DirecTV rates could rise $3 in 2008
Tuesday, January 15, 2008
By: Matt Stump
Satellite TV retailers have been informed of a planned $3-per-month rate increase for some of DirecTV's most popular low- and mid-level tiers, according to a report published by a satellite TV industry Web site.
DirecTV Reported Rate Changes
(Source: satelliteguys.us) |
| Service Tier |
Current
|
New
|
$ chg.
|
% chg. |
| Family |
$29.99 |
$29.99 |
none |
0% |
| Preferred Choice |
$29.99 |
$32.99 |
$3 |
10% |
| Choice |
$49.99 |
$52.99 |
$3 |
6.9% |
| Choice Xtra |
$54.99
|
$57.99 |
$3
|
5.5% |
|
Plus DVR
|
$59.99
|
$62.99
|
$3
|
5.0% |
|
Plus HD DVR
|
$69.99
|
$72.99
|
$3
|
4.3% |
|
Premier
|
$99.99
|
$104.99
|
$5
|
5.0% |
| HBO |
$13.00 |
$14.00 |
$1 |
7.7% |
A DirecTV spokesperson couldn't be reached immediately to comment on the report.
According to the report, published by
satelliteguys.us, DirecTV will raise rates effective Feb. 27 by $3 to $5 per month based on service tiers. The rate hikes won't affect all customers uniformly, however, as customers who signed up for special-promotion deals that began in Q4 2006 will be protected from price changes until their promotional periods expire.
The pricing may be a touch higher than typical cable operator increases in 2008, but is below the price hikes announced recently by Verizon for its FiOS TV service. Dish Network plans 7.5% and 10% rate hikes on its lowest tiers, but prices are rising only by 3.8% and 4.6% for Dish Network's upper tiers.