 bmn? ? ?Premium,ExMod 2003-06
join:2001-03-15
hiatus |  Funny, had these goons...
--
root by day... raver by night...
fluorine.org : MBA = Masters of Being an Ass | |
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 | wtansillNcc1701
join:2000-10-10
Falls Church, VA | Re: Funny, had these goons... How very odd. All the baby bells are poor-mouthing -- competition's killing them, they're up to their eyeballs in debt, must have regulatory relief [choke, gasp]. Oh -- lookee here -- I have an extra 10 Billion in my pocket after all -- let's see if I can't buy a new toy... [coff, wheeze].
--
That which does not kill me merely prolongs the agony. | |
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| | bmn? ? ?Premium,ExMod 2003-06
join:2001-03-15
hiatus | Re: Funny, had these goons... Yeah, it is kind of weird huh? This is the same company that announced record profits and then two weeks later laid off several thousand jobs... | |
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| | | | |  Re: Funny, had these goons...
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| | | | | |  Re: Funny, had these goons...
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| | | Actually, I am very interested in SBC purchasing DirecTV. I am a DirecTV subscriber for many years and I believe SBC ownership is for sure better than Rupert Murdoch. At one point there was a distinct possibility that Murdoch would buy DirecTV. I understand that he runs quite the oppressive company from an editorial standpoint. Just because he is Australian does not mean he has his head screwed on straight.
Word is that Charlie Ergen is selling Echostar to Murdoch only because it would be worse for him if Echostar bought DirecTV. A bit of a sell-out, but he is cashing-in. Most subscribers won't even care.
But if you think it won't matter, look at what has happened to CNN now that Ted has lost control. Talk about Gag! Sensational, near right-wing "news-tainment".
Bottom line is that when the rumor was floating that Murdoch was looking to buy DirecTV, I started looking at Echostar. Now that we know DirecTV is courting SBC (or is it visa-versa), I am more comfortable with staying with DirecTV.
Last point: Note that DirecTV and Time Warner cannot really be compared because Time Warner creates content while DirecTV distributes content. Granted, distribution is analogous to filtering, but I assert that SBC, DirecTV, and even AOL are more similar than different. The reason the AOL/TW merger failed is that ad revenue AOL was banking on fell through because of the big burst.
Rant-rave-rant-rave... | |
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| | | | Re: Funny, had these goons... said by Tom Lewis:
Look at what has happened to CNN now that Ted has lost control. Talk about Gag! Sensational, near right-wing "news-tainment".
CNN is right wing!? You must be joking! | |
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| | | jlehew
join:2003-02-07
Gurnee, IL | Re: Funny, had these goons... Look at what has happened to CNN now that Ted has lost control. Talk about Gag! Sensational, near right-wing "news-tainment".
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CNN is right wing!? You must be joking!
They arent as far left as they used to be. Simply because they finally realized the American public didnt want the left wing propaganda. Their ratings were slumping big-time. | |
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| | | | Wow.. CNN right wing?? What a loony idea. They are
know as the Clinton News Network! 
Three cheers for SBC!!!
Z | |
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| |
 ArchivisYour DaddyPremium
join:2001-11-26
Earth
kudos:17
 ·Verizon FiOS
| Please don't do it! SBC, no! You're one of the few telecom companies left with a bit of reputation to them. Don't you look at your history?
DirecTV = media
SBC = Internet/Telecomm
Time Warner = media
AOL = Internet
Media + Internet = failure
Don't let your greed of acquiring all these customers and a big frontier blind you from the sinking ship that's going to bring you down.
please!
--
Hitman Forums | The Internet Hitman | BBR RPG Project | |
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|  djrobx
join:2000-05-31
Valencia, CA | Re: Please don't do it! Like there's better synergy between DirecTV and an auto manufacturer ... 
Whoa, wasn't expecting this one.
-- Rob | |
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| | ArchivisYour DaddyPremium
join:2001-11-26
Earth
kudos:17 | Re: Please don't do it! Heh, I guess you have a good point. | |
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| | | | said by djrobx:
Like there's better synergy between DirecTV and an auto manufacturer ...
Whoa, wasn't expecting this one.
-- Rob
No, there was better synergy between a Satellite TV provider and an aerospace company. | |
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|  SKYHNLu.. Lu.. LulululuPremium
join:2001-09-16
99999 | You forgot one important thing though...
Aol is not the internet.
 | |
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| |  Jim GurdPremium
join:2000-07-08
Plymouth, MI | Re: Please don't do it! said by SKYHN:
You forgot one important thing though...
Aol is not the internet.
Sure they are. Just ask a typical AOL user and they'll set you straight. | |
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| | | | | Re: Please don't do it! You forgot one important thing though...
Aol is not the internet.
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Sure they are. Just ask a typical AOL user and they'll set you straight.
___________________________________________________________
haha...very true | |
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| kaila
join:2000-10-11
Lincolnshire, IL | About your internet-media analogy, SBC is already moving that direction by partnering with Yahoo. A mere baby step when compared with AOL-TW merger however. | |
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| | | I would not equate DirecTV with Time Warner. DirecTV is more of a conduit to media not a media producer like how Time Warner is. | |
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| | | | Re: Please don't do it! said by supertbone:
I would not equate DirecTV with Time Warner. DirecTV is more of a conduit to media not a media producer like how Time Warner is.
Time warner is both a conduit and a producer of media. Furthermore, the companies operate somewhat separately, sometimes having conflicts of interests. For example, Warner Bros Records sells music. Time Warner Cable sells Road Runner internet services, which advertises that you can download music.
Other companies operate like this, like Sony - Sony Records sells music, and Sony makes CD-RW, DVD-RW and MP3 players. | |
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|  odogCable Centric Vendor BiasedPremium,VIP
join:2001-08-05
Atlanta, GA
kudos:5
 ·Comcast
| nice;)
what i find strange among other things, how many years ago did they sell all their cable systems? they just got rid of 300,000 cable customers. god knows how many homes passed!
--
disclaimer: my opinions are my own, my employer is not responsible. | |
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| | | SBC wants to provide a reason for people to purchase DSL. They're looking for some kind of content to drive people to spend the extra money. That's why they made the deal with Yahoo. Maybe they're looking for some kind of internet video here. | |
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 highhatsizeNorm, The Enourmous BassetPremium
join:2001-02-08
Spring, TX | Gag! Choke! Sputter!quote:
SBC, no! You're one of the few telecom companies left with a bit of reputation to them.
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 spewakR.I.P DadkinsPremium
join:2001-08-07
Elk Grove, CA
kudos:1 | Whaaaaaa!!! | |
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| rradina
join:2000-08-08
Chesterfield, MO | Re: Whaaaaaa!!! No -- the base satellite signal will be cheap. Channel numbers and a program guide will become an fee-based add-on.
There will also be about $25 of taxes added to your monthly bill but they'll be beyond the control of SBC even though the fees get funneled back to them by the government.
In the end, it will be terribly expensive.
Oh, I almost forgot. Viewing will be metered. You'll get 300 "anytime minutes" and unlimited night and week-end viewing. | |
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|  wolves01Premium
join:2002-11-21
Crystal Lake, IL | I'll cancel my DirecTV if this merger occurs. | |
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| | | | Re: Whaaaaaa!!! said by wolves01:
I'll cancel my DirecTV if this merger occurs.
I said the same thing about the Echostar merger, and it didn't happen. | |
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 KrKHeavy Artillery For The Little GuyPremium
join:2000-01-17
Tulsa, OK
 ·AT&T DSL Service
| This just gets suckier and Suckier. Man, I have a bad feeling I'm going to be SERIOUSLY wishing the Echostar/DTV Merger had gone thru in a few years. This is beginning to sound like a bad joke.
Murdoch buys Echostar. SBC Buys DirecTV.
So, then the choices for TV are between 1) Sucks, 2) Sucks, and 3) Sucks
Great. Wahoo. Joy. NOT.
--
"When the day comes that anyone can bend our country’s laws and lawmakers to serve selfish, competitive ends, that day democratic government dies" -- Preston Tucker, 1948 (Yep, it's dead.) | |
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|  drmorleyPremium,MVM
join:2000-12-20
Park Ridge, IL | Re: This just gets suckier and Suckier. I couldn't agree more. | |
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| | | said by KrK:
Man, I have a bad feeling I'm going to be SERIOUSLY wishing the Echostar/DTV Merger had gone thru in a few years. This is beginning to sound like a bad joke.
Murdoch buys Echostar. SBC Buys DirecTV.
So, then the choices for TV are between 1) Sucks, 2) Sucks, and 3) Sucks
Great. Wahoo. Joy. NOT.
I am certainly glad that it didn't. With all the recent outages and other weird stuff going on with DISH I am glad I have a choice (of not choosing them). | |
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| |
See 11 replies to this post |
| I'll Switch. I will be going to The Dish Network if they do.
I thought SBC was not making any money (yea right) and needed the FCC to give them relief. Suonds like they have plenty of money. Maybe the FCC should make them roll out broadband to every customer before they can by DirecTv
This is a mix made in hell just look at AOL-TimeWarner
then they will really be whining about not making any money.
--
There are many intelligent species in the universe. They are all owned by cats
[text was edited by author 2003-02-07 20:16:47] | |
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| | | Re: I'll Switch. So you're willing to tolerate outages, crappy PQ, downgrade fees and Dish's (lack of) customer service? Please, do yourself a favor and research before you make that jump. There is no way I am giving up my better PQ and DIrecTiVo to go to DISH. No freaking way. | |
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| |  belawrenceThey'll never let you in
join:2000-08-06
Santee, CA | Re: I'll Switch. Oh no, not again! | |
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| | | | I haven't ever had any outages. I also get programming on the Dish Network I have to pay extra for on DirecTV. I would rate my Echostar equipment better than the crappy RCA stuff I got when I signed up with DirecTv which actually gave off fire and smoke when it went out. My new Phillips DirecTv box is pretty good it has many more features.
I have both services so I know what I am talking about I have DirecTv during the week and The Dish Network on Weekend and Days off as I like away from home during the week.
Where DirecTv beats The Dish Network is sports coverage.
I have no comment on customer service as I have never needed to contact The Dish Network the service has been good. My wife has talked to them about getting their French Programming. So no problem. DirecTV Customer service is great. That is however where I would expect things to go to hell first if SBC bought it. I feel sure prices would rise and quality would suffer in SBCs' quest of more money which it lavish on it's executives.
--
There are many intelligent species in the universe. They are all owned by cats | |
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| | completely stupid sbc/ameritech sold off americast (cable tv unit of sbc) because they thought that there place was not in television and sold it to wideopenwest. now they want to get back into the tv buisness? what a joke, pathetic morons running a company and can't make there mind! | |
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| | | Re: completely stupid Here is an interesting quote from the press release when WideOpenWest purchased Ameritech New Media (aka Americast):
said by »www.wideopenwest.com/news/6-4-20···ny.html:
SBC has been trying to shed the cable properties it acquired with Ameritech while trying to get some return on the investment because being a cable provider “didn't fit with our business strategy,” said a company spokesman. That strategy doesn't preclude video and high-speed data; it just won't be done over conventional cable networks.
On a slightly different note, I will feel sorry for DirecTV customers if this deal goes through. SBC is running radio ads in Michigan, trying to gain public support for their regulatory efforts to allow them to sell long distance service in Michigan, by portraying AT&T & MCI as robbers from the wild west era. That is odd, since it costs me three times more to call Ann Arbor from my house via SBC currently than it does for me to call my parents in Florida via AT&T or MCI. Maybe it's just one of those competition things. | |
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| | Jim GurdPremium
join:2000-07-08
Plymouth, MI | Re: completely stupid said by J D McDorce:
. That is odd, since it costs me three times more to call Ann Arbor from my house via SBC currently than it does for me to call my parents in Florida via AT&T or MCI. Maybe it's just one of those competition things.
Actually, it has to do with the fact that intra state rates are higher than interstate ones due to the fact that instate calls are regulated by the Michigan Public Service Commission and interstate ones are not. In many cases it's cheaper to call Alaska or Hawaii than within the state of Michigan. | |
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| | | | | Re: completely stupid Regulated in the sense that the MPSC approves maximum allowable rates. | |
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| | | | | | Re: completely stupid The competition is charging higher rates too. This is the case in many states, no matter what carrier you choose for your IntraLATA calls. I used to work for AT&T and was familiar with the pricing of many carriers. In 90% of the states across the union it was more expensive than interstate calling. The only state that was cheaper was California. Some states, like yours, were as high as 3x the interstate price.
You could complain to the state commission if you feel strongly about it. | |
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| |  DonChicagoCopper-Free Last-Mile
join:2002-02-10
Lincolnshire, IL | said by J D McDorce:
On a slightly different note, I will feel sorry for DirecTV customers if this deal goes through. SBC is running radio ads in Michigan, trying to gain public support for their regulatory efforts to allow them to sell long distance service in Michigan, by portraying AT&T & MCI as robbers from the wild west era. That is odd, since it costs me three times more to call Ann Arbor from my house via SBC currently than it does for me to call my parents in Florida via AT&T or MCI. Maybe it's just one of those competition things.
SBC is running those ads here in Illinois too. They don't bother to tell you that they ALREADY get around half your LD revenue for the traffic to transit their network.
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My network is 98% copper-free | |
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| | JUST RELAX. Cant y'all read? There is no surety that SBC will buy DirecTV, according to the article, and I quote:
quote:
SBC HOLDS PRELIMINARY TALKS
SBC has been in active talks with DirecTV in recent weeks, but one source described the conversations as preliminary.
and this:
quote:
MURDOCH STILL IN THE PURSUIT
Murdoch, meanwhile, has made no secret of his interest in acquiring DirecTV to provide News Corp. with a U.S. component to its global satellite network, which stretches from Latin America to Europe to Australia.
He had been close to completing a deal to buying Hughes, but was then trumped by a bid by Hughes' archrival EchoStar at the 11th hour.
So it seems as though Charlie was quaking in his boots, as he knew that if Murdoch bought DirecTV, Echostar would be toast.
And by the way, the SBC talks are just preliminary talks, just as Charlie was having with Murdoch the other day. There are several suitors to buy DirecTV, so far I have heard News Corp, Liberty Media, Echostar (failed), GE and now SBC.
So just sit back and RELAX. Don't go ape like the idiots that switched when DISHonest retailers told them that Charlie bought DirecTV and was going to run them out of business.
Furthermore, I have one more reason that I would never give DISH my business, ever, especially since their ad appears on this racist, bigoted website. | |
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See 16 replies to this post |
|
 Thran
join:2002-01-05
Hibbing, MN | My 2 Cents Just my 2 cents.
Sbc is thinks it is mother bell. She is gathering all her children so she can be a family again. Disagree if you will but it sure looks like this metaphore to me. If I were a good artist I'd make a picture for you guys and gals. but unfortunitly a 3rd grader draws better then me.
Have a good one.
Thran | |
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| | It could be a good thing! I talked with the SBC ASI DSL development team in my state they said it could be a good merger! Think about it cable runs off satellites for it's feed and have a great ping time good for gaming, video conferencing, music, etc.. The tech said they have the knowledge and the funds of dsl you put that togeather with satellite or the use of there cellular towers you get fixed wireless awesome speeds and pings more suited for WiFi. I like the sound of this merger better than echostars it is giving people like me in rural areas a chance to get better broadband and tv! | |
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| Reviews:
·RoadRunner Cable
| Re: It could be a good thing! said by jeraldtko:
I talked with the SBC ASI DSL development team in my state they said it could be a good merger! Think about it cable runs off satellites for it's feed and have a great ping time good for gaming, video conferencing, music, etc..
Yep, cable gets the video/audio feed from satellite but all internet traffic stays on the ground, it does not go via satellite. It it went up to the sky you would be looking at >500ms pings or higher. | |
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 armyrebel4Dream ChaserPremium
join:2002-01-08
Springfield, IL | ? There aint no way in hell the FCC is going to allow that then it would be a monopoly in their eyes? Maybe I am wrong but that is just my opinion. Kind of wierd they are buying somthing when they were claiming that they have to do more layoffs?! | |
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| Re: ? said by armyrebel4:
There aint no way in hell the FCC is going to allow that then it would be a monopoly in their eyes? Maybe I am wrong but that is just my opinion. Kind of wierd they are buying somthing when they were claiming that they have to do more layoffs?!
No, it's called "vertical integration". Echostar and DirecTv would be a monopoly, but SBC would not, since it does not run a competing satellite TV service.
[text was edited by author 2003-02-08 11:57:21] | |
|
approval from:
odog 
| Forget about broadband upgrades! If such a merger goes through you can forget about ever getting VDSL/FTTC/FTTH in SBC areas, since the revenue justification for such an upgrade comes mainly from video service. | |
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| odogCable Centric Vendor BiasedPremium,VIP
join:2001-08-05
Atlanta, GA
kudos:5 Reviews:
·Comcast
| Re: Forget about broadband upgrades! said by Agent 86:
If such a merger goes through you can forget about ever getting VDSL/FTTC/FTTH in SBC areas, since the revenue justification for such an upgrade comes mainly from video service.
bye bye VOD:(
very good point!
--
disclaimer: my opinions are my own, my employer is not responsible. | |
|
| | SBC at the helm? Wow.. think its bad now for the DSS Hackers.. just wait SBC will have techs making lists of addresses as they do repair work on the phone systems of houses that have DirecTV dishes
just to check and see if they are in the subscription database! SBC/DirecTV will send out more letters to suspected hackers than ever... in case you don't know DirecTV already acts like the Gestapo.
SBC should stick to what they do best... whatever that is!
Raising prices, Trying to block people from buying access to their networks, Lobbying to be the only DSL provider in the states they serve.. I could go on.. but I think you've all heard it before! | |
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|  inciterNoobiePremium
join:2000-08-30
Rohnert Park, CA | Re: SBC at the helm? I see your point to some extent about DSSH but many homeowners have dishes that are inactive for many reasons. Also many homeowers my be paying for DTV and using a DSSH also. Why not just drive around and log every DTV dish you see that would be easy.
With the lack of a public P-4 hack at this time DTV mite look good to SBC. As for DSSH getting even more problems if SBC buys them out or merges the P-4 may go and anothor card mite come up that is DSSHable for the public.
SBC looks like a sound company and other than the Taxes we now don't have to pay vs cable I would welcome the merge.
If I keep getting digital local channels I'm happpy Cable-Comm can't do that for me. | |
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| | | | Re: SBC at the helm? Considering DTV history with H, then HU, it's only a matter of time before the P4 is hacked and then it's back to the drawing board. I hope SBC would consider DTV a hackable product long term, not matter how much $$$ is thrown at the issue. | |
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| |  New package deal?
--
"And I'm right. I'm always right, but in this case I'm just a bit more right than I usually am." - Linus Torvalds | |
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|  spgGrrrr
join:2001-10-31
NOT Texas! | Re: New package deal? I'm sure they could package up a bundle. Something similar to what they're doing with long distance and Cingular on the local phone bills now. Lot's of people like the simplicity of one bill.
But I think you people claiming that SBC says it doesn't have money but can buy Dish are missing the point. Dish is NOT regulated and many of SBC's holdings are. They do have money for investment. But they're looking for better returns on it than investing where they would be forced to share.
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Call Your CLEC after the Earthquake | |
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| | ayal5
join:2001-04-05
Brooklyn, NY | Re: New package deal? Sure lets see bundle local/ld /cellular/dsl/dtv all on one bill oh lets just call it $50/month plus $400 in fcc charges and taxes but hey we would all save money vs getting each one individually right? | |
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| | | spgGrrrr
join:2001-10-31
NOT Texas! | Re: New package deal? I'm not arguing saving money. I posted that a lot of people prefer one bill as opposed to several.
You can but meat at a butcher shop, produce at the green grocer, milk at a dairy, etc. You may even get better product. Nonetheless, most people prefer to go to a supermarket.
--
Call Your CLEC after the Earthquake | |
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| | | | | | Re: New package deal? I don't like this because just like Dish's Deal with earthlink, they use this to mask the fact that DSL isn't available. Nothing makes me more pissed off than when companies market a package deal down your throat and then not offer it. IF THIS HAPPENS, AND I SEE 1 ADD ABOUT A GREAT PACKAGE SAVINGS DEAL, THEN I WILL RUTHLESSLY TERRORIZE SBC/AMERICRAP FOR A WEEK. | |
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| | | | | | | DISH+Earthlink Oh great, the world's worst Satellite TV provider paired with the world's worst ISP. A match truly made in heaven. | |
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| | Not Again!!! Having personally lived through the sale of SecurityLink and New Media (Americast), I can't believe that they are buying or thinking of buying DirecTV. They sold SecurityLink at a huge loss as they did with New Media. They bought Sterling and can't sell it for anything. Stay focused on Telephony and crank up the stock price. | |
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| | | Re: Not Again!!! I thought they had to sell SecurityLink as part of the AIT merger, although I can't really remember what the deal was. | |
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 jay6082
join:2002-10-16
Crown Point, IN | Ah Crap.. | |
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| | YOU ALL ARE STUPID!!!! | |
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|  alchav
join:2002-05-17
Palm Desert, CA | Re: YOU ALL ARE STUPID!!!!
ALC | |
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| | Sat49 bid What ever happened to www.sat49.com they had a bid in for dtv for a while. They were made up of like ten partners that wanted to give a national free dish service and then charge premium for upper level channels | |
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| | And The Winner Is? Who will be the "White Knight" for DirecTv? If not SBC,then who? Why is GM/Hughes Electonics willing to part with DirecTV? Is Rupert Mudoch...the answer? Anybody else out there willing to persue DirecTv? Is SBC the solution...time will tell? It ain't over until is over!!! Do I agree with SBC...nope,however I will sit on the sideline waiting to see what will happen...then decide what my options will be. | |
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| | hmm I don't think so. I just saw in FORTUNE magazine that this famous old guy, I think either Rupert Murdoch or Rubert Murdoch, wants to buy DirecTV. He, and his company NEWS corp. helped to stop the merger before.... so that's just my $.02 worth.
--
RADEON 9700, 512 MB CORSAIR XMS PC2700, AMD ATHLON +1600 OC'd @ +2000, AUDIGY PLATINUM EX, KLIPSCH PROMEDIA 5.1 THX SPEAKERS ^_^! | |
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