TWC Premium Channels On Demand Question?

[Jack 1000]

A few weeks ago, I received a flier in the mail that said Premium Channels on Demand would now be included with all premium channel subscriptions.  My monthly statement reflects this.  BUT, on the Premium on Demand Channels that I am supposed to get it says what it has always said, "Our records show that you do not subscribe to this service with a $6.95/mo charge."  I DON'T WANT TO CALL, because I don't want to get suckered by a CSR rep into paying the added fee as I don't watch the On Demand Channels much anyway.

I was just wondering (for those of you who haven't previously subscribed to Premium on Demand services) if any of you who subscribe to Premium Channels are also seeing this message when you go to the corresponding On Demand Channels?  For instance, if you did not subscribe to Premium on Demand HBO in the past, but get regular HBO, what happens when you go to On Demand HBO, Channel 1300 in Milwaukee?

I wonder if they are waiting till everyone's December statements are mailed out, or if they are waiting to put Navigator on the boxes before doing the change-over?

Jack

[Gregg Lengling]

If you are subscribed to HBO you should receive this for free.  The wife and I use HBO and Showtime On-Demand quite a bit and it's always worked and been free.  Call them up and hassle the hell out of them Jack.

[Joel S]

I get the same message on the screen about needing to order it as well.  Perhaps it will not be available until the "December bills" have been mailed, whatever that means.

This service has never been free as far as I know.  It clearly states it being $6.95 per month unless you have a higher digital package.

[Gregg Lengling]

That could be the clue, higher package, I have Digipic 4000 with RR and Voip...of course I'm not paying full boat, I've got the Colder's employee discount, really saves me a chunk of change.  However I don't work for Colder's anymore, I work for AT&T and waiting for April when I'll switch to Uverse when my neighborhood is live (nice thing about working for the company, I know when it's coming).  And then I'll get a very nice employee discount package ending up costing me less than 1/2 of what I'm paying TWC.  If I were paying full boat to TWC, it would be a 1/3 of the cost.

[gparris]

TWC is hitting us subs with yet another increase in 2008, so you may want to do your math over (it will be even better to have U-Verse), Gregg!;)

I have the same service as you do, perhaps, only with 2-line DP, RR and 3 HD DVRs, so my TWC bill is horrendous, but part of it goes to the family's business, thankfully.

Just look at all the HD channels TWC subs have to look forward to vs. U-Verse
-NOT!
In AT&T's own words, we do not have enough "HD goodness"!

[Bigdog]

That could be the clue, higher package, I have Digipic 4000 with RR and Voip...of course I'm not paying full boat, I've got the Colder's employee discount, really saves me a chunk of change.  However I don't work for Colder's anymore, I work for AT&T and waiting for April when I'll switch to Uverse when my neighborhood is live (nice thing about working for the company, I know when it's coming).  And then I'll get a very nice employee discount package ending up costing me less than 1/2 of what I'm paying TWC.  If I were paying full boat to TWC, it would be a 1/3 of the cost.

Do you know if/when they will be coming to Grafton? I'd like to check out their options vs DirectTV (which looks like it will cost ~$800 just to duplicate the receivers I have from TWC)

[Gregg Lengling]

A good portion of Grafton already has Uverse available so you should check avail. at the uverse.att.com website.  More of Grafton will be available in mid 2008 as the buildout continues.

[Jack 1000]

Checking to see if anyone who subscribes to a premium channel and originally had to pay the $6.95/mo. for the On Demand Station counterpart is now receiving the On-Demand Premium Channel as a part of their service?  (Without having to pay the $6.95/mo.) TWC said that as long as you paid for the Premium Channel that the On Demand equivalent would be included with their service when we got our December statements.

The Premium Channels that I get (HBO and Showtime) show that when I go to their On Demand counterparts that I still have to pay $6.95/MO which I am NOT going to do.  I think they have me in a pricing structure that includes ON DEMAND with a premium channel subscription.  But I don't care enough about ON DEMAND where I would want it.  With DVR service, it's like On Demand on all channels anyway. (But you can't record an On-Demand or Music Choice channel.)

The question is, does the On Demand with Premium Channel subscription apply only to new subscribers? Was that statement that they sent out advertising that has since changed?  Or are they waiting to deploy Navigator to all of the boxes before changing all Premium subscribers to have the ability to receive the Premium On Demand corresponding service without having to pay the added $6.95 fee?

Jack

[gparris]

Jack 1000:
You have GOT to get ahold of the new 2008 TWC pricing booklet that updates and outlines their new pricing.
Under the page of "Digital Premiums", TWC has the following:
"Premium Networks-Now including Premiums On Demand"
So the answer is YES...if you pay the $12.95 for say, HBO, your first Premium, you get the On Demand feature included at no extra charge and if TWC is billing you otherwise, "educate" them and get your credit.

FYI: A friend told me that after discussing the DVR Navigator rollout "issues" with a technician (after many calls to TWC and moving up the line):
DVR Navigator software for 8300HD models will be and is being fixed and moved to at least March sometime.
BTW, Navigator is NOT required for more HD channel rollouts, as many TWC locations offer over 3 DOZEN HD channels without it right now.

[Jack 1000]

Jack 1000:
You have GOT to get ahold of the new 2008 TWC pricing booklet that updates and outlines their new pricing.
Under the page of "Digital Premiums", TWC has the following:
"Premium Networks-Now including Premiums On Demand"
So the answer is YES...if you pay the $12.95 for say, HBO, your first Premium, you get the On Demand feature included at no extra charge and if TWC is billing you otherwise, "educate" them and get your credit.

FYI: A friend told me that after discussing the DVR Navigator rollout "issues" with a technician (after many calls to TWC and moving up the line):
DVR Navigator software for 8300HD models will be and is being fixed and moved to at least March sometime.
BTW, Navigator is NOT required for more HD channel rollouts, as many TWC locations offer over 3 DOZEN HD channels without it right now.

Thanks for the info!

Jack

[gparris]

Yes, the Navigator mess is still on hold for awhile and I mentioned that specific model just because our threads hook into it, but other models were mentioned as well.
TWC stopped rolling it out because of specific issues, but these were not given, even when asked.
Nothing came out of that discussion as to known issues on the roll out, issues that would be addressed to prior the roll out nor a "timeline" for addressing the issues.
They also to did NOT allow a DVR for review for these issues to be worked out and discussed about Navigator with the box using it, by the requestor.
TWC is so darned "subscriber friendly", its not even funny anymore, but we know that, don't we?

[Jack 1000]

Yes, the Navigator mess is still on hold for awhile and I mentioned that specific model just because our threads hook into it, but other models were mentioned as well.
TWC stopped rolling it out because of specific issues, but these were not given, even when asked.
Nothing came out of that discussion as to known issues on the roll out, issues that would be addressed to prior the roll out nor a "timeline" for addressing the issues.
They also to did NOT allow a DVR for review for these issues to be worked out and discussed about Navigator with the box using it, by the requestor.
TWC is so darned "subscriber friendly", its not even funny anymore, but we know that, don't we?

Update:

I called about the On Demand Premium and yes it is supposed to be included with Premium Channel subs.  I asked if there would be no charge, they said correct.  They tried to get it working on my box with several reboots and couldn't get it to go through. (The other On Demands work fine.)  They thought my signals might be bad on the Premium On Demand Channels, but my picture and sound are flawless.  So it was like, "We can have a tech come out check the signals and maybe swap the box....."  You know, something like that.  I was like, "Um no.....I don't think so!"  (Thinking that I was going to get Navigator on it.)  I've lived without Premium on Demand for 5 years, I'd rather have NO On-Demand (Free or Not) rather than a Navigator box!!!  Even pressing the "B" to Buy says, "This Service can't be purchased at this time." (TWC said that there is no more On Demand Premium Channel added fee.  But, I am not risking an OCRAP Navigator box for that!  I'm holding on to this box (non-C) like an only child!!!  I think others should do the same!

Jack

PS.  Will mention my Premium Channels on Demand don't work with my next needed service call.  But situation may be resolved by that time.  Wouldn't it be funny the Navigator download to my existing non-C box SOLVED this problem!!??

[Jack 1000]

Update:

I called about the On Demand Premium and yes it is supposed to be included with Premium Channel subs.  I asked if there would be no charge, they said correct.  They tried to get it working on my box with several reboots and couldn't get it to go through. (The other On Demands work fine.)  They thought my signals might be bad on the Premium On Demand Channels, but my picture and sound are flawless.  So it was like, "We can have a tech come out check the signals and maybe swap the box....."  You know, something like that.  I was like, "Um no.....I don't think so!"  (Thinking that I was going to get Navigator on it.)  I've lived without Premium on Demand for 5 years, I'd rather have NO On-Demand (Free or Not) rather than a Navigator box!!!  Even pressing the "B" to Buy says, "This Service can't be purchased at this time." (TWC said that there is no more On Demand Premium Channel added fee.  But, I am not risking an OCRAP Navigator box for that!  I'm holding on to this box (non-C) like an only child!!!  I think others should do the same!

Jack

PS.  Will mention my Premium Channels on Demand don't work with my next needed service call.  But situation may be resolved by that time.  Wouldn't it be funny the Navigator download to my existing non-C box SOLVED this problem!!??

Seems to be fixed! Although I haven't watched any shows yet, it most likely took a day for it to go through or they sent someone out.

Jack

[gparris]

Seems to be fixed! Although I haven't watched any shows yet, it most likely took a day for it to go through or they sent someone out.

Jack

Glad you got it solved...TWC charges enough for its cableTV service without shafting you out of something you should be getting at no extra charge.

Now all we need is Starz on Demand, but wait...we don't have StarzHD, either
-quite unlike every other TWC location in the country:
But we got another price increase for it, didn't we, TWC Wisconsin?:mad:

[Jack 1000]

Glad you got it solved...TWC charges enough for its cable TV service without shafting you out of something you should be getting at no extra charge.

Now all we need is Starz on Demand, but wait...we don't have StarzHD, either
-quite unlike every other TWC location in the country:
But we got another price increase for it, didn't we, TWC Wisconsin?:mad:

Yea,

Why is it that us in little, rinky, dinky, Cheeseville , Wisconsin are the last to get ANYTHING cable related when other divisions have had many new channels for YEARS?  The theory that I have is that they are trying so hard to get the crap out of the OCRAP boxes and Crapigator, that they are becoming less concerned with HD channel additions that those with HD sets want, and definitely SHOULD have.  I believe that "lack of bandwidth issue" is BS.  Even as you said, Navigator has nothing to do with being able to add more channels, especially more HD channels!

You had mentioned that they should go to On Demand for all of their premium channels.  If I were cable, I would keep ONE of each premium channel (HBO, Showtime, Cinemax, TMC) on the digital tier and than move all the other sister premium channels to Premium on Demand.  (As long as they are now giving the POD for free with a subscription to the base channel, it would make more sense.)  The other thing that it would do is that by getting people used to the On Demand menus for their movies and shows, it would give them a better understanding of how Navigator's menus work.

Why do we have West and East Coast feeds taking up bandwidth with duplicate programing?  Look at some of the other services.  What is it, an optional $17.95 for 14 optional Spanish channels on the Latino package?  Yet, we don't have more international networks?  My friend who had Adelphia,  I saw his line up online.  Their options are one station from Japan, Russia, China, and I think Korea.

In today's global world and economy it would be interesting to have some variety in international programing. Even better to have English translation on those channels!  You would have programing that represented world diversity and value so that people could see how others see America.  The closest we have is CNN International.  BBC America is out there, but we don't have a traditional BBC station directly from the UK.  Maybe those types of choices may not apply to everyone, but it's better than the 5 Home Shopping channels and 2 or three PIN 24-infomercials that they run.  There's just so much infomercial crap!  (Although I do like The Magic Bullet! hahaha)

We have 300 channels and 250 show the same things!   That's part of the problem!

Jack