Sunday Ticket: cool but strange letter....

[OpIv37]

So I got my first mailing regarding my Sunday Ticket renewal yesterday.

They sent me a complete NFL schedule. But the odd thing: It had a Bills logo on the address label, it had Losman on the cover of the schedule, and the form letter they sent with it had a Bills logo and mentioned Lynch, Schobel and Jauron by name.

Obviously they personalized it by team. The strange part: how the hell does DirecTV know I root for the Bills? I live in the suburbs of DC (hence the need for Sunday Ticket to watch the games) so if they had done it by zip code I would have been in Redskins or Ravens territory. I don't recall how or why DirecTV would have that information.

Oh well, what's that cliche about looking a gift horse in the mouth?

[mayotm]

I'm sure they are able to track the games you've watched in the past.

[OpIv37]

how though? A cable signal is two way but the satellite is download only- there is no uplink capability from a mini dish.

[Skooby]

Notes my friend, notes. Any personal information is collected and used to market crap to us. I got the same letter and thought to myself damn, I'm in SW FL and they know me, lol.

[Mr. Miyagi]

Big Brother is watching, Op. Be afraid.

[BlackMetalNinja]

You sure there wasn't one of those "Whose your favorite team" questions on something you filled out for them at some point in time?

[DraftBoy]

Im sure there is a way to track what you download through their service

[OpIv37]

You sure there wasn't one of those "Whose your favorite team" questions on something you filled out for them at some point in time?

it's possible, but this is my 4th full season with the Ticket and 5th year total, so it has been on automatic renewal- I haven't sent them anything in nearly 5 years, and this is the first time I got anything team-specific.

[Philagape]

The Patriot Act

[Skooby]

The Patriot Act

NE?:scratch:

[BAM]

You should not have enabled your cookies!

[PIZ]

I remember when I signed up years ago they asked me who "my team was" and I said the Bills. I too received the same specialized letter. I assumed they got it from the question they asked me years ago.

[FlyingDutchman]

The government knows EVERYTHING

[carybillsfan]

There is no way to track what each receiver is watching, they can only track what feeds are being connect to the most. The way they know this, since I got on also, is in your profile you chose favorite teams. My profile lists the Sabres, Bills and Mets. One Night I was talking to CSR for over 50min about the Sabres, he said he got the info from my profile and what I supplied them.

[Gunzlingr]

The phone line that goes into the receiver tracks all that stuff. When my buddy hacks them, the first thing he does is unhook it from the phone jack so they can't tell what you are watching.

[gggbills]

I remember when I signed up years ago they asked me who "my team was" and I said the Bills. I too received the same specialized letter. I assumed they got it from the question they asked me years ago.

I think your right, I think I got asked that question as well. I live in So. Cal. and should be receiving my letter very soon. I'll bet it will be specialized as well....it better be!!!

[chernobylwraiths]

I canceled my Sunday ticket. It was real nice, but not worth the money at this time.

[LtFinFan66]

Maybe I will have a Dolphin logo letter waiting for me in September:idunno:

[chubluv]

is the NFL ticket worth the money if I'm only going to be able to watch mostly the 4 o'clock games with the occasional 1 o'clock game?

[LtFinFan66]

I don't even recall getting a letter last year. I called to order it again and they said it was already on my account. Before I knew they keep renewing it unless you cancel

[OpIv37]

is the NFL ticket worth the money if I'm only going to be able to watch mostly the 4 o'clock games with the occasional 1 o'clock game?

That depends how big of a fan you are. If you like the game at all, it's great because you're not stuck watching whatever crappy game they decide to show at 4. I find the local games are rarely the most interesting one.

[NorthCarBills]

I'm jealous (LOL)...I've been a DTV Sunday Ticket subscriber since 99, and didnt get that personalized version you're talking about.

Well, at least I still get the obligatory NFL Shop catalog once a year with the Bills as the main team.

[RedEyE]

Each receiver has an identification number and since the NFL is basically a Pay-Per-View service, they have to force an encryption code into your receiver in order to view it. Each game has a identifier or what is better known as a PID. In other words the Bills games all have a specific identifier and the DirecTV encryption department will have a complete log of all the games YOUR receiver has been locked onto. They probably noted that 90% of the games you watched were Bills related, whether home or away. inject careful monitoring with a bit of some smart marketing and voila...instant personalized mail.

[DynaPaul]

I think I remember choosing the Bills as my favorite team on the Sunday Ticket signup form.

[djjimkelly]

OP more importantly did it say anything about EVERY GAME BEING IN HD FROM NOW ON? or is CBS still cheap bastards and only do 3-4 games in HD a week

[JJamezz]

OP more importantly did it say anything about EVERY GAME BEING IN HD FROM NOW ON? or is CBS still cheap bastards and only do 3-4 games in HD a week

No... there are MORE HD games this year, but nowhere close to all of them. I think CBS bought another (or two) HD rig for this season.

I read an article all about this, but I don't remember the specifics - I think it was something like 2010 before CBS would be full HD for its NFL games. I guess then DTV can jack up the price of the 'Super Fan' package another $100.. win win all around.. :rolleyes:

But for as much as a ripoff as it is, its hard to imagine not having it.

[!Papacrunk!]

100% on the "who's your favorite team" part when you signed up for NFL Sunday Ticket. I've had the Ticket for a long time now, and they had that question a very long time ago during the process

[BADTHINGSMAN]

The phone line that goes into the receiver tracks all that stuff. When my buddy hacks them, the first thing he does is unhook it from the phone jack so they can't tell what you are watching.


:up: When I had Direct TV I always had it unplugged unless it was needed..

[Tatonka]

You sure there wasn't one of those "Whose your favorite team" questions on something you filled out for them at some point in time?

there is.. i remember filling it out years ago.

[OpIv37]

maybe I filled it out and just forgot- seems weird that after 4 1/2 seasons with the ticket, this is the first time they decided to do anything with it.

Side note: **** CBS and their pathetic HD offerings.