AT&T took away my favorite channels! (Spur: prices, bill)

[Merovee]

I kind of see the logic behind what Bowie said. It seems one can either choose to support their favorite network (who wants you to pay more for them) or the cable company (who are trying to keep rates down) but not both in situations like this.

[Merovee]

Just read those channels are back now.

[Bo]

Originally Posted by SabresFanInSA

You dont truly believe this do you? Carriage agreements amount to pennies per subscriber. Taking the side of the networks doesnt by any means forfeit your right to complain when the bill goes up $5-$10. As an example, Cablevision went through this with Scripps last February. Cablevision was paying $.21 per subscriber for HGTV and FoodNetwork. Scripps wanted between $.50 and $.75 per subscriber. While that is a huge increase percentage-wise, it shouldnt make my bill go up $5-$10 and therefore I would complain.

ATT settled this yesterday and didn't announce the terms, so it's hard to say how much they can rightfully pass along.

Think of the networks a cable/broadband system has as a nest of baby birds, all squawking to be fed, and you'll get a mental picture of how this works. Scripps is just the bird squawking the loudest this month. Over the course of each year, they all get fed at some point when they renegotiate their deals with the provider. When DOZENS of networks ask for as much as 50-75 cents a months, eventually it adds up to $5-$10/month.

I'm far from someone who would sympathize with the cable industry, because I remember the free ride they got until retransmission consent fees began in this decade. But on this issue, I see their point.

[Mom2Feebs]

Originally Posted by GEM-Texas

Food Channel, Cook, HGTV - they've disappeared. We noticed that the other day. I don't recall a notice - might have missed it.

So I get tens of music channels, religious and sports stuff I can't pick and choose from but a few that I like and are fairly unique go away?

Anybody got a clue. I e-mailed them, no response.

We really, in today's world, be able to select channels and drop this package crap.

Bah!

Two words: Direct TV.

AT&T sucks. Hugely. In every way possible.

Okay, that's actually more than two words.

[TexasHen]

Originally Posted by Mom2Feebs

Two words: Direct TV.

AT&T sucks. Hugely. In every way possible.

Okay, that's actually more than two words.

Not so fast on DTV: DirecTV Pulls Plug On G4 - The Consumerist

[Mom2Feebs]

Originally Posted by TexasHen

Not so fast on DTV: DirecTV Pulls Plug On G4 - The Consumerist

Well, to be fair, that's a Comcast-owned cable channel for gamers. Not even in the same league.

Here is a quote from DirecTV in the article you posted:

"We are constantly evaluating our lineup in a new world where programming costs continue to rise at significant rates. Since G4 is among the lowest rated networks based on the latest Nielsen data, we decided that it made sense to focus on preserving programming that is more relevant to our larger customer base."

And, I should point out, DirecTV usually does not have the same problems that so many other cable companies have.

I've had TimeWarner and Comcast in the past, and DirecTV for a year. I have had NO issues whatsoever with DirecTV. Can't say that for the others.

[SabresFanInSA]

Originally Posted by Bowie

ATT settled this yesterday and didn't announce the terms, so it's hard to say how much they can rightfully pass along.

Think of the networks a cable/broadband system has as a nest of baby birds, all squawking to be fed, and you'll get a mental picture of how this works. Scripps is just the bird squawking the loudest this month. Over the course of each year, they all get fed at some point when they renegotiate their deals with the provider. When DOZENS of networks ask for as much as 50-75 cents a months, eventually it adds up to $5-$10/month.

I'm far from someone who would sympathize with the cable industry, because I remember the free ride they got until retransmission consent fees began in this decade. But on this issue, I see their point.

This is all true except you dont get DOZENS of networks re-negotiating every year but you DO see increases every year.

[SabresFanInSA]

Originally Posted by Mom2Feebs

Well, to be fair, that's a Comcast-owned cable channel for gamers. Not even in the same league.

Here is a quote from DirecTV in the article you posted:




And, I should point out, DirecTV usually does not have the same problems that so many other cable companies have.

I've had TimeWarner and Comcast in the past, and DirecTV for a year. I have had NO issues whatsoever with DirecTV. Can't say that for the others.

I am a strong Directv supporter having been with them for almost 10 years but they are not always without fault either. We lost Versus last year for about 8 mos, which to most isnt a big deal unless you are a hockey fan. I will say though that they took care of many many people in the form of discounts during that time.

That said, no one has retransmission fights like DISH Network does. Seems they are in a dispute several times per year.

[Texifornians]

Originally Posted by Merovee

Just read those channels are back now.

Yup, just checked. They're back.

[plwhit]

Can we get real here? Providers want to pull channels and we don't like it, you think they care?