[vanity] I instructed DirecTV to remove Al Jazeera or cancel my account

http://www.directv.com ^ | 9/17/2-13 | blueflag

[Blueflag]

during last night's NFL game, Directv ran an ad promoting the new Al Jazeera channel in their line up.

No WAY.

I just sent them an email giving them two options ---

Block/remove it, or cancel my account.

Not going to come into our house.

[Orangedog]

Doesn’t matter if you or direct tv block it from coming into your home. You still put money in al jazeer’s pocket every time you pay your bill. I hear lots of chest thumping around here about how all that filth on the cable and satellite channels is killing the country. It’s just a bunch of posturing and theatrics. But they keep paying that bill every month. When it comes down to it, your sports, your fake reality tee vee, your “oh my goodness I’m glad you reminded me the US won WWII !” history channel and your bread and circuses are more important.

[Buckeye McFrog]

But Beck is all for homosexual so called marriage.

"Do you two boys take these four boys to be your seven brides?"

Okay, gotta go to Confession now for that unwarranted bit of humor at the expense of our Mormon friends.

[ShadowAce]

I honestly don’t know about the Roku 3. I have an older Rolu2, which does not let you DVR. But you really don’t need to. It plays static content over the net or from your own computer.

[Undecided 2012]

Funny thing, my 27 yr old daughter who works at the sheriff’s office, they were discussing Duck Dynasty. She said I never heard of them. Then said, “no I don’t have cable. They said what? She said, “I’ve never had cable.”
I knew years and years ago when MTV first came out that that crap wouldn’t be in my house and it never has.

[kitkat]

I agree. I haven’t watched TV in over twenty years and I don’t miss it at all. Ahhh, RELIEF.

And money in the bank.

[Cyber Liberty]

Cancel it. It’s the only way to meet your demand because they are not pulling it until the original “Current TV” contract expires.

Otherwise, ignore it.

[hoosierham]

It costs very little for free over the air TV.

You can do it with an old $10 32” CRT set, a converter box for another $10 (both from the thrift store) and an antenna suitable for your area.

Or go deluxe with a $200 lcd 32” set and an antenna.

It seems people have become convinced an antenna is too much trouble,too “unsightly” or something and that it is better to pay $100 a month than $100 one time.

You DON’T have to spend a $100 a month just to watch the main networks.You do pay if you have to have all those special channels.

You can get many historical and other DVDs from your local library unless you are really isolated.

I’ve never subscribed to or had cable or satellite TV and have “deprived” the media of thousands of my hard-earned $$$$!!

[Blueflag]

DirecTV responded right away. Pasted in response below.

Note well that Al Jazeera TV is Current TV RE-BRANDED! Didn’t know that.

---

Thank you for writing about your request to block Al Jazeera from your guide. I see that you’ve been with us for many years and I just want to let you know that we appreciate your business.

While we are unable to remove the channel from your channel lineup, we have made it easy for you to block any programming you consider inappropriate . Our powerful Parental Controls feature, available with every DIRECTV receiver, lets you restrict unsupervised TV viewing based on rating, block specific channels, limit viewing times, and set spending limits for DIRECTV CINEMA™ movies or live Pay Per View events. Just follow these steps:

- Press INFO on your remote control
- Select MORE INFO
- Select PARENTAL INFO

If you select LOCK NOW, you will be asked for a personal identification number (PIN) If you want to watch a restricted channel or program, just enter your PIN when requested. For more information on your receiver’s Parental Controls feature, see your owner’s manual.

Please know that Al Jazeera America is not a new channel, but rather a rebranding of Current TV, a channel DIRECTV already carried. Since Al Jazeera assumed Current TV’s contracts with providers like DIRECTV, there were no new negotiations or contracts signed to carry the channel. By carrying Al Jazeera America under an existing contract, we’re just maintaining our current channel offering.

We respect your time and I appreciate the opportunity to personally assist you.

Sincerely,

Viola S. - 100407807
DIRECTV Customer Service

[fwdude]

But what about all the Al Libeera TV that you’re getting as well?

[A CA Guy]

Seems a reasonable fix since they can't immediately remove them until contract renewal time.

[sickoflibs]

Too much work to do the parental code thing.

I just dont include it in my favorites online guide.

Like with all those Spanish only channels.

[GeronL]

You will still be paying for it, sending AL Jazeera money every month

[nascarnation]

Agree with your comment. At least with All Jazz you know what you’re getting.

[Skooz]

I just dropped DirecTV last month. I had it for about 15 years. I enjoyed it, but I don’t miss it a bit.

[Sans-Culotte]

Not sure how Direct TV works, but with DISH, I can set up several programming grids that only show the channels I watch. I have one for my wife and one for myself. The channels not on our grids essentially do not exist for us.

[AKinAK]

GREAT idea that should be publicized elsewhere also !