Cable TV: King of misleading come-ons

[RLJSlick]

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/22399227/#storyContinued

[gparris]

Ricky, I think the worst deception so far are the current TWC ads comparing cable to satellite HD...so bad, its not even funny.
Add that mess to the so-called "Free HD" which is erroneous at best.
TWC: Give us all a break on this desperate act of mis-informative advertising...please!:p

[Jack 1000]

This is an excellent article!

When we were on All In One our rates went up by $10.00+ this last December, which included a rise in basic cable service and our HBO/Showtime, which it turns out were not a part of the original agreement.  To compensate, all users who had any premium channel packages now get the Premium on Demand Channels included. (This had been a $6.95/mo extra charge.)  The rep when we signed up for All in One answered all of our questions and we learned that after our promotional rate is up, that the CABLE RATES FOR EACH SERVICE will go up by $5.00/mo on average.  So keep that in mind when your "deal" is up.

I wonder if the Dish companies are having the same problems.  I have also expressed concerns of what would have happened if we had not had the Cable Regulatory Act of 1992 in effect.  It appears that the 1996 Telecommunications Act stopped a lot of the regulation.  For Dish owners, what has happened to your rates when the "deals are done?"

Jack

[RLJSlick]

I totally agree, and I'm really upset that they are allowed to call that free HD. I'm waiting until Direct TV call them on that bluff, because we all know that it's BS, and I'm getting really sick of it.

[gparris]

Let's see this for lovely TWC Wisconsin:
"Free HD" means to us subs here- 6 local HD channels.
-7 if Ch24HD actually delivers some HD, but wait, you can get those "free" from OTA.

Okay, then, the National full time HD channels available from TWC Wisconsin:
(actually on without colour bars like FoxSports NetHD channel 531):
-This totals about 7 more, 3 of which we got in FALL of LAST YEAR!

For about $27 more ($13 for HBO, $7 for Showtime, $7 for 4-channel HD Package):
- You as a subscriber then and only then, get the other 6 HD channels.
This will make it 20 HD channels....wow!:rolleyes:
Now for a "drum roll":
For the same approx. pricing in many TWC locations, you get double that.

Feel cheated?
You'd better.
Hardly "free HD" at these TWC Wisconsin price levels and at half the amount (approx.) number of HD offerings!
-So we TWC HD subs should demand some discounts!:mad:

[Jack 1000]

Do you guys think that one of the reasons for TWC's delay in providing more HD channels, could be because they are trying to get Navigator working, before mainstream deployment, so they would rather see that first than more HD content?  But, if Navigator is still "Crapigator" when it hits the legacy DVR boxes around March, it could be a lose lose situation.

People are under the false impression that Navigator is needed for more HD content, so perhaps the majority have choosen to accept it.  IMO, I would rather have a functioning IPG first, (Still have an SD set.)  But I can understand the HD owner's frustration.  

With regards to cable, it always seems like Wisconsin is the last to get ANYTHING new.  Than if we do get a "new," the company ineptness makes the new product or service not work right.

I don't think many in the company understand their own technology.  Therefore, they don't know how to convey this information to their customers.

Jack

[Chinatown]

This is an excellent article!

When we were on All In One our rates went up by $10.00+ this last December, which included a rise in basic cable service and our HBO/Showtime, which it turns out were not a part of the original agreement.  To compensate, all users who had any premium channel packages now get the Premium on Demand Channels included. (This had been a $6.95/mo extra charge.)  The rep when we signed up for All in One answered all of our questions and we learned that after our promotional rate is up, that the CABLE RATES FOR EACH SERVICE will go up by $5.00/mo on average.  So keep that in mind when your "deal" is up.

I wonder if the Dish companies are having the same problems.  I have also expressed concerns of what would have happened if we had not had the Cable Regulatory Act of 1992 in effect.  It appears that the 1996 Telecommunications Act stopped a lot of the regulation.  For Dish owners, what has happened to your rates when the "deals are done?

Jack quote:

.......Now have 2 receivers instead of 4, and about 2 miles less wiring..

Have the A 200 plan ( content similar to TW Digital package) + HD ( additional content being added sometime this month).. and Sports Pack..............Cinemax for $.1 cents ( Yes, they offer that if you autopay...........)

Have had this programing for 13 months.......$66.00 per month.

Have had Satelite for 10 years...........

[gparris]

Do you guys think that one of the reasons for TWC's delay in providing more HD channels, could be because they are trying to get Navigator working, before mainstream deployment, so they would rather see that first than more HD content?  But, if Navigator is still "Crapigator" when it hits the legacy DVR boxes around March, it could be a lose lose situation.

People are under the false impression that Navigator is needed for more HD content, so perhaps the majority have choosen to accept it.  IMO, I would rather have a functioning IPG first, (Still have an SD set.)  But I can understand the HD owner's frustration.  

With regards to cable, it always seems like Wisconsin is the last to get ANYTHING new.  Than if we do get a "new," the company ineptness makes the new product or service not work right.

I don't think many in the company understand their own technology.  Therefore, they don't know how to convey this information to their customers.

Jack

Jack 1000:
Try this for me and see what results you get, okay?
Go to the search part of these webpages for the following and see if this location (that has a lot more HD channels unlike TWC Wisconsin) and search for Navigator.
-I couldn't find the word and instructions for it in this website or in any searches...can you?
IF there is a need for it, why does SC not even list it anywhere?
 
http://www.timewarnercable.com/SouthCarolina/products/HDTVAvailableChannels.html

Maybe Navigator is not deployed there and yet, this location of TWC does have many more HD channels - with SDV deployed.
FYI, avsforums has indicated that SDV is in deployment in Wisconsin: See the listing in the HDTV Programming area of the site for TWC.
Navigator, IMO,  is an excuse for nothing, but irritation and abuse of TWC subs if it goes out as planned in its current state.
It has nothing to do with more HD channels..period.
BTW, as for other cablecos, they don't have anything like Navigator (Comcast in Chicago with 36+ HD channels).

[Jack 1000]

Jack 1000:
Try this for me and see what results you get, OK?
Go to the search part of these webpages for the following and see if this location (that has a lot more HD channels unlike TWC Wisconsin) and search for Navigator.
-I couldn't find the word and instructions for it in this website or in any searches...can you?
IF there is a need for it, why does SC not even list it anywhere?
 
http://www.timewarnercable.com/SouthCarolina/products/HDTVAvailableChannels.html

Maybe Navigator is not deployed there and yet, this location of TWC does have many more HD channels - with SDV deployed.
FYI, avsforums has indicated that SDV is in deployment in Wisconsin: See the listing in the HDTV Programming area of the site for TWC.
Navigator, IMO,  is an excuse for nothing, but irritation and abuse of TWC subs if it goes out as planned in its current state.
It has nothing to do with more HD channels..period.
BTW, as for other cablecos, they don't have anything like Navigator (Comcast in Chicago with 36+ HD channels).

Oh I agree!

And I tried a Navigator search at that location.......nothing.  I wonder if South Carolina is using updated Passport or Sara for its IPG?  This doesn't mean that they will never necessarily get Navigator, just that it's not available in that location and the proof shows that it is not needed even in markets that haven't had problems. (A few have been OK.)  But we do know, as I understand it that all of the new boxes regardless of cable company are C- (cable card) boxes.  So I just wonder how many new boxes and cable company's are having trouble with the C boxes, regardless of software used.

So IF TWC-Wisconsin is saying, (or thinking) we don't want to offer more HD channels because we are working on getting Navigator to work, that is certainly not fair to its HD subs!  And they can't use bandwidth as an excuse either because as your examples show clearly, other locations serviced by TWC have more HD channels and no "Crapigator."

Even as a long time TWC sub, I think that the dish guys should call out TWC on their deceptive "free HD in prime time" advertising.  Because anyone who comes to the AVS HD forums or to this forum knows what a joke that claim is!

Jack

[gparris]

Seems lately, that TWC Wisconsin is spending more time and money at deception and less on anything else, including adding HD channels.
If there was an actual TWC pricing difference that existed here vs. there with the HD channel count of TWC-available HD channels
(those actually in the channel grids of many TWC locations), it would be one thing, but it's not.
It's like getting less for the about the same money here- then TWC Wisconsin has the stupidity, IMO, to advertise about "Free HD".
What is so aggravating, is that TWC Wisconsin's so-called "Free HD" channel count is approx. half of the other locations.

"Free HD" for who?

How about advertising this:

 "We will discount your TWC billing for our "Digital Standard" service in Wisconsin until we get our "Free HD" channel total "act together?"
 (and add those HD channels other TWC locations have and enjoy already?)

[jkane]

I have Road Runner and not cable TV.  I think I will call them and get my free HD from them.  It'll be free so why not do it.  :rolleyes:

[syrett4]

I have Road Runner and not cable TV.  I think I will call them and get my free HD from them.  It'll be free so why not do it.  :rolleyes:

AWESOME...DO IT..  I triple-dog dare ya...:blush:

[basshive]

What is funny is I remember when we moved to our place now. I took the cable jack and plugged it in, sure enough got some basic channels and ofcourse all the QAM stuff. So we had our locals in HD, truely FREE. Well I call TWC to get rr setup and our boxes. The install guy shows up and all but yells at me about how we are not supposed to have any signal etc etc etc.. I explain I am just using the QAM already on the line but he is pretty miffed about the whole thing. He tells me thats not how it works yadda yadda.

So its not free? I wish they had been saying their crap about Free HD back then!