Right now they are in a contract dispute over how much Disney will charge for ESPN and all their other associated channels. Direct TV is offering a $30 one time credit on your bill if you sign up for it. Go to TVPromise.com to sign up if you are a Direct TV customer. I don't have enough info to take a position on whether or not an increase is needed from Disney. With their new deal with the SEC I can see they are probably claiming that is the reason so I wouldn't be opposed to a small fee increase. I would probably discontinue HBO or some other channel if needed. Anyway, just wanted to let you know of the $30 credit.
I hope that anyone and everyone who has some way to get high-speed internet turns their satellite TV services off. There is literally no reason to stick with them unless you're in an area where you cannot get half-way affordable high-speed internet to your home.
The dispute has gone far beyond just being a carriage dispute. The planned launch of Venu Sports was stopped in court based on anti-trust arguments presented by Fubo TV. Disney, Fox, and Warner Bros. want their cake and ice cream too. They want to offer a standalone sports package for themselves while denying that same right for other streaming services. If Venu had been allowed to launch, it would have likely put Fubo TV whose mission is to have sports first, but has been required to pay more for the total Disney, Fox, and Warner Bros. package of channels out of business. The case will likely be resolved in Fubo TV's favor in February, 2025. JMO, Venu is D.O.A. This brings us back to Direct TV and DirecTV streaming. They have requested to be able to purchase a package of ABC and their ESPN family of channels. Disney denied their request and has shutdown Direct from all offerings. In the meantime, Direct has filed an FCC complaint against Disney, don't have a clue how that works and its timeline. I'm for an ESPN family of channels standalone sports package, just not for Disney, Fox, and Warner Bros. putting their competition out of business. It is an anti-trust issue. Without competition streaming prices like cable would continue to go much higher. Venu Sports would have started at $42.99, but that wouldn't last long. That is really just their starting price. In the fall of 2025 before football starts, Disney is planning to launch by themselves a standalone sports offering of the ESPN family of channels and ABC. It's their own family of channels so I don't know if an anti-trust lawsuit will hold up on this offering by Disney. It may well be that they have to offer the lesser ESPN + ABC package to other streaming services too. I'll leave that to the opinion of any lawyers we have here. The price I've heard on Disney owned ESPN sports + ABC is in the $25.00 to $30.00 range which makes sense if Venu Sports was going to start at $42.99.
If you are already a DIRECTV customer, for what are you signing up to get the credit? Last week I got a letter in the mail from DIRECTV saying my rate is going up about $8 a month.
One thing with the directv box is, it’s very easy to record shows to watch at a future date. I’m not sure how you would record streaming shows. I sent my son-in-law, who has YouTube TV, a message if there’s a way to record shows on that.
They are giving credit because they are not able to provide Disney channels that you were being billed for currently.
I have Direct and You Tube, I realize it can be redundant, but I like having a lot of options. Also, you tube does have a lag and that kills me when watching a live game, knowing that I am a minute or two behind. I haven't missed a Gator football game on tv in over 30 years. Being out of state you get the pay for view games included in your package at no additional cost.
It's super easy to record on Youtube.. and unlimited DVR brother.. it keeps recordings for 9 months. You can literally click one button and it will record all Gator games from now into the future. It's very handy.
Just when i working myself into a proper rage and composing an email to DeSantis asking him to do “something” about Disney.
It really is. My only complaint would be the usual ones about streaming, the ability to just turn it on and not wait for loading screens. The other is Spectrum's 24 hour news channel. You forget how nice that is to have (and regular weather updates).
The Fubo TV vs. Disney, Fox, and Warner Bros. court case has been moved from February 2025 to October 2025. Venu Sorts will not get released in its current format. I hope Disney will push up the date to release their own package of ESPN sports channels with or without ABC. I'd be a buyer and then adjust my other subscriptions.
Why do you need to record shows? Unless it’s a live event, you just select the show you want to watch and it then streams it to you. Recording a show for later watching does provide any value
I switched to Hulu (live TV) years ago and its always been fine, but I hate the interface.. I do love the library that Hulu includes woth the TV though. My folks have YouTubeTV and I do think the interface is better