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rds24a
Teach Your Children
Premium
join:2000-12-13
Springboro, OH
clubs:
 ·RoadRunner Cable
| Mo Money, Mo Money, Mo Money Issue 1: The DVR doesn't sweeten the deal here with TimeWarner. It costs extra.
Issue 2: Channels 2-75 are still analog to be backward-compatible with normal televisions.
Issue 3: TimeWarner advertises that digital is only a few bucks more than regular cable, but only in the fine print do they mention the extra charge for each converter box.
Issue 4: I have to use a converter box at all...that's annoying.
Issue 5: 250 of the 500 channels are pay-per-view. Plus, how many home shopping networks do I really need?
Issue 6: With my broadband internet connection, who has time for television?
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»www.brittanyrescue.org | |
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Karl Bode
News Guy
join:2000-03-02 | Re: Mo Money, Mo Money, Mo Money Yes, I agree...the fact that channels 2-75 are analog with TWC stinks. Having to switch your receiver when you hit the higher channels is lame.... | |
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Hall
Premium,MVM
join:2000-04-28
Dayton, OH
 ·EarthLink
·AT&T Midwest
·Earthlink Cable Mo..
| Re: Mo Money, Mo Money, Mo Money said by Karl Bode  :
Yes, I agree...the fact that channels 2-75 are analog with TWC stinks. Having to switch your receiver when you hit the higher channels is lame....
I don't understand exactly what you mean, but if you get channels above "75", using your example, you must already have a "box". So you're already using that box to view channels "2-75", right ??
What TW doesn't say is that customers who get their "Basic Plus" package, basically channels 2-75, is that it's not really digital. But ask 'em and they'll tell you it is. They spew "digital, digital, digital" all the time. Then again, that just goes back to the clueless people that work for them (not all of them, mind you).
Also, they raised the cost of ALL packages "because of the network upgrade to digital", but their two lowest tiers did NOT change, so why raise the cost ?? One, 'cause they can and two, 'cause they've mislead people.
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-= Mindspring MaxDSL via Covad 1536/384 TeleSurfer Pro =-
[text was edited by author 2003-06-17 11:42:38] | |
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Karl Bode
News Guy
join:2000-03-02
Host:
Road Runner
PC gaming GAMES
PC gaming Tech
| Re: Mo Money, Mo Money, Mo Money Talking about audio. The higher tier digital channels broadcast in 5.1....the lower tiers in stereo....
Yet the way the Scientific Atlanta Explorer is configured, it doesn't intelligently alert your receiver of the difference....
SO you need to manually switch the audio if say you WERE watching local news, and say switch to Starz to watch a film in 5.1.
Not a big deal, but combined with what I like to call "Sun F$#@" distortion, the quality leaves a little to be desired. | |
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sabersaw
Premium
join:2001-08-21
Dayton, OH | Re: Mo Money, Mo Money, Mo Money get a pioneer av tuner... it knows to select analog when digital is not available, then back to digital when channel 101 or higher is selected. Took me about 6 months to figure this out. | |
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Speedy8
Premium
join:2002-08-22
Alliance, OH
clubs: | Re: Mo Money, Mo Money, Mo Money Then you still have worse picture quality on the analog channels is the other problem. I got rid of my cable anyway, I'm much happier with directv and DSL. | |
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Nightfall
My Goal Is To Deny Yours
Premium,MVM
join:2001-08-03
Grand Rapids, MI
·AT&T Midwest
 ·Site5.com
·Comcast
| said by rds24a :
Issue 1: The DVR doesn't sweeten the deal here with TimeWarner. It costs extra.
Same with satellite providers. Their PVR isn't free. However, from people that I talk to, the PVR changes the way you watch TV. Sure, it costs a little more, but if you get your moneys worth out of it, then you are happy.
quote:
Issue 2: Channels 2-75 are still analog to be backward-compatible with normal televisions.
It would be nice if those lower channels were digital. However, that would kill analog cable. It will take time to get it to all digital.
quote:
Issue 3: TimeWarner advertises that digital is only a few bucks more than regular cable, but only in the fine print do they mention the extra charge for each converter box.
Satellite providers advertise $39.99 a month for 150 channels, but only in the fine print do they mention you have to buy all the equipment up front.
quote:
Issue 4: I have to use a converter box at all...that's annoying.
Same with satellite
quote:
Issue 5: 250 of the 500 channels are pay-per-view. Plus, how many home shopping networks do I really need?
Same with satellite
quote:
Issue 6: With my broadband internet connection, who has time for television?
I agree. I don't watch much TV to begin with. 
I wasn't going through each arguement to point out fallacies. Merely the point that Satellite and Cable TV have got similar issues. To have cable go all digital would really upset a lot of people who just want analog service. However, that is the direction this is all going. All digital format will eliminate cable theft from illegal converter boxes that descramble analog signals (at least till the next descrambler comes out).
It is definetly a difficult situation.
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My Domain
Nightfall's Hockey and Life Journal
[text was edited by author 2003-06-17 11:32:33] | |
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puritan
@63.99.x.x
| Re: Mo Money, Mo Money, Mo Money You must have only shopped DirecTV. With Dish network, you do not purchase the equipment. You lease it, also like cable. That includes the PVR, and there is no monthly fee for the PVR like TIVO. There is a one time $50 payment for the PVR. Not a big deal.
I do however agree that I do not need 40 sports channels, and I do not need the shopping channels.
My only real complaint about satellite is that I cannot customize the box. I want to set up a short list of channels for my kids to watch, and eliminate the rest. That isn't available yet.
puritan | |
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puritan
@63.99.x.x | Re: Mo Money, Mo Money, Mo Money Oh yeah, and there is no monthly activation fee for each box like DirecTV. DirecTV makes you buy the equipment and then charges you $5 per box to hook them up. With DISH, you just pay the $5 a month and they give you the equipment.
puritan | |
| | | | | vic102482
Premium
join:2002-04-30
Upper Marlboro, MD
| Re: Mo Money, Mo Money, Mo Money said by puritan:
Oh yeah, and there is no monthly activation fee for each box like DirecTV. DirecTV makes you buy the equipment and then charges you $5 per box to hook them up. With DISH, you just pay the $5 a month and they give you the equipment.
puritan
The dish sucks for that one. Thats where they are taking a "little off the top" how hard is it to include a CAM ID in a satellite downstream? 5 bucks is a rip, but still cheap.
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I tie a rope around my penis and jump from a tree, don't you wanna grow up to be just like me!!!! | |
| | | | | tomertl
join:2002-09-01
Fairfax, VA
| Where have you been? DirecTv gives 2 free boxes and instalation FREE! Cable customers in my area (Northern VA - Cox Cable) have to pay $9.00 per digtal box a month, plus digital cable is about $20 more than DirecTv with a lesser quality signal.
DirecTv in our area is a no brainer. | |
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phxmark
What Country Are We Living In?
join:2000-12-27
Glendale, AZ
| said by puritan:
My only real complaint about satellite is that I cannot customize the box. I want to set up a short list of channels for my kids to watch, and eliminate the rest. That isn't available yet.
puritan
On my Hughes DirecTV Receiver, I can set up four different Favorite lists. You just have to set one of the Favorites lists as Childrens and just add the channels you want them to see to it. Then on top of that, I can lock down a good portion of the system.
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Still living on Dial-Up. | |
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newview
Ex .. Ex .. Exactly
Premium
join:2001-10-01
Parsonsburg, MD
| Mo Money, Mo Money, Mo Money said by Hall :
No one's mentioned this either, but the equipment isn't "free" with DirecTV *unless* you also sign up for a one-year contract.
A contract has it's advantages. A recent $2.00 per month price increase on DirecTV was held back on my account until after the remaining 9 months of the contract. Because of the contract, I don't pay the price increase.
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The Rules of Spam | Maryland's New Anti-Spam Law
Where are we going? And what's with the hand basket? | |
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KrK
Heavy Artillery For The Little Guy
Premium
join:2000-01-17
Tulsa, OK
·Cox HSI
·AT&T Southwest
| said by puritan:
You must have only shopped DirecTV. With Dish network, you do not purchase the equipment.
??? Most people purchase it. I haven't heard about a lease deal, but I'll take your word for it. So you can either buy it or lease, you choose. quote:
My only real complaint about satellite is that I cannot customize the box. I want to set up a short list of channels for my kids to watch, and eliminate the rest. That isn't available yet.
You sure about that? My receiver (older model, now) had the ability to password channels and delete channels from the guide so they didn't display, too.... However... I think you could still manually "dial" them if you knew their channel #'s. So you'd have to manually password out and hide each one. UNG, that would take awhile....
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"Regulatory capitalism is when companies invest in lawyers, lobbyists, and politicians, instead of plant, people, and customer service." - former FCC Chairman William Kennard (A real FCC Chairman, unlike the current Corporate Spokesperson in the job!) | |
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puritan
@63.99.x.x
| Re: Mo Money, Mo Money, Mo Money I think I got a pretty good deal when I signed up. I got a 4 room system. 3 of the 301 receivers, the 508 PVR, the dish, and installation. There was a $99 up front cost, then I got 49.95 back on the first months bill. I pay $70 a month for their top 150 package, which is every channel except for the pay channels.
When I had it installed, I specifically asked about removing the channels from the list. The install dude told me that I could lock them, but not remove them. I wasn't entirely happy because I want to have like 10 kids channels on the list so my kids could just hit the channel buttons to change.
But the programming package is $40 a month, which includes one receiver lease, then add $15 for the lease on the remaining 3 receivers, $5 for local stations, and $3 for the superstations.
puritan | |
| | | | | | 2farfromCO7
join:2000-10-14
Farmington, MI
| Re: Mo Money, Mo Money, Mo Money Actually, you didn't. There hasn't been a good DHP deal since the first half of 2002. Back then, you got 3 months free of your basic package(AT50,100, or 150) + locals. It's gotten worse and worse ever since. It then went to 1 month free of everything, now it's not even 1 month free for most people. Yeah, for 4 receivers it's the only way to go, but it's nowhere near as good of a deal as it used to be. BTW, I don't charge my customers the $49.95 and I give them an additional $50-$120 upfront. That made DHP one hell of a deal when it was 3 months free. Today you're better off just doing a 2 receiver plan and worrying about getting the 3rd and 4th ones later. | |
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aztecnology
O Rly?
Premium
join:2003-02-12
Murrieta, CA
| said by puritan:
My only real complaint about satellite is that I cannot customize the box. I want to set up a short list of channels for my kids to watch, and eliminate the rest. That isn't available yet.
Dish allows 4 favorite lists per receiver, I have one with just the channels I prefer, the wife and kids each have their own.
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.:|:. Starband 360 ~ W2KAS ~ DLINK DI-714P+ ~ XPro ~ XPro | |
| | | | Asshat35
join:2002-11-14
Fitchburg, MA
| You absolutely can customize Dish Network. I actually just upgraded from Dish to DirecTivo (had bad experience with their support so I switched, assclowns would not replace a receiver that was giving a horrible signal, green spots everywhere. Move good rec to tv and it's fine. They wanted to bitch about cabling, emi, anything but fixing the problem so I switched.)
Either way, Sat > Cable by far. Tivo/any PVR improves your TV experience. Since I've had Tivo, I've spent less time watching more programming. The ease of recording future events, season passes, pausing live TV, it's an amazing tool to have. Currently own 3 Tivo's with DirecTV (record 6 football games at once ) and a normal Receiver as well. I don't pay a lick for the Tivo service as long as I keep on subbing to the Premium Package. I did not pay for any of the equipment (incentive deal to get me from the Dish and my 2x PVR setup with 2 normal receivers) or install. How can you go wrong with a deal like that? I do keep $10/month cable basic service for local channels (also get locals on Sat but I like the PiP viewing of sporting events) as well. That's about all Comcast will get from me, well until they offer HSI.
Anyways, Cable needs to bring alot more to the table than they currently offer to get Sat users to switch over. | |
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dvd536
as Mr. Pink as they come
Premium
join:2001-04-27
Phoenix, AZ
| Re: Mo Money, Mo Money, Mo Money said by Asshat35 :
I don't pay a lick for the Tivo service as long as I keep on subbing to the Premium Package.
Surprise! the cost of that is factored into the price you pay for that package! you arent getting anything for free (specially with the media companies)
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You can never be too rich, too thin or have too much Bandwidth | |
| | | | | | Asshat35
join:2002-11-14
Fitchburg, MA | Re: Mo Money, Mo Money, Mo Money Actually the premium service with or w/o Tivo is the same. Yeah, I know it's factored in there somewhere but do I care? Not really. I don't pay any more $ than the guy w/o Tivo so it's a wash in my book. | |
| | | | | | | vic102482
Premium
join:2002-04-30
Upper Marlboro, MD
| Not true.:) Satellite has alot more channels than most typical cable systems. You buy equipment but you get a full rebate or its free off of the top. The quality is excellent compared to that of digital cable. I had both at the same time, and we talked about this in the satellite/cable forum. Cable companies have to use alot moer compression because alot more data (VOIP, Internet, Analog etc.etc.) fact still remains that most time Digital Cable wont stand up to most (I say most not all) Satellite Systems.
I know you like cable, but there is no way you can sugarcoat my 59.99 dollar bill that is missing half the channels. 32.99 is the actual basic for the dish, 39.99 is 2nd teir. Cable is too expensive, no fault of the cable company (on second thought....;)) but its difficult to roll out and maintain, and they have analog and digital which puts them at a disadvantage to satellite.
I dont like either, I miss my "special";) analog cable.
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I tie a rope around my penis and jump from a tree, don't you wanna grow up to be just like me!!!!
[text was edited by author 2003-06-17 12:29:02] | |
| | | 2farfromCO7
join:2000-10-14
Farmington, MI
| said by Nightfall :
said by rds24a :
Issue 1: The DVR doesn't sweeten the deal here with TimeWarner. It costs extra.
Same with satellite providers. Their PVR isn't free. However, from people that I talk to, the PVR changes the way you watch TV. Sure, it costs a little more, but if you get your moneys worth out of it, then you are happy.
Satellite providers advertise $39.99 a month for 150 channels, but only in the fine print do they mention you have to buy all the equipment up front.
THAT'S NOT TRUE!!! Don't spew lies and cable FUD. With DISH, there are NO PVR MONTHLY FEES!!! Buy what equipment up front? Right now with DISH you get a 2 receiver system installed for free + 3 months free AT100+HBO+Cinemax, plus I'll give my customers an additional $70. | |
| | | | | | | | tomertl
join:2002-09-01
Fairfax, VA | Who are these people who keep saying "with DirecTV you have to purchase the receivers"?? NOT TRUE! DirecTV gives you 2 free receivers and instalation!
Research before you post! | |
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KrK
Heavy Artillery For The Little Guy
Premium
join:2000-01-17
Tulsa, OK
·Cox HSI
·AT&T Southwest
| said by Nightfall :
said by rds24a :
Issue 1: The DVR doesn't sweeten the deal here with TimeWarner. It costs extra.
Same with satellite providers. Their PVR isn't free.
Dish Network has PVR's in some receivers that have no monthly fees. DirecTIVO's have no fees if you have a premium package etc (I think). Personally, I bought a ReplayTV and lifetime sub. DBS smokes cable! quote:
Satellite providers advertise $39.99 a month for 150 channels, but only in the fine print do they mention you have to buy all the equipment up front.
There's almost always a special running where when you commit to a year's service agreement you get all the equipment upfront and installed free. When I started with DISH Network I bought my equipment online. I paid $200 for it. *Included Free* was one year of America's Top 50 package and music channels. It was a no brainer--- that was more channels then cable even offered at the time in my area, for the equivalent price of $16.65 a month... and the hardware was mine. Cable was around $45 per month at the time...
Point being you don't shell out hundreds of dollars upfront in equipment before you even can get service. In many cases, you can actually get a DBS system up and running and have paid less then a Cable Install and beginning service costs.
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"Regulatory capitalism is when companies invest in lawyers, lobbyists, and politicians, instead of plant, people, and customer service." - former FCC Chairman William Kennard (A real FCC Chairman, unlike the current Corporate Spokesperson in the job!) | |
| | | mglunt
join:2001-09-10
Fredericksburg, VA
 ·Verizon FIOS
| said by Nightfall :
Satellite providers advertise $39.99 a month for 150 channels, but only in the fine print do they mention you have to buy all the equipment up front.
LMAO - Watching too many Comcast/Cable TV commercials? I recently moved to an apt that can't get DTV.. I signed up for Comcrap "Digital" Cable. Let me tell you - there is NO comparison. Even the digital channels look like crap compared to DTV.
As for the equipment? You can get a FREE 2 room install if you are a new customer.. you just have to agree to keep service for a year - service that is about $15-$20 cheaper than "Digital" Cable TV... and a lot better, better sound, more channels.
Even if you buy the equipment, it's only about $50-$80 and comes with free installation. If you are switching from "Digital" cable, that pays for itself in only a few months.
No comparison - which is why companies like Comcast began punishing HSI customers who switch TV service to dish/dtv by hitting them with a $15 fee. Comcast knows they can't compete in quality/price... so they use their monopoly (in many areas) to try to keep customers.
Comcast would be better off going all digital, or dropping their rates to something reasonable. Analog is $43 where I live! | |
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sabersaw
Premium
join:2001-08-21
Dayton, OH | Re: Mo Money, Mo Money, Mo Money don't forget more money for local channels, and around here the local stations have extra cable stations that are not available on sat. Plus, I am probably one of the few people that see some value in cable access channels. | |
| | | | gpancner
join:2001-09-27
Nine Mile Falls, WA | Care for some cheese with your whine? | |
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Julio
Bachatero y Que?
Premium
join:2003-03-19
Brooklyn, NY
clubs: | yes, i hate the fact that like 300 channels are like pay per view. they also hit you with hidden fees that they dont tell you when you upgrade. | |
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Freshie
@207.61.x.x
| In my area [Toronto, Canada], 2 to 75 are digital with the converter. And believe me, it makes a difference.
We also don't have to get a bundle. The box, and 2-75 are $35CAD per month.
Each digital channel I want can be ordered separately, for $2CAD per month.
I can add channels or remove them anytime I want 24/7 via the internet, and by the time I've verified my decision to add a channel to my line-up, and gone to my remote, the channel is active.
I think it's pretty cool. I can order the Scream channel on Friday for the weekend to watch a horror-a-thon, and cancel it Monday. All without talking to a drone at a desk to do it. | |
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sabersaw
Premium
join:2001-08-21
Dayton, OH | hdtv rxer for direct tv $530+... cable tv additional 7 dollars a month. Plus, if and when it breaks its about a 8 minute drive to get a new one. | |
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sabersaw
Premium
join:2001-08-21
Dayton, OH | the first service that will do HDTV with a PVR will be where my money goes to. until then they both are lacking. | |
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rds24a
Teach Your Children
Premium
join:2000-12-13
Springboro, OH
clubs:
·RoadRunner Cable
| Re: Mo Money, Mo Money, Mo Money My understanding of HDTV is that the picture uses bandwidth on the order of a DVD movie. Thinking generally that a DVD holds ~4 Gb of data, how are you going to get a PVR to hold that much data without losing quality, thereby defeating the purpose of HDTV.
There are some other discussions in this topic about DVR picture quality, and from what I've heard from friends who have TiVo it is comparable to a decent VHS tape.
If TWC would go 100% digital and offer HDTV in the $52 package, I probably would buy that and a new TV. Otherwise, it's status quo.
EDIT: And satellite is not an option. Been down that road. Signal quality is terrible in inclement weather, local channels are a joke, and I still cannot get any of the "local cable" channels that TWC offers. Also takes too damn long to tune a channel...slows down the flipping.
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»www.brittanyrescue.org
[text was edited by author 2003-06-18 09:37:22] | |
| | stridr69
join:2003-05-19
San Luis Obispo, CA
| Not only that, if one has digital cable, your VCR/DVDR can't record on one channel while you're watching WWE wrastling on another channel. Plus, half the time, say your watching Fox sports wherever, you get duplicate channels w/digital, thusly wasting your monthly $$$ on nothing. Just like having the "Dish"
I currently use Charter Pipeline(silver package), with their analog package(No converter-means HBO, Cinemax are out..as well as Pay Per View) and pay roughly $80 a month. For me, I don't watch that much TV and rent DVD's for my movie experience, but prefer the broadband experience just so I can be interactive with my otherwise(sic) meaningless lifestyle.
Plus, if, say my local NBC affilate(KSBY) broadcast's analog only, then whats the point? | |
|
Agent 86
| I'm surprised that so many people subscribe ...to "digital" cable, considering what a lousy deal it is compared with either "analog" cable or DBS.
VOD might be interesting once they have a *lot* more content available. In the meantime a Tivo is the way to go. | |
| achuchma
join:2001-04-11
Tampa, FL
| Torn... I like my digital cable in Chicago...kinda...
My biggest beef is the fact that 2 - 70-something are still analog. This would be fine if Comcast offered the analog channels in digital band as well, but they only do this for the pay channels.
I HATE the MPEG-1 encoding. HATE HATE HATE! It truly sucks...there is nothing like watching a movie on digital cable that is "blocky" on dark scenes. They really need to upgrade to an MPEG-2 or better format.
I can live with the cable box. I actually like the channel guide (if it were only faster), but I would be happier if the boxes had an S-VIDEO output. There is nothing worse than having a kick-a$$ home theater system that needs to still be set-up with old RCA-jacks...
The programming is starting to suck. I know sports sell, but why in the world do I need 30, yes, 30 digital NBA channels?! I would be fine with this if they added other channels as well.
I have considered going to RCN (Comcast's competitor in Chicago), but they offer less channels and do not carry the BBC. Their signal is also questionable. It is fiber on the pole, but analog coax when they bring it to the home.
I would consider a dish, but my neighbors have one and they aren't too pleased with that either.
I guess it doesn't matter since TV has turned into the Home Shopping Infomercial Reality Show wasteland...BLAH!
Okay, I feel better now!
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Hey, idiot, it's not just a name change. | |
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See 9 replies to this post | |
Bobcat
Cablevision sucks donkey balls
Premium
join:2001-02-04
Bedminster, NJ
·Verizon Online DSL
| Why give them more money? Why would I want to give my cable company more money? I don't even subscribe to premium or scrambled channels (i.e., I don't have a cable box). They'll have to pry my analog cable-ready TV out of my cold, dead fingers.
[text was edited by author 2003-06-17 11:32:28] | |
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cybermud
join:2000-08-25
Chicago, IL | Re: Why give them more money? some of us in Chicago need to have a box just to receive anything but broadcast channels over the cable.  | |
| | gpancner
join:2001-09-27
Nine Mile Falls, WA
| the name of the game is more money for the Programmers not the Cable companies. And as a result of the man who invented the internet (algore) we are strapped with the extinction of analog programming dictated by the 2006 deadline for digital broadcasting of local off-air television. if you don't have a digital receiver, you won't get television after 2006 | |
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thelastrace
join:2003-01-05
West Roxbury, MA
| Personally I like it I'm not sure where your people are located but I have had digital cable here in Boston for about 3 years now and I think it is great. Its only $5 more a month then analog was. Plus you get the the on screen tv guide which is easier then looking up in the actual guide. It gives you the info on the program. New feature now with the pay per view channels is that you can pause, rewind, and fast forward the movie you need to. Well thats how I feel about it and I hope it is offered to you people at a lower cost soon. | |
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See 9 replies to this post | |
minidu
Premium
join:2002-09-28
Mackinac Island, MI
| Not again I had digital cable with Time Warner in Naples, the picture was good, but the reciever was VERY slow to change channels.
I really like Direct TV. If the Cable companys could get their equipment to work as well as this does, then I would think about it, but not until
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Experience -- a great teacher, but the tutition fees... . BOFH | |
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See 6 replies to this post | |
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phxmark
What Country Are We Living In?
join:2000-12-27
Glendale, AZ
| Re: The easy way. said by Pathfinder :
... increased by about $5 but I felt like I was extorted.
You were extorted.
What amazes me is that the signal is all digital until it gets to the local node in the system. There it decodes the first 75 analog channels from the fiber and sends them down the pipe and also the Internet and digital signals are decoded from the fiber and sent on down the cable. YOU ARE STILL SUBSIDIZING THE ANALOG USERS!
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Still living on Dial-Up. | |
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drakkkar
join:2003-02-07
Houston, TX
| Digital converters Time/Warner cable is talking about converting everyting to digital, then if you are an analog only subscriber converting it back at your home before it hits your analog box.
They are in the process of acquiring some very inexpensive converters. They primarilly want to do this since they can send the digital signal with 1/3 the bandwidth on the wire (approx, and according to Time/Warner)
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~Age and Treachery will always overcome Youth and Skill.~ | |
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phxmark
What Country Are We Living In?
join:2000-12-27
Glendale, AZ
| Re: Digital converters said by drakkkar :
Time/Warner cable is talking about converting everyting to digital, then if you are an analog only subscriber converting it back at your home before it hits your analog box.
They are in the process of acquiring some very inexpensive converters. They primarilly want to do this since they can send the digital signal with 1/3 the bandwidth on the wire (approx, and according to Time/Warner)
Then in theory, once all the infrastructure is in place and paid for, the cost of providing programming should fall dramastically.
This of course is theory. Just like when we went from vinyl records to cassette tape to CDs.
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Still living on Dial-Up. | |
| markopoleo
join:2003-04-02
Bonne Terre, MO
·Charter Pipeline
| Who cares about more channels Heck, %99 of the people only watch same channels. When will cable companies lighten up and offer you channels that YOU want, so you pay for what you want. WOW! Thats a novel idea! A company giving you what YOU want and not what THEY want..
But that is without a price, because they will no doubt charge you more because you get to have a "filter" feature. lol
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If PLC goes mainstream, every other broadband provider will be considered what dialup is today...not broadband. | |
| | achuchma
join:2001-04-11
Tampa, FL
| Re: Who cares about more channels I agree...
Just for $hits and giggles, I checked out the dish programming with DSL service (since I would kick cable out the door if I went to a dish)...
The Dish and DSL would run me MORE money per month than my cable does.
Why? Because I have to go with one of the larger basic packages to get the channels I want, so I am stuck paying a butt load of money for channels I do not want or will even watch!
What makes it worse is the fact that I have 3 televisions at home, and I would want the programming on all TVs.
I just don't see the competitive pricing.
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Hey, idiot, it's not just a name change. | |
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dvd536
as Mr. Pink as they come
Premium
join:2001-04-27
Phoenix, AZ
| said by markopoleo :
Heck, %99 of the people only watch same channels. When will cable companies lighten up and offer you channels that YOU want, so you pay for what you want. WOW! Thats a novel idea! A company giving you what YOU want and not what THEY want..
But that is without a price, because they will no doubt charge you more because you get to have a "filter" feature. lol
Ala carte is a nice idea but will never fly because that dont make any money therefore you also got to get the crap to get what you want.
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You can never be too rich, too thin or have too much Bandwidth | |
| | gpancner
join:2001-09-27
Nine Mile Falls, WA
| unfortunately, programmers like ESPN/DISNEY/ABC/FOX/TIMEWARNER/NBC/VIACOM/CBS/ etc. require cable companies to put all of the "basic" type programming on the most subscribed to level of service (basic) in order to receive the lowest PER SUBSCRIBER monthly charge. If the channel (i.e. a big sports programming channel, who according to congressional reports raises its' monthly per sub fee an average of 20%/year)) is not on the most widely distributed level of service the montly fees reportedly can be 500% higher per subscriber. The programmers claim that if they weren't widely distributed, their advertising revenues would drop so they can justify the extra fees to make up for the loss. | |
| 
oliphant5
Got Identity?
Premium
join:2003-05-24
Corona, CA
| And so what about digital Digital is about compression. I've seen bad compression with DN and DTV just as I have with DCATV. Good analog looks as good as digital. The only point to have DCATV is to get the HDTV programming if it's even available and you have the monitor to support it. DVR is no different than offering HDTV, keep taking on the costs to the point no one can justify it. Sure, $6.95 per box, but then DVR charges, then HDTV charges, before you know it you have $15-$20 in junk fees above and beyond the extra they charge for digital over analog content. A lot of people aren't going to dish out and extra $30-$50 for another 60 channels they won't watch.
And like a previous poster said...most people only watch a few channels, why need more? This thread has me questioning my subscription to Comcast Digital Premium at a hefty $87.99/mo, as I certainly don't want enough premium content (HBO, Skinmax, Starz etc) to justify $33 more a month. $33 a month will get me a Netflix.com account and a pizza.
Guess I have a call to make. | |
|
KrK
Heavy Artillery For The Little Guy
Premium
join:2000-01-17
Tulsa, OK
·Cox HSI
·AT&T Southwest
| I *did* Upgrade! .... to DISH! Let me see... I upgraded from:
Poor customer service... Poor Channel Selection.... High Prices.... Long service outages after storms etc
What did I get:
Awesome Digital picture and sound
Tons of Channels
Equipment I own (No Rent) and service I can move at will
LOWER Price
Good Service
Yep, I'm upgraded! Sorry, I've seen new Digital Cable and it's better then regular cable, but it's not better then DISH, and it's way more expensive!
Sorry Cable.... I'm staying with DISH for TV. You may one day get me to try Cable Internet.... but if you try and force me to buy Digital Cable TV as well, then forget it, I won't even try Cable Internet, either.
'Nuff said!
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"Regulatory capitalism is when companies invest in lawyers, lobbyists, and politicians, instead of plant, people, and customer service." - former FCC Chairman William Kennard (A real FCC Chairman, unlike the current Corporate Spokesperson in the job!) | |
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oliphant5
Got Identity?
Premium
join:2003-05-24
Corona, CA
| Re: I *did* Upgrade! .... to DISH! I dropped DN for DCATV because of DN's compression issues (when they added all the locals last year). I've heard that they've since been resolved, but too late for me. DCATV is hit and miss. I'm in a fresh rebuild area and get a better picture (even on analog channels) with DCATV than my neighbors with DN or DTV do...but I have friends with TW and Cox DCATV and their picture is complete crap. | |
| 
panth1
The Coyote
join:2000-12-11
Boca Raton, FL
| I have an idea... Stop using those crappy Motorola dct2000's with no features with the crappy tvguide software... you cheap fuks.
There. 
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ISPs: Road Runner/Powerlink
Current Status: Road Runner
I don't work for Road Runner or Adelphia, so complaining to them about my posts will get you nowhere! | |
| | sd70mac666
join:2003-06-05
Saint Albans, VT
| Re: I have an idea... I have Scientific Atlanta cable boxes, 2 of them of course and trust me I've had a bitch of a time with Adelphia. They cram the digital packages down your throat but Video On Demand is absent from this. Adelphia sucks balls for service but right now it's my only option. I used to have a satellite dish but everytime the wind blew it would knock it out of alignment. | |
| | | | | 
djrobx
join:2000-05-31
Valencia, CA | quote:
Stop using those crappy Motorola dct2000's with no features with the crappy tvguide software... you cheap f**s.
TRUE THAT!!!!
-- Rob | |
| 
major marco
Res Firma Mitescere Nescit
Premium
join:2003-02-13
Stepford, CA
clubs:
| A Luxury I Can Live w/o if I had to Personally I upgraded to digital cable because that was the only way I could get to watch The Sopranos. The regular cable did not offer any premium channels like HBO or Skinimax. You had to upgrade to digital if you wanted those services.
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A good scapegoat is almost as good as a solution.»www.digitalconsumer.org | |
| |
blueeyesm
@uwaterloo.ca
| Re: A Luxury I Can Live w/o if I had to On top of all this, Hollywood stars like Cameron Diaz have out in their 2 cents' worth; they do NOT want DTV to become a reality - because when their movies will be recorded in Hi-Def everyone will "see how unattractive they look" ( supposedly the local radio station said she was quoted as sayi ng) | |
| Dgresko1974
join:2003-06-11
| Its all BS anyway Well, why bother to "upgrade" to Digital cable at all? Here in Denver, ATT/Cramcast offers Digital cable, but its a joke. Its only digital to your box, but from the box to tv, its all analog. There are no digital outs on any box ive seen in the denver area, do your paying for a neat little GUI/browser.....wow. Really not worth the extra cash. Get an HDTV, and plug in thier so called digital cable and see just how worthless it really is. Talk about misrepresentation. BTW, I asked Cramcast about s-vid and they say its not avail here yet. Welcome to the dark ages!
[text was edited by author 2003-06-17 15:23:39] | |
| 
Varangian
join:2002-12-08
Collinsville, IL
|  The Golden Age of Pay TV is over
Every channel is marred by animated commercial banners superimposed over the programming.
Some of these banners feature distracting sound effects. And they've all grown in size since their first appearance.
I don't expect this kind of garbage on pay channels. Indeed i have complained endlessly, but to no effect.
Between the sh*t banners and the infomercials that dominate all channels for 9-10 hours every day cable/satellite is rapidly becoming something not worthy of my limited consumer dollars.
Cable was ultra cool when it first appeared. But superimposed banners and informercials are about to get it sent to the scrap heap. | |
| | bigskank
join:2002-06-07
Norman, OK
| Re: The Golden Age of Pay TV is over Thanks, but I'll stick w/ analog. Had digital for awhile, it was blocky as hell and would freeze up. Supposedly no problems with my line though, so it must've been my TV causing the freeze up (cuz you know that TVs ROUTINELY cause picture freezes). I cancelled it. Moved to a different community, different provider. Signed up for digital again. Still all blocky, lots of freezeups during primetime TV hours, guides wouldn't load. Cancelled it again. When I have to go digital (btw...thanks Uncle Sam) I'll go w/ Satellite or nothing at all.
-edited for spelling
[text was edited by author 2003-06-17 16:20:58] | |
| 
BrooklynZoo
For Everthing Else, There's Mastercard
join:2001-04-01
Atlanta, GA
| I have upgraded but.... now Time Warner and others will begin capping my broadband internet. WTF are we supposed to do? I guess run back to DSL until they start capping....
If they start capping, I am going to start capping in their a$$es (just kidding!).
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"If the door won't open, lookout because I am coming back to take the hinges off!" - Les Brown, Motivational Speaker | |
| Sarge_0321
join:2002-06-27
San Diego, CA | Antenna Antenna works just fine. Only a handful of local channels and PBS.
What else do you need?
The extra time not channel surfing can be used outdoors and/or on the internet. | |
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dvd536
as Mr. Pink as they come
Premium
join:2001-04-27
Phoenix, AZ
| Re: Antenna said by Sarge_0321 :
Antenna works just fine. Only a handful of local channels and PBS
What else do you need?
I went back to antenna after a billing snafu with DISHNETWORK.
know what? i really didnt miss having satellite tv. most of the content was crap and paid programming at night (when i normally put the tube on for some noise) tired of paying $85/mo for 250 channels and still nothing on.
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You can never be too rich, too thin or have too much Bandwidth | |
| 
ib50MbSoon
Formerly TwoKDialup
Premium
join:2002-06-07
Coloma, MI
| 100 channel GarbagePac - only $21.95 ...their prayers that consumers will also upgrade to digital cable have yet to be fully answered.
Real simple! It's the programming content! Most folks don't want or need 100 more shopping channels and lame sitcoms.
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The whole truth and nothing but the truth at »www.teletruth.org | |
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dvd536
as Mr. Pink as they come
Premium
join:2001-04-27
Phoenix, AZ
| Digital cable - RIPOFF! So you just got that brand new digital cable. you think its all digital but thats only the delivery system. All channels on digital cable are not digital. many are analog still just being brought in over your shiny new cable box
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You can never be too rich, too thin or have too much Bandwidth | |
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