TWC Picture Quality

[Tom Snyder]

I don't know if the snow has damaged my eyes... But is there a difference in the PQ of the mid-tier channels on TWC?  The snow on my dish was causing a problem in my DTV reception, so I switched to TWC for Fox News, and the picture quality is MUCH better than I remember it on that, HGTV, CNN, all of 'em... ... even my wife mentioned it...

If they've converted those to Digital, I'm afraid that may finally be enough to sway me from DTV.

[gparris]

I don't know if the snow has damaged my eyes... But is there a difference in the PQ of the mid-tier channels on TWC?  The snow on my dish was causing a problem in my DTV reception, so I switched to TWC for Fox News, and the picture quality is MUCH better than I remember it on that, HGTV, CNN, all of 'em... ... even my wife mentioned it...

If they've converted those to Digital, I'm afraid that may finally be enough to sway me from DTV...

My neighbours were watching one of those Discovery Channels, not the HD one, but the Science channel and it looked compressed on Directv as I went home and put it on as it is on a TWC digital channel and the picture looked a lot clearer to me on my 65" Mits - I just got my eyes checked at the doctor - 20/20, FYI.

I don't think it is just you... :blush:

[Joseph S]

My analog cable channels always look like crap so I couldn't say I saw a difference.

[sp44again]

My analog cable channels always look like crap so I couldn't say I saw a difference.

Thanks for the reminder to stay with D*.  

[summerfun]

Analog channels are still pretty bad on TWC, but the digital channels (above 99) are really good and then of course the HD channels are fabulous.

The reality is, I can't remember when I watched an analog channel last. I watch 80% HD, 20% digtial channels. (except for our local WB and UPN)  :mad:  :mad:

[oz]

The reality is, I can't remember when I watched an analog channel last. I watch 80% HD, 20% digtial channels. (except for our local WB and UPN)  :mad:  :mad:

I don't even watch non-HD channels. For me it's TWC 500, 501, 504, 505, 506, 510, 512, 530, 533, 541, 545, 546, 547, and 548.

[Greg Oman]

Sway you from satelite??  Egads!

Actually, me too.  Factoring in the cost increase coming from D in March, I'm really looking at the entire broadband/TV relationship again.  We'll see.  It's almost as if you need to re-evaluate programing options every few years now, just like your car insurance, long distance carrier, etc.

Like we all don't have better things to do  :bang:

Greg O.

[sp44again]

Factoring in the cost increase coming from D in March

Greg O.

Sadly cable is still more expensive then D* with the basic packages (Digipic1000/Total Choice).

[picopir8]

Well, I just switched this weekend and here was my reasoning:
TWC: digipic, HBO/SHO, Box rental, DVR service, HD service, analog on 2nd tv, taxes = $80/mo
D*: total choice, HBO/SHO, HD service, DVR service, second box fee, taxes = $90/mo + $900 dvr box + 1 year contract (and prices go up in march)

I just could not justify the cost.  I remember the days when D* was about half the pice of cable.  I had no problem spending big bucks on the hardware.  Now they are around the same price and when you add HD they come out more expensive, plus you have to buy a new box!

RANT:
If you ask me the whole D* thing has been going down hill ever since though bought out USSB (USSB gave me HBO/Max for $12, D* then charged me around $22 for the same thing).  However they were still better than cable so it was worth it.  But now I dont see the value.  Heck between D*, TWC, and Voom. D* has the highest prices for HD and the least number of HD channels.  So I decided to go with cable.  Since I didnt have to sign a contract or buy an expensive box, I am free to change change my mind in the future, a luxary I would not have if I went with D*.  The only way D* will get me back is if they lower prices or provide much more value.  But they appear to be going the opposite route and raise prices to milk customers out of more money.

[sp44again]

Did you even bother to call D* and tell them you were thinking of switching to cable? One thing about D* is that they will actually do something to keep you as a customer.

[mrmike]

Did you even bother to call D* and tell them you were thinking of switching to cable? One thing about D* is that they will actually do something to keep you as a customer.

Yes, and TWC will do the same thing.  So what.  If you want me as a customer, offer me your best price up front or I'll go elsewhere.  Yes, I'll end up paying more than I could, but my blood pressure will be lower.  Maybe if you'd treated me as a "valued customer" instead of just calling me one and milking me for all you could you wouldn't have lost me.

-MM
(Who just went through this with his long distance service and his broadband provider)

[sp44again]

If you want me as a customer, offer me your best price up front or I'll go elsewhere.  

Who does that? Nobody offers the best price up front!  :bang:


PS When I got rid of TWC I didn't get any offers to make me stay. It was more like see ya! Maybe it's different now.

[mrmike]

Who does that? Nobody offers the best price up front!  :bang:

I usually have to say "Here's the deal, I'm comparing you with other people on more than price, but if I tell you they're offering me X and Y for $19.95/mo you're going to say you can do that too.  So tell me what the price is you're willing to sell me your service for up front and you get one chance at it."  Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't, but at least I try to make the point with them.

[picopir8]

Did you even bother to call D* and tell them you were thinking of switching to cable? One thing about D* is that they will actually do something to keep you as a customer.

Yep, I called and they offered me the non-DVR HD box for $150 (normally $250-300) but I also had to sign a 1 year contract.  Considering cable came out to be $10/mo less expensive, included DVR service, had no contract, and no up front fee for a box, it was a no brainer.  I would gladly pay $10 more each month if that included a free DVR box or gave me a $15/mo credit for the next 5 years (price of dvr box amortized over average live span of dvr box before HDD gives out).  But they were not about to do that.  Those may seem like outragous requests but if they would have accepted either of those I would have still payed $10/mo more than TWC.  Just goes to show how outragous D*s pricing has gotten.  They want us to pay more AND buy our own hardware.

[sp44again]

You get what you pay for. Remember that.