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DirecTV spamming my guide


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DirecTV spamming my guide
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digitalAngel
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Join Date: Sep 2004
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2006-09-24, 18:47

i recently wrote DirecTV an email about problems i have experienced with my channel list settings. recently, DirecTV updated the software on my receiver and i had to reset all my favorite channels.. i check the channels i wish to be viewable in my guide, but when i flip through my guide, a couple of channels show up that i had set to not show up. these channels are the INFO and GEMS channel which are both infomercial channels and sometimes i would see paid programming channels in my guide. i go through my settings again and uncheck these channels but every day they show up again.. grrr!

i tell DirecTV that i feel this is sorta like spam because these channels sell stuff and i don't want to be forced to see it in my guide.

this is the response i receive from DirecTV:

Quote:
Response (Smyrna B) 09/23/2006 08:55 PM
I'm sorry for any inconvenience this issue may have caused you. As you are aware, channels that you have not personally selected do occasionally appear on your personalized channel lists. These channels display special programming, such as sporting or Freeview events, during the time the event is being broadcast, but they don't have any programming on them after the end of the event. Your DIRECTV system adds these channels so that you and other customers can know about an event that you otherwise might have missed.

With the current technology, we can't block individual customers from receiving these channel additions. Fortunately, these additions are temporary and will disappear from your programming lineup once the event ends. If you don't want to wait for the channel to disappear automatically, you can manually remove it by using the Locks and Limits feature located on your system menu while it is broadcasting. You'll find more information on Locks and Limits features at DIRECTV.com/Locks or in your owner's manual. Copies of most owners' manuals are available on our web site at DIRECTV.com/manuals for your convenience.

Thanks again for writing and stay tuned to DIRECTV.com for the latest news and information about our services.

Sincerely,

Smyrna
DIRECTV Customer Service
lame!!! i was NOT aware they did this. DirecTV spams me in my personalized channel list!

i Believe, that if life gives you lemons, you should make lemonade.
And try to find somebody who's life gives them vodka, and have a party!
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Enki
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Join Date: Nov 2004
 
2006-09-24, 21:27

That's some serious whining.
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alcimedes
I shot the sherrif.
 
Join Date: May 2004
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2006-09-24, 23:07

Ok, maybe it's just me but I would find it really damn annoying to continually remove some stupid channel only to have it show up again and again. It's like a telemarketer that just keeps calling. Obnoxious.

Google is your frenemy.
Caveat Emptor - Latin for tough titty
I tend to interpret things in the way that's most hilarious to me
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Majost
monkey with a tiny cymbal
 
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Lost
 
2006-09-24, 23:21

Yeah, I had DirecTV for a while. It really grated against my nerves, too. Especially when the channels they added were porn and the like. Seriously.
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T-Man
The Hoarding Packrat™
 
Join Date: Oct 2005
 
2006-09-25, 05:34

Once a channel is deselected, the software should take the channel away from ever showing again.... But that seems to realistic.

Guess we're not updating our reciver.
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digitalAngel
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2006-09-25, 14:22

Quote:
Originally Posted by Enki View Post
That's some serious whining.
i didn't mean to sound like i was whining.. ok, maybe a little.

the thread was more to tell people my experience with DirecTV and how those basterds put restrictions on me personalizing my channel list. i wouldn't care if it was "special programming" i was interested in, but the fact that it is channels that sell stuff or i have to get a subscription to see is kinda lame.

Quote:
Originally Posted by alcimedes View Post
Ok, maybe it's just me but I would find it really damn annoying to continually remove some stupid channel only to have it show up again and again. It's like a telemarketer that just keeps calling. Obnoxious.
my feelings exactly!

i Believe, that if life gives you lemons, you should make lemonade.
And try to find somebody who's life gives them vodka, and have a party!

Last edited by digitalAngel : 2006-09-25 at 14:26. Reason: added second quote
  quote
Enki
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Nov 2004
 
2006-09-25, 16:28

Well I have had DTV for about 8 years now and I have yet to run into that same issue, but I am sure your channel list is far leaner than mine. I pretty much just have the non-english and sports package-only channels turned off.

I see this kind of issue as pretty inqonsequential compared to spam. Spam robs bandwidth and storage space, both of which we pay for explicitly. A channel popping back onto a list once in awhile does not cost any more than the extra couple tenths of a second it takes to hit chan up/down again.

And I ALWAYS get a chuckle as I surf past the Knife channel! How can anyone sell knives 24/7/365???
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digitalAngel
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2006-09-27, 00:37

just a quick note:

last weekend i locked the channels that keep popping up as the customer service rep suggested, but the channels still show up in my guide even with parental controls on.

/me shakes fist at DirecTV

grrr! i wrote another message to DirecTV about it, not that it will do any good. my options are just ignore these infomercial/paid programming channels.. or get cable.

i Believe, that if life gives you lemons, you should make lemonade.
And try to find somebody who's life gives them vodka, and have a party!
  quote
Luca
ಠ_ರೃ
 
Join Date: May 2004
Location: Minnesota
 
2006-09-27, 00:50

Say that you're a parent who has had an unfortunate experience with your child buying stuff from the TV and that you need to ensure that you can block the shopping channels at all times. Threaten to cancel your service. It doesn't matter how much shit you make up. You pay them, it's time for them to serve you.
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digitalAngel
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2006-09-28, 00:35

Quote:
Originally Posted by Luca View Post
Say that you're a parent who has had an unfortunate experience with your child buying stuff from the TV and that you need to ensure that you can block the shopping channels at all times. Threaten to cancel your service. It doesn't matter how much shit you make up. You pay them, it's time for them to serve you.
i agree with you 100%

LOL.. i could bring up the 3yr old boy who bought a pink Nissan on eBay.
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