DIRECTV is once again promoting their top exclusive package, the NFL Sunday Ticket. While every football fan across America would surely love to have this package for free, DIRECTV and the NFL are of course in business to make money. That being said, have they priced themselves out of the market with the cost for the 2008 NFL Sunday Ticket package?
Deals are always available for new DIRECTV customers this time of the year, with this year’s offer promising four months of the DirecTV Premier package when signing up for Sunday Ticket. But what about loyal DIRECTV customers? This year’s price for NFL Sunday Ticket is going to be $299 if you do not sign up early. The discount for early sign ups is $30, which still means your looking at $269, or $53.80 split up over five payments. Thats about a 16% increase in price over last year.
Note: These are the rates published on DIRECTV’s website, some past customers have been getting offers for $249 if they sign up now.
Running the numbers on the $269 price tag breaks down to $15.82 a week for the NFL Sunday Ticket. Obviously not a huge amount of money, however paying $269 total for the season is causing some to reconsider whether they want to fork over the money this year to DIRECTV.
Many factors including rising gas and food prices are forcing some long-time customers to reconsider whether the Sunday Ticket package is worth it. One common complaint on many DIRECTV and NFL message boards is the fact that HD is not included in the base Sunday Ticket package. In order to get the games in HD, subscribers must also add on the SuperFan package, which is an additional $99 on top of the 2008 Sunday Ticket price.
DIRECTV customers who want HD already pay a $9.99 a month access fee for high definition access, so you can see how it rubs them the wrong way when they are asked to pay another $100 above the regular Sunday Ticket price to see the games in HD. DIRECTV SuperFan does include a few other nice extras such as the Game Mix channel, but HD is what most viewers want.
So will the customer spend $350+ for Sunday Ticket in HD?
Time will tell. We probably won’t know until next season Sunday Ticket prices are released to find out if enough people voted no with their wallets this season.
47 comments ↓
I think it’s ridiculous that the NFL Sunday package is so much. Most people get it just to see an nfl team that they love that isn’t broadcast in their area. Hopefully other cable providers will start to have similar packages at a cheaper price.
I know they are in it to make money which is fair enough but they are sooo overpriced, we have to pay extra for the Football Season ticket which is about £70 per season, why should we pay this extra amount when we pay a subscription fee for the sports channels anyway? i think they squeeze any extra revenue they can get!!!
I was starting to warm up to the $270 price, but that’s because I only figured that HD would be included. Who would spend $270 on a sports package that isn’t available in High Definition? That’s just insane.. and I’m not paying $400 to see one season of the NFL. There are only two teams I’d be watching consistently each week anyway. They should let you pick which teams you want access to and prorate the charges. They would probably get a lot more business. The bar across the street from my house already said I could come in and flip it to whatever game I want each Sunday so I’ll just do that and spend the money on beer instead
What I really get upset about is the fact direct tv offers great pricing for new customers and nothing for existing customers who has been with them for 5 or 10 years. I don’t want a different provider, but I would like to have some discounts and special offers direct tv offers to the new customers. I think $200 would be a very fair price for the NFL ticket. There price point is a little high, especially in these tough times in America.
I have had NFL Sunday ticket for many years. Last year the extra fee for HD really annoyed me. This year is the first I have not renewed. It’s just to much $ IMO. I love football but $370 is way out of line. I feel a bit abused to be honest.
I just canceled NFLST yesterday after I looked at how much they were charging me for it. $350+ is way out rageous just to peek in on other games. I might have kept it if my team was out of market, but since it isn’t its not worth it anymore. When I first signed up it was about $150, but now at $350 its a ripoff. It would’t have been so bad, but when they introduced this Superfan crap two years ago, I started to get annoyed. Its basically an extra chrage for HD which should be included with my regular subscription, plus the mix channels are some crap someone came up with to say “ooh look were’re not just charging for HD, you get all of this worthless crap too”
So this is why I couldn’t easily find the price on DTV’s website. Even if the HD was included, $300 is ridiculous. It’s going to be tough this year since I moved and there’s not a sports bar nearby, but I’ll adjust. Besides, there’s plenty of NASCAR and NHL to fill the NFL season. . .
I figured out that it would be cheaper to spend $20 a week on food and soda watching the game with fellow fans at the local sports bar.
nfl ticket is to hight
I cancelled my subscription after being a 3 year subscriber. Just can’t afford it.
I have had the NFL ticket for years. but I canceled it this year. I miss it, but the price is outrageous, plus I can watch all the games over the internet for free.
Wow! I just found this out because we didn’t have the channels in HD this week, I called, and found out not only am I cut off of HD, that the prices were also raised. I have paperless billing and didn’t even realize it. I think what gets me the most is they didn’t notify me the prices were going up. I already pay through the nose for HD and paid $300 to LEASE an HD DVR because the one I bought for $900 3 years ago no longer works with the system. I own that one, and it’s collecting dust in the closet. I’ve just about had it with DirecTV. I’ve been a customer since 1998, and will be looking at either FiOS TV or going back to cable. Thanks for screwing over your customers DirecTV. I hope your satellites crash into the gulf of mexico.
Yes…..we were screwed big time yesterday! Turn on football and no HD channels. Called (which took an hour to get through, since the girl said they had 300 people on hold!) and was then told it would cost another $99 to get the HD channels. I basically had no choice in the matter. I’m still on a 2 year contract so I can’t cancel and can’t cancel sunday ticket package because the season has started. AND unless I have HD the picture TOTALLY sucks! We will seriously consider this next year……but hoping with the new digital thing happening in January……they might be forced to atleast knock off the HD charge.
That’s it. I’ve had enough. We pay $10/month to get a HD signal even though it costs DTV $0 to send the signal. I’ve subscribed to Sunday Ticket since season 1. This is the final season. The price for the package is ridiculous as it is but now $100 extra to get it in HD. That’s fraud. This costs them nothing extra to provide. Sorry DTV, you’ve lost me and I’ve been a 15 yr subscriber. Will cancel my service as soon as the season ends. The NFL will also pay the price for this shameless greed.
I have to agree Brian. I have been a long time DTV customer and just recently got HD so naturally I was excited to watch my games in HD only to find out I have to pay an additional fee on top of the outrageous money I already paid. I called DTV just to bitch at them to make me feel a little better. I asked the dude on the phone how come you don’t have to pay extra for HD in the MLB, and NHL packages but he could not give me a straight answer.
I don’t blame any of you. My parents have DirecTV and we have had NFL Sunday Ticket since its first season (first via C-Band big dish and later on DirecTV). But with their rising prices, my parents dropped Sunday Ticket several years ago. Adam, I would like to know what year it was $150? I would like to get a history of the Sunday Ticket pricing over the years and see just how fast DirecTV has been cranking up the prices (versus the rate of inflation). Thanks…
Superfan is a TERD!
DirectTV is pulling a real fast one on the HD consumers. $10/month for HD and they have the nerve to actually block the Fox/CBS HD channel for NFL Sunday Ticket subscribers, in order to pump out an extra $100/season for Superfan. Say No to DirectTV.
HD NFL games are simulcast on Fox/CBS for Free! –That’s right! So, if you’re already an HD customer, you’ve already paid DirectTV for this access. They’re actually blocking those channels for NFL Sunday Ticket fans, just so they can collect the extra $100. That why you get that opening week of the season with all of the games in HD. It’s a bait-in scham; so you expect it in the following weeks. Until you tune in on week two, to find that crappy SD pic on your HDTV. They know you’ll call, begging for your HD picture. This is real grease-ball work from D-TV. The NFL should step in here and protect the reputation of its brand a little better. There fans are being taken for a ride.
I am a loyal DirecTv member and has had the NFL every year it has been available up until this year. HD games should be available for free and the price need to be more reasonable, at least the discounts for early renewal for previous owners.
Kinda miss it, but I can survive.
You will always get busted on price if you really want to watch something. Consider just how much people pay to see world title fights…
What a joke. They should keep the price the same for loyal existing customers.
Good thing we live in Vegas. Rather give my business to the local Casino.
I was upset too when I found out about needing the SuperFan package to see the games in HD when I had all ready been paying for service for a crappy HD recorder and HD service. What a joke! That is $16 bucks a month right there. Add this up over the year and that is $192. What you can do though is call them and complain like I did and told them I should get the games in HD free and they gave me the SuperFan for Free. They are now even advertising on their site you can get it for Free for now. I will complain next year too, but if they price ever goes over the $20 every Sunday than I will cancel and go to a local sports bar. Right now, it is under that amount.
Congress needs to step in and break up this up. The viewed has only this one venue to get it from. I just spent the first half trying to get the HD back up, I had it every week up until their new upgrade.
Anyway, I would do a dance of joy if I could watch the Steelers play every game and NOT have Direct TV. I think the NFL should know what kind of a shoddy company Direct TV is.
I agree with everything that is said in this forum. Ive had ST for 10 years and Superfan the last two. No more. There is always the point where you just have to say enough is enough and that came this year with the price being jacked up another $30.00. It is gonna be tough to be without it as it is the only way I could watch my team(outside of a bar of course) but dammit I had it with this Superfan nonsense. If you think you can handle it, I would suggest everyone cancel ST and send a message to Directv and the NFL that now is not the best time to charge more for something that isnt essential.
The only reason I even got DirecTV was for the Sunday Ticket. Been a subscriber for many years back when HD was included in the base package. When they broke it out into the SuperFan pack I called and strong armed them into giving me HD for free since it was always included before, otherwise I don’t want it at all and they have obliged every time so far but at $300, I’m done with it.
I have to agree with everyone here. After have Sunday Ticket for 7 years, I am done. Yet another price increase and still extra if you want to see the games in HD is just to much for me.
Since I am dropping this, it’s the perfect time for me to switch over to Dish Network and really save some money!
Just so everyone knows, the NFL has no incentive for this to change. As a matter of fact, they collect a lot of revenue from NFLST. The only way they will change is if the subscriber demand drops significantly.
directv will have the nfl sunday ticket again this yeat this time it will be 5 payments of 59.99 you will get the enitre season with 5 monthes free of there top end package that includes everything. so your paying for the nfl but your not paying for your programming at the time. makes sense to me other wise you can blow your money at a sports bar to watch one game, and or blow your money to be at the actual game blowing all your money there on parking food and drinks. now to clarify one thing to you guys directv does not profit on the nfl sunday ticket its self they just recieve alot of customers which if you ask me they have more hd more sports better looking channel guide and number one in customer satisfaction for the 9th year in a row which means alot. have you ever heard of the saying “you get what you pay for” well that defintly applies to this. the dish network is cheaper but overall cheaper there equipment is used channel guide makes you feel like your in the 90’s customer service in india charge for locals charge you to modify you package charge you a monthly fee for not having a lanline, in other words if you want to pursue happiness in tv service pay the extra cost to the handsdown best tv provider in the country directv!! its worth it….
It’s my understanding that it’s the NFL, not Directv, that controls pricing. So, quit blaming Directv for the price hikes. I suppose DTV could provide a discount on other services for longtime subscribers – at least that could offset the gauging from the NFL. Like many of you, I’ve had Directv for year (since ‘98), primarily so I can see my NFL home team. The cost escalates every year and it’s reaching the breaking opint. As far as needing the $99 Superfan to get HD, it’s as much the principle as it is the money that pisses me off. Already paying extra to DTV for HD content, and still have to pay NFL more to watch NFL in HD? What’s next – a $100 extra to be shown in color?
Once my commitment is up, I’m through with them.
I’ve been with DirecTV since 1998 and have had the Sunday Ticket every year since then (when it was only $99). I’m a fan of a single team — not of the entire NFL, so all I watch is my team’s game each Sunday. I’m not an NFL junkie who can watch 3-4 games in a day. Nor do I want to monitor 8 games at once. And, I don’t play fantasy football, so all those stats they throw at me mean nothing. I just want to spend 2-3 hours watching my team — in HD. In order to do that, I have to buy the SuperFan package — which I have reluctantly done. But the whole thing is now approaching $400 for the season. I think it’s now too expensive for what I get out of it. To top it off, my team hasn’t made the playoffs in a long time, so I’m not really even enjoying the 2-3 hours I spend in front of the TV each Sunday. So, after the 2008 season, I canceled the package. I’ll listen to my team on my computer’s streaming audio broadcast. And, since the NFL Sunday Ticket is the only thing DirecTV offers that Dish Network doesn’t, I think I’m going to check out Dish and see if I can save money on my basic package.
I am pretty confident that Direct TV will see a huge drop in renewals for Sunday Ticket this year. With unemployment nearing 10%, I just cant see how the Sunday Ticket price is justifiable. Sure they may bring in lots of new subscribers with their promotions, but the renewals is where they make the money, and that’s where people are going to pull the plug on the NFL and Direct TV this fall.
I have renewed every year since starting in 1998 and feel trapped as a fan of an out of market team. I agree with what has been said here. I do think it was about $99 my first year and is now $366, I think, with HD. You guys have me moving toward canceling too.
This year I will get 3 national TV games (SNF & MNF) and 1 local game vs 9ers. So that’s 25% of the season right there that I will get for FREE in HD. Then we have 2 games against Detroit which are never really that enjoyable (even though we usually win them). So that’s 10 games at $37 a pop! I can afford it but on principle alone I will not dish out that kind of cash this year. Even with Favre potentially coming in and getting them over the hump… Hope I don’t regret this!
Hey all, I agree with you on the SuperFan scam. But, what I did was called a couple times until I got someone who would include it for free. If you subscribe to at least one other sports package, like the NHL or NBA, etc. They will thow it in for you if you badger them. Just be persistent, threaten to cancel your service and you’ll get someone who will do it for you.
I h8 Directv now $99.00 when i started, now $400.00 who do they think they are? i can but season tickets to the local team the Falcons for less F U Directv i Am GONE!
If you are renewing, just call and threaten to cancel. They will offer to reduce the package cost by $120 to keep you happy.
I’ve subscribed to NFL Sunday Ticket since 1997. This year I am not renewing. It’s just too expensive. I got DirecTV because of the NFL package. Comcast cable is available at my house. Since I’m not subscribing to the Ticket, there is no longer any reason to keep DirecTV in lieu of Comcast. NFL Sunday Ticket is really the only thing that differentiates it from cable. I likely will switch to Comcast soon. The NFL is a greedy organization.
Yes the Sunday Ticket package is now officially a ripoff. How can you justify charging ANOTHER $100 bucks for games in HD when your customers already pay an “HD access fee” of $10 per month? Oh because it is the NFL, and Direct TV knows that people will pay just about anything when it comes to watching their favorite team. Thanks a lot Direct TV (and NFL by extension), you officially hold people hostage with your greed.
I totally agree with everything said here, but you all need to realize something… the NFL and DIRECTV don’t give a darn about you, it’s all about the money. The top EXEC’s at DIRECTV and the NFL really enjoy licking each others but-holes over all the cashola they are making off of us, the long term DIRECTV subscribers! We all need to learn how to play the game? OR cancel your service and tell them to lick your but-hole… you know how much they would enjoy it, those greedy but-hole licking SOB’s!!!
i just want to have the new nfl red zone . and i found out i need to purchase the ticket and get the super fan package $ 400.00 for one channel I dont watch 3-4 games in a day. Nor do I want to monitor 8 games at once. And, I don’t play fantasy football, so all those stats they throw at me mean nothing. I’m a fan of a single team . I just want to spend 2-3 hours watching how other teams won there game finishing off the beer
I had NFL Sunday Ticket a couple years ago and it included HD. I get it again this year thinking the same thing but was suprised to find no HD. I did a search on google because I didn’t want to spend all day on hold and find that you have to have SuperFan ($100) to get HD. Like all the rest have said…BS! Cancelling…no more for me. Ticks me off enough to leave DirecTV for good. Both NFL and DirecTV are Greedy Greedy Greedy!
IT MAKES SENSE TO UNDERSTAND THAT THE FANS ARE ALSO HELPING TO DRIVE UP THE PRICE…THEY KEEP BUYING IT. TOO MANY TIMES I HAVE HEARD, “SUPPLYAND DEMAND”, THE PRICE HAS CONTINUED TO INCREASE AND CONTINUED TO BE PURCHASED.
THEY ARE BOTH EXTREMELY GREEDY, AN INDIVIDUAL COULD OWN ANY OFFICE IN AMERICA WITH A DEEP POCKET OF MONEY, THEY GO OUT OF THEIR WAY TO STICK THEIR HANDS DEEP IN YOUR POCKETS, BUT BEFORE IT WILL SUBSIDE OR GO DOWN THERE HAS TO BE A REASON. IF YOU STOP BUYING THEY WILL BE FORCED TO OFFER AT LEAST A BETTER DEAL TO ATTEMPT TO GET YOU BUYING AGAIN.
THAT WILL NOT HAPPEN DUE TO THE FANS THAT WILL CONTINUE TO BUY IT, OR HAVE THAT FRIEND THAT CAN HOOK THEM UP AND YOU PAY THE COST IN THE END, “HIGHER PRICE”.
WELL, DON’T JUST SAY IT, DO IT…I DID AND LOVE IT THAT I AM CALLED EVERY THIRD DAY TO SIGN UP AGAIN, THEY WILL GIVE ME THIS OR THAT, WHAT WILL IT TAKE.
MY IDEA OF WHAT IT WOULD TAKE WAS NOT PART OF WHAT THEY WANTED TO PUT ON THE TABLE, ILLEGAL IN PUBLIC AS IT IS. (HOLD OUT)
I don’t play fantasy football, so all those stats they throw at me mean nothing. I’m a fan of a single team . I just want to spend 2-3 hours watching how other teams won there game finishing off the beer
I think the easy answer to the question as to whether DirectTV has overpriced the Sunday ticket is this: YES!!!!!! I paid for it once again in 2009, but for the 2010 season I am going to have to see a price drop on Sunday Ticket or there is no way I will once again subscribe.
I am currently a Directv customer, but I’m about to switch to Dish Network because I want the NFL Redzone channel. I had the Redzone Channel last year with Directv and it was awesome, but I’d rather pay $5.99 a month for the sports package with Dish, than $400 for NFL Sunday Ticket and Superfan; both of which are needed in order to get the Redzone Channel.
http://www.petitionspot.com/petitions/getNFLback Would you reward a kid for stealing from your purse? Of course you wouldn’t.Then why is the NFL rewarding Directv with exclussive rights? They lie , cheat , and steal.They charge you to lease their equipment , then charge you upto $5.99 to protect it against repairs.They will also make unauthorized charges to your credit/debit card.This is 100% accurate , google directv complainsts , it will blow your mind , they had over 20,000 complaints in 3 years , thats a BBB record.They have 3 lawsuits pending , in California , Washington , and Oregon.This does not include the silent suits.My goal is to get congress to open the NFL Sunday Ticket to cable companies , And all Satellite companies , At the top there is a Petition , my goal is to get 10,000 signatures then I’m sending the petition to congress.America needs competition , what if there was only 1 electrc company , gas company , Or auto maker?You Get the point , Thanks for your support! Earl David Evans
I cannot justify sunday ticket anymore. especially with the way these players and owners are posturing over the billions of dollars they rake in every year. Now they are threatening to strike or lockout for the 2011 season! What a joke. I know directtv plays a part in enriching both sides so I think its high time to stop contributing to this mess
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