Being hosed?

[mr_yeti]

Just wanted to get some opinions on this. Last night I called TWC to change my service from the too-pricey digital package to the analog + HD channels package. I was told my new package (only channels 1-100, plus the icontrol and on demand junk) would still be around $50! When I asked, the CSR said it was still considered a digital package because I want to keep the box. I have requested a list of channels included in the $39.95 digital package they've been hawking lately, but I wanted some input from anyone here who has tried to do the same thing.

It seems to me that I am paying (in the form of the $39.95 for the cheapest digital package) for the privelige of paying to rent the box, and I don't like it one bit.

[Greg Oman]

I've been looking at moving my in-laws to HD using TWC as they recently got digital cable, and a new box.  They were at $50 a month as well.  All I need to do is exchange the box they got for a 3100 and then they just need to buy a HD monitor--- we'll get right on that......

Personally, I think this is expensive, however there's something to be said for having one feed line for everything.  Assuming you're in a good reception area, you alternative it to put up your own antenna and go with a DirectTV package, which will set you back $39 a month for Total Choice and the local analog channels if you choose that.  Then if you get a Hughes E86, you can plug that antenna into it for OTA of local HD.  I don't forsee convincing my in-laws of this route, although we did convince my parents to go this way at their home in Eagle.

You have two choices as I see it, rent or buy.  So for about $10 a month difference, you get payback on a satellite package somewhere around 3 years and more.  Short of that, cable is less expensive.

What is the time value of your money?

Greg O.

[mr_yeti]

I'm already planning on switching to DirecTV, but need to hold off on that until June at the earliest, which is when I move into my own home (I am currently a renter of both real estate and an HD box). I just don't like paying $50 for what amounts to almost nothing, even over the short-term. I can't wait to get rid of this damn SA box. And I'm not a Road Runner user (DSL for me, thanks), so I can just cut TW off altogether in the near future. That's going to feel good.

[The Law]

There's an awful lot of TWC bashing going on as of late.  Just thought I'd let fellow TW folks out there know that I, for one, have an enjoyable experience with TWC.  Customer service is fantastic.  Upgrading to the 3100 box was a breeze.  I just had an issue with tiling and blocking on one channel.  A quick call to Customer Service (on hold for less than 2 minutes) produced a truck in my driveway within 48 hours.  The crew was curteous and knowledgeable (replaced a couple of splitters, removed a splitter and ran a home run, made me longer patch cable - all for no charge).  The Customer Service advocate even automatically gave me "package" pricing after noting my account fell into one of the packages that was not under a pricing tier when I purchased it.

The overall quality of the service is very good and I rarely have trouble with Road Runner (in fact, I cannot remember the last time service was interrupted).  I am patient enough to wait for the local HD service from each local station to reach my set and am fully enjoying NBC, CBS, ABC and the PBS "Loop" and am looking forward to FOX (granted, not "true" HD, but will be good nonethess).  The video in demand feature works well (a couple glitches here and there) - though I look forward to the day when they are broadcast widescreen.

There.

I said it.  Without bashing other mediums.

My .02

:p

[Greg Oman]

Okay.......  So, what's the point?  If you're unhappy with what you're paying for cable now, and it bothers you to pay the extra $10 a month until June or July ($50), why not just ditch cable now then???  Buy a DirectTV system now, get a bow-tie antenna and live OTA for the short term-- you're going to buy the system anyway.

Greg O.

[mr_yeti]

If it were completely up to me, that's exactly what I would do. But then the wife couldn't watch Trading Spaces for a few months, and I'd never, ever hear the end of THAT, especially since we're moving into a new home. On the other hand, that show is giving her all kinds of IDEAS, so I could probably justify the cost of the HD box in terms of savings from both the cable bill and lowered (yeah, right) home improvement budget by cancelling the cable now.

So that wouldn't fly. I do already have the bow-tie, though.  

It was not my intent to bash TWC. I've found their customer service acceptable; they even called me at home to let me know when CBS was added to their HD lineup, likely due in no small part to the volume of emails I sent them on the subject. That was a nice touch; it was more than they needed to do, and I appreciated it.

Maybe the grass just appears greener on the OTA/satellite side of the fence, but from the things I've read here, folks seem pretty happy with their DirecTv. I don't think I see the same level of satisfaction from a majority of cable subscribers.

[AndrewP]

mr_yeti,

Well, I will recommend you Dish Network : they are adding new HDTV chanells (3 HDNET, ESPN-HD, HDTV Special Events (NBA HD for now)). And in May they will release HDPVR 921 receiver.

I have Top 100 package for 33.99 + HBO + Showtime (22.99) with HBOHD and ShoHD + receiver picks up all local OTA for free.
Trading Spaces included.

Top 50 will cost 24.99 and I don't know about Trading Spaces,
but ESPN, CNN,... are here.

DirecTV is quiet about HDTV future and Tivo HDPVR is scheduled for December.

Andrew

[mnr929rr]

I have Top 100 package for 33.99 + HBO + Showtime (22.99) with HBOHD and ShoHD + receiver picks up all local OTA for free.
Trading Spaces included(quote from above)


Dish networks receiver picks up OTA signals,4 real?
Through Antenna or Dish network,don't understand?

[mnr929rr]

Theory States As Follows: You want to play you gotta pay!

[mr_yeti]

I hadn't really considered Dish, to be honest. I'm an inveterate football fan (as opposed to being just a Packer fan, i guess), and I find the lure of the Sunday Ticket package to be strong indeed. DirecTV always runs a promotion for new customers to get 4 months of whatever they call their 'every channel' package for free when you subscribe to the Sunday Ticket. I recall reading somewhere that there's a possibility that HD feeds may be available as part of the Sunday Ticket package, which I find exciting. Also, I wouldn't be stuck trying to receive the FOX digital singal (which is impossible where I live) to watch the Packers.

I think it's important to consider all the alternatives before making a decision like this, so I'd like to thank everyone for pointing out an option I had been ignoring. The pricing certainly appears attractive for what you get.

[mr_yeti]

Also, any idea on pricing for the HDPVR receiver? That's also something I hadn't considered.

[AndrewP]

Well, all HDTV football will be able to receive OTA CBS, ABC &
ESPN-HD. DirecTV will not distribute several games in HDTV simultaneouly anyway. But if you are looking for other then the Packers games, yes, you need DirecTV.

Dish Network picks up OTA using some sort of antenna,
indoor, outdoor, attic (my case).It works fine!

Andrew

[oz]

mr_yeti, I have the HD digital box from TWC and pay less than $20/month, but I don't get anything but the basic analog cable channels and the local HD channels (plus a few miscellaneous others like Food, Golf, National Geographic, Weather, Lifetime, WE, shopping, and religious channels.) I guess it depends on what you think the other channels are worth.

[mr_yeti]

Do you know what this package is called? This is exactly what I was looking for, but was told that since I have the box, I must pay for the minimum $40/month digital package, even though I don't need, want, or have any of the digital station aside from the HD ones.

This was my question exactly. I was not bashing Time-Warner, I was merely questioning the accuracy of what I was told by the customer service department.

oz, do you get history, discovery, tlc, and the like with this package? I find it VERY hard to believe there's a $30 difference between what you have and what I have. Maybe I'm misunderstanding what you're saying, but I just want to make sure.

[gyoung]

Check this thread out.  It talks about what the tiered options with TWC are.  I think the basic only gives you channels 1-24 and some other channels as well.  Oz mentions them in this thread.

Includes

the Golf Channel, the Weather Channel, some C-Span channels, TBS, WGN, Univision, ABC Family, Style, Oxygen, the Preview Channel, and the Food Network

but not

TLC (41)
HGTV (37)
E! (27)
Discovery (41)
Fox News (48)
CNN (44)
ESPN (30)
ESPN2 (28)

Hope that helps.