Cable TV & Digital Broadcasts

[marion11111]

> Mike:
> Well, I braved the phone and called my cable provider. The nice lady 
> explained that though the over-the-air broadcasts *must* switch to 
> digital broadcast, there's no such restriction on the signal sent 
> through the cable. So they will continue to transmit the analog 
> signal as well as the digital signal, just like they're doing now. 
> Which makes sense for them.
> 
> So, if you have cable, then you're good to go whether or not you use 
> a cable box.
> 
> BTW, I used to have just the cable internet and was using the Dish 
> for my TV. When I packaged my ISP, TV, and phone together, I got 
> cable TV with more channels than I was getting with the Dish and got 
> unlimited phone calling (land line) for the same cost as I was paying 
> for just my internet and the Dish. So essentially I got unlimited 
> calling for free. 
> 
> Then I negotiated with cable and got HBO and Cinemax thrown in for 
> free. I highly recommend this. Get on the phone and haggle with them 
> and they'll usually throw something in for you for free.
> 
> So for me, cable is the most affordable luxury and my lifeline to the 
> internet. I can't think what I'd do for an ISP if I didn't have it.
> 

marion:

I have a mixed relationship with my cable provider.  I love the unlimited long-distance on 
my land-line and the very fast internet.  I'm not so crazy about the customer service or 
the pricing schemes.  I have Comcast and we went through two years in my area with 
service being down a couple times a month.  To call them (with the phone down no less) 
and find out the problem was enough to make you insane.  Such a run-around.  With 
enough complaining and questions about "How do I get out of this contract," they would 
lower the price for a few months, but then up it right back as soon as they could.  The 
"introductory rates" are not available to exisitng customers and the penalty for leaving the 
contract early would negate the savings of quitting and then starting up again.  When I 
asked one service rep why they would sometimes offer to lower the monthly fee, she told 
me that they've been given permission to lower the fees for a few months if it sounds like 
the customer is planning to leave.  Well, I don't have time to call in every couple months 
and make threats.

So. . . .  while they have said over and over "Don't worryabout the switch, we've got you 
covered at no extra cost," I don't believe them.  We just lost another channel last week off 
the Basic Plus package and would have to pay for the Digital package to get it.  I have no 
doubt there will be *something* available for the cheap users, but I'd bet that it will be 
minimal compared to what we get now.  I'm preparing to have to switch to the higher 
priced package to get most of the standard cable channels.

The government *might* be doing this to save lives in the event of a crisis (taking this 
rationale with a grain of salt), but the  businesses will exploit this opportunity as far as 
they can.  And why not?  It's capitalism.

I'm reminded of the OLD version of the Dick and Jane movie where the couple tries to 
become robbers and they go in to hold up the phone company.  All the people standing in 
line to pay their bills and get their service restored give them a round of applause.  I feel 
the same lack of love for cable providers.