Author Topic: Cable industry slams a la carte study (Read 914 times)

FUNKED1 · « **Reply #45 on:** March 17, 2006, 12:14:13 AM »

Sandman beat me to it. I use EZTV.

Goomba · « **Reply #46 on:** March 17, 2006, 09:03:56 AM »

Here's what's always ground my backside to the bone...

I want to purchase cable service...but if I don't like my cable vendor , where are the competitors I can choose from?

Just how did a complete regional monopoly come to exist in a country where such a thing is patently illegal? Where are my choices of cable vendor, when I am unsatisfied with price/quality/service?

And, don't start with any flavor of 'take it or leave it' options...that's not the kind of choice that monopoly laws are supposed to protect.

Is there anything besides greed, politics, lobbying and protectionism behind the growth of the cable industry? Why is 'take it or leave it' my only true option?

To my mind, switching to another technology/delivery system is not part of the equation. Assume the customer has made the decision that cable service is right for them.

Anybody live in an area where this is any different?

SOB · « **Reply #47 on:** March 17, 2006, 09:31:29 AM »

Quote

Originally posted by Sandman
Who needs iTunes for BSG? TvTorrents man... TvTorrents.

+ this

Sandman · « **Reply #48 on:** March 17, 2006, 09:33:45 AM »

Quote

Originally posted by SOB
+ this

Wow... that's cheap too.

Eagler · « **Reply #49 on:** March 17, 2006, 09:56:12 AM »

Quote

Originally posted by Goomba
Here's what's always ground my backside to the bone...

I want to purchase cable service...but if I don't like my cable vendor , where are the competitors I can choose from?

Just how did a complete regional monopoly come to exist in a country where such a thing is patently illegal? Where are my choices of cable vendor, when I am unsatisfied with price/quality/service?

And, don't start with any flavor of 'take it or leave it' options...that's not the kind of choice that monopoly laws are supposed to protect.

Is there anything besides greed, politics, lobbying and protectionism behind the growth of the cable industry? Why is 'take it or leave it' my only true option?

To my mind, switching to another technology/delivery system is not part of the equation. Assume the customer has made the decision that cable service is right for them.

Anybody live in an area where this is any different?

as technologies get cheaper, cable competition will happen in more areas

what about your local phone, water, sewer, electrical co, garbage pick-up, postal service, etc.. .. any other choices there? nope

Airscrew · « **Reply #50 on:** March 17, 2006, 01:56:25 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by Eagler
as technologies get cheaper, cable competition will happen in more areas

what about your local phone, water, sewer, electrical co, garbage pick-up, postal service, etc.. .. any other choices there? nope

Not exactly Eagler,
Local phone, I have a choice, I live in Verizon area but we use Lingo (phone over IP) unlimited free long distance anywhere in the states and to western Europe.
Garbage, i have 2 companies to choose from for garbage service
Water, theres a choice put its painful. Water service is a Co-Op, pay a one time service fee and they hook you up and then get a monthly water bill. Alternative is have a well drilled, (and maintain it)
Sewage - country living no sewage, anaerobic septic system
Electrical - CoOp, in the past no choice there
Postal Service - I can use FedEx, UPS, DHL, or USPS. Regular mail I could careless how it gets sent to me.

I've had Dish Network for 6 years. I laugh at the Time Warner commericals that try to show how bad satillite is and why everybody should use cable. One trys to use the arguement that during poor weather or rain/thunderstorms satillite service fails and trusty cable service will work in any weather. HA. In 6 years I can count on one hand how many times my dish service has been interupted by bad weather, and then only for a few minutes once it past. I had cable from various providers since about 1981 to 1998. If can recall going for DAYS without cable service because a storm knocked done poles. Even now I still use Time Warner for broadband service because Verizon is to cheap to equip this area for DSL. I've lost my broadband connection several times because of poor weather.

And DVRs are great to boot. I'm with you guys about the commericals too, I almost hate to watch Live TV, commerical comes on and I reach for the remote and try to fastforward. We have one dual channel DVR, and two regular receivers, three TVs, three rooms. Although I dont watch that much TV its great to have a choice and not listen to the arguments about who is going to watch what show.