DirecTV, Sunday Ticket and How to Lower Your Bill

I still have a few months before I’ll need to make my retention call to DirecTV, but I’m always watching the trends as they relate to DirecTV subscribers getting bill-lowering deals.

Since many DirecTV subscribers remain with the service for the NFL Sunday Ticket programming, and also have their renewal schedules around this time of year, I thought I’d publish a quick update on the money-saving trends I’m seeing.

Also, if you’re not aware, AT&T sold a portion of DirecTV to a private equity group, TPG, back in March, giving it a 30% stake. How this might affect deals going forward, I’m not sure. It might not at all. Or if TPG has ideas on how to maximize subscriber retention and revenue, it might a great deal.

This makes your retention call reports all that more important. So, if you have the time, please let us know how your call to DirecTV goes in the comment section below or on our DirecTV Discussion Board topic.

DirecTV and Sunday Ticket

If you haven’t seen our post on how to lower your DirecTV bill, that’s the place you want to head to first. The tips and strategies we discuss are the best way to lower your DirecTV bill.

How to Lower Your DirecTV Bill

And, at least for now, they seem to still work even though the ownership structure of DirecTV has changed.

As I always say, the kind of deal you get is dependent on a variety of factors…just because someone got one kind of deal does not necessarily mean you’ll get that same deal. But it’s worth a try.

Here are a few of the subscription deal trends (both for DirecTV and Sunday Ticket) I’ve seen over the past month or so.

NFL Sunday Ticket

Many DirecTV bills have been showing a complimentary Sunday Ticket subscription over the past month or so. Which then changes to a billed service, even if you’ve never subscribed to Sunday Ticket.

Watch your bill carefully. If you see a charge for Sunday Ticket, be sure to call and request it be removed. Even if you want Sunday Ticket. Reports are showing that once a Sunday Ticket subscription is removed, customer service reps find that your account is eligible for a free season of Sunday Ticket Max.

Bottom line, some accounts are having Sunday Ticket added – at full price – without asking for it. Not good. But, with a call to the main customer service number, it’s easily removed, and, can result in being offered the full season of NFL Sunday Ticket Max at no charge.

DirecTV Bill Lowering Offers

Per our post on how to lower your DirecTV bill, it’s always best to check available bill-lowering offers for your account when current offers are about to expire.

If you’ve never asked for a lower bill, then any time is a good time to call.

But, some are currently being offered a continuation of current monthly savings deals, or completely different discounts, when calling a few months before their current bill credits will fall off.

So, it might be worth calling now to see what offers may be available. Possibly AT&T and TPG want to see a bounce in subscriber rates – or at least keep them from falling – going into the NFL season to help with upcoming negotiations with the NFL for future rights to Sunday Ticket. I believe the rights to Sunday Ticket end in 2022, so discussions are likely getting started.

Although, some are saying it’s a foregone conclusion that DirecTV will lose Sunday Ticket at the end of the contract. Can anyone say streaming?

The Sunday Ticket consideration aside, subscribers have been getting deals to stay with DirecTV in the past month.

The deals appear to be similar to past discounts, with monthly credits of $45 to $60 or so, depending on current package and total pricing.

That’s a positive sign considering the ownership change earlier in the year. You just never know how new management will affect a business’ operation.

Wrap Up

Since many DirecTV subscribers stay for the NFL Sunday Ticket package, now is the time when contracts renew – as do Sunday Ticket subscriptions.

Even if you’ve never subscribed to Sunday Ticket, watch your account/bill for a charge for Sunday Ticket. Not sure if this is just a glitch, or a new tactic thanks to a new ownership member, but you’ll want to address the charge on your bill.

There are reports that once removed, subscribers are being offered Sunday Ticket for free.

And, reports also continue to show some are able to get a complimentary subscription to Sunday Ticket – whether it’s on your bill mistakenly or not – by calling and asking if the deal is on your account for this year.

Also, we are still seeing monthly bill-lowering deals being offered for the DirecTV service. Some even if your current discounts won’t be ending for a while.

So it’s definitely worth a call to see what deals DirecTV can provide you.

And, if you have a chance, let us and the other Savings Beagle readers know how your retention call went with as much detail as possible. The more info subscribers have prior to calling for a deal, the better off they’ll be!