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DirecTV Now Confirms $10/Month Price Hike for Existing Users, Raises HBO From $5 to $15/Month for New Add-Ons
In the wake of reports that claimed DirecTV Now was planning to raise prices for its customers again, the streaming service today posted a new FAQ page confirming that all existing customers will see a $10/month price hike effective April 12, 2019 (via Variety). This means that if you are currently subscribed to DirecTV Now's Live a Little, Just Right, Go Big, Gotta Have It, or Todo y Más packages, you will pay $10/month more than you are now.
At the same time, DirecTV Now has confirmed that it is raising the price of its premium channel add-ons, but only for legacy subscribers who are now adding these channels onto their plans. This means that HBO is increasing from a $5/month add-on to $15/month, Cinemax is increasing from $5/month to $11/month, and Starz is increasing from $8/month to $11/month. This change takes effect today, March 13.
If you subscribe to Live a Little, Just Right, Go Big, Gotta Have It, or Todo y Más packages and had a premium channel add-on prior to these changes, you will keep your current lower price as long as the premium remains added on your account. So, these new premium channel prices are aimed at legacy DirecTV Now customers who subscribe to one of the five original packages, and decide to add HBO, Cinemax, or Starz onto their account as of today.
Cheap premium channel add-ons have been a major selling point for DirecTV Now, but now that the subscription tier line-up will be slimmed down and HBO will be added directly into the new DirecTV Now Plus and DirecTV Now Max plans, it appears that the company has decided to do away with this selling point. This is likely due to the new assets that AT&T gained from the Time Warner acquisition, including the HBO family of channels.
We broke down all of these changes below:
As these new packages launch, new customers will no longer be able to sign up for Live a Little, Just Right, Go Big, Gotta Have It, or Todo y Más packages, and will only see Plus and Max as options on DirecTV Now's sign up page. The company is already promoting Plus and Max on its website, and giving one month for free to new customers signing up with the promo code MARCH2019.
As a point of comparison, DirecTV Now's cheapest plans ($50/month for both Live a Little and Plus) do not compare very favorably to rival services. PlayStation Vue starts at $44.99/month, YouTube TV starts at $40/month, FuboTV starts at $39.99/month, Hulu With Live TV costs $44.99/month, and SlingTV's Orange & Blue plan is priced at $40/month (just $25/month right now). That's not to mention services which have launched to offer ultra-stripped down packages, like Philo's no-sports service that starts at $16/month.
Last summer's DirecTV Now price hike from $35/month to $40/month was in an effort to align the service with the rest of the market and "compare favorably with our competitors," according to the company. Now, DirecTV Now will have the most expensive entry-level price on the market among the main streaming TV services.
At the same time, DirecTV Now has confirmed that it is raising the price of its premium channel add-ons, but only for legacy subscribers who are now adding these channels onto their plans. This means that HBO is increasing from a $5/month add-on to $15/month, Cinemax is increasing from $5/month to $11/month, and Starz is increasing from $8/month to $11/month. This change takes effect today, March 13.
If you subscribe to Live a Little, Just Right, Go Big, Gotta Have It, or Todo y Más packages and had a premium channel add-on prior to these changes, you will keep your current lower price as long as the premium remains added on your account. So, these new premium channel prices are aimed at legacy DirecTV Now customers who subscribe to one of the five original packages, and decide to add HBO, Cinemax, or Starz onto their account as of today.
Cheap premium channel add-ons have been a major selling point for DirecTV Now, but now that the subscription tier line-up will be slimmed down and HBO will be added directly into the new DirecTV Now Plus and DirecTV Now Max plans, it appears that the company has decided to do away with this selling point. This is likely due to the new assets that AT&T gained from the Time Warner acquisition, including the HBO family of channels.
We broke down all of these changes below:
DirecTV Now Price Hike
(Affects all existing customers from April 12, 2019)- Live a Little: from $40/month to $50/month
- Just Right: from $55/month to $65/month
- Go Big: from $65/month to $75/month
- Gotta Have It: from $75/month to $85/month
- Todo y Más: from $45/month to $55/month
DirecTV Now Premium Channel Price Hike
(Affects existing customers who add a premium channel from March 13, 2019)- HBO add-on: from $5/month to $15/month
- Cinemax add-on: from $5/month to $11/month
- Starz add-on: from $8/month to $11/month
As these new packages launch, new customers will no longer be able to sign up for Live a Little, Just Right, Go Big, Gotta Have It, or Todo y Más packages, and will only see Plus and Max as options on DirecTV Now's sign up page. The company is already promoting Plus and Max on its website, and giving one month for free to new customers signing up with the promo code MARCH2019.
As a point of comparison, DirecTV Now's cheapest plans ($50/month for both Live a Little and Plus) do not compare very favorably to rival services. PlayStation Vue starts at $44.99/month, YouTube TV starts at $40/month, FuboTV starts at $39.99/month, Hulu With Live TV costs $44.99/month, and SlingTV's Orange & Blue plan is priced at $40/month (just $25/month right now). That's not to mention services which have launched to offer ultra-stripped down packages, like Philo's no-sports service that starts at $16/month.
Last summer's DirecTV Now price hike from $35/month to $40/month was in an effort to align the service with the rest of the market and "compare favorably with our competitors," according to the company. Now, DirecTV Now will have the most expensive entry-level price on the market among the main streaming TV services.
Tag: DirecTV Now
[ 236 comments ]
Top Rated Comments
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6 days ago at 07:16 am
After telling everyone this merger would result in the same or lower fees they increase fees. No one is surprised. Consolidation rarely benefits consumers.
6 days ago at 07:19 am
What is AT&T doing? I understand content costs money, but they are pricing out their existing subscribers and new customers will see they can get another service for cheaper.
Randall Stephenson (or whoever pulls the trigger on these price hikes at AT&T) is either a financial genius or completely insane to make a decision like this.
Also... I’ve never run a giant company and probably have no idea what I’m talking about but it’s fun to complain.
Randall Stephenson (or whoever pulls the trigger on these price hikes at AT&T) is either a financial genius or completely insane to make a decision like this.
Also... I’ve never run a giant company and probably have no idea what I’m talking about but it’s fun to complain.
6 days ago at 07:23 am
So basically now the same price as getting cable TV service. I'll stick with over the air supplemented with iTunes, Netflix, and Prime.
6 days ago at 09:18 am
I was an original subscriber, helped for over a year on the beta program, and offered lots of help on their forum. My bill is set to go up 61.5% on March 23.
Well, it won't be. Actually, my bill will be going down 100%.
Well, it won't be. Actually, my bill will be going down 100%.
6 days ago at 07:27 am
Thanks ATT for my free Apple TV. Canceled immediately DirectTV Now once i got it :)
Guess ATT has to find a way to pay for the thousands they gave away :p
Guess ATT has to find a way to pay for the thousands they gave away :p
6 days ago at 07:26 am
This is a joke right? They have the worst streaming experience of all of the contenders, and they raise their prices? lol
6 days ago at 07:20 am
I lost my grandfathered $25 a month discount because my credit card on file had expired. After contacting customer service they would credit me every month and assure me next month would be different but I would always have to get a hold of customer service to get the correct discount. I saw the writing on the wall then and dumped them.
6 days ago at 07:21 am
I've tried most of the "cord cutting" services, and Sling has been the best IMO. DirecTV Now was easily the worst, with constant interruptions and the typical horrendous customer service you'd expect from DTV.
I went to HD over-the-air and I supplement with Netflix and Hulu regular services... won't go back.
I will say I scored 3 Apple TVs from DTV, because I kept cancelling and coming back.
I went to HD over-the-air and I supplement with Netflix and Hulu regular services... won't go back.
I will say I scored 3 Apple TVs from DTV, because I kept cancelling and coming back.
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