New TWC HD Channels (For Real)

[Kenshin]

Here is my idea on how GB got it before us. I know that last fall we were just starting to roll out the HDTV converters in full force. It wasn't until December that we realized the huge boom for HDTV channels as we had to go back to Scientific Atlanta and Pioneer for more HDTV converters, which incidentally is the reason why you can't go and just pick up a converter at any pay center, it's because we have had a shortage of them.  It would be a logical sense to say that since we saw the boom for HDTV converters, the next step is to start up talks of bringing in as much HDTV content as possible.

As far as the website goes, we live in a real world, where nothing is perfect. Look at when Microsoft says their latest and greatest is supposed to come out at a set time and the timetable gets pushed back. I can honestly tell you that we aren't maliciously holding back a channel or being lazy about not getting it here.

I know that TWC is trying hard to catch up. Will we lose customers to Dish and DirecTV because we don't have a lot of content? Sure. There will always be fence jumpers who always want the best for nothing or are always complaining about something just to get a deal. That's why phone companies make so much money.  I will say this, there is always content that you will get only either satellite or cable. I know of a few things that in my mind would be worth sticking around for.

[Shirow]

So, who are you anyway, Kenshin?

[The Law]

Kenshin - thanks for the information - I look forward to the new content.

I like PCs better than Macs. - though the new Macs do have widescreen monitors.....and I chose blacktop over concrete - snow melts faster and no cracks to jam shovels into (though I can't park a dump truck on it)

[gparris]

Quote:

So, who are you anyway, Kenshin?


__________________

We do appreciate your input, but Shirow has identified himself as a TWC employee to show his source, maybe you can, too?:cool:

Your idea on how GB got Discovery HD before the southeastern Wisconsin area gets it was unclear. I would assume we have more HD boxes than they do, unless there is one on every block in Green Bay.

As for the website updates and errors, doesn't TWC hire people to fix it?  I have written them numerous times for corrections and still come up with nothing fixed. Try for example, the TV schedule that still does not report some HD local listings after months of having those channels in the Milwaukee area.
:bang:

Maybe there is a job opening up for website manager.

[Kenshin]

I am a TWC employee as well. It is partly my responsibility to add channels, including HD channels.


It goes like this, there wasn't a huge demand according to the Ad Sales people for additional HD channels until January or so. So they started to make negotiations and bring more channels in. In Green Bay, they were probably quicker to the punch on getting those channels.

It looks like my estimate for time til DiscoveryHD was a bit farther out than what is actually happening.  They might be coming sooner than you think.

I am purposely being vague about the details of a launch as I, as well as Shirow, can get fired for releasing internal information, especially internal emails meant for employees. Like Shirow, we both are trying to get info to you as we can, but you have to understand that we can't talk too much about it without approval from our Marketing dept.

I can't make too many comments about the website as I don't deal with that, but I can suggest that you would send in your comments via the website. I know those comments go to the Director of Customer Service and even up the chain to the Director of Operations.


I hope this helps you.

Kenshin

[Shirow]

Yeah, only reason I posted the email was because I got approval from sales to do it.. certainly something I thought about before doing so

[akitakoi]

They might be coming sooner than you think.

Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmm!

:rolleyes::rolleyes: :rolleyes: :rolleyes: :rolleyes:

[Shirow]

Listen to him, he knows what he's talking about :p

[gparris]

You must imagine the frustration with folks who have only the option of cable service to them as no law allows for equal footing when you plug in your coaxial cord to an outlet that only allows for a cable company connection. This puts you in a position that makes it unfair to the consumer for choice. No apartment or condo association I know of gives you the option of a community dish you can hook up to using you own box. If there are some, these are few and far between. So when you have to plug into a wall to get HDTV or even SDTV service, and the ONLY option is CABLE (or nothing) and you stuck with more limited choices.

:mad:

Where am I going with this? When I pay a substantial amount for cable and there is a monopoly in place with no alternatives and my extra $15 a month goes for HD boxes that are offering less than they should by a cable company that continues to insist it is going to offer MORE HD-I get irritated and frustrated when NOTHING occurs and my other alternative - satellite, is NOT an option.
Let's face it-not everyone lives in a house and can do the dance of choice. Tim C. of the Journal knows this and that is why he discusses cable offerings only. :p

So realize that we who have no options, TWC, we really need MORE HD!!:)

[agrundman]

Kenshin & Shirow,

Why won't anyone at TWC tell its consumers if they are negotiating to get ESPN HD?  I've asked numerous times over the website and telephone and nobody seems to know the answer.  I know that one of the issues is that ESPN wants to charge for the channel.

I think customers would prefer to at least have a choice of paying for ESPN HD (& others if necessary) than to not have it at all.

[btbowen1]

Its interesting to read TWC employees defending its employer here.
I'm in the same boat with cable being the only option right now being that I live in a condo.
But there are a few options that renters and people that live in condos can do to get a dish such as putting a dish in a location that only they utilize such none common area shared by others, like a balcony (got to face the south of course), or even a ground pole mount, which would more than likely have to be approved by the condo assn. or landlord, my assn. hate ground mounts.
TWC isn't a bad deal really, I believe they only need improvement in a few areas such as picture quality, the analog channels are still bad, customer service is bad sometimes, and they need more HD channels.
I have emailed TWC thru their web site and I do get prompt responses from them, but when I goto their customer service sites such as the one on King Drive, those customer service reps can be down right rude and getting thru to talk to a rep midday by phone can take what seems forever.
TWC can put a dent in the sat. customer base here if they did the right things which shouldn't be very difficult.
 Brian B.

[Shirow]

I'm not really here defending anyone per se - to be honest, I had no intention of revealing who I worked for, but when I found out about the channels being launched I was happy, since I just bought a HDTV, and since people had been looking for information, and it'd been cleared to be revealed in public, I thought I'd come let you guys know what was going on.

As you already know, more HD channels are in the pipeline.. so they're working on it. If I knew more, and could reveal it, I would, but I really know as much as you guys at this stage.

[The Law]

the analog channels are still bad

The look very good on the Pioneer box (as apposed to the SA) - but then, we should all know that by now

[btbowen1]

Not all of us know that because I tried to get a Pioneer box to replace my SA3100HD with no luck. I'd be really surprised if the TW analog channels look good with any converter box on a big screen tv right now with the compression that they are using for those channels.

[The Law]

I was more than pleasantly suprised with the quality of the analog stations.  I have a 65" mits and the analog stations were horrendous (sp?) with the SA box unless I switched to the digital inputs (I had the box hooked up both ways so I could stretch the screen).   The trouble was that I did not wish to risk burn in with black bars.  Once I switched to the Pioneer and was able to use the aspect ratio settings on the cable box - the stretched picture on all chanels improved dramatically - a marked improvement

Keep trying with the Pioneer box.  For me, it took a trip to a local TWC office and a chat with a very nice representative who did her best to track down the box (she says they're very popular).  She was unable to locate one, but did say she'd keep an eye out and call me if one comes up.  One did, and a couple of weeks later she called and I went down to pick it up.

BTW.  If you do get the new box - you can use the "bypass" button on the remote to quickly change the aspect ratio w/o going through the on-screen menu.

Good Luck!