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 Location: WI2MN2NJ2IL
Registered: 11-01-2000
Posts: 1534
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Posted
Long story short, we've had the regular NFL Sunday Ticket through DirecTV for a few years now and have been mostly happy (just the usual minor gripes). However, we just moved from NJ to IL and are re-evaluating our options for all the utilities and services we subscribe to. When I called to order home phone and DSL service, the AT&T guy was very aggressive in saying that we could save money on the NFL games by going with Dish Network instead of DirecTV. I told him I was confused, that I thought only DirecTV offered the Sunday Ticket, and he went on to explain that yes, DirecTV is the only way to get Sunday Ticket, but that with Dish you can still get the NFL games because of how many local networks across the country that they let you tap into.
Does that make any sense? Does anyone here on X4 use Dish Network to watch the Packer games every week? Or is it still true that the only way to reliably get the game is to have Sunday Ticket through DirecTV? Thank you! Brian |
 Location: Right in front of you, duh!
Registered: 03-09-2002
Posts: 2390
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Posted
Boy, you're so close(to WI) and yet so far...
I live in WI and recently went from cable to DISH, and yes, DTV has the exclusive contract for several years yet. I got a little discount on my bill anyway as I had the local service. Since then I also dumped cable internet to the DSL. |
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Location: WI2MN2NJ2IL
Registered: 11-01-2000
Posts: 1534
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Posted
Thanks for the reply. So do you know yet with your DISH network whether you get every Packer game through all the local channels across the country that they offer?
Also, a side question, have you been happy with your DSL service after having had cable broadband? I've only had DSL so just wondering how it compares. |
 Location: the Florida gulf
Registered: 09-07-2002
Posts: 3300
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Posted
On the surface I think he's handing you a line. To the best of my knowledge, you are eligible for whatever locals are available in your area. That being the case, you'd only get NFL games broadcast on those channels. You should be able to check their website or the NET to find out. The only way you'd be eligible for anything different were if no locals were available and you got the national feed, usually either New York or Los Angeles. At least that's how it used to be. Get it in writing. Or if you opt to try, avoid signing a contract.
We're exploring DISH and cable TV right now because we're not sure that we're interested in renewing our NFL Ticket next year and we just bought an HD TV (Samsung Plasma 50"). We've been happy with DirecTV but we're looking at cable TV again because we may be able to package the internet, telephone and television service for a better rate than the seperated satellite and internet and, in our area, cable has more HD channels offered than satellite does. With regard to DSL, we had DSL and were generally happy with it, but if the price is comparable, in our area, cable is better. Hope this helps. |
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Location: Right in front of you, duh!
Registered: 03-09-2002
Posts: 2390
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Posted
This is the easiest question of the day! Being in Packerland we always get the GB game. Don't even need cable! You see,unlike you I have never had the need to get Sunday Ticket because our fav team is always on our local channels. If YOU still want to follow the Pack on TV you will have to get closer to the border, visit a Packer bar , or get DirecTV. As far as internet providers go, I've had dial-up for a short while when it was the only option and cable for quite some time. But hearing the DSL promotional offer going on in September plus another major bump in price(needless to say Charter's lousy C/S) made it a no brainer. Both then and now's speed is 3mg down and so I am able to compare apples-to-apples. I have had no problems so far but it has not been quite a month yet. Also, Mrs. Hoop thinks I'm pretty smart and not goofing off by saving us money on both the cable and internet while I am unemployed looking for a job in a new field!!  Keep us posted, OK?? |
 Location: The Craps Table
Registered: 10-16-2000
Posts: 8634
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Posted
DIsh was involved in some lawsuits about giving subscribers out of market locals. The only way to see every Packer game out of Wisconsin is with DTV.
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Location: WI2MN2NJ2IL
Registered: 11-01-2000
Posts: 1534
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Posted
Interesting...thanks very much for the reply. I feel better knowing that I at least checked out the possibility, and will stick with DTV. |
 Location: Carol Stream, IL
Registered: 04-12-2000
Posts: 4783
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Posted
I have been in Illinois since 1987 and the guy is lying to you. When you get your new plasma subscribe to the HD package and tell the DirecTV rep you want the Super Fan package for free. |
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Location: WI2MN2NJ2IL
Registered: 11-01-2000
Posts: 1534
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Posted
Thanks!!! What does the superfan package give you that you don't get with the standard HD service and HD NFL Ticket? |
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Location: the Florida gulf
Registered: 09-07-2002
Posts: 3300
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Posted
I believe NFL HD is part of the SuperFan package. Go to DirecTV website and research. |
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Location: The Craps Table
Registered: 10-16-2000
Posts: 8634
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Posted
Yes in order to get the ST games in HD you have to have the Superfan package. You also get the game mix channel, 8 games on one screen and the Red Zone channel, showing all the games where a team is in the red zone, on one screen.
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Location: WI2MN2NJ2IL
Registered: 11-01-2000
Posts: 1534
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Posted
Ah, so there is no "deal" to be had then?
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Location: Carol Stream, IL
Registered: 04-12-2000
Posts: 4783
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Posted
The reps that you speak to at the customer service number are only allowed a certain dollar value that they can discount you. If you ask for customer retention, they can give you anything you ask for. |
 Location: Out Wandering Around
Registered: 02-06-2000
Posts: 21038
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Posted
I've had Super Fan for the past two years and haven't paid for it yet. To be technical, this year I got it free. Last year I got 6 months of the sports package for $2 a month ($60 off) when I took Super Fan for $49. I always subscribe to the Sports Package for about 1/2 of the year anyway for college football and bball. |
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Location: WI2MN2NJ2IL
Registered: 11-01-2000
Posts: 1534
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Posted
Seriously? They have a department called "customer retention", and I can demand to talk to them? Awesome. What else should I know? |
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Location: WI2MN2NJ2IL
Registered: 11-01-2000
Posts: 1534
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Posted
And what do you have to say exactly to get it for free? Just ask for it, or do you have some magic formula? |
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Location: WI2MN2NJ2IL
Registered: 11-01-2000
Posts: 1534
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Posted
By the way, a general question about HD-DirecTV...let's say I've got four rooms wired up for for service but only high-def TV's in two rooms. Will regular old-style CRT TV's be able to receive any signal in the other two rooms, or would they need converter boxes?
THANKS EVERYONE!  Brian |
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Location: Out Wandering Around
Registered: 02-06-2000
Posts: 21038
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Posted
I basically say that I'm paying $210 for Sunday Ticket and $120 a year for the HD package and I don't want to pay another $99 to see NFL games in HD. As for you question about HD/SD, you can mix and match as you choose. No special converters needed. If you have SD receivers on those TV's, they just won't see the HD channels. If you are using HD receivers on SD TV's, you just have to use composite cables and set the resolution to 480i. |
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Location: Carol Stream, IL
Registered: 04-12-2000
Posts: 4783
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Posted
You just need to tell them what you want. |
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Location: WI2MN2NJ2IL
Registered: 11-01-2000
Posts: 1534
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Posted
Thanks everyone, for all the advice...IT WORKED!!!
I called up the regular DirecTV line multiple times and every single time I got the same story...no free superfan, and each HD converter box was going to cost $99...EACH! So finally I asked for customer retention. Got a guy named Tony who originally is from Milwaukee and we had quite a long chat about the midwest; turns out he knows a lot of places in Racine (where I grew up). Anyway, with a good rapport going, I told him my situation (just moved from NJ to IL, want to transfer service there, and add HD). He said no problem, he could give us two HD boxes for $99 instead of $99/each. And I asked for one extra standard box, which he said was fine because our previous two standard boxes were obselete. The new dish will be the MPEG-4 oval, which of course they don't charge for. I waited till the very end to ask about the Superfan package, just kind of tossed it out there like, "hey, any chance you can throw in the Superfan for fee?". And he said, "sure"! So I'm happy with that. It's still expensive, but at least I don't feel like I'm getting taken to the cleaners just to get the equipment. And getting Superfan for free is a nice bonus, since it would stink to have high-def but then have to watch the Packers in standard def. Now I gotta get back to my thread on which HDTV to buy!!!  Thanks again to all who replied, it definitely helped, and I appreciate it! Brian |
 Location: "beat me like a rented mule" - Henry
Registered: 02-02-2000
Posts: 20180
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Posted
HDTV signals look great on a standard def TV and you do not need a converter. If the picture is in wide screen though, get used to long tall people on the screen unless your TV is able to squeeze a wide screen image with bars at the top and bottom of the screen. |
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Location: the Florida gulf
Registered: 09-07-2002
Posts: 3300
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Posted
Did you get any other programming thrown in? HD for a few months free or anything. Right now I'm at $199 for the HD-DVR plus $10/month off for six months and 8 months of HD programming free. I can't get them to bite on SuperFan or a movie package as yet. I'll try calling again in a couple days. |
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Location: Carol Stream, IL
Registered: 04-12-2000
Posts: 4783
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Posted
Are you an existing customer? If you are call and ask for customer retention. They are the only ones who can give you a really good deal. Customer Retention: 800-824-9081 |