Comments on: Big cable takes advantage of DTV confusion

Cable companies are gearing up to use the DTV transition as an excuse to get current and potential subscribers onboard.

[ace10134]

well i think comcast is trying to trick people into getting a higher-price plan. They had a TV commercial saying that, with all of this confusion about digital TV switch, just call Comcast, and we'll make it simple for you. Well you don't even need to go through comcast to get ready for the switch, Comcast is just going to trick you into upgrading when you call. That got me real pissed off about comcast, because i know lots of people may fall for it.

[Someone-else]

this transition here on Brazil will happen in about ten years, so i have to wait to see, but most companies here already need a box to convert the signal, that already has a monthly payment, so the only thing that might happen, is a increase on the prices

[tylert120]

Comcast here in Pittsburgh recently moved a bunch of channels to the all-digital tier, including MSNBC, TruTV (formerly Court TV), G4, Ion, Oxygen, Hallmark, EWTN, and of course, the stupidest move, the TV Guide Network. Seriously, why move TVG to the digital tier, when non-digital subscribers use it to see what's on their favorite channels. And, in their mailer, it stated "due to the digital transition." Thankfully, Verizon FiOS is now available, and I'm very happy with all their services.

[Seffner]

Verizon Fios is removing their analog channels and offering a free STB similar to the one's being sold in the stores. However this STB works specifically with FIOS. Don't let them tell you that you will get one free and have to rent any additional STB's. Stand your ground and threaten to switch to the competition. They gave me two additional boxes free for a total of three free STB's.

[jruiz581]

Here in Florida it's the same story with Comcast. They are quietly moving more and more channels to digital-only lineups, while at the same time degrading the few analog channels left. Case is point is FOX, which here in Jacksonville it is number 10. If you have analog service, reception of this channel is horrible. Only solution: to go digital. I have called and complained many times, and they just don't care. They are totally unapologetic about the whole deal, and they even say it's due to "interference" from the digital signal into the analog spectrum. The only solution they offer is, of course, to move to digital, which, even at its most basic, is twice as expensive as the lowest-priced analog cable package.

[sbf1]

FIOS by Verizon is my bane. YES their customer service people don't tell the same story or answer the same question with the same answer. Their main quote: "You will not get ANYTHING without a box (RENTED STB), when the FAQs on their own website say otherwise.
What they will give you is a free box that converts the FIOS channels into some output that you can watch on your TV. IF you already have HDTVs with built in QAM and ATSC tuners, you will still not get HD without renting the big boxes. Well, I have SEVEN HDTVs with QAM/ATSC built in. So what? I still have to pay for the boxes on every one if I want to watch any HD programming on any of them. Add it up, and it means a grab for revenue by Verizon.

[Seffner]

You are wrong! Any digital HDTV connected to Verizon Fios can receive SD and HD channels without a STB. You will get local channels and free programming provided by FIOS. You will not get the on sceen guide, or any pay per view channels. You ask me how I know, I've done it. Just connect the cable directly to your HDTV and select your tv's built in QAM/ATSC tuner. You will have to go into your set's setup and run the channel detection routine. Once it is done, you will be able to watch any analog channels still active and all the digital channels. Just remember, no STB, no special features.

[pwb14380]

i guess iam lucky to have charter. nowhere near the problems of comcast .everything comes down to the cable companys forcing you to use there boxes for almost all programming . it might be time for uncle sam to steep in and reregulate the cable industry,deregulation has only done 1 thing ,open the flood gates for massive bill increases {3 to 5 times inflation}for the last ten years. something has to be done. its starting to remind me of all the crap the wireless phone companys have done to us.

[sum random dork]

The reason a lot of these cable comapnies are moving channels is because it frees up space for them to add more HD Channels. It takes less bandwidth to broadcast on Digital verus Analog. So if they move channels off the lower analog and put them on digital they can get more channels in. They make their money on the higher end products so it makes sense for them. I cannot comment on TWC and some of the other companies but having dealt with Comcast I understand why they are moving channels. I think anyone with HD would much rather have more HD Channels. I also have dealt with Suddenlink cable as well, I wish they'd move more channels out of their analog and add channels to their HD teirs........

[DakkonA1]

I have the same problem with Comcast in NH as mentioned above for Pittsburgh. Moving to digital would not be so bad if they could allow the same service for the same price. Why should I pay for On Demand (most of which is pay-only and not free, or at least the good stuff is, anyway)? Why can't I get the same service for the same price? Isn't digital supposed to cost them *less*? So why am I paying more?

Of course, the other problem is that VCRs and DVD recorders are rendered virtually useless by digital cable... no more recording shows on any channel you want without having to touch the box. Of course they want to force you to use their own DVRs (for an extra fee)... it's a money-making racket, and the consumers are getting screwed big time.

[mitchhellman]

It's more than opportunistic cable companies that bother me. What I'm concerned about is this: Comcast tells me that as a (analog) cable subscriber I don't have to do anything, but what they don't provide is the answers to the following two questions:

1. Will they carry all of the digital subchannels that the over-the-air stations will offer once they switch to digital?

2. Our little town in SW New Mexico depends on "translators" to rebroadcast local stations from Albuquerque. Since translators are not (yet) required to go digital, will Comcast continue to carry them?

I don't know the answers to these questions and can't bring myself to go through customer service hell trying to find out.

[disco-legend-zeke]

The retailers don't want to tell you about over the air reception when you buy your new HDTV, even though it has a built in tuner.

Bust Buy and other sellers Make SOOOOOOOO much more money on a DISH subscription. Than on a $30 antenna.

The cable company In my location (las vegas) COX digital TV $78 a month.

The local phone company (EMBARQ) also advertises FREE TV and even tells you how stupid you are not to buy it. But their idea of FREE is the first year of a 2-year contract. This comes out to $17.49 a month unless yoyu cancel at the end of one year, in which case you just pay a $120 penalty. I must be a floppy armed muttonhead.

Everyone seems do be trying to screw the consumer this time around.

I have an old analogue antenna on my roof, i plugged in a tuner box and get 17 channels of digital video (much of it in HD) for free. No, really, free.

[LenSp]

One way to zap this nonsense is to use streaming within your house (via Ethernet, wired HDMI, wireless N, Powerline HD, etc.) so that you only pay for one box or two. Having a box per TV is silly unless you have a separate family member watching each TV at the same time. There's so many options now for streaming that there should be a viable alternative for everybody to avoid having multiple boxes.

Of course, the other way to zap them is use the coming furor over this transition to get more Congress critters and state legislators to break up local cable monopolies. Pitting the Cable Companies in every market against Verizon/AT&T, DirectTV and Dish Network as well as the Internet options and Netflix/Blockbuster will go a long way to keep the worst of this in check.

[BlackPenguin]

Up here in Saint Cloud, Minnesota, I have Charter. I just called them and asked when are the analog channels going to go away, and when will Charter only be offering digital. The guy on the other end, said that Charter was going to be offering analog for another 3 years beyond the Feb. 2009 cutoff .. after that (he said) he wasn't sure what would happen. But (he went on to say) that most likely at that point it would be all digital, but until the actual date and time of the cut off.. it was really just a matter of wait and see. Which is understandable, I mean at 3 years out.. trying to predict what is going to happen after that... that would be quite a trick. But bottom line, at least they aren't trying to rip people off by telling them that they HAVE to switch over.

[techman21]

So if the cable companies are making more money by carrying more channels (thus more advertising), why does digital cable cost more than analog?

[nuddin007]

Here's the deal:
1) Cable must provide all broadcast digital programing unlocked, in-the-clear, unscrambled.
2) But to view these channels, your TV must have a QAM tuner builtin. The same processor that is used to decode the ATSC (digital over-the-air) signals can double as a QAM tuner.
3) Unfortunately, the government's $40 rebate program does not include any digital converters that have a builtin QAM tuner. In fact, having a QAM tuner in the box is a disqualifier for the program.

What does this mean? If you are not within 30miles and with direct line-of-sight from the transmission source, you will not get any over-the-air (OTA) programing. But if you bought a digital converter, it will not work with cable systems to decode the even the unlocked OTA channels they carry. You will have to rent a box from the cable company.

But, if you have a newer TV with built-in QAM tuner, then you should at least get the broadcast channels in your area with out having to upgrade with a higher priced package or having to rent a set-top box. If your cable company gives you any problems, I suggest you call the FCC directly, as I did last summer.

[foreal2009]

ALL OF THIS IS ******** THE GOVERNMENT IS GOING TO BE ABLE TO WATCH EVERY SINGLE MOVE YOU MAKE WITH THE NEW DTV BOXES BELIEVE IT OR NOT THE WORLD IS GETTING WORST

[JohnnieWalkerRed]

What? Are you on drugs?

[tamusluy]

well i want to be watched!

[Lemiz]

I don't know if it is bad will or stupidity of service reps. A few days ago I was trying to find out from Comcast if they provide HD where I live (a relatively remote location). I talked to three different people at Comcast and got three different answers:
1. No HD available
2. HD available and I don't need to subscribe to any additonal services and my STB supoorts HD (the last one I know is not true.)
3. He didn't know and was not able to find any information.

[BlackPenguin]

response to foreal2009 .. .. just because there are cameras on the light posts, cameras in your tv and cameras in your bathroom. That doesn't mean that someone is watching your every move.

[sum random dork]

Cable companies are required by law to carry analog until 2011, any tv you have will work (it doesn't have to be a new DTV). I have sene lots of ads that support this fact on cable. The only people that have an issue are thoes that use "rabbit ears" to get their TV. In most parts of the US people use cable or sat to get their tv reception.
Cable companies want to move people to digital to free up bandwidth for more tv stations and more HSI. You do not need a converter box if you have cable or sat you will be fine until at least 2011.

[DakkonA1]

Not exactly. If one of the channels you love is removed from the analog lineup so that you can't watch it anymore? Yeah, you're screwed.

[tylert120]

I also forgot to mention in my original post... event though Comcast in Pittsburgh moved a bunch of channels to all-digital, they still got away with raising the price of standard cable! Thankfully, like I said, I'm with FiOS now, and my price is locked in for two years.

[Toronto699]

They Are Theives , Thats what they are Cable companies are greedy theives