TWC marketing

[RLJSlick]

We also got a call from a TWC rep that claimed he was in the "neighborhood" and wanted to offer, not HD package, since we already had it, but he was trying to talk us into their Digital Phone service. I can't remember the spill but it sounded like a good deal, but TWC need to do better then that if they think they getting more money out oh me. LOL

I wasn't home the other day when they called and the wife told them to call back, but the conversation was to get me to buy their new HD package.  My wife got the understanding that they are adding 10 or more HD channels this month.  Anyone else get a phone call??:huh?:

[gparris]

On a positive note, there are two other locations that TWC has added more HD channels:
Example 1: http://www.timewarnercable.com/SanAntonio/Products/Cable/hdtv/channels.html
Example 2: http://www.timewarnercable.com/SouthCarolina/products/HDTVAvailableChannels.html
Though the HD national channel count is nowhere near what satellite companies have added very recently, it is definitely a step in the right direction for TWC.
Question becomes what HD channels TWC HD subscribers in Milwaukee (SE Wisconsin) will get - and when - to make that call Gregg got a couple weeks or so ago a reality?.

[e-man]

On a positive note, there are two other locations that TWC has added more HD channels:
Example 1: http://www.timewarnercable.com/SanAntonio/Products/Cable/hdtv/channels.html
Example 2: http://www.timewarnercable.com/SouthCarolina/products/HDTVAvailableChannels.html
...Question becomes what HD channels TWC HD subscribers in Milwaukee (SE Wisconsin) will get - and when - to make that call Gregg got a couple weeks or so ago a reality?.

I sent TWC that very question, here is their response:

Thank you for writing Time Warner.

The agreements we have are not national. Every Time Warner such as ours in Southeastern Wisconsin have their own contracts and agreements according to the location and Franchise.

Time Warner will be adding more in our area as we are able. We certainly want to provide you and our other valued customers with quaility services.

[gparris]

e-man, thanks for the reply about the write to TWC and their reply.

Yes, I know that when TWC Corporate signs an agreement for carriage, but it's still national, even though it's at the discretion of the cable provider,
in our case, meaning SE Wisconsin TWC.

Here's the point about this whole thread the way I see it:

Gregg's call about 10+ HD channels being added this month from a TWC telemarketer.
When you look at the list as to what those "other" TWC locations DO have
 -it means that these other TWC areas have these HD national channels for selection and quite possibly, here, too.

So let's all wait before we complain once again (and realize if the call was a deception)
for Nov. 1st (when it is after October) and see what happens, locally.

There is such a thing as can and can't, able and not able to:
Can as in TWC can do the contract(s), won't means another sort of thing (as in attitude).

Able means bandwidth is available (SDV use) and not, implimentation (on SDV) is not fully done yet - to use to get more HD channels - here.

[RLJSlick]

E that seems pretty hard to believe, I heard they make their contracts nationally, not so sure I trust what that person had to say.  It will be interesting what channels we will get.
THE HEAT IS ON!!! {fart}

I sent TWC that very question, here is their response:

Thank you for writing Time Warner.

The agreements we have are not national. Every Time Warner such as ours in Southeastern Wisconsin have their own contracts and agreements according to the location and Franchise.

Time Warner will be adding more in our area as we are able. We certainly want to provide you and our other valued customers with quaility services.

[gparris]

Again, it is simply a matter of time, now that D* has its many HD channels up and running, finally.

Honestly, I think SDV, along with a few analogue channels deleted, (whose contracts are up, taking valuable HD channel space) will sent to digital-SD areas for reallocation and then there will be space for more HD channel additions.

"National" contracts are like "National Agreements" and these mean local regions like TWC Wisconsin can get these HD channels, but for some reason, the locals have to sign on to them, something that is hard to comprehend, I know (and still don't quite understand, either).

One would think that TWC is TWC, no matter where you are in the country and why a location (such as ours) that has the same TWC logo and so on would need to sign on once again for carriage, so it is a bit hard to comprehend for most.:confused:

So I think if there is space for these HD channels (by whatever technology), that these locally-required contracts will be signed and perhaps the "writing on the wall" HD-channel-wise, has been read by TWC in Wisconsin: More HD channels need to be added - now.

It can't come too soon for me!;)

[LoadStar]

Again, it is simply a matter of time, now that D* has its many HD channels up and running, finally.

Honestly, I think SDV, along with a few analogue channels deleted, (whose contracts are up, taking valuable HD channel space) will sent to digital-SD areas for reallocation and then there will be space for more HD channel additions.

"National" contracts are like "National Agreements" and these mean local regions like TWC Wisconsin can get these HD channels, but for some reason, the locals have to sign on to them, something that is hard to comprehend, I know (and still don't quite understand, either).

One would think that TWC is TWC, no matter where you are in the country and why a location (such as ours) that has the same TWC logo and so on would need to sign on once again for carriage, so it is a bit hard to comprehend for most.:confused:

So I think if there is space for these HD channels (by whatever technology), that these locally-required contracts will be signed and perhaps the "writing on the wall" HD-channel-wise, has been read by TWC in Wisconsin: More HD channels need to be added - now.

It can't come too soon for me!;)

The best way I can figure is that cable operators are run more like franchises, than different divisions of the same company. They can buy the "Time Warner Cable" brands, and they can join into the agreements the national organization arranges, but other than that, they're run almost totally independently on a local level.

I don't know how accurate that is, but that is the way they seem to operate, at least to me.

[gparris]

The best way I can figure is that cable operators are run more like franchises, than different divisions of the same company. They can buy the "Time Warner Cable" brands, and they can join into the agreements the national organization arranges, but other than that, they're run almost totally independently on a local level.

I don't know how accurate that is, but that is the way they seem to operate, at least to me.

That is a good way of thinking, at least it makes it more clear to at least some of us.
"Franchise" and "Independent" are good terms to use to explain the "why" TWC locally has not added HD channels here as other locations have.
Our local TWC is (sort of) a part of TWC, but probably just in logo, name and as a franchise owner, therefore, its another business, operating as a separate company.
-So it picks what contracts (including HD channels) it thinks will make the most money (as in subscriptions).
But because of its own "mindset", it thinks fewer HDTVs are bought here locally than it realizes, again, as a franchise, so not as much "emphasis" is placed on adding HD channels as other locations/franchises with the TWC logo and so on.

But you can only sell "All-in-One" only so much and something "new" has to take its place and in my opinion, the "new" thing to push is HD channel numbers to compete with satellite's advertising.
-Not everyone is going to want Digital Phone in the era of cellphones.
That is why TWC locally launched "Pivot" (a cell phone service), a good product, I'm sure, but it isn't moved the same way, advertising-wise, as the other three are and it could be a valuable product in the "mix".
For me, however, I believe that HD channel additions are still the way to go since the D* and E* HD channels have been added so recently.
Reason being:
Panel and RPTV prices have dropped to the price point for many who were on the sidelines waiting for them to drop and the holidays are coming:
More HDTVs are sold now through January than anytime of the year from what I have read.
What will new subscribers remember the most when its time to connect their HDTVs to a HD source (provided they know better)?
-the provider with the most HD channels, not that "All-in-One" service, I would assume, from a marketing perspective.
Franchise or part of a corporate entity, it doesn't really matter in the end:
What matters is where did this TWC telemarketer came from - Wisconsin?
When are these 10 (or more) HD channels coming in October?
Well, we have TEN more days of the month, so the (HD) clock is ticking.

[Nels Harvey]

I think the SE Wisconsin TW is holding off on expanding their HD availabilities because when they do provide the additional channels they will need to pay for them, possibly based on their total number of subscribers.  

Not withstanding other bandwidth considerations, I think that would make it a financial reason to hold off, at least until their HD customers, or at least our noise level, increases.

Nels....

[gparris]

Nels Harvey: your words are thoughtful, but then, again, depressing, even though, from your signature, you're a Dish (E*) subscriber, too.

It becomes for us here in Wisconsin, as TWC HD subscribers, a chicken-and-egg HDTV thing from the earlier part of this decade.
However, this is not the "earlier" part of the decade with HDTV ownership, anymore:

It's almost 2008!

Again, it could be TWC's "mindset" that believes there are fewer HD subscribers out there, when, actually, many of these subscribers are waiting for more selection before they decide to go for TWC's HD package of only four extra channels or even rent a HD cable box, standard or DVR.
Many HT setups I have done in any capacity actually do have cable service, but the subscribers pull the QAM channels for HD with only standard cable service.
If they do have HD boxes of either type, they watch the eleven full time HD channels they have, without premium channel or HD Package subscriptions.
From my perspective, these subscribers are waiting for more HD national channels (like FoodHD, HGTVHD and HistoryHD) to appear before they have a "need" to do box rentals or perhaps even adding that HD Package to their list of subcriptions with TWC.

If TWC locally is really (still) going to play that "waiting game"
-other subscriber options are ready and available now:
 I am certain the local TWC managers are quite aware of these "options"  (D*, E* and U-Verse).
- So I believe that TWC locally, is not "waiting", any longer.
It just has to get SDV running full-speed (if that is what is really happening) and insert those HD channels it thinks will "sell" the most to its subscribers, based on the contracts signed locally for delivery.

So the question on all TWC-HD subs is:
Will these 10+ HD channel additions actually happen (per that call) in October?

Well, let's all hope that that TWC telemarketer was from Wisconsin, not the Carolinas or Texas!:eek:

[Nels Harvey]

I had a problem with RoadRunner, and the cable guy came out today (Sunday) to get me fixed up.  He just purchased a new HDTV himself.  I asked him if he gets a lot of questions about when TW is going to add more HD, and he said there were a lot of people asking just that!

Maybe it will take Uverse to kick them into gear!

Nels....

[gparris]

Thanks, I like the honestly of that RR service person, at least there wasn't any "story" about more HD channels coming.
As far as U-Verse coming, individual experiences will vary and it is not as established/available as TWC is; satellite's HD channel count is still overwhelming.

[RLJSlick]

As oxymoronish as this sound, I think TWC, or at least their subscribers need to have AT&T and the "Dish brothers" do well for themselves, because I think it will take a good showing from other companies to kick TWC is their ass and get moving.
A few weeks ago we were talking about how few people had the HD Dishes in the Milwaukee ares, I think we said it was around 10%, well if this Christmas they increase their subscriber base to maybe 25%. I bet TWC would start noticing their costumer base disappearing. GO DISH BROTHERS!!!

[gparris]

"Dish brothers"? OMG.:rof:

[gparris]

I wasn't home the other day when they called and the wife told them to call back, but the conversation was to get me to buy their new HD package.  My wife got the understanding that they are adding 10 or more HD channels this month.  Anyone else get a phone call??:huh?:

Gosh, only FOUR more "business" days before November 1st (not including weekend days) and still nothing added outside of TBSHD.
TBSHD was something almost every cable/sat system had for baseball, so that was no big deal, of course, since there have been other additions everywhere else in other TWC areas besides that HD channel.:rolleyes:
-Where are all those 10 or more HD channels this month, anyway?

If these don't appear here this month, my guess is either one or the other:

1) Those TWC telemarketers are telling us "stories" once again, so we don't leave for DirectvHD

2)The telemarketers dialed the wrong phone number, got Gregg's and thought they had someone in North Carolina, South Carolina or Texas.
(You know, where TWC locations actually ADD many HD channels!)

Anyway, we're  waiting, still.