What's wrong with DirecTV's ads?
By Matt Burns 
posted Mar 26th 2007 4:58PM
posted Mar 26th 2007 4:58PM
Advertising is a tough beast to master and apparently DirecTV doesn't get it. According to a new survey posted by USA Today, people don't like DirecTV's TV spots. You know, the ones with Jessica Simpson from Dukes of Hazard and William Shatner from his Trekkie days. We're just thinking that the poll didn't target DirecTV's ideal male market of 35-55 middle class guys. What woman would like to see Miss Simpson in a tight tee shirt talking about 1080i but how many guys would? Same goes for Captain Kirk. We have a tip for the satellite provider - get us those HD stations you promised for this year including Sci-Fi & FX and you won't need a hot chick sell you stuff.
They(DirecTV) have been promising for so long and have yet to deliver any extra HD stations.
Cable & Dish now have more. It's crazy.
It's a bit hard to add channels that don't exist yet... Sci Fi & FX HD.
As for the others, besides the Voom stations which are exclusive to Dish there's not much else to add.
That's why I don't have HD yet! I'm not paying the premium for the channels if I'm not getting that many channels! Frankly, it's all got me ticked off that I switched from Dish to DirecTV. Friends can have such an influence with the whole NFL ticket package. Damn the madness!
DirecTV's idea of HD is pathetic. I get for free an off the air digital signal that is HD. DirecTV is like Monster Cable and Bose. They use great marketing to ignorant types to sell below average quality in so called HD.
People don't like the spots because they're full of empty promises and broken dreams. As a D* HD subscriber, I can attest to the lengths DirecTV will go through to attract new subscribers. I'm not so sure that lying isn't on their list of suggestions.
That said, overall I'm pleased with D*, and the new HD-DVR is outstanding. I'm getting the full service, HD package, DVR and all for $50/month (I get $20/mo off - $10 for switching from cable, and $10 b/c I had a problem with the HR-20). Just wish they'd add more HD channels for the $9.99 premium.
I work in a retail electronics environment and I think the impact of the ads is interesting - they aren't effective for DirecTV, but they have done more to spread the "1080" message than any other source. In other words, they help sell higher end, 1080p TVs!
I agree with the rest of you who are angry about DirecTV and their promises.
If there is anyone from DirecTV reading, here is an idea: Spend your money on actually doing the things you promise rather than taking out ads to lie to us about your intentions. Your credibility is shot.