Re: [CATV] Charter doing it to us again in Charter HSI/CATV http://www.dslreports.com/forum/r20757345 en Sat, 04 Jul 2009 21:44:51 EDT Sat, 04 Jul 2009 21:44:51 EDT Re: [CATV] Charter doing it to us again http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,20778028 sdante :
they just need to offer the ability to choose your channels
Won't happen any time soon, at least not until video on demand is the primary way of viewing TV shows. That way you can buy subscriptions to only the packages you want, just like Howard Stern and WWE are already doing.

Right now it's mainly due to the way the networks can twist the hands of cable and satellite operators. Think about it, Disney owns ABC/ABC Family, countless ESPN channels,, about 5 or 6 kids channels, Soapnet, lifetime, A&E, History/Biography plus more. Add that to Viacom's 20 or so channels and you're looking at half the channels on TV owned by two companies. They basically tell providers that they take it all or get nothing. For example, Charter wanted to move ABC Family to the digital tier in certain markets because of low viewership, but ABC threatened to pull the plug on ESPN if they did because digital tiers often have less viewers and therefor they can't make as much money from selling advertising time, lowering the value of the channel. Losing ESPN would be suicide for any provider, so ultimatly Charter kept ABC Family on the expanded lineup.

If and when everything is VOD, the networks will probably pay the cable companies to host their content, and the subscription cost will go directly to the network on a per-viewer basis. Either that or the cable companies will take a percentage of the subscription cost.

Won't happen in the next few years or anything, but with DVRs and internet streaming becoming more and more common, if it is going to happen it probably won't be more than a few decades.]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,20778028 Fri, 11 Jul 2008 21:44:23 EDT Re: [CATV] Charter doing it to us again http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,20768156 Axekick : I would encourage anyone not on digital to frequently phone and ask if there are any promotions available. A few months ago my expanded basic and 5 meg internet shot up in price from $58/month to over $100/month as my promotion ended. I called, complained(politely) and inquired and ended up with digital cable and 10 meg internet for $62/month on a 12 month promotion.]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,20768156 Thu, 10 Jul 2008 02:25:55 EDT Re: [CATV] Charter doing it to us again http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,20760887 anon : One of the reasons i don't pay for tv anymore. is the terrible choice of channels.. i watch maybe 10 channels ????? and yet you have to buy all these differant tier's because the channels you like are all on differant ones. they just need to offer the ability to choose your channels, until then im using HSI and watching my programs online]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,20760887 Tue, 08 Jul 2008 19:56:43 EDT Re: [CATV] Charter doing it to us again http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,20759313 drobi78 : I do not have a TV with a built-in QAM tuner so I decided to purchase a PC TV tuner that had it. I tested it this past weekend and picked up most of the non-premium digital channels. I even picked up several HD channels that were in the clear. Nothing was done on Charter's end to enable this. They could, however, begin to encrypt these channels at any time.]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,20759313 Tue, 08 Jul 2008 14:54:03 EDT Re: [CATV] Charter doing it to us again http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,20758180 pbarrow : Ok, I have this question about Digital.
If you currently have Analog Basic/Expanded and if you were to buy a new Digital TV that had a QAM tuner - then would you automatically receive the Digital Basic/Expanded channels? or would Charter still have to do something so that you could receive Digital Basic/Expanded channels?]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,20758180 Tue, 08 Jul 2008 11:38:13 EDT Re: [CATV] Charter doing it to us again http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,20757438 SyNiSt3r : Preach it BF. Charter might as well send letters saying
grab your ankles.
We havent had one Hd channel added to our lineup this year.
Other than those digital channels you spoke of happening charter hasnt done anything to "enhance my Charter experience".]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,20757438 Tue, 08 Jul 2008 08:22:27 EDT Re: [CATV] Charter doing it to us again http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,20757345 BF69 :
said by pbarrow See Profile :

Well I got a brochure in the mail from Charter.
"We're makein changes to enhance your Charter experience"
New channel lineup

They are moving TCM and Oxygen and Bravo - some fo the channels I watch the most frm the Analog tier to the digital tier.

That's sure not enhancing my Charter esperience since I'm on analog.

How about a price reduction for analog or provide digital Basic/Expanded for the same price as analog Basic/Expanded?
LOL. Price cut yeah right. Last year they moved G4 and GameShow Network to digital( well they didn't MOVE the channels, they just made them digital so you'd need a digital box to see them regardless ) and then moved We to the digital tier and then RAISED the price of expanded basic. Can anyone explain that logic?

Expect more of this as Charter tries to free up bandwidth to add HD channels. Hey if Charter wants to go all digital I really don't have an issue with that, but don't keep prices the same or worse RAISE them if you are providing LESS channels.]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,20757345 Tue, 08 Jul 2008 07:33:05 EDT Re: [CATV] Charter doing it to us again http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,20756462 drobi78 : Received the same today, but don't forget that we are getting 6 new HD channels ;-) I do not subscribe to the digital tier either but I have found a recent love for clear QAM.

On a side note, couldn't be too far from you pbarrow :-)]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,20756462 Mon, 07 Jul 2008 23:24:53 EDT [CATV] Charter doing it to us again http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,20756051 pbarrow : Well I got a brochure in the mail from Charter.
"We're makein changes to enhance your Charter experience"
New channel lineup

They are moving TCM and Oxygen and Bravo - some fo the channels I watch the most frm the Analog tier to the digital tier.

That's sure not enhancing my Charter esperience since I'm on analog.

How about a price reduction for analog or provide digital Basic/Expanded for the same price as analog Basic/Expanded?]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,20756051 Mon, 07 Jul 2008 21:42:38 EDT