Cable/HDTV: In Des Moines, Mediacom, DirecTV, or DISH? (work, college)

[tptvosox]

Hey crew. We're finally moving from WDM into Des Moines proper, the North of Grand / Roosevelt area we were looking to get into. Giving us the opportunity to reevaluate our communications products. We've had Mediacom cable and internet this past year. Love the high speed internet; cable is fine as well...no outages during storms. But the downside to the cable has been not having access to Red Sox games via MLB Extra Innings, nor to the French TV5 station for my wife, who's a French teacher. Thinking of keeping Mediacom's high speed internet and getting DirecTV, but can anyone with a satellite tell me how satisfied you've been with yours in DM? Is Mediacom my only option for cable, or is Comcast or another company out here? I think Comcast has offered MLB Extra Innings and TV5 before....hmmm, I just checked on Comcast, and for 50312, it redirects you to Mediacom.

Well, actually, I stand corrected...it looks like DISH Network might be the only one to offer TV5 Monde. Are we still that angry at the French?

Thanks in advance!

[capitalcityguy]

First off, congrats on your move. What a wonderful area of town you're moving too!

In Des Moines, Mediacom is your only option.

We have Mediacom for cable, internet and phone. If you get all three, they'll usuallly give you a heck of a deal (for at least the first 12 months or so).

Generally speaking, I'm happy with them. The main reason I chose cable over the other options is that cable:

* supports local high school and college (Drake, ISU) sporting events by broadcasting games, highlight and coaches shows, etc. They have a channel devoted to this (cable channel 22)
* supports local access (both government and schools) channels.

Even though it is almost impossible to be a "fan" of cable, I consider it "buying local" and that is good enough for me personally. It might not be for others.

[tptvosox]

Thanks. Can't remember our Boston cable company, but we had the cable/internet/MLB EI package. And when we were in NYC, we had Time Warner cable, which also offered MLB EI, so surely Mediacom could offer it if they wanted. I remember asking about it last year when we moved back here, and the lady seemed utterly confused about what I was asking. Ah well...too much to ask to have it all, I guess. Yeah, I've caught some good programming on local 22 the past year.

We can get by without TV5, as my wife can watch it online as an option, so no biggy. But I don't think I can do this post season or 2009 without the BoSox.

[Luke9686]

When I lived in Boston it was Comast. What a ripoff that company is.

[LPerkins33]

Mediacom is absolute garbage, if you want HD programing satellite is the only way to go. I wouldn't wish mediacom on my worst enemies, they have the worst customer service I have ever encountered, they are rude, hardly know what they are doing, and are overpriced. They were sued and finally allowed the Big Ten Network, don't carry the NFL Network and their HD programming is mediocre compared to satellite.

[LPerkins33]

Originally Posted by capitalcityguy

First off, congrats on your move. What a wonderful area of town you're moving too!

In Des Moines, Mediacom is your only option.

We have Mediacom for cable, internet and phone. If you get all three, they'll usuallly give you a heck of a deal (for at least the first 12 months or so).

Generally speaking, I'm happy with them. The main reason I chose cable over the other options is that cable:

* supports local high school and college (Drake, ISU) sporting events by broadcasting games, highlight and coaches shows, etc. They have a channel devoted to this (cable channel 22)
* supports local access (both government and schools) channels.

Even though it is almost impossible to be a "fan" of cable, I consider it "buying local" and that is good enough for me personally. It might not be for others.

Mediacom is based in New York, definitely NOT local.

[capitalcityguy]

That may be their headquarters, but they have a large Des Moines office. (see Ingersoll Avenue).

Beside, by saying "buy" local, I'm talking about the local programming they provide that the Dish companies do not.

[capitalcityguy]

Originally Posted by LPerkins33

Mediacom is absolute garbage, if you want HD programing satellite is the only way to go. I wouldn't wish mediacom on my worst enemies, they have the worst customer service I have ever encountered, they are rude, hardly know what they are doing, and are overpriced. They were sued and finally allowed the Big Ten Network, don't carry the NFL Network and their HD programming is mediocre compared to satellite.

A lawsuit didn't cause Mediacom to pick up the BTN. Were did you dig that up from?

You make a valid point about HD channels and probably also customer service. My point is if you want local gov't access (city council, school board) and sports (Cyclone replays, Hawk and Cyclone coaches shows, State of the Nations, Drake BB, etc), then cable is the only way to get these things.

[LPerkins33]

Originally Posted by capitalcityguy

A lawsuit didn't cause Mediacom to pick up the BTN. Were did you dig that up from?

You make a valid point about HD channels and probably also customer service. My point is if you want local gov't access (city council, school board) and sports (Cyclone replays, Hawk and Cyclone coaches shows, State of the Nations, Drake BB, etc), then cable is the only way to get these things.

Ahh guess I heard it wrong but the fact remains mediacom sucks and won't give their customers what they want..until they start seeing their subscribers move to satellite. And you can get local channels with a dish, you have to have an antenna which will only work until February but the dish companies will have something figured out by then. Cable is just garbage and soon FiOS will start blowing cable internet away too.

[capitalcityguy]

You obviously don't understand what I mean by "local channels".