dslreports logo
 
    All Forums Hot Topics Gallery
spc
view:
topics flat nest 
Comments on news posted 2012-08-03 09:46:08: Reuters notes that more than 400,000 pay TV subscribers have dropped their television subscriptions since the beginning of this year. ..

tkdslr
join:2004-04-24
Pompano Beach, FL

tkdslr

Member

Price is getting too high...

After my 1 year $10/mo loyalty credit expired, I just cut back on my Dishnet services.

Haven't sub'd to a premium channel in many years..

First, I tried to remove locals since I have a decent antenna setup, that's not an option any more. Instead i dumped a bunch of channels I don't watch or listen to.. Thus no real loss..

Saved $10/month, next step may be to switch to OTA/internet only and save another $40/mo.

AMDUSER
Premium Member
join:2003-05-28
Earth,
ARRIS CM8200
ARRIS SB6183

1 recommendation

AMDUSER

Premium Member

Re: Price is getting too high...

The price of cable is getting too high.. it went from about $130 to about $150 or so after junk fees / taxes (and the rate going up).
... Time Warner Cable used to advertise less fees than the phone company- now it is about the same amount. ($14 of the bill is junk fees / taxes).

I'm looking at every option.. including having AT&T service setup..
darth_maul25
join:2004-06-11
Urbandale, IA

1 recommendation

darth_maul25 to tkdslr

Member

to tkdslr
Amen!
I just had to comment on this topic! I was a Direct TV subscriber for over 4 years. And after four years of relentless hikes I was up to $71.33 A MONTH for nothing but the most basic package!

Instead I upped my Netflix to 2 discs at-a-time with streaming (I had one disc and streaming before). I added Hulu Plus and an antenna and Holy Hell! The savings are glorious! $600 + a year now and I actually watch more TV now than I did before!
Albert71292
join:2004-10-31
West Monroe, LA

6 recommendations

Albert71292 to tkdslr

Member

to tkdslr
Not ONLY price made me finally "cut the cord". History Channel became the Pawn Ice Road Pickers Channel, MTV stopped airing music, VH1 Classic stopped airing the videos MTV used to show, Bravo became the Runway Housewife channel, AMC went commercial and stopped airing classic films, TLC became the "lets have a million kids" channel, IFC went commercial and stopped airing independent films for the most part, BBC America stopped showing shows from Britain,started showing "Star Trek:TNG", etc. What pushed me over the edge was Oprah hijacking Discovery Health and making it impossible for me to see Dr.G Medical Examiner!

All that, PLUS most channels had DOUBLE the commercials the FREE over-the-air stations have!

Now, quite happy with my rooftop OTA antenna and my DSL.

jazzlady
join:2005-08-04
Tannersville, PA

1 recommendation

jazzlady

Member

Re: Price is getting too high...

said by Albert71292:

Not ONLY price made me finally "cut the cord". History Channel became the Pawn Ice Road Pickers Channel, MTV stopped airing music, VH1 Classic stopped airing the videos MTV used to show, Bravo became the Runway Housewife channel, AMC went commercial and stopped airing classic films, TLC became the "lets have a million kids" channel, IFC went commercial and stopped airing independent films for the most part, BBC America stopped showing shows from Britain,started showing "Star Trek:TNG", etc. What pushed me over the edge was Oprah hijacking Discovery Health and making it impossible for me to see Dr.G Medical Examiner!

Wish I could approve your post a hundred times.

Man, you hit the nail on the head.

Discovery similarly went down the toilet with their lineup of reality rubbish every single night. I haven't watched anything on TLC, Discovery, or the History channel in well over a year. And if they took those stations away tomorrow I'd say good riddance.

I didn't watch the Discovery Health Channel that much, but it really pissed me off as well when Oprah took it over. What an ego that woman has to think that people would be interested in an "all Oprah, all the time" channel. Good grief.

If I had any option whatsoever to get an OTA signal I would dump my cable as well. :-(
CXM_Splicer
Looking at the bigger picture
Premium Member
join:2011-08-11
NYC

CXM_Splicer

Premium Member

Re: Price is getting too high...

said by jazzlady:

Wish I could approve your post a hundred times.

Man, you hit the nail on the head.

+1

When you are paying over $100 a month and there is rarely anything good on, it is pretty easy to make the decision!

jazzlady
join:2005-08-04
Tannersville, PA

1 recommendation

jazzlady

Member

Re: Price is getting too high...

said by CXM_Splicer:

said by jazzlady:

Wish I could approve your post a hundred times.

Man, you hit the nail on the head.

+1

When you are paying over $100 a month and there is rarely anything good on, it is pretty easy to make the decision!

I'm getting closer and closer.

Now that the Weather Channel has turned to trash, and rarely shows the weather anymore, it is of no use to me.

I really only keep cable for the local news and the SyFy, Food, and the Travel channels.

I'm still getting analog cable, although I do have 1 HDTV. The rest are tube sets.

What I read is that cable companies can stop carrying analog altogether at the end of this year. If my cableco decides to try and force me to go digital, which will increase my bill by another $40 a month- that will be the proverbial "straw" AFAIC. I'll get rid of it then.
CXM_Splicer
Looking at the bigger picture
Premium Member
join:2011-08-11
NYC

CXM_Splicer

Premium Member

Re: Price is getting too high...

Haha, same channels for me

But stopped watching SyFy when they canceled Stargate SG-1.

Good luck and too bad you can't get OTA.

jazzlady
join:2005-08-04
Tannersville, PA

jazzlady

Member

Re: Price is getting too high...

said by CXM_Splicer:

Haha, same channels for me

But stopped watching SyFy when they canceled Stargate SG-1.

Good luck and too bad you can't get OTA.

I liked Stargate Universe and Sanctuary. I also like Warehouse 13, Alphas and Eureka.

But SyFy started to slip when they:

1) started showing wrestling. Seriously- wrestling?
2) changed their name from SciFi to "SyFy". Just seemed dumb to me. :-(
Zach
Premium Member
join:2006-11-26
Llano, CA

Zach to Albert71292

Premium Member

to Albert71292
Amen and +1

I cut the cord six years ago when basic service hit $60. Sad to hear about Dr. G Medical Examiner! That is (was) one of the few shows I really missed when we went OTA.
Happydude32
Premium Member
join:2005-07-16

1 recommendation

Happydude32 to Albert71292

Premium Member

to Albert71292
Pawn Stars is one of the best shows around and it very much fits into history. Let’s face it, history can be a very dry and boring subject. Watching documentaries with lame talking heads who have PHDs are lame and boring. For the most part, I don’t give a shit what happened before I was born, let alone a hundred years ago. But with Pawn Stars, history comes alive. More often than not, the show involves people who bring some historical artifact or trinket into the shop looking to cash out. A lot of time Rick and the guys bring in experts. Normally, I’m against using TV as an educational tool, since I want to be entertained not informed, but I have learned a lot of stuff just by watching Pawn Stars. Probably the same stuff I would have learned in high school, if I actually paid attention.

Beezel
join:2008-12-15
Las Vegas, NV

Beezel

Member

Re: Price is getting too high...

If you like Pawn Stars then Try Cajun Pawn stars if you already haven't. It is like the same but it is in Louisana. You really see some interesting things there.
Terabit
join:2008-12-19

Terabit to Happydude32

Member

to Happydude32
Your political views are quite fitting to your view on shows like pawn stars. These blue collar shows are more in tune for the middle American Republican base.

As the saying now goes: keep em dumb, keep em RepubliCon!
Happydude32
Premium Member
join:2005-07-16

Happydude32

Premium Member

Re: Price is getting too high...

said by Terabit:

Your political views are quite fitting to your view on shows like pawn stars. These blue collar shows are more in tune for the middle American Republican base.

Thank you. Storage Wars is another one of my favorites, also can learn a lot from that show as well.
quote:
I dunno, seems like conservative Republican product at its finest... after all, this is the direction they are taking the country. In fact it is SO fitting, I question the truthfulness of the post. Steve would obviously make a fine replacement for Rush when he finally retires.
Actually 14 year old Caiden Cowger would be a fine replacement for Rush.

Enjoy the final few months of socialism, according to the countdown widget on my phone, 93 more days until the pig is voted out.
Expand your moderator at work
Terabit
join:2008-12-19

Terabit to Happydude32

Member

to Happydude32

Re: Price is getting too high...

Thank you. Storage Wars is another one of my favorites, also can learn a lot from that show as well.

No problem. I enjoy illustrating the mindset and level of education of those who vote RepubliCon.

Actually 14 year old Caiden Cowger would be a fine replacement for Rush.

Enjoy the final few months of socialism, according to the countdown widget on my phone, 93 more days until the pig is voted out.

I would not be cheering that Rush, Beck, et al. sound and think like a 14 year old kid - that's embarrassing.

Your ilk has been waiting for big gov to fail since Regan, 30 years now, yet they now make up the majority of the G20. Heck, the nations that rank higher than us for median WEALTH per adult are large gov types. All while we do not even make the top 10. Translation: They are richer than you.

Doesn't stop there, many also have a higher GDP per capita, lower deficits, lower unemployment rates, world leading quality of life, significantly lower rates of poverty and homicides, better ranked yet cheaper healthcare, significantly higher home values and so forth. However, I know that you are impervious to facts and data and prefer baseless empty rhetoric.

How about their plethora of choice for broadband and cell services they have, that are not only faster but cheaper too.
Happydude32
Premium Member
join:2005-07-16

Happydude32

Premium Member

Re: Price is getting too high...

If you are that unhappy here in America, I suggest you find a country that suits you better.
Hylas
join:2001-06-30
Tempe, AZ

Hylas to Happydude32

Member

to Happydude32
This is the most disheartening thing I've ever read on the internet. I fear for the future of this planet.
CXM_Splicer
Looking at the bigger picture
Premium Member
join:2011-08-11
NYC

CXM_Splicer

Premium Member

Re: Price is getting too high...

said by Hylas:

This is the most disheartening thing I've ever read on the internet. I fear for the future of this planet.

I dunno, seems like conservative Republican product at its finest... after all, this is the direction they are taking the country. In fact it is SO fitting, I question the truthfulness of the post. Steve would obviously make a fine replacement for Rush when he finally retires.
Happydude32
Premium Member
join:2005-07-16

Happydude32 to Hylas

Premium Member

to Hylas
said by Hylas:

This is the most disheartening thing I've ever read on the internet. I fear for the future of this planet.

You know I fear? A future where people would rather steal then pay for the products and service they use.

»Am I a cord cutter if I never had a cord?
said by Hylas:

I've never had cable...although I could definitely afford it. I did look in to getting it when I moved recently so that I could watch my beloved Red Sox but my local cable company doesn't carry NESN. I ended up just getting a mlb.tv subscribtion and a roku. I torrent all the rest of the "cable" shows.

Typical liberal, always wanting something for nothing.
Expand your moderator at work
Terabit
join:2008-12-19

1 recommendation

Terabit to Happydude32

Member

to Happydude32

Re: Price is getting too high...

said by Happydude32:

Typical liberal, always wanting something for nothing.

Indeed, you mean like the realty that out of the 32 states that RECEIVE more than they contribute in federal taxes, 84% are Republican.

Whereas, out of the 18 states that Contribute more in taxes, 78% are Democrats
Terabit

1 recommendation

Terabit to Hylas

Member

to Hylas
Watch Idiocracy and you will see exactly where we are heading.

We are well on our way after 30 years of failed Reaganomics and Republicans latest war on knowledge, data, and facts.

youdaman
@spcsdns.net

youdaman to Albert71292

Anon

to Albert71292
Plus one million!

cork1958
Cork
Premium Member
join:2000-02-26

cork1958 to tkdslr

Premium Member

to tkdslr
My Charter bill has gone up 3 times just this year already!!

In Feb. it was $97.32 for tv and internet.

In March it went up to $102.72.

In May it went up to $104.32

In July it went up to $112.72.

This just for Expanded basic tv and the slowest speed internet, which they now only have 2 stupidly priced tiers, as they don't even offer the plan I'm on anymore. Not only do they NOT offer my speed for internet anymore, but the morons are actually FORCING people to use Charter modems! So, if I want to upgrade my internet, I will have to give up my brand new Zoom modem, which I own because Charter's newest firmware f***ed up my brand new SB6120 modem, and my cost will go up yet another $2.00!

If it wasn't for the wife, I'd have dropped tv years ago!! Easy to see why it's called an idiot box!! Most boring crap thing to do is set in front of a screen watching re-runs of the VERY FEW decent shows on tv now a days!!

As far as all those stupid storage wars, repo crap shows, dumb hillbillies catching animals shows, that's EXACTLY what I'm talking about as far VERY FEW decent shows to watch!! Those are as bad as Dancing with the Stars, WWE, and ANY other non reality show there is!!

ITALIAN926
join:2003-08-16

2 edits

2 recommendations

ITALIAN926

Member

Ridiculous

Why is this website, along with this article, exxagerate the numbers by not properly acknowleding telco adds !!!? Its not 400,000 ! Stop exaggerating to endorse your hidden agendas. Publicize the truth , or dont publicize it at all.

400,000 - 275,000= 125,000. Nobody at Reuters can subtract?

("Verizon Communications' FiOS TV and AT&T Inc's U-verse -- added 275,000 customers during the quarter.")

ArrayList
DevOps
Premium Member
join:2005-03-19
Mullica Hill, NJ

ArrayList

Premium Member

Re: Ridiculous

I'm pretty sure the title says Cable Industry. Verizon and AT&T are not part of the Cable Industry.

ITALIAN926
join:2003-08-16

1 recommendation

ITALIAN926

Member

Re: Ridiculous

Yes they are, what are you talking about? The misleading story even included Satellite in with the losses.

176k+169k= 345k , now add Satellite 52k+10k DTV and Dish respectively, and this gets the article to their 100% , intentionally misleading, 400K mark.

So, Cable and Satellite are part of the "cable industry", but FiOS and Uverse are not. OK buddy.

ArrayList
DevOps
Premium Member
join:2005-03-19
Mullica Hill, NJ

ArrayList

Premium Member

Re: Ridiculous

Headline isn't misleading. AT&T/Verizon are telecom companies, as that is their primary business. Satellite qualifies as a cable co, because they make their money on TV service just like Comcast, TWC, et al. That title is spot on.

from the reuters article:

directv: -52k
comcast: -176k
twc: -169k
dish: -10k

(-52k)+(-176k)+(-169k)+(-10k) = 407k loss customers across the entire tv service market.

vpoko
Premium Member
join:2003-07-03
Boston, MA

1 recommendation

vpoko

Premium Member

Re: Ridiculous

Really, though, the distinction is meaningless. The pertinent point is how many people are paying for TV. You're not "cutting the cord" if you switch to TV service through a telecom. Still a net loss even with the telecom adds, but not as spectacular as without.

ITALIAN926
join:2003-08-16

ITALIAN926 to ArrayList

Member

to ArrayList
Its 100% misleading. If you thinking a customer going from cable/satellite to TelcoTV is "cutting the cord" I suggest you go back to facebook and hang out there.
jeffreydean1
join:2010-05-31

jeffreydean1 to ITALIAN926

Member

to ITALIAN926
I think it's adorable how you jump like a little monkey into every talk of cable TV to defend your old fashioned archaic method of entertainment. It's 2012. Get over it, buddy.

••••••
The Truth6
join:2012-07-31

The Truth6 to ITALIAN926

Member

to ITALIAN926
Yeah, a $150 cable package with HDDVR service / video on every TV in your home / wireless internet on multiple devices and unlimited nationwide home phone REALLY DOES SOUND EXPENSIVE at @ $5 per day for multiple people in an average household. For a family of 5 thats $1 per person for 24 hours of entertainment and service - wow what a back breaker. For something that you use everyday from the time you wake up until the time that you fall asleep tell me what a better value would be?

Ok, you cut corners and saved $10, $40 or $75 monthly - so what? Your not being ripped off, your just wanting todays technology for 1982 prices. How much in 1982 were your groceries? I'm sure they have not risen and are the same prices today. You wont stress about a single unlimited smartphone bill at $150 per month but the cable providers are the one's ripping you off? Give me a break and at least put some effort into your complaining.

•••
Terabit
join:2008-12-19

Terabit to ITALIAN926

Member

to ITALIAN926
Watching TV on someone else's schedule (Broadcast television) is dying and that is the reality. People might be signing up to FIOS or U-Verse, but that is mainly due to cheap introductory deals.

Once those are over and their rates rise above that of even legacy cable, the TV component will be the first to go. Most love their higher data speeds and if they are going to chose, will not part with this.

••••••

pnh102
Reptiles Are Cuddly And Pretty
Premium Member
join:2002-05-02
Mount Airy, MD

pnh102

Premium Member

Is it Net Losses Across the Whole Industry?

I cut the cord on Cable TV due to the price being too high but I still wonder if this a net loss of subscribers, or did most of these people simply switch to another provider that offered a better promotional deal?

For example, say Comcast was charging you $150 a month for a TV/Internet Bundle but then you found a promotional TV/Internet Bundle from Verizon for $100 a month. Someone who switches from Comcast to Verizon under those circumstances would be counted in subscriber losses for Comcast but that person isn't a cord-cutter either.

•••••••••••••••••••

JimMcCoy
join:2011-08-20
Midlothian, VA

JimMcCoy

Member

Price competition is fast road to going out of business.

Competing on price is an inexhorable march towards going out of business. Fixed, variable and sunk costs don't go away, no matter what consumers think. Additionally, for-profit businesses are not in the business of operating to break-even; hence the name for-profit.

Just food for thought.

••••••••

JE
JE 's BACK BABY
Premium Member
join:2000-12-15
Charlotte, NC

JE

Premium Member

CABLEVISION

IT'S CALL ECONOMICS 101! You can't always cave and lower your prices to what Company A and B has....If you want to STAY IN BUSINESS.

When I worked at Cablevision, they absolutely refused to give away any discounts at Customer Service. When a customer threatens to cancel, they'd be xferred to cancellations and the hold time over there would be up an an hour or more.
I like CV business policies. Kept those bonuses coming at the end of the year.

I know of no other company that gives CSR's bonuses.

JE

••••••••
OC Josh
join:2012-01-24

OC Josh

Member

I thought so too

Cable channel listing are not better than my over the air here in Los Angeles market where I can get more than 120 channels OTA. Cable industry is not friendly with fees at consumers in anyway they could.

I have OTA + DirecTV Ultra with Vietnamese pack, all channels I got are so clear compared to cable.

I also had Dish before, definitely won't go with cable for now.

tshirt
Premium Member
join:2004-07-11
Snohomish, WA

tshirt

Premium Member

Re: I thought so too

said by OC Josh:

Cable channel listing are not better than my over the air here in Los Angeles market where I can get more than 120 channels OTA. Cable industry is not friendly with fees at consumers in anyway they could.

Glad that works for you but that sort of OTA coverage is rare, and getting rarer.
And Isn't DirecTV a paid provider, ie not greatly different than any of the CATV providers (Satellite TV is more or less the same thing, with out the wires)
john262
join:2003-09-26
Elko, NV

john262

Member

Re: I thought so too

Yes that kind of coverage is rare. I get 16 OTA channels in my rural community, about half in HD . But as far as I'm concerned that's enough. I can remember when people were satisfied with only four or five OTA channels and that's it. Too many people today are spoiled. You don't need 500 channels whether you think so or not.

FFH5
Premium Member
join:2002-03-03
Tavistock NJ

FFH5

Premium Member

Basic subscriber losses bad in long term; but OTA death good

Revenue keeps going up due to remaining users subscribing to higher tiers and voice bundles, but eventually the loss of basic users will hurt the providers - less users to up sell to the higher tiers.

One bright light on the horizon, however, is that the govt and the FCC seem intent on killing off OTA TV. A lot of people that dropped basic cable and Sat company TV are using OTA to keep getting all the local TV stations content. If that option disappears, the providers could start regaining customers.

••••••
AndyDufresne
Premium Member
join:2010-10-30
Chanhassen, MN
Ubiquiti EdgeRouter ERPro8
Netgear R7000

AndyDufresne

Premium Member

The sat/cable/telco video pie is getting smaller.

The thought before was that folks were just jumping from one video provider to another but that is not the case any more. Pretty much for last 6-8 quarter you are seeing decrease in total numbers. Blame housing or crappy ecconomy but what is worse for big video corp. is that you have a entire generation of younger viewers who are not even considering signing up for video services. That is a big problem for all the big video corps.

•••••

PeteC2
Got Mouse?
MVM
join:2002-01-20
Bristol, CT

1 recommendation

PeteC2

MVM

Nothing new here...everything changes/morphs

In the entertainment/information sector, technology constanrtly shifts the paradigm on how folks get their media content.

Newspapers had their day...now struggle to retain a niche market
"National" broadcast networks found their once virtual monopoly shattered by cable...satellite...now internet...
Cable TV as well as satellite now find they are less relevant than before.

I think that it is safe to assume that content providers will remain a much more varied bunch of sources and perhaps even continue to spread out. Future content providers will need to be probably a lot "smaller" and faster to adapt to technological changes.

Yes...it is the price...but really, it is much more than just that, it is also the delivery system itself.
cableguy619
Premium Member
join:2003-06-24
Chula Vista, CA

cableguy619

Premium Member

Re: Nothing new here...everything changes/morphs

said by PeteC2:

In the entertainment/information sector, technology constanrtly shifts the paradigm on how folks get their media content.

Newspapers had their day...now struggle to retain a niche market
"National" broadcast networks found their once virtual monopoly shattered by cable...satellite...now internet...
Cable TV as well as satellite now find they are less relevant than before.

I think that it is safe to assume that content providers will remain a much more varied bunch of sources and perhaps even continue to spread out. Future content providers will need to be probably a lot "smaller" and faster to adapt to technological changes.

Yes...it is the price...but really, it is much more than just that, it is also the delivery system itself.

well put
morph69
join:2001-09-03
Penetanguishene, ON

morph69

Member

Re: Nothing new here...everything changes/morphs

A quote I remember well from a media studies course i took in high school

»en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Th ··· _message

The medium is the message
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
"The medium is the message" is a phrase coined by Marshall McLuhan meaning that the form of a medium embeds itself in the message, creating a symbiotic relationship by which the medium influences how the message is perceived.

The phrase was introduced in his most widely known book, Understanding Media: The Extensions of Man, published in 1964.[1] McLuhan proposes that a medium itself, not the content it carries, should be the focus of study. He said that a medium affects the society in which it plays a role not only by the content delivered over the medium, but also by the characteristics of the medium itself.
McLuhan frequently punned on the word "message" changing it to "mass age", "mess age", and "massage"; a later book, The Medium is the Massage was originally to be titled The Medium is the Message, but McLuhan preferred the new title which is said to have been a printing error.

Tax Payer
@myvzw.com

Tax Payer

Anon

Why we must complain?

I'm not agreeing with high price's, but why is it we dont complain when the local store raise's there price's, the cost of food, gas, health care, dental, vision, insurance, everything and anything, price goes up year after year after year, do you think cable, satellite, telco, get discounts from major networks, cable networks,they all have bills them selves, fuel for their trucks, health benefits, manufacturer parts to keep their networks running, pay raise's if any, and of course even local & property tax's, think about how much any item that cost goes up month after month & year after year, and break it down, for the value of the cost, then you have the right to complain.

KrK
Heavy Artillery For The Little Guy
Premium Member
join:2000-01-17
Tulsa, OK
Netgear WNDR3700v2
Zoom 5341J

KrK

Premium Member

Re: Why we must complain?

said by Tax Payer :

I'm not agreeing with high price's, but why is it we dont complain when the local store raise's there price's, the cost of food, gas, health care, dental, vision, insurance, everything and anything, price goes up year after year after year,

Umm... What country to you live in?

Believe me, people are complaining!

This site is dedicated to Broadband/Telecom, so that's why this site focusing on THOSE industries.
tmc8080
join:2004-04-24
Brooklyn, NY

tmc8080

Member

wait a decade..

little innovation, higher prices, taxes, fees, rentals...

sound like another industry ready to close down?

cable service = tower records of the video business-- the most investment in a stale business model which does NOT evolve (BILLIONS put at risk). least you forget.. subscribership only rakes in several hundred million dollars, but then you add the muck or advertising which is shared among the distrbution and reselling partners (content providers, resellers, franchising autorities), and that total puts revenue at a multi BILLION dollar industry.. all down the drain for millions of consumers who will catch wise & choose the internet's freebies over subscriptions..

no doubt as this gets worse (for them) they will try to put in place roadblocks similar to that of the RIAA/MPAA have already done & tried with mixed results..

Rver
@myvzw.com

Rver

Anon

Best thing about this country is:

Free speech & the ability to CANCEL your service, if you dont like it, or how much your paying, instead of complaining to the world, do something about it, Cancel your service, shop around for the best deal, when the best deal goes up, cancel and shop again, evolution , everything will change.
brawney
Premium Member
join:2002-03-02
Frederick, MD

brawney

Premium Member

Re: Best thing about this country is:

said by Rver :

Free speech & the ability to CANCEL your service, if you dont like it, or how much your paying

For now, until they start treating it like health care and tell us all we must buy it or pay a fine/tax.
tmc8080
join:2004-04-24
Brooklyn, NY

tmc8080 to Rver

Member

to Rver
Sometimes, cancelling one service: video or phone in a triple play bundle will have you paying basically the same or MORE for single or dual play.. Verizon is the apparently the worst at this price gouging tactic.

Example: you can pay $80 - $85 for internet only 50/25, or for $40 more for dual play phone + internet.. for $50 more (sure, the bundle is $99, but by the time your done w/ taxes rental & fees it's $130ish) you can have triple play... now there's the kicker.. if you drop phone or video, it doesn't payoff.. so you have to drop both for any savings to be realized since single & dual play is so sky-high priced (relatively speaking). Then again, you can save $35-40 more going with cablevision's 50/8 instead in most of NY Metro.

Just beware of Verizon... reporting good wall street subscriber numbers is more important than refunding a customer's overpayment made in good faith (non-prorated statement balance). While FIOS is mostly great, the people who work in billing and the back-office stink on ice (deserve to be FIRED!). This is the second time I've had issues cancelling with them, so.. 2/2.

FLATLINE
join:2007-02-27
Buffalo, NY

FLATLINE

Member

Pathetic

Annoying retransmission feuds? More like pathetic feuds.
HiDesert
join:2008-08-17

HiDesert

Member

Re: Pathetic

said by FLATLINE:

Annoying retransmission feuds? More like pathetic feuds.

With rates going up in the end due to channel bundling and carriages extorted. I'm sick of those supporting these price hikes. It only exists because of millions spent in lobbying. The hikes far exceed the rate of inflation. Laws of free markets and competition do not apply to these guys. The only means of protest left to the consumer is to cut the cord.
xrobertcmx
Premium Member
join:2001-06-18
White Plains, MD

xrobertcmx

Premium Member

Odd

We have FIOS, supposedly 25/25 internet and the Extreme HD or something package. I have no idea how many channels, but total we pay about $120 a month with the HD DVR and HD box. Both are on the way out thanks to the HD Homerun Prime, so that will knock $30 off the bill. It's not too bad, but Verizon seems to think I will pay more. If my wife didn't watch half the shows another post listed the TV portion would have been gone a long time ago. Between OTA, Netflix DVD service, Amazon Prime, and Hulu who needs it. Until they start metered billing.

Regulus
@sbcglobal.net

Regulus

Anon

High Price of Cable

I've been without Pay TV since January of 2007. I decided to "Cut the Cord" after seeing an "ED Pill" commercial aired during a Children's Show! Haven't missed it since then. I was spending $65.00 a month when I cancelled my service (Today it would cost me nearly TWICE that), and I used the money I saved to get my Entertainment needs on Home Video. Since doing this I have accumulated over 30,000 Hours of TV Shows, Movies and Other Programming, enought to last the remainder of my life!
15444104 (banned)
join:2012-06-11

15444104 (banned)

Member

Re: High Price of Cable

[b]

The best way to send the message is to have large numbers of customers cancel en mass over a short period of time.

It that would happen, there would be significant changes that would benefit the customer.

Honestly I think it IS already happening but the industry refuses to acknowledge it because the shareholders only care about the last extra penny they make.

If the service providers continue on this course of REFUSING to see the depressed economy that a large share of their customers are facing they will lose most of their base.

Regulus
@sbcglobal.net

Regulus

Anon

Re: High Price of Cable

"What is best needed is for customers to cancel their service en masse"

Believe me, this is going to happen SOON. All these "Retransmission Fees" along with the HUGE amounts of money the Sports Networks are paying for the "Rights" to transmit Major Sporting Events will be passed on to customers in what may very well be the biggest rate increases ever. This will only cause more subscribers to decide paying for TV is no longer worth it, ESPECIALLY in today's messed up economy. Consequentially the number of subscribers will continue to decrease, and The Networks will find themselves left behind holding the commercials.
sludgehound
join:2007-03-12
New York, NY

sludgehound

Member

Wow lota gonners

Been cord cut for few TWC years now. Didn't realize the channel changes since then! I mean the BBC, bad enough to lose much of IFC indy films. Currently in State of Poed over stupid $4 month modem feel. Dirty dogs.