After announcing rate increase for U-verse earlier in the week, AT&T (NYSE: T) has followed up with 2016 price bumps for its DirecTV satellite platform as well.
"Due to higher costs of programming, an adjustment in the price of our programming packages is necessary," reads a DirecTV announcement, which is eerily similar to one released for U-verse.
Under the increase plan, which takes effect Jan. 28, the monthly pre-tax price of DirecTV's "Select" and "Entertainment" programming tiers will go up by $2, to $51.99 and $61.99, respectively.
The "Choice" and "Xtra" bundles will increase $4 to $74.99 and $81.99, respectively; the "Ultimate" pack will go up $5 a month to $91.99; and the "Premier" bundle will grow by $8 to $144.99.
The so-called "TV fee" -- which covers technology costs, according to the operator, and is applied to all customers -- will go up by 50 cents a month to $6.50.
Premium-network add-ons and Spanish-language packages are also going up in price. Regional sports network fees will now be as high as $1.97 a month in some markets.
Rate hikes for DirecTV have become an almost annual occurrence, with the operator raising fees by as much as 6 percent last January.
"Every year, the owners of the television channels you watch demand higher prices," DirecTV said last year while messaging its customers about the rate increases.
For more:
- read this DirecTV post
- read this TV Predictions story
Related articles:
AT&T ups U-verse rates, blames high cost of video programming
AT&T to begin transitioning away from DirecTV brand starting in January, report says
AT&T's Stephens: U-verse customers pay $17 per month more for content vs. DirecTV