States mull DirecTV probe

By RAY RICHMOND

Satcaster DirecTV is being targeted in an investigation concerning possible consumer fraud by 20 state attorneys general responding to customer complaints about changes in the satellite provider's programming lineup.

Officials in the 20 states, including California, are pondering the fraud charges due to DirecTV's moving of the seven-channel Encore movie package off its Total Choice basic package in April. The service began charging $4 above the $29.95 monthly fee for the channels.

What irked the customers is that they had pre-paid for a year's worth of DirecTV programming, arguing that to later attach additional charges to a portion of the program package constituted fraud.

In DirecTV's defense, it did replace the seven removed channels with six acquisitions at no additional charge. Those were the TV Food Network, WGN, the Trinity Broadcasting Network, QVC, Animal Planet and Channel Earth. It also has added Romance Classics, CBS Eye on People, and as of today, the Game Show Network to its basic lineup.

A DirecTV spokesman said Wednesday that no charges had been filed against the service and maintained that the company had received only a handful of complaints concerning any of its programming changes this year.