New DirecTV Lease Model

[TvPat]

Just in case you haven't heard, DirecTV is changing their business model to lease their equipment instead of subisidizing sales. SD receivers and DVR's will be free, but there will be an upfront charge of $197 (after rebate) for HD receivers and $299 (after rebate) for HD DVR's, and you will have to return the equipment if you cancel service.

For those of us with the HD TiVo, I assume this means that they will "upgrade" us to the new leased MPEG-4 HD DVR for free by waiving the $299 fee, but the new DVR will not be ours to keep.

This stinks. Cable looks more and more like a better option every day, with no upfront costs at all for HD equipment.

See disussion at this thread:
http://www.satelliteguys.us/showthread.php?t=52395

[jpdublin]

I agree, I am starting to get a bitter taste in my mouth about Directv's future. If cable would offer the NFL package, I may jump, but I think the NFL signed an extension recently with Directv.

I also feel that the quality of the new receivers has gone down vs. the units with the Tivo's built in.

They better make some decent offers to those that have HD Tivo's when Columbus launches locals in HD via the MPEG-4's.

[dgomer]

I agree, I am starting to get a bitter taste in my mouth about Directv's future. If cable would offer the NFL package, I may jump, but I think the NFL signed an extension recently with Directv.

I also feel that the quality of the new receivers has gone down vs. the units with the Tivo's built in.

They better make some decent offers to those that have HD Tivo's when Columbus launches locals in HD via the MPEG-4's.

Plus the added comfort of knowing that package prices may be going up at D* as well.:( Check out this link from satelliteguys.

http://www.satelliteguys.us/showthread.php?t=53387

[okaydave]

So does that mean that we will have to send them our HR10-250 in order to be upgraded to their HD DVR? I just received one of their SD Dvrs-R15. The interface doesn't compare to Tivo.

[Scott]

Had my first run-in with the new leasing structure. Had an SD TiVo die on me this week and called DirecTV as usual to request a replacement (it had been replaced once before with the same problem less than one year ago). When they first replaced it, it was within 1 year of purchasing it and they sent me one out under warranty--well apparently, once they replace equipment, it's only warrantied by DirecTV for 90 days. They stated that they would send me out leased model that I would have to return if I left them. I asked about my current TiVo/doorstop, to which they replied "take it up with whomever you originally purchased it from."

So short story shorter, they're sending me a leased model, no new charges, TiVo software, $20 to ship, AND a 2 year commitment..... :rolleyes:

[tjolsonmcse]

Now that everything is lease only can you even pick it up yourself, or do you have to go through the mail with everything? It's possible they don't have my actual OH address...;)