DirecTV dropping "Advanced Receiver Fee" for new accounts, devices now $10/month

[jcrandall]

Looks like DirecTV is dropping the $15/month advanced receiver fee for new accounts - finally retiring a fee that doesn't really make sense in a streaming world. Also gone is the two year contract for streaming via internet customers. The differentiation between "via internet" and "steam" seems to be minimized.

Satellite and Stream via Internet new customers pay $10 per device per month, with the regional sports fee as the only additional fee. Steaming with a leased Gemini Air gets a $10/month package discount for 24 months, with no contract required - a big change.

Also interesting, if you select the option for zero devices on stream by internet, DirecTV essentially moves you to the former streamtv.directv.com offer where the service is discounted for only 3 months instead of 24 months, with a 5 day free trial.

The changes also promote the Genre packs on the main directv.com page, giving new subscribers an easier path to the new offers versus having to find the streamtv.directv.com website.

This cleans up their new customer path quite a bit, simplifies things for streaming customers, and appears to be an all-around positive. The $3 increase in the device fee, one would have to have six devices before they end up paying more than the previous $15 advanced receive fee + $7 per device.

 

[b4pjoe]

Those change are because they have eliminated DIRECTV Stream and rolled it into DIReCTV via Internet with the changes you mentioned.

The End of DIRECTV STREAM as DIRECTV Consolidates Its TV Offerings | Cord Cutters News

Today, DIRECTV announced the end of DIRECTV STREAM as a standalone brand. DIRECTV announced that it will fully transition its streaming services to DIRECTV.com, starting today. The update, designed to streamline consumer choice under a single DIRECTV banner, promises greater flexibility...

cordcuttersnews.com

 

[Bruce]

Satellite and Stream via Internet new customers pay $10 per device per month, with the regional sports fee as the only additional fee. Steaming with a leased Gemini Air gets a $10/month package discount for 24 months, with no contract required - a big change.

Wanted to point out you do not have to pay the $10 if you use a Roku type device.

I tried out one of their genre packs, my Ultra worked great with it.

The changes also promote the Genre packs on the main directv.com page, giving new subscribers an easier path to the new offers versus having to find the streamtv.directv.com website.

Again, tried out the My Entertainment genre pack, it is a great bargain at $35, includes all the main entertainment cable channels, the with commercials plan of Hulu, Disney and MAX (HBO), along with the main News Channels, CNN, MSNBC, Fox (both) and CNBC.

 

[Jimbo]

Those are great ideas for D* to do, as far as the Sat side goes ...
Unfortunately, they waited about 10-15 years to long to make those changes ...

The Advanced Recvr Fee is ridiculous ... That fee use to be because of HD and DVR (maybe whole home too) ....

If they hadn't thrown all these addl fees for everything they can think of, they MIGHT still be alive.

To make matters worse, did you say it was for New Subs only ?????????

What about the subs that are Still left ?

 

[b4pjoe]

Those are great ideas for D* to do, as far as the Sat side goes

I don't think any of these changes affect satellite at all.

 

[Phil T]

I have been with DirecTV Stream for over 3 years now. I purchased a remanufactured C71KW Ospry box from them for $50.00 and actually had it replaced under warranty last year because of two year warranty.

Last week I was able to purchase a Gemini Air device from them for $125.00. No mention of any additional fees or offer of leasing of the Gemini Air. I was told the Ospry is no longer available for purchase through them.

 

[Jimbo]

I have been with DirecTV Stream for over 3 years now. I purchased a remanufactured C71KW Ospry box from them for $50.00 and actually had it replaced under warranty last year because of two year warranty.

Last week I was able to purchase a Gemini Air device from them for $125.00. No mention of any additional fees or offer of leasing of the Gemini Air. I was told the Ospry is no longer available for purchase through them.

So now, the D Stream is no longer, is it a seamless transition, what changes for you ?

 

[AZ.]

Wanted to point out you do not have to pay the $10 if you use a Roku type device.

I tried out one of their genre packs, my Ultra worked great with it.

Again, tried out the My Entertainment genre pack, it is a great bargain at $35, includes all the main entertainment cable channels, the with commercials plan of Hulu, Disney and MAX (HBO), along with the main News Channels, CNN, MSNBC, Fox (both) and CNBC.

Which one is $35? The Cheapest I saw was $84.99?

 

[Bruce]

Which one is $35? The Cheapest I saw was $84.99?

Go here for genre packs-

https://www.directv.com/shop/build/configure/?utm_source=google&utm_medium=paidsearch&utm_campaign=corebrand&utm_content=agnosticbrand&utm_audience=prospect

myEntertainment is listed at $34.99

other choices also

 

[Phil T]

So now, the D Stream is no longer, is it a seamless transition, what changes for you ?

Checking account today I seen no changes.

 

[Bruce]

Checking account today I seen no changes.

My guess, the changes will be for new customers first, make changes for existing later.

When TPG was announced to be purchasing the rest of DirecTV, I believe it was the COO of DirecTV was interviewed, where he said they were planning on getting rid of all the grandfathered services after the purchase was complete, to make billing easier, less complicated and less expensive, to benefit them of course.

 

[jcrandall]

I doubt existing customers will see any change. Why? They still charge HR, DVR, and Whole home as separate fees for many older customers. Some get their first receiver free, some don't. More recent customers pay the $15 advanced receiver fee and pay for their first box, so still totaling $23/month. The chances of DirecTV dropping a $23/month fee from existing customer accounts is almost zero. Even increasing the per-device fee from $7 to $10 will not make that sell work to their executives. I expect the new structure is for new accounts based on the long history of DirecTV grandfathering fee structure per-account.

 

[John2021]

I have been with DirecTV Stream for over 3 years now. I purchased a remanufactured C71KW Ospry box from them for $50.00 and actually had it replaced under warranty last year because of two year warranty.

Last week I was able to purchase a Gemini Air device from them for $125.00. No mention of any additional fees or offer of leasing of the Gemini Air. I was told the Ospry is no longer available for purchase through them.

that 125.00 is a lease fee they have told me that you don't own the streaming boxes also. i would look into it

 

[meStevo]

I doubt existing customers will see any change. Why? They still charge HR, DVR, and Whole home as separate fees for many older customers. Some get their first receiver free, some don't. More recent customers pay the $15 advanced receiver fee and pay for their first box, so still totaling $23/month. The chances of DirecTV dropping a $23/month fee from existing customer accounts is almost zero. Even increasing the per-device fee from $7 to $10 will not make that sell work to their executives. I expect the new structure is for new accounts based on the long history of DirecTV grandfathering fee structure per-account.

 

[CSM]

Just curious if you can get the Gemini Air with Genre Packs? Also, would that combo also have the RSN fee?

 

[Bruce]

Also, would that combo also have the RSN fee?

RSN fee is still separate, but at least it is optional with the MySports Base Pack.

Cost is $19.99 a month.

 

[jcrandall]

Just curious if you can get the Gemini Air with Genre Packs? Also, would that combo also have the RSN fee?

Yes you can now lease Gemini Air when signing up for a Genre pack, $10/month per device, no free device.

 

[jcrandall]

that 125.00 is a lease fee they have told me that you don't own the streaming boxes also. i would look into it

If they have a Stream account that was in place before the "directv via internet" was a thing they may be a $125 purchase option. DirecTV has sold the steaming boxes to older accounts (both Osprey @ ~120, Osprey Refurbs @ $50 and Air @~$120) that were on stream before that change, sort of a grandfathered option so to speak. If there is no monthly fee attached to the device I do believe it was likely a purchase and not a lease. Still may be worth going back to the ordering site to confirm.

 

[Phil T]

If they have a Stream account that was in place before the "directv via internet" was a thing they may be a $125 purchase option. DirecTV has sold the steaming boxes to older accounts (both Osprey @ ~120, Osprey Refurbs @ $50 and Air @~$120) that were on stream before that change, sort of a grandfathered option so to speak. If there is no monthly fee attached to the device I do believe it was likely a purchase and not a lease. Still may be worth going back to the ordering site to confirm.

Yes our Stream account pre dated the DirecTV via internet. There was always a purchase option and I got a Ospry reverb for $50 when I first set it up. The purchase option for the Gemini Air was still there last week but I don't see it now. I bought the Gemini Air via CSR phone call because the Ospry was having issues with the apps not loading or causing a reboot. (Amazon, Apple TV and Hulu). All are working fine now with the Gemini Air.

Something strange that apparently only applies to Colorado. The order got hung up in Directv's system. I had to call a couple times to see why it wasn't shipping. It was hung up in their system because Colorado has a 29 cent tax on all shipping orders, including Amazon. I had to process a separate 29 cent credit card charge and it finally released for shipment. CSR said he had never seen this before.

I checked my upcoming billing and there are no additional fees for the Gemini Air.

The Gemini Air so far is much faster than the Ospry and has an additional 4.22 Chroma video option the Ospry didn't have. The picture quality is really great on my Sony OLED TV.

 

[CSM]

Yes our Stream account pre dated the DirecTV via internet. There was always a purchase option and I got a Ospry reverb for $50 when I first set it up. The purchase option for the Gemini Air was still there last week but I don't see it now. I bought the Gemini Air via CSR phone call because the Ospry was having issues with the apps not loading or causing a reboot. (Amazon, Apple TV and Hulu). All are working fine now with the Gemini Air.

Something strange that apparently only applies to Colorado. The order got hung up in Directv's system. I had to call a couple times to see why it wasn't shipping. It was hung up in their system because Colorado has a 29 cent tax on all shipping orders, including Amazon. I had to process a separate 29 cent credit card charge and it finally released for shipment. CSR said he had never seen this before.

I checked my upcoming billing and there are no additional fees for the Gemini Air.

The Gemini Air so far is much faster than the Ospry and has an additional 4.22 Chroma video option the Ospry didn't have. The picture quality is really great on my Sony OLED TV.

Does the Air still have the HDR on/off?