US Cable Support > Comcast Cable TV > Can I request another channel for a fee?

reply to Obliteration

Re: Can I request another channel for a fee?

If satellite works in your situation, go for it. Big trees and a lengthy contract prevent me from switching over.

I always see heavy advertising for Dish and DirecTV, but their latest commercials are not too flattering. One of them talks about the "lies" about rain fade and quotes an up time average of just under 97%. It was over 12 days of interrupted service, one day of total outage per month! That seems really high to me, and I've had both Dish and DirecTV, albeit in a southern state (Austin, TX) with below average rainfall. Regardless, those are statistics that I would certainly never use as a boastful marketing ploy.

Also, the latest $29.99 deal claims you get an HD receiver for free OR a PVR. So make sure they give you the right price for setting up all of your televisions with HD and digital recorders before you commit to anything.

There are lots of things to consider. But if you are talking a couple of standard TV's with no HD or digital recorders, cable may not be your best option. Another thing to keep in mind is the discount you get for you online services. Internet by itself is $15 more with either available speed tier. At least in my area; $42.95/$52.95 with TV or Phone service and $57.95/$67.95 for HSI only. So in my case, that $30 satellite package effectively increases to $45.

I switched to Dish Network as well. I get great service... no outages (and we have had a few bad storms here), more HD (and don't talk about HD-lite crap because I can't notice any difference), and lower prices. Much lower, in fact. For the top package, two DVRs (one HD and one SD), HD package, and locals my monthly bill is $80, which covers all four TVs in the house. And all the TVs have DVR!

I was paying over $120 for comparable service with Comcast. Add on HSI and that's well over $150.

reply to Obliteration
I have had Dish Network HD since August 2004 and am leaving Dish next month when my 18 month HD commitment is
over. I was paying Dish $137 a month and switched to Fios
for $101 per month for better programming. The Dish basic
package for $29.99 does not include locals or regional
sports networks. The comparable Dish package to basic
cable is $39.99 a month plus you have to pay a satellite receiver fee for every TV. With cable you only pay a fee
for TVs with set top boxes. The Dish HD fee is $20 a month
which is the highest in the industry and it is not worth it. So if you take the basic Dish package of $39.99 and
add $20 for HD, you are already at $60 per month plus
satellite receiver and DVR fees.

When switching make sure you are getting all the channels
that you actually want. Where I live, Dish did not give
me CSN, YES or SNY in SD or HD. Fios gave me all three in HD and Comcast does the same in my area. Dish does not
have CSN Chicago in HD.