| Comcast Screws Basic Cable Subscribers So yesterday I went to the channel guide to see what was on and I was greeted by a blue screen that reads:
TV Guide Network
has moved to Comcast
digital service.
Call Comcast at
1-800-COMCAST
for details on how to
upgrade to digital service.
What?! No channel guide?
For a company earning record profits this is a greedy manipulative move designed to 'force' people to upgrade to a more expensive service.
I was feeling good about Comcast until yesterday. I enjoy my basic plus cable and my high speed connection. Now I hate them again.
If Comcast manipulates customers like this suddenly Net Neutrality becomes more important than ever. Do the math. If some greedy executive decides to put money over service then there will be no stopping them. |
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Phugg
join:2004-09-30
Riverbank, CA | So what will you do in a couple years when ALL cable operators will be FORCED by the government to go ALL digital ??????????
Yes that means a BOX on every TV that you want to recieve a picture on. Oh and yes it give the company the ability to wire tap your phone , transport streaming video to the FBI (via the cameras in every box) and also watch the way you relax on your TV in longire and workboots. |
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 CableToolPoorly Representing MYSELF.Premium
join:2004-11-12 | said by Phugg: relax on your TV in longire and workboots. WTFBBQTINYCAMERAINMYBOX!YOUSPIES!
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CableFAQ.org
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| Your lucky to have it for so long. I can't remember the last time I saw one of those ancient things. I remember the joys of turning to the TV Guide channel in time to just miss my channel & waste 2-3 mins for it to come back. *sigh* Those were the days. |
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 gar187erI do this for a living
join:2006-06-24
Dover, DE
kudos:1 | reply to NotComcastic
use the channel lineup in the moring paper if you need, like back in the day....oh wait that cost .35 an issue....never mind.... |
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| reply to NotComcastic
You've got cable modem, go to tvplanner.net. Get with the times, analog cable is shrinking . . .
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To get back on your feet, miss two car payments. |
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| reply to NotComcastic
I have a HDTV with HD DVR MOTO DCT6412 plus a DVR on my PC using "Yahoo Go For Tv" for my EPG on there but in my bedroom I have a small little 20" with no EPG and I haven't checked it for this issue yet.I agree they`re railroading customers into a more expensive package!They also will not turn on the premium channels such as the HBO east and Cinemax east and some other premium channel and they list it on the ch card? |
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| reply to NotComcastic
I'm assuming you are in WA State because this is just happening recently here.
Now, you do know that Enhanced Cable is only $! more than what you're paying for Basic.
For your $1/month or $0.03/day you get 100% digital quality, digital music, OnDemand, an Interactive Programming Guide, oh and yeah, the TV Guide channel, too. |
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| said by bcunningh:I'm assuming you are in WA State because this is just happening recently here. Now, you do know that Enhanced Cable is only $! more than what you're paying for Basic. For your $1/month or $0.03/day you get 100% digital quality, digital music, OnDemand, an Interactive Programming Guide, oh and yeah, the TV Guide channel, too. Let me ask this, why is it that some markets have TV Guide Network only on the digital tier? And do you still receive the local version or the one DTV has(national with not grid listings at the bottom)?
Is the purpose to increase digital penetration? |
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| said by Georgiaboy:Let me ask this, why is it that some markets have TV Guide Network only on the digital tier? And do you still receive the local version or the one DTV has(national with not grid listings at the bottom)? Is the purpose to increase digital penetration? IMO, it doesn't make any sense to have tv guide network on the digital tier, as the box has tv listings that are actually useful. Besides the listings, there is a negligible amount of useful content on the station. All examples that I have seen carry the local version of the listings.
One purpose may well be to increase digital penetration, but when you think about it, those sorts of channels have really outlived their usefulness. Back when there were only 30-40 channels a scrolling guide made sense, but with so many ways to get listings at no additional cost it probably makes sense to free up bandwidth for something people actually watch. For those without internet access, newspaper subscriptions, or access to those free tv listing mags available at many supermarkets, the loss of this channel is a valid complaint, however.
In my area, the scrolling guide has been gone for at least 5 years.
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Jay: What the @#$% is the internet??? |
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 imrfPremium
join:2002-06-06
Utica, MI | reply to Phugg
said by Phugg:So what will you do in a couple years when ALL cable operators will be FORCED by the government to go ALL digital ?????????? Nothing, since the government isn't forcing the cable operators to do anything. They can have analog channels for 20 more years if they want to. |
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| reply to PaulHikeS2
said by PaulHikeS2:In my area, the scrolling guide has been gone for at least 5 years. Same here, and good riddance. It scrolled too slow and was a waste of bandwidth. I wish they'd take some more pointless analog off so we can finally get a half decent HD lineup. Who needs a TV guide channel when the Cable Box guide is at YOUR control, not the mercy of a slow scrolling guide. Plus there's the internet and magazines at the store for you non digital subs. You don't have to subscribe to digital classic just to have a box either. You can get a box with your regular 70+ channel lineup, plus get the bonuses of an on screen guide, on demand access (many which is free) and a few free in the clear channels in the 100+'s. |
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patspub
join:2005-02-10
Philadelphia, PA | reply to NotComcastic
Where are you located??? By the way I believe they also did this in Bensalem, PA. Can anyone confirm this who lives there. |
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 Greg_ZPremium
join:2001-08-08
Springfield, IL | reply to Phugg
said by Phugg:So what will you do in a couple years when ALL cable operators will be FORCED by the government to go ALL digital ????????? Sorry, you are wrong on that. CATV companies are not being forced by the Gov't to go completly digital. It is more cost effective for the CATV companies to go all Digital, due to they can fit more channels into the bandwith of one channel, but only two HDTV in the same as one Analog.
This has been discussed extensively.
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I threw out the map a long time ago. Now I follow my own direction! |
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Reviews:
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| Yeah Analog's not going away completely, I think eventually Cable will just offer less and less analog. It will probably be much like Verizon Fios, where the first 30 channels are so are available in analog, but a digital box will pull in the simulcast of those plus everything else. That way they still can 'compete' with Satellite and OTA saying you don't need a box for basic service on non-digital TVs |
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CableToolPoorly Representing MYSELF.Premium
join:2004-11-12 | reply to NotComcastic
Yeah, Progress and inovation SUCK. Especially when it inconveniences people.
DAM I wish I could still watch 2 stations in black and white on a 12 inch screen.
Ahh the good ole days..
"'Nother Martini Ethel... and fetch my sweater vest, its chilly!"
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fiberguyMy views are my own.Premium
join:2005-05-20
kudos:3 | reply to NotComcastic
said by NotComcastic :
If Comcast manipulates customers likethis suddenly Net Neutrality becomes more important than ever.
Another child left behind... what does this co-called net neutrality (which is not existant even now) have to do with video? Television is anything but neutral.
Based on the 1st amendment, I really doubt you will ever see government in control of what we see and where.
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dsf72
join:2005-09-20
Watertown, MA | reply to Greg_Z
The FCC is making all cable companies be digital but there will be tv's with a digital tuners in theem by this time so people still will not be forced to have a box |
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| said by dsf72:The FCC is making all cable companies be digital but there will be tv's with a digital tuners in theem by this time so people still will not be forced to have a box Please, enough with the misinformation. PLEASE do not post incorrect information about subjects you know nothing about.
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| reply to dsf72
said by dsf72:The FCC is making all cable companies be digital but there will be tv's with a digital tuners in theem by this time so people still will not be forced to have a box Only "Broadcast Networks" will have to "broadcast" in digital. You know, those cable of being received OTA. Cable companies can still downconvert these to analog using analog converter boxes. This has nothing to do with cable companies, though it is, to an extent, a cable companies best interest to phase out analog. |
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