You have to wonder why they didn’t even issue a press release (that I can see) but it seems that DIRECTV has moved away from Sonic Tap as a provider of music channels to the more popular Music Choice. Interestingly, I only found out about it because I’m one of the people who reads the messages posted on my DVR.
This isn’t the first time DIRECTV has made a change. Back several years ago, they actually had XM as a music partner. Real, serious (and “Sirius”) XM radio the same as you get in virtually every car radio for the first six months until they ask you to pay for it. At some point that became too expensive and they switched to Sonic Tap. People were pretty incensed at the time, and by people I mean the people who go to enthusiast forums. But, over time people came to embrace Sonic Tap and now that the change to Music Choice has happened, people are complaining it’s not as good as Sonic Tap.
The music channels are still in the 800s by the way, and they’ve tried to align the new channels to be in the same slots as the old channels, where they can. Here I think they could have done a little better job, but it’s ok. It’s easy enough to find the channels you’re looking for.
One thing you don’t get, at least for now, is the awful stretch-o-vision blocky graphic interface found on Music Choice on most cable boxes. It’s hideous to look at, I’m sure you’d agree. You get more or less the same thing you got before with Sonic Tap, which is a simple display of Title, Artist and Album.
Personally, I’ve listened to Music Choice enough times at friends’ houses to know that it’s not all that different. I find on the channels I listened to that the song selection was a little more eclectic than on Sonic Tap, and sometimes that’s good. Sometimes you discover a little-known gem. On the other hand if you’re looking for comfort-food listening you might not get as many favorites as you used to.
But then again, you can always go to Pandora which is built into every DIRECTV DVR. If you’re in business you probably aren’t too picky about your channels as long as they’re unobjectionable, so the move isn’t likely to make you too upset.
When you have a few minutes, check out Music Choice on DIRECTV. I’d love to hear your comments here.
If you go to the Music Choice website you’ll see that DIRECTV has yet to be added to their providers list. I was told by a reliable source that can take several weeks to go into effect. One would think that would have been worked out when they were in contract negotiation.
I was wondering the same.
I just wish they would put all of the audio channels on the 101, theres a few missing ones that you need 119 for.
BTW, are there any local channels left in the 900’s? I’ve always thought they should move the music channels to the 900’s and expand the sports packages into the 800’s to give them more room.
Changing the channel numbers won’t give them any more satellite capacity.
When I first got DirecTV in the mid ’90s, Music Choice was the audio channels offered.
I didn’t listen to them as much once they switched to XM, and then to Sonic Tap.
I’ve had dtv for 15 years and I loved that the had an 40’s,50’s,&60’s channel. I still like they have big band, but I don’t like that they changed the oldies to malt shop favorites only because they play 60’s on it. It was awesome to have the choice. I personally liked the 50’s only and now it’s changed. Why did they change it? Don’t like it at all. They still have a 60’s channel, and now it’s called the 60’s movement. Stupid and it SUCKS. I get that it’s a different provider I personally don’t like it. Keep it 40s,50s&60s ONLY
I am having a huge problem with Music Choice. Under SonicTap there was a channel called Classic Workout. It was the perfect combination of music. Music Choice has Retro Workout. The first time I turned it on a couple of weeks ago it was repeating about every four hours. This week I have listened at the same time every day for four days and it was the EXACT same songs. I called Directv and was told that Music Choice was having technical issues and they didn’t know when it would be fixed. Does anyone know if the other channels are having this issue?
I don’t remember the name of the channel, but it was #849. I can’t find a similar channel now that they have switched services. I already hated satellite and this just makes me pray for the day I might be able to get cable.
I don’t remember the name of the channel, but it was #849. I can’t find a similar channel now that they have switched services. I already hated satellite and this just makes me pray for the day I might be able to get cable.
It broke my system. Locked up on a white screen. Channel guide shows up but no channel or recording will play.
Try resetting then resetting again as soon as you get to live tv.
Soft reset doesn’t work. Have to kill power to the server and wait forever for the green light to quit flashing. Tried it twice and both times it locks up when I choose a channel based on a particular artist. I upgraded to the 4K module a month or so ago, but I think it was a mistake. It’s actually slower, less reponsive to pause and rewind commands, glitchy and for all that, not enough 4K content to really justify it. I can play direct from the channels fine, but the “app” totally sucks. Just a bandwidth hog that won’t buffer. Half of the crap DirectTV “supports” can’t be used because satellite internet is the only choice here and it totally sucks. So I have to pay through the nose for a bunch of unusable content just to get any DVR service at all. AT&T pulled DSL service, but won’t upgrade the area. NewWave fiber sends spam mail offers to my entire zip code but isn’t actually available in my area. I’m thinking of mailing them my used cat litter. They keep sending me their shit, so maybe I’ll send them mine.