TKJunkMail
Enjoy the sun
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join:2002-03-03
Avalon, NJ
 ·Sprint Mobile Broa..
 ·Comcast
1 edit | reply to Zoder
Re: All part of moving to all digital; no stopping it
said by Zoder  :Just because they move to all digital doesn't mean they have to take it out of the expanded basic tier. That's what the DCT-700s are for You are right, but they also want people to move off of basic cable where they don't make any money and into the expanded tiers where they do. So they will tie one plan with the other.
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ddurant
join:2001-08-24
Marlborough, MA
| said by TKJunkMail :...they also want people to move off of basic cable where they don't make any money... LOL.. That's pretty funny.. Not making money.. Heh.. |
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TKJunkMail
Enjoy the sun
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join:2002-03-03
Avalon, NJ
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·Comcast
| said by ddurant :said by TKJunkMail :...they also want people to move off of basic cable where they don't make any money... LOL.. That's pretty funny.. Not making money.. Heh.. They don't make money if the customer only has basic. The basic only rates are regulated in most of Comcast's footprint and average about $10/customer. No company with the infrastructure costs that cable has can make a profit on a $10/mo customer.
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Combat Chuck
Too Many Cannibals
Premium
join:2001-11-29
Erie, PA
| reply to TKJunkMail
Re: All part of moving to all digital; no stopping
said by TKJunkMail :You are right, but they also want people to move off of basic cable where they don't make any money and into the expanded tiers where they do. So they will tie one plan with the other. Just a little perspective; I don't think I've ever seen TBS (nor Discovery since around the time they existed as the History Channel, Tech TV, and Animal Planet all rolled into one) in any cable basic tier.
The "Upgrade" letter was a dumb idea.
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TKJunkMail
Enjoy the sun
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join:2002-03-03
Avalon, NJ
·Sprint Mobile Broa..
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| said by Combat Chuck :The "Upgrade" letter was a dumb idea. No doubt about that. They should have just sent out a letter with the monthly bill saying channel changes are being made. Calling it an upgrade was probably the idea of some idiot marketing type who should be promptly fired.
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SRFireside
join:2001-01-19
Houston, TX
| reply to Combat Chuck
said by Combat Chuck :Just a little perspective; I don't think I've ever seen TBS (nor Discovery since around the time they existed as the History Channel, Tech TV, and Animal Planet all rolled into one) in any cable basic tier. The "Upgrade" letter was a dumb idea. Actually I have TBS, Discovery Channel, History Channel, Disney Channel, Animal Planet, AMC, Sci-Fi Channel and others. All on basic cable over here. I consider it a bit restrictive on the cable operator's part to restrict certain popular channels to just digital cable when they have been previously offered without it. |
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floydb_1982
join:2004-08-25
Kent, WA
·Clearwire Wireless
·Comcast
|  reply to TKJunkMail
Maybe so but read this
THis is what a comcast tech support person was able to tell me;
Comcast has made changes to channel line-ups to comply with our agreements with certain networks, to enhance the signal quality of these channels. We believe that Digital Cable is undoubtedly the future and it's capabilities will allow us to better serve our customers with reliable, diverse and exciting programming (particularly through the expansion of ON DEMAND and HDTV) to keep you in touch with what matters most to you. But we do not forsee doing away with our analog service. |
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ctceo
Premium
join:2001-04-26
South Bend, IN
clubs: | reply to TKJunkMail
Re: All part of moving to all digital; no stopping it
Basic costs $29-39 in this area. |
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TKJunkMail
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Avalon, NJ
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3 edits | said by ctceo :Basic costs $29-39 in this area. That is high. It is $9.38/mo in my area for these channels:
2 Local/Community Access
3 KYW 3 (CBS, Phila.)*
4 WNJS 23 (PBS)
5 WTXF 29 (FOX, Phila.)
6 WPVI 6 (ABC, Phila)*
7 WPHL 17 (WB, Phila.)*
8 CN8
9 WYBE 35
10 WCAU-10 (NBC, Phila.)*
11 QVC
12 WHYY 12 (PBS, Phila.)*
13 Local/Community Access
15 WMCN TV
16 WUVP 65 (Univision)
18 WGTW 48
19 C-SPAN 2
20 WPPX 61 (PAX)
21 INSP
22 C-SPAN
23 WPSG 57 (UPN, Phila.)*
24 WWSI 62 (Telemundo)
27 Animal Planet
78 Leased Access
95 EWTN
98 WTVE 51
245 WPVI-DT News Plus**
246 WPVI-DT Weather**
P.S> If you want to get the channels with 2 ** and the six additional not shown above free network HDTV channels(networks are marked with 1 *), you need a digital converter for about $5/mo. That would make it $14.38 all together.
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ctceo
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join:2001-04-26
South Bend, IN
clubs:
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| Yeah, I know. It's been like that for a few years now, if you want expanded basic you have to get the digital box, and that instantly jumps your bill from the $29-39 up to like $59, If you want the full digital package they have that's like another $30 for a total of $89, and if you get Broadband in your area yet another $49 for a total of $138 a month, and that's for 1 box, not including setup fees, installer charges, and taxes...
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Titus Pullo
I came, I saw, I slept
join:2004-06-26
·Embarq
| reply to TKJunkMail
Re: All part of moving to all digital; no stopping
I'm not sure everyone is on the same page here re the service levels. There's Basic and then there's the minimum service that cable companies have to provide but never advertise. I'm sure the most basic of basic differs from company to company, but you will not get discounted Internet service with this 'secret' tier, and the two channels that Comcast dropped are never part of the bare bones basic I'm talking about (usually less than a dozen channels).
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ArchAngel21x
MacFan Pro
Premium
join:2001-10-28
Lincoln, NE | reply to TKJunkMail
Seems like a lot of dumb decisions come from the marketing dept no matter which company it is. |
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Combat Chuck
Too Many Cannibals
Premium
join:2001-11-29
Erie, PA
2 edits | reply to SRFireside
said by SRFireside :Actually I have TBS, Discovery Channel, History Channel, Disney Channel, Animal Planet, AMC, Sci-Fi Channel and others. All on basic cable over here. I consider it a bit restrictive on the cable operator's part to restrict certain popular channels to just digital cable when they have been previously offered without it. That's not basic, that's expanded basic (now it seems they call it standard), per time warner's site basic in the Houston area is $15.50/month.
Unless you use the phrase "no, no, I want basic basic service" they sign you up for expanded basic. Buying basic service is like trying to buy a new car without the overpriced floor-mats and a stereo system; you can do it, but you have to go into the deal knowing that theres a level below standard and then you have to fight them for it.
Basic usually consists of the locals, a couple c-spans, the weather channel, shopping channels, local access, and usually a religious channel.
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fiberguy
My views are my own.
Premium
join:2005-05-20
| reply to ctceo
Re: All part of moving to all digital; no stopping it
said by ctceo :Yeah, I know. It's been like that for a few years now, if you want expanded basic you have to get the digital box, and that instantly jumps your bill from the $29-39 up to like $59, If you want the full digital package they have that's like another $30 for a total of $89, and if you get Broadband in your area yet another $49 for a total of $138 a month, and that's for 1 box, not including setup fees, installer charges, and taxes... If you are going to whine about prices, then at least get it correct. Digital classic is $9.99 above your basic rates and digital plus is $5.00 more for a total of $14.99 and that's pretty much a nationwide price point.
Let's break down YOUR area shall we?
Basic Tier: $13.50
Standard Tier: $31.49
Total Analog : 44.99
Digital Classic: $9.99
Digital Plus: $5.00
Total Full Digit: $14.99
Full Basic + Full Digital: $59.98
Highspeed Internet w/cable: $42.95 a month
Optional modem rental: $3.00
*Even get a special for $19.99 for 6 months with free install.. see below on fees.
Box rental + remote fee for extra tv: $4.95
HDTV Box rental: $5.00 includes all HDTV channels in the tier you subscribe to. Box alone includes HTDV locals, music, guide, and PPV access.
DVR: $9.99
Just threw in the extra prices for reference in case you wanted to make incorrect gripes about them too.
Most of the times, they don't charge you any fees as they offer you a special intro to start service. The intro package is usually along the same costs of basic cable and gives you several pay channels and includes a no install fee. But again, sounds better when you say "setup fees and installer fees"... you're just stretching things here a bit.
Taxes? Can't blame the company, blame Uncle Sam so we'll move right along.
Bottom line? Digital Plus + 6MB CHSI = $102.93 + tax. That's a far spread from your take.
You can get this alot less if you want.. buy less service. I am about to take an unpopular stance here but no one in life said that the cost had to be affordable to everyone. We live in a country where some people can afford more service than others. It's a hard fact of life. However our governemnt makes sure that people can afford TV and at $13.50 I think they suceeded and there is always dial up. So if the high costs are getting to you, you do have options.
Again, if you are going to make a point, please do your homework first. You also live in the Midwest system and the rates here are pretty nice and they are to the point as compared to, say, the east coast systems.
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reub2000
Premium
join:2001-12-28
Evanston, IL | Re: All part of moving to all digital; no stopping
A lot of what looks like taxes are actually what's known as "unfees" around here. |
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netmasta
join:2004-06-06
Randolph, MA
| reply to Combat Chuck
quote:
Just a little perspective; I don't think I've ever seen TBS (nor Discovery since around the time they existed as the History Channel, Tech TV, and Animal Planet all rolled into one) in any cable basic tier.
The "Upgrade" letter was a dumb idea.
In my area we have Discovery History and Animal Planet on Expanded basic. History channel joind about a year or so ago. |
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netmasta
join:2004-06-06
Randolph, MA
| reply to fiberguy
said by fiberguy :said by ctceo :Let's break down YOUR area shall we? Basic Tier: $13.50 Standard Tier: $31.49 Total Analog : 44.99 Digital Classic: $9.99 Digital Plus: $5.00 Total Full Digit: $14.99 Full Basic + Full Digital: $59.98 Are you serious about those digital cable prices? MA prices: Digital Platinum 5 ON DEMAND, Onscreen Guide $100.82 Digital Gold with HBO - Special Offer 2 ON DEMAND, Onscreen Guide $88.82 Digital Silver with HBO - Special Offer 1 ON DEMAND, Onscreen Guide $78.82 Digital Plus - 1st Month Free! N/A ON DEMAND, Onscreen Guide $64.82 Digital Classic N/A ON DEMAND, Onscreen Guide $59.82 Digital Cable Dish Win-Back N/A ON DEMAND, Onscreen Guide $64.82 Basic Package(s) Premium Channels Other Features Monthly Price Standard Cable N/A Popular Cable Channels $48.82 Basic Cable N/A Great Local Channels $8.25 Add 6Mb HSI would be about $200 per month! |
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SRFireside
join:2001-01-19
Houston, TX
| reply to Combat Chuck
That's what we're talking about. Expanded basic. Basic basic is pretty much local channels only so there really is no point to even consider that a part of the topic (considering the channels in question were likely not taken out of bare bones basic cable). |
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en102
Canadian, eh?
join:2001-01-26
Valencia, CA
·RoadRunner Cable
·DSL EXTREME
| reply to TKJunkMail
You guys have it cheap.
'Basic' Commiecast cable here in California doesn't exist anymore 
On the website they list 'standard' cable. I called about 'Basic' cable, and its not offered here. This is the main reason I went satellite.
Standard Cable N/A Converter, Remote, PPV $50.45 |
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Combat Chuck
Too Many Cannibals
Premium
join:2001-11-29
Erie, PA
3 edits | reply to SRFireside
said by SRFireside :That's what we're talking about. Expanded basic. Basic basic is pretty much local channels only so there really is no point to even consider that a part of the topic (considering the channels in question were likely not taken out of bare bones basic cable). Perhaps you should read the article. They're moving the channels from basic ($10 something a month, sometimes called limited basic) to Standard (what you call basic, used to be called expanded basic).
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