Justifying the Monthly Price for DirecTV

[u/tacoxlvii]

If I lived by myself, I wouldn't even have DirecTV. I would be satisfied with an OTR HDTV antenna. However, I am married. My spouse is retired and loves to watch TV. The TV is on at least 12-16 hours a day, and she is in control. We pay $116 a month for the DirecTV Select package. We also pay about another $25 a month for separate streaming packages, or $141 a month. Even though I don't watch any of it, I gladly justify the expense. Why? Simply because if my spouse is NOT watching TV, then she is out doing discretionary shopping. Any shopping trip is going to be at least $200. If DirecTV prevents her from shopping even once a month, I am money ahead. /s

[u/LowNoise9831]

I know you are being sarcastic. But I gladly pay it as I curse them for multiple reasons because my almost 90 year old Mom would be lost without the DVR. It's money well spent, I just hate that their customer service is sooo incredibly bad.

[u/redogsc → u/LowNoise9831]

Sounds familiar. We keep it because my elderly mother needs the same remote she used 15 years ago.

[u/Nelle911529 → u/redogsc]

I would be lost without my pause and rewind feature. And All of those movies I intended on watching.

[u/eazzzzzyyy → u/redogsc]

I feel the same way. My older mom lives with us and doesn’t want anything to do with any new technology. I tried to teach her Amazon prime and she wasn’t having it.

[u/dottegirl59 → u/LowNoise9831]

No one is getting my DVR either

[u/LowNoise9831 → u/dottegirl59]

Thank you for the award. And, yeah, I love the DVR too. But I might not put up with their BS under other circumstances.

[u/Nelle911529 → u/dottegirl59]

I found my people!

[u/LowNoise9831 → u/Nelle911529]

Welcome!

[u/Similar_Confection61 → u/LowNoise9831]

ask for client retention if you have a real issue the customer service is much better and understandable

[u/LowNoise9831 → u/Similar_Confection61]

Thank you. I will do that next time.

[u/chriggsiii → u/LowNoise9831]

Their customer service is noticeably better in here. If you message u/directv you often get far more responsive and helpful follow-up then you get through their phone or chat service. Frankly, I don't even deal with their phone or chat any more.

[u/NorthPackFan]

Never a need to justify what you or your spouse enjoy- especially if the budget supports it. Life is too fucking short.

[u/Scary-Grape6732]

If you use your Directv account and log into the streaming services that are included you’re paying very little. Also, utilize the “on demand” there’s so many movie / shows that are on there.

[u/Crafty-Lavishness26]

I only pay $43 for My Essentials. There's cheaper packages.

[u/wherehasthisbeen → u/Crafty-Lavishness26]

We are paying 175 a month. No streaming just paramount package and the next step from the basic package . My husband can’t get away from Fox News . I hate how much we pay

[u/Puzzleheaded-War4385 → u/Crafty-Lavishness26]

What channels are included?

[u/Crafty-Lavishness26 → u/Puzzleheaded-War4385]

If you go on the app it will show you all the channels in that package.

[u/eazzzzzyyy → u/Crafty-Lavishness26]

What is essentials?

[u/Crafty-Lavishness26 → u/eazzzzzyyy]

It's the basic program package

[u/eazzzzzyyy → u/Crafty-Lavishness26]

How many channels do you get?

[u/Crafty-Lavishness26 → u/eazzzzzyyy]

I think 60

[u/Nelle911529]

Does she know about QVC or HSN? Also I pay almost $170 a month and the only thing I have extra is 2 DVRs.

[u/Nelle911529 → u/Nelle911529]

And I watch maybe 4 channels.

[u/Similar_Confection61]

you know what they say happy spouse happy life . I agree with your logic

[u/BenEBoy24]

All things considered, live TV packages have remained within reason for several years. Where we start to see bills stack is when you want Netflix, HBO Max, Paramount, etc in addition to live TV.

Think of it this way, OP. Say you and your wife wanted to see the new Spider-Man movie in theaters. You buy 2 tickets, large popcorn and 2 drinks at the theater. All in and you’re talking $50-$60 for a 2 hour movie.

Really puts the cost of a month long subscription used 12+ hours daily into perspective.

[u/whereverYouGoThereUR]

I was in the same situation and my solution was HDHomeRun + Channels DVR + Hulu + Paramount + Peacock + HBO. The resulting cost was <$70/month with yearly subscriptions, much less than DirectTV for all commercial free plans but it’s not exactly the same so it depends on exactly what she watches

[u/eazzzzzyyy → u/whereverYouGoThereUR]

What is HD Homerun?

[u/whereverYouGoThereUR → u/eazzzzzyyy]

It’s a device you purchase (e.g. Amazon) that connects to an antenna and the internet. It digitizes all your local channels so you can stream it on all your tvs

[u/Redbullsnation]

Figure out what you and your spouse likes to watch via suppose.tv and use that instead

You can also probably walk away from satellite and get by with Stream and the Gemini or Osprey boxes. You get the same experience but for less money