re: AT&T raises DirecTV prices again despite losing millions of customers

I think the problem starts with ESPN paying such hefty fees to conferences and pro sports leagues for the rights to broadcast their games. Then the cable or satellite companies pass these higher costs on to us, because we will drop them if they don’t carry ESPN.

quote:

---

Anyone know of a cheap supplemental service to get A&E, History and Lifetime

---

PhiloTV will probably be the cheapest with those channels at $20.

quote:

---

We switched to Dish a few months again and save $80 a month for the same channels. I tried YouTubeTV but the quality was closer to standard definition. Our internet isn’t fast enough in our neighborhood, and I didn’t buy an awesome tv for crap picture quality.

---

In all likelihood, your router/modem was the culprit.

If you're paying full price for DirecTV you're doing it all wrong.

Hell I'll handle the negotiation for you if you'd like. Just cut me in on 25% of the saved amount.

quote:

---

True. A lot of business do this. As the customers have fallen off, they figure the ones left are loyal. So exploit them for more profit to make up for the loses.

Lots of business have taken that model. It is also a means of staying in business. At times, not as much of a want as it is a necessity for a business that is dying due to competition or new technology like the satellite industry

---

I'm not in any way defending the statelite / cable industry model.

But I don't think it's simply a matter of trying to soak the remaining loyal customers. These companies have a significant amount of fixed expense that, as their customer base shrinks, means they need to spread that cost over fewer customers, resulting in a higher per-customer burden.

Also, I would imagine as customers drop, they lose negotiating power with the channel companies for volume discounts, etc.

It's going to get worse, until the cable companies decide to start offering streaming packages themselves, along with a la carte pricing.

FYI all cable and satellite companies do this in January every year

Dish is about to announce the same type of price hike.

I work in that biz

Canceled this JUST in time. Just two years ago DirecTV Now/AT&T Now was a new-age "cost cutter" for customers and now we're basically back to square 1. Youtube TV shared with family is the way to go in order to save money.

quote:

---

Anyone know of a cheap supplemental service to get A&E, History and Lifetime(for the wife, no pics). I'd rather go to YTTV but I watch a decent amount of those channels they don't offer.

---

Philo. $20/month

quote:

---

How many devices can I play youtube tv on simultaneously?

---

3.

quote:

---

If I have a smart tv, can I just play it on that?

---

A lot of them can.

quote:

---

I also have several fire tv's. Can I play youtube tv on those?

---

Yes.

quote:

---

and 10 receivers.

---

Rich