my letter to TWC on HD and their response....

[patnshan]

For clarity, their response is in blue, my re-response is in red.  I will post back when and if they reply.  It's comical really:bang:

Pat

Hello,
I recently subscribed to the Time Warner Cable HD package in Milwaukee,
WI. I love the quality of the HD picture as well as the two HD DVD's I
have. What I am is a little disappointed with the HD channel line up.
It seems that Direct TV is rolling out many new HD channels this month
and next, but I have heard nothing about that happening with Time Warner
Cable. I am specifically interested in HGTV HD, Food Network HD, and
History channel HD but would be happy with any new HD additions.
I want to stay with Time Warner, but may consider switching to Direct TV
for the increased access to HD channels.
I look forward to your response,

***********
[===> Please enter your reply below this line <===]
Thanks for the response.  
I believe Direct TV now has TLC HD, Animal Planet HD, A&E HD, Big Ten HD, CNN HD, History Channel HD, Science Channel HD, Sci Fi HD, USA Network HD, Bravo HD, and Versus HD.  I consider all of these national HD channels, and I personally have none of them that I know of.  If we do indeed have these and I am in error, please give me the channel numbers so I can start watching them?  Also, when can we expect Food and HGTV in HD?  
I am very happy with Time Warner, but I very much want access to all of these HD channels.  I do like the leased equipment versus buying, I like the free service, and I like the no commitment you offer.  The sticking point is HD.  I have HD equipment, and cannot stand the standard def resolution anymore.
I did notice that we recently got TBS HD and I appreciate it.  It's a start, but not enough.
I look forward to your reply.
Pat
[===> Please enter your reply above this line <===]
 Subject
HD channel lineup
 
 Discussion Thread
 Response (Road Runner Tier 3 Residential)   10/05/2007 03:23 PM
Yes, we are aware of the recent advertisement for additional HD channels to our competitor's packages. However, that has not happened as of yet nor do we think they'll be able to add 100 HD channels. There claim is deceptive.

There are not 100 quality HD channels available for release at this time. There are approximately 30 National HD channels and we carry a comparable amount as Direct TV have. In fact, Direct TV has one National HD channel we do not have, National Geographic HD, which we are due to add in a few months. Also, we are due to add two additional local network affliate HD channels, CW and MyTV.

In order to add channels to our lineup, we have to have an agreement with the channel and find a place for the channel on a lineup.

We still offer a better overall value. What you should know about satellite:

We do not charge for basic HD (locals and cable networks) vs. $20 for Dish HD
To get advanced equipment from Dish you have to sign a two year commitment
Cancellation fee of up to $240 will apply for early downgrade, termination, or disconnection of service.
Price guarantee for 2 years = 2 years contract
No service plan if you do not commit – customer will have to pay for service calls currently priced at $29.00 (regularly $99.00)

Thank you for choosing Time Warner Cable.

Regards,

Leo
Road Runner Residential & Digital Phone Support
http://www.timewarnercable.com/milwaukee/

[gparris]

patnshan:
One other forum member got the same canned response as you got.:bang:

Those TWC "robots" don't have a clue about who has what since the very wording in the reply shows no truth nor any research done, of their competitors.
-TWC Milwaukee does not care about you, their HD subscriber, remember that, otherwise you would have not got this response.

But thanks for the laughs!:rof:

[tencom]

So Rubert Murdochs, DTV claims to offer  a hundred HD channels. Did anyone ever to a survey of what percentage of this programming  is in HD and is actually HDTV or is it upconverted Standard Definition, disguised as HDTV. Please someone! give us the numbers.

[kevbeck122]

I wrote them about a week ago regarding lack of HD content and high price.. still no response.  I think I've complained too much in the past on how slow they are at getting new channels (we were probably one of the last areas to get the fiber upgrade back when they upgraded their infrastructure)... they don't care about me anymore.

[tschinner]

Here is my exchange with TWC:

Response (Road Runner Tier 3 Residential) 09/28/2007 10:55 AM
Dear Valued Time Warner Subscriber:

Thank you for writing!

We do regret that we currently don't offer the Big Ten Network; we are aware of the frustration this presents and hope we can come to a fair agreement for all parties involved.

We can assure you that Time Warner Cable is doing everthing in our power to bring you this programming and will continue to bring more HDTV!

Please see the following link for more info:
http://www.timewarnercable.com/milwaukee/products/hdtv.html

If you need further assistance, please reply to this email or contact technical support at 800-627-2288.
For online support (including live chat), please visit: http://help.rr.com

Thank you for choosing Time Warner Cable.

Regards,
Steven D.
Road Runner Residential & Digital Phone Support
http://www.timewarnercable.com/milwaukee/

Customer (Thomas Schinner) 09/26/2007 03:00 PM
What are Milwaukee's plans for adding HD channels. I know that several Time Warner citys have additional HD channels that MKE doesn't get. With the addition of up to 100 HD channels by the end of the year and already having the Big Ten network - I will be forced to switch back to DirecTV if you can't promise more channels SOON!

[vegasvic]

Some people can't have a dish because of a blocked sat view and some live in a dwelling that doesn't allow it.  But there is no reason for anyone else with an HDTV to stick with TWC.  D* or E* are so much better for HDTV and it isn't even close.

[gparris]

avsforum members are reporting that some of the newest HD channels are running true HD anywhere from 10% to 95% (some commercials are not HD).
Some shows, as reported by those with DirectvHD service indicated that these are run in SD-stretched one day are then broadcast in HD the next, so there is a "learning curve" with the HD channel's operations.

The idea behind offering these new HD channels is that over time, the 50% HD delivery becomes 100%, as more and more subscribers tune in or actually subscribe to them. You have to start sometime, someplace.
So the more HD channels that are available, the more chances you can get HD programming at any given time, DVR or not.

With TWC, the Sci-Fi Channel and USA really are really awful on their analogue channels and even if these are broadcast in SD DIGITAL, they are acceptable for viewing than the analogue channels are.
Therefore, even if Directv offers them in SD-digital (on an HD channel), it is much better than what subscribers get from TWC's offering of these in analogue-only.
Once the channel and programme is available in HD - like the new Stargate Atlantis was Friday (per avs today), that is exciting!
(No more waiting for a rerun on Universal HD much later on).

Those subs that have a HD DVR can record the shows they want for viewing later:
This means that even if the HD channel is not HD all the time, the part that is can be enjoyed ever bit as much as if the channel was HD 100% of the time
...HD DVR subs know this to be true.

[Tom Snyder]

Not sure what Rupert Murdoch has to do with how much of the content on HD channels is or isn't in HD...:huh?:

What IS important is that as the amount of HD source material continues to increase, you at least have to have access to the HD version of the channel to get an HD program on that channel when it happens. When I got my first HDTV, Leno was the only HD program on NBC. 7 years later, is WTMJ nothing but HD all the time? Hardly... but there's a lot more than there used to be, and that same thing will happen on the all the new HD channels.

[gparris]

Looks like that chicken-and-egg scenario with HDTVs and HD programming has gone to a new level.

Today, there are more HD channels and more HD programming that is available  - with many more HDTVs sold -  than ever before.
Therefore, the demand is now there and the satellite companies are delivering more HD as well as the HD channels and their respective HD programming, too.

What is extremely important, now that there are more and more HD channels available, is what I call "HDTV Education":
-The average consumer must know HOW to get the HD into the HDTV.

Many folks just buy the HDTV set, plug it in and think they have got HD.
This of course, is wrong, unless they are getting an HD OTA channel, which most do not do from my experiences.
So many of them do not realize what they are doing or even - read the manual.
They are still in "old school mode", as if the HDTV set was bought in the 1990's:
Just plug in it in and that is all there is, even their DVD players are hooked up in composite video, not even component video, so there has to be some education.

From my experiences, Directv is attempting to upgrade many new HDTV owners with equipment at a modest cost, so they can fully benefit from their HDTV purchase and more times than not, it seems to be working, so far.
TWC has some website HD experience and help site, too, but their installers always need to be in the loop with HDTVs, too, besides the obvious:
-adding as many HD channels as the satellite companies have done in very recently.
Directv has had some delays, but no longer, of course, so why the delay with cablecos like TWC to get more HD channels, which had the extra time to play catchup?

Honestly, I get the same two questions over and over again:
1) "How many HD channels do they (TWC, Directv and Dishnetwork) have?"
2) "Is there THAT much a difference between my current service (SD) and HD service"?

Well, yes there is, but if their provider is TWC, it has to do better in HD channel delivery, much better, and do it -now!

- So anyway, hopefully, HD Education will increase as time goes on and forums like this will educate HDTV owners how to fully deliver the potential of their HDTVs!:D

[jeffski]

That's the same generic response TWC gave me a couple weeks ago. How lame! I'm very happy they've added TBS-HD but they have to do MUCH MUCH better and SOON in order to keep me as a customer.

[gparris]

That's the same generic response TWC gave me a couple weeks ago. How lame! I'm very happy they've added TBS-HD but they have to do MUCH MUCH better and SOON in order to keep me as a customer.

Yes, I thought there was a forum member who got the same canned TWC response back, so it was you!:D

As winter approaches in Wisconsin, more folks will be staying inside and turn to their HDTV sets, or go out and buy one:
They will ask the questions that I mentioned previously and go to the HD provider with the most HD channels to maximize the "HD availablity".
The amount of HD channels in quantity is important, as it allows the chance of more HD programming being delivered at any given time, HD DVR - or not.

DirectvHD is still providing a good quality of picture with its newer MPEG4 delivery (per avsforums), too, so I am certain TWC will maintain that as well.
-It just needs to get "going" with the HD channel deliveries - and soon -  as the weather gets colder.

[kevbeck122]

Here's the response I got:
please know Time Warner Cable is constantly working to add more dedicated HD Channel Feeds to our line up every day. The best part is, with the HD Converter, you can have almost every channel in HD format. There's no need to shop for cable providers when you can have All The Best from Time Warner Cable.

[markd]

Here's the response I got:
please know Time Warner Cable is constantly working to add more dedicated HD Channel Feeds to our line up every day. The best part is, with the HD Converter, you can have almost every channel in HD format. There's no need to shop for cable providers when you can have All The Best from Time Warner Cable.

:rof:

Great response.

[Cheesehead Dave]

I got the same response back when I sent a similar letter, except mine also had a suggestive sell for HBO and Showtime tacked on to the end...:rolleyes:

[gparris]

:rof:

Great response.

1)Instead of "working to add more dedicated HD Channel Feeds to our line up every day" TWC meant every YEAR.

2) No need to shop for cable providers:
WHO?
They are a monopoly.
Unless you are fortunate to have a U-Verse run on or about to go live next to you, there is NO other option, except satellite service(s).:rolleyes: