NFL Sunday Ticket 2014

[Bliz]

Made my call this morning.

 

I'm under contract, with a long ways to go, having just recently moved and gotten credits/upgrades out the ying yang.  So I'm not able to credibly threaten to leave for another provider.  So I followed a modified Youngchew approach, long-time loyal customer etc. etc. and what can you do for me.  Max package for 1/2 price ($160).  Not too bad. 

[airborneskins]

Made my call this morning.

 

I'm under contract, with a long ways to go, having just recently moved and gotten credits/upgrades out the ying yang.  So I'm not able to credibly threaten to leave for another provider.  So I followed a modified Youngchew approach, long-time loyal customer etc. etc. and what can you do for me.  Max package for 1/2 price ($160).  Not too bad

 

We had recently been given deals as well, but It might be worth trying again.  They offered that (close to that) to us too, but when we said no thanks we really didnt need it, they placed us on hold again and we ended up getting it free. 

[Bliz]

We had recently been given deals as well, but It might be worth trying again.  They offered that (close to that) to us too, but when we said no thanks we really didnt need it, they placed us on hold again and we ended up getting it free. 

 

I think it was the combo of having just received an equipment upgrade, 3 mos of all premium channels and big credits, and being in the early part of my contract, that this is all I qualify for right now. 

 

But maybe you're right, maybe call tomorrow and say the wife is mad at me and can you give me anything else...

[Passepartout]

NFL Sunday Ticket is worth having. If you have Direct TV. As it shows you, how to watch and find a game. And not just watch the games CBS, Fox give you!

[More Complete]

He will have to make a friend with NFL ticket or go to a bar.  Do you know what part of Charlotte he's moving to?  I can recommend some places to watch the games, depending on location.  I think a few of us in the area are scattered in different parts of Charlotte and will be more than happy to chime in to help him out.

 

If you don't know the general area he's in (not sure if you are that familiar with Charlotte or not), try to let me know what he is near (i.e. uptown, UNCC, the airport, etc.).  And just an FYI, they call downtown "Uptown" here, ass backwards I know.

 

Just found out I'm moving to Charlotte at the end of this month. I will be renting until my house in VA sells so probably won't get DirecTV. Plan on buying south of Charlotte for privacy/land. Looking more and more like Waxhaw. Any bars in that area you could reccomend?

[Dont Taze Me Bro]

Just found out I'm moving to Charlotte at the end of this month. I will be renting until my house in VA sells so probably won't get DirecTV. Plan on buying south of Charlotte for privacy/land. Looking more and more like Waxhaw. Any bars in that area you could reccomend?

I don't know of any local bars in Waxhaw, but it's only about a 10-15 minute drive from Waxhaw to Matthews, NC which has plenty of places.  There is a Buffalo Wild Wings out there on Sardis Rd., I know they show the games and have trivia.  Taco Mac, but that might be a little longer drive, but they have like a hundred beers on tap and show the games.  

 

There is a Boardwalk Billy's out that way too (Crown Point), but I can't confirm if they show the games or not.  

[Bubble Screen]

More Complete, you'd be better off getting Directv and getting Sunday Ticket Max for free than going to bars each week.

[Capt. Kaos]

Here are my questions since I have never done this before.

 

1) Should I wait to call them until I get the bill with the first NFL Ticket installment on it? My next billing cycle is not up yet, but it will be due on August 20th, I can't remember if the first installment will be on there or not until the September bill.

 

I had the best luck calling AFTER my contract was up. Before that I got the "can't help you right now" run around.

 

2) Should I refrain from even mentioning NFL Ticket as a bargaining chip too soon as to not tip my hat off that, THAT is really what I am after (getting it free that is)

I never mentioned ST, the CS rep brought it up withing seconds.

 

3) Do you think I can score it free without re-upping my contract?  I really prefer that now since my 2 year contract is up, to remain month-to-month if possible at all.  Maaaaybe I could deal with a 1 year contract if it meant NFL ticket for free, but I definitely don't want to have to re-up for another 2 years all over again.

 

I got ST, Showtime ( 3 months) and a few dollars off each month with a 1 year extension.

 

I will add that my contract was up for 2 months before we called. tried 2 times before pulling the disconnect me angle. When I finally went that route they set me up for disconnection. 2 days later a retention rep called and offered up the freebies. In my experience with DTV you have to really mean the walking away.  Though I have pulled that card twice and got what I consider pretty good deals. My one recommendation, and I didn't go that route at the time is to try and get Red Zone thrown in with ST. I mistakenly thought that red Zone was a part of ST. Live and learn, I guess.  Good Luck.

 

The up side to my timing on the 1 yr/ extension is that it will be up right before football season each year now. They can expect a call each time now hoping to get ST for free. At least as long as that's an option, who knows what will happen now that they have been sold and the fact that their contract is up after this year.

[Dont Taze Me Bro]

Capt. Kaos

 

1.  I don't think it matters when you call them, I've called both before and after receiving the first bill with the NFL ticket installation on it and had success.  

 

2.  I have always cut right to the chase and said I need to know what you can do for me to help me get the NFL Ticket for free or at not much cost to me.  Along with what discounts can you offer me on other services I pay for each month that will help take the price down enough to absorb the total cost.

 

When it asks your problem, say retention services.  It will take you to a retention/resolution specialist who have the most power to provide you discounts.  They have the same power as a supervisor from my understanding.

 

3. The NFL Ticket package to my understanding is independent upon your contract with Direct TV.  I could be wrong, but I've never had them tell me that I renewed my contract.  I know before when I had some awesome rates on my package at the time, they re-did all the packages and mine no longer existed.  I was grandfathered in and I haggled with them every year about NFL Ticket and never paid anything more for my non-existent grandfathered package.  

 

When I call, I actually state what I want and then I say something like, I'm not going to play all the "I'm thinking about cancelling my service if I don't get this for free games", so, what am I eligible for and whats the best offer you can make me cause I do drop a lot of money monthly with the premium package.  

 

If you give them time and are patient, interactive, they will work what magic they can.  I've always taken that approach and never had any issues.  

 

I just called about 20 minutes ago.  Spoke w/Brenda who resides in Iowa and is a 49ers fan since the Joe Montana days.  She loves watching her niners on her 46 inch LED, in her opinion, watching on the big screen is the only way to go.  Shoot the **** with them

 

Anyhow, I had the base package last year, so here is what the lovely Brenda did for me:

 

1. Cancelled my base package - added me with the NFL Max package (redzone channel, online access, etc.) which cost a total of $329.00.  Added the 50% off discount on the NFL max which came to a total of $163.96 (40.99 per month for 4 months).

 

2.  Applied a $40 per month discount for 3 months to my premium channels (HBO, Showtime, Cinemax) = $120 total savings.

 

3. Applied a $10 per month discount for 6 months to my sports package (which is included in the base) = $60 total savings.

 

4. Applied a $10 per month discount for 6 months to my base package = $60 total savings.  

 

So, I'm coming out ahead $76.04 and getting the NFL Max.  I win.  

[JamesMadisonSkins]

Just found out I'm moving to Charlotte at the end of this month. I will be renting until my house in VA sells so probably won't get DirecTV. Plan on buying south of Charlotte for privacy/land. Looking more and more like Waxhaw. Any bars in that area you could reccomend?

My wife grew up in Waxhaw ... and I was in that vicinity in March ... the Ballentyne area had some nice spots ... one place had a ton of beers on tap and TVs ... but that's the extent of my knowledge haha.

 

Duckworth's Grill & Taphouse was a good spot in Ballantyne ... we watched a couple NCAA Men's games there while we were in town. Great beer and great atmosphere. If we end up in that vicinity next year I could see myself catching some games there.

[JamesMadisonSkins]

My internet speed is 30 MBPS and the speed test I just did had me averaging 32.8 mbps ... so I'm technically getting back more than I'm paying for. Right now I'm paying $60 a month for that 30 mbps ... but can upgrade to 50 mbps (fastest) for $10 more. The question is, am I okay with 30 for streaming SUnday Ticket? I watch plenty of Nats games and for the most part, I get through glitch free. There are some drops in video quality at times and the occasional 3-4 second freeze. Nothing terrible, but if 30 is more than enough and those things happen no matter what, I won't upgrade. But if the difference between 30 and 50 is such that I will never have issues ... it might be worth it?

[CrypticVillain]

Okay, I'm set.

 

I got Red Zone for free without having to get the Sunday Ticket or Sunday Ticket Max. I was told by two reps that it couldn't be done. All of a sudden, the retention specialist made it happen. lol

 

I don't really need the Sunday Ticket, the Red Zone will suffice. Shoot, I get the Redskins game and four other games a week. I'm good with that and Red Zone.

[abdcskins]

I got Sunday Ticket Max.  All is right with the world.

 

However, I wasn't able to get it free like I have the past three years.  I told him that I was going to cancel, and apparently I have 19 months left on my contract.  $20 a month early cancellation fee, so I was looking at $380.  They were gonna make money either way, so they didn't budge.  I asked him to work with me and make me an offer, so I got the first payment taken care of and $10 off a month.  So two hundred bucks altogether, I'm fine with that.

[MattFancy]

Okay, I'm set.

 

I got Red Zone for free without having to get the Sunday Ticket or Sunday Ticket Max. I was told by two reps that it couldn't be done. All of a sudden, the retention specialist made it happen. lol

 

I don't really need the Sunday Ticket, the Red Zone will suffice. Shoot, I get the Redskins game and four other games a week. I'm good with that and Red Zone.

 

Wait how did you get RedZone? That's all I really want since I get all the Skins games anyway.

[CrypticVillain]

Wait how did you get RedZone? That's all I really want since I get all the Skins games anyway.

I basically just whined my way to the retention specialist lol

 

Told them I was in Washington, DC so I didn't need the ticket. Told them I would rather pay my $140 in cancellation fees and roll with Comcast because once I left DirecTV, I wasn't coming back. Told them how much cheaper my bill would be if I went back to Comcast (lie) and that I would be satisfied with that because I could get Red Zone without having to pay for the whole Sunday Ticket. (somewhat true)

[MattFancy]

I basically just whined my way to the retention specialist lol

 

Told them I was in Washington, DC so I didn't need the ticket. Told them I would rather pay my $140 in cancellation fees and roll with Comcast because once I left DirecTV, I wasn't coming back. Told them how much cheaper my bill would be if I went back to Comcast (lie) and that I would be satisfied with that because I could get Red Zone without having to pay for the whole Sunday Ticket. (somewhat true)

 

Damn I wish I was closer to the end of my contract. I'm not even a year in lol. All I really want is RedZone. When we had FiOS back when we lived in the Baltimore area, I could get the RedZone channel for just $40 for the season. Well worth it IMO. With being able to watch every Skins game on local TV, having the Ticket doesn't really appeal to me. But being able to watch the RedZone, that definitely appeals to me.

[CrypticVillain]

Damn I wish I was closer to the end of my contract. I'm not even a year in lol. All I really want is RedZone. When we had FiOS back when we lived in the Baltimore area, I could get the RedZone channel for just $40 for the season. Well worth it IMO. With being able to watch every Skins game on local TV, having the Ticket doesn't really appeal to me. But being able to watch the RedZone, that definitely appeals to me.

Man, just call them and see what you can do. When they tell you that they can't give you the Red Zone, tell them they're lying because you know they can give you just the Red Zone. 

[MattFancy]

Was disappointed when I called on Friday. I had a free trial last year, so I was calling to cancel so I wouldn't start getting charged for it. Was kinda hoping they'd give me a deal on it when I was calling to cancel. Didn't do anything. Just told me okay and that was it. Didn't go as I was expecting. Maybe I'll try closer to the season. All I really want is RedZone anyway.

[balki1867]

I just noticed a new channel on my AppleTV called 'NFL Now'

 

They really need to stop teasing me like this.

 

EDIT: Apparently NFL Now has been around forever (on Roku), and just got added to AppleTV.  It's just some highlights, press conferences, and episodes of Hard Knocks.  LAME.

[NoCalMike]

My experience was a little weird, the rep didn't seem to want to give me any discounts directly related to NFL Ticket itself, but then gave me $10 off a month for a year here, $20 off a month for a year there, and by the time the call was over the cost of the ticket was off set.

 

If you don't have luck getting the NFL Ticket itself for free, just try giving them a call and say you are a loyal customer and fan of DTV but it has become too expensive and you are looking for any promos or special that can help temporarily reduce your bill.

 

The customer service reps are always authorized to tack on any existing promos to knock dollars off your bill.  You just have to request.

[USS Redskins]

Looks like Direct TV will be locking the exclusive deal up through 2022.

 

link is not working... story is on sportsbusinessdaily.com

 

not surprising.. they have all the infrastructure in place. I cant see google or any of the other entities being able to match what they offer especially with AT&T buying Direct TV.

[Major Harris]

unless i am out of market, i never want sunday ticket.  i just want red zone.  and what directv wants for their inferior version of redzone is outrageous.

 

i switched to comcast.  love the x1 system.  and my sports package, which includes the real redzone channel, is 9.95 a month and i get English premier league games out the azz to boot.

[Kosher Ham]

2.  I have always cut right to the chase and said I need to know what you can do for me to help me get the NFL Ticket for free or at not much cost to me.  Along with what discounts can you offer me on other services I pay for each month that will help take the price down enough to absorb the total cost.

 

I agree.

 

I got 30 bucks off for 6 months.

 

I was not looking for free, just a better deal.

[MattFancy]

I'm going to call next week and try and get just RedZone. I have no problem paying for it, but I have no interest in Sunday Ticket. 1) I get all the Skins games. 2) I go to a few Skins games a year and 3) I don't want to pay for Sunday Ticket. I know when I had FiOS, I paid like $40-$50 for the season just RedZone. I'm going to pitch that to them and see what they can do. Figure offering them something has to get me somewhere right? Would they rather have my $50 extra or none?

[VeroViper]

Just got my deal. Free Sunday ticket max for this season, plus they offered me $15 off my bill for 6 mos. and Showtime free for 4 mos. Definitely the best deal I've ever gotten. I approached it as a cancellation call, not a fishing for deals call. That is the key I think(last year I did the fishing for deals thing) Very pleased to say the least.