.  One touch recording allows you to quickly record something you are watching if you need to return to it later.  Of course you can also pause live TV, skip commercial on recorded content, and fast forward or rewind with the touch of a button.

Overall, the Dish Network DVR is a top of the line recording device when compared to cable DVR’s and TiVo.

If you are looking into satellite TV, then you will want to strongly consider a satellite TV DVR. What is a satellite TV digital video recorder? How much is it going to cost? Why should you get a satellite TV instead of one from your cable company?

Satellite TV DVR devices are available from both big providers, Dish Network and DIRECTV. Both Dish and DIRECTV offer dual-tuner DVR receivers, meaning you can record two shows at the same time if you want. You can watch a recorded show while recording two other shows, but you cannot watch a different live show if you already have two recordings going. If you have one of the newer high definition television sets that have come on the market during the past five years, you can record content in HD as long as you have an HD subscription with your satellite dish subscription.

If you are a new customer to either of these companies, you can usually get either a DVR or HD DVR at no charge, though you will have a monthly charge for each device you have in your home. Right now, the pricing for service with a satellite TV DVR is $6 per month, per box. That price is set to go up shortly though, so expect to pay a buck or two more a month from either company. That being said a satellite television DVR is probably one of the best values for the money you spend. Why?

Basically because the DVR with satellite TV is such a time saver. As the saying goes “Time is Money” and with a digital video recorder you can save time by utilizing technology to your benefit. Here are a couple of ways to save time with your DVR.

1.) Record you favorite shows and either watch them later, or start watching them after they have been recording for a while. If you watch after the show has been completed, you can breeze through the commercials with the skip feature.

2.) Save time watching sports. With your favorite sporting event, begin recording but don’t start watching for 30 minutes to an hour after it has started. You will be able to skip the commercials and halftime, and will catch up to live action fairly close to the end of the game.

Satellite TV DVR units also have large recording capacities. Generally, you can record in the area of 50 hours of HD content, and around 300 hours of SD content. This varies depending on the latest model, so do a little research to find the latest numbers. If you want to hold onto more content, then consider buying an external drive to hold the your personal movie library.

Finally, controlling your satellite TV DVR is simple to do with your remote control. On screen programming guides go a week out or more, allowing you to search for and find the shows you want to record. In addition, new software allows most satellite TV DVR units to be programmed from the internet or even your cell phone.

Now that the NFL season is in full swing, this year’s Sunday Ticket offer is off the table.   But that doesn’t mean that DIRECTV has stopped offering great deals on satellite television.  In fact, the latest DIRECTV offer gives new customers a larger discount on the most popular packages.

Before the latest Sunday Ticket promotion, DIRECTV was offering a $21 discount on most packages.  The new DIRECTV offer has been increased to a $26 savings on these packages for the first year.  That results in a $312 savings on your satellite TV programming during the first 12 months after you sign up.   Now to get that $26 savings, you have to do two things.  First, fill out either the online or mail in rebate form.  This is simple to do and once processed by DIRECTV, you will get a $21 discount on your package.  Next, register your account at directv.com.  When you do this, you will get another $5 discount each month.  Registering is a fairly simple process, the only requirement is an e-mail address.  This also allows you to manage your DIRECTV account online, adding and removing services is a snap.

The $312 savings that you get with the latest DIRECTV offer beats the $180 in savings you currently get if you go with the latest Dish Network deal.  In addition, new customers are eligible to receive the DIRECTV HD DVR unit, a $199 value at no upfront cost.  In order to get the free HD DVR, you have to subscribe to the DIRECTV ChoiceXtra package or higher.  If you go with the Choice or the DIRECTV Family options, the HD DVR upgrade is not included.

So what sort of pricing will you pay with this DIRECTV deal?  Here is a brief breakdown of the pricing, with all applicable discounts factored in:

DIRECTV Family – $29.99 per month (No promotional discount)

DIRECTV Choice – $29.99 per month  (No HD DVR upgrade)

DIRECTV ChoiceXtra – $34.99 per month

DIRECTV Plus DVR -$39.99 per month

DIRECTV Plus HD DVR $49.99 per month

DIRECTV Premier Package – $59.99 per month for three months.

So is the current DIRECTV offer better than the Dish Network offer currently available?  You probably need to do a little research to determine which one is right for your situation.  While you do get a free HD DVR with DIRECTV, you can get two HD DVR units with Dish Network which will allow you to watch shows in up to four rooms.

The current DIRECTV deal will be available for quite some time, right now it is scheduled to end on 2/8/2010.  So if you are thinking of signing up, you have some time to evaluate DIRECTV against Dish Network or your local cable company.

DIRECTV offers several different programming packages, designed for any home entertainment situation. While its nice to have all of the channels available, found in packages like the DIRECTV Premier package, others prefer a smaller package, and of course the smaller price that comes along with a package like the Direct TV Choice bundle.  The DIRECTV Choice package is a great package to start off with when you first subscribe to satellite TV.

Why?

Because of the wide channel selection, and the low initial cost. Currently, the DIRECTV Choice package is $29.99 for the first 12 months, a $23 dollar discount off of the normal price. While the normal package price is $52.99, thats still about $10 less than a comparable cable TV package like Comcast digital cable.  The reasonable price makes this a great option when comparing DIRECTV vs Cable TV.

So what can you expect when subscribing to the DIRECTV Choice package? Of course a wide variety of channels for everyone in the house. From kids and family programming, to dramas designed for adults, the Choice package has it all, and at a reasonable price as already mentioned. For a full list of channels, see the end of this article.

The DIRECTV Choice package includes local channels as well in almost all areas of the country. Currently, DIRECTV reaches about 95% of the country with local channel programming. DIRECTV is also expanding their HD local channel programming. Currently, about 80% of US television households can receive their local channels in HD through DIRECTV and the Choice package. Use this tool to see what local channels through DIRECTV are available in your area with the Choice package.

Another factor to consider whether you have an HDTV or not is signal and picture quality. DIRECTV currently offers 100% digital programming, both video and audio. This differs from many cable TV providers, where analog signals are often used for many channels. Cable companies like Comcast, Charter, and Time Warner upgrade areas one at a time, meaning well populated areas usually get more digital channels, while smaller communities have to wait for upgrades from analog signals.

The DIRECTV Choice package includes one receiver for the price listed. For a few bucks more though, you can have DIRECTV DVR service. You can order a DIRECTV DVR for either SD or HD purposes. Either way, the Choice package with DVR is and extra $5.99 per month, and will completely change the way you watch TV. Record your favorite shows, then watch them at your convenience while skipping through all of the commercials. Overall, the DIRECTV Choice DVR package is a great time saver, with a minimal monthly fee.

Now if you have a new HDTV, you certainly want the best programming out there in order to light up the TV screen. DIRECTV Choice with HD will give you all of the channels that broadcast in HD within the Choice programming package. The monthly access fee for HD service with DirecTV is $9.99 per month. Currently, DIRECTV is offering free HD for three months for new customers, so its a great time to try it out and see the difference. A high definition receiver is necessary to receive the HD signal, DIRECTV can advise you on the best setup for your situation.  Here is the DIRECTV Choice channel lineup, audio channels are not listed.

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