The disgusting cost of "cable" (internet/television)

[Suddenlink Help]

I'm paying $135 a month for 5mbit cable internet and TV. I have the deluxe TV package, and the HD package (which costs $15 a month, and gives me all SIX available HD channels) and the Showtime package (which is another $15 a month, and isn't even in HD.) Suddenlink is raping me.

I'd like to get DirecTV and get 60 HD channels for $60, but they don't have a Cablecard solution available yet.

Hi! I am with Suddenlink. If you could email me the city/state you have services in along with your service address, I would be happy to see if we can get you into a better priced bundle. My email is tina-AT-suddenlink-DOT-com.

 

[techs]

You mean like if the cable companies didn't treat their packages like socialism and make those of us that just Want Spike, Discovery, History, SciFi, and a few other assorted programs, but have to pay the difference and not use the rest of the shit channels like BET, Oxygen, TBS, WGN, ect.
In the digital age, why would it be so hard to just have the next round of cable boxes that goes out be programable as to what channels you want. Like leave out the stupid music channels that do nothing but waste bandwidth and resources. I know of no one that uses them.

If It weren't for sports, I'd dump Cable TV in a heart beat.

Have you ever seen the cost of each of those extra channels? Add them all up and they cost the cable company less than 5 dollars a month.
So any type of a la carte service will still have to generate the same amount of revenue as the "socialist" tiers the cable company provides. So in effect you will lose 99 percent of the channels to save 5 bucks a month.
And of course you will never get any new channels.

 

[lokiju]

I'm mighty tempted to drop cable TV all together and just use Hulu but I don't feel it's rock solid reliable at this point.

I've noticed on a few occasions that major shows didn't put up their previous episode for a few days after airing, which tends to suck when you really want to see it.

I'm interested to know what Appple is up to with what I read about them going to the networks asking for licensing for a possible $30 per month streaming device for all TV shows.

I'd jump on that if it got me what I wanted to watch and no delay on having access to the content.

 

[JEDI]

I'm sure this is a topic that has been discussed to death but I just got off the phone with the cable company and feel like exploring the topic once more.
Something is wrong. If I add up the cost of my electric, water, and gym memberships I still don't reach the amount on my cable bill... And that is with a promotional rate on my internet meaning its only going to get worse.
I called comcast with the intention of cancelling everything but internet, limited basic, and the hd/dvr receiver but apparently I must have a higher grade package in order to keep the dvr. What? I already pay a premium on the box relative to the standard hd box so wtf?
Ah well I'm just frustrated. I need a good, cheap solution that allows me to dvr my shows. I only record things I could get for free over the air so paying so much money is pretty stupid. The whole thing is a racket. Is cancelling my service, dealing with QAM, and/or watching my shows via other means the best way to go?

Verizon dsl 1meg/384k $14.99/month
TV: free via internet (see the $14.99 above)

Total TV/internet (for the math impaired): $14.99/month


.

 

[Kanalua]

I hate, hate how you have to get all the lower quality channels on digital cable before you can get the HD channels!!!! Pisses me off...why not just offer an HD package with all the HD channels, and that's it. I NEVER watch MTV2 or any of the digital cable, non-HD package!!!

Just give me my HD channels and my HD-DVR and that's it! Why do i have to pay for all the other crap?!?!?!

 

[ed21x]

a few years ago, I cancelled everything and just restarted with SBC/Yahoo (ATT) DSL at their premium speed of $25/month (3down/1.5up) and hooked up an HTPC to stream the shows that I watch. Sure, the resolution isn't HDTV, but with all the good shows now available online, and netflix streaming, I don't see a need for a DVR anymore. No more local phone line as well... its nice to consolidate, and saves a pretty penney! of course now I give all my money to the evil AT&T overlords for cellphone and internet, but seems like a good overall deal.

 

[guyver01]

People really need to learn to negotiate with their cable company.

 

[Ksyder]

Hi! I am with Suddenlink. If you could email me the city/state you have services in along with your service address, I would be happy to see if we can get you into a better priced bundle. My email is tina-AT-suddenlink-DOT-com.

whoa creepy

 

[GrumpyMan]

I hope that you don't get caught anytime soon. Tethering without a proper plan violates their ETF, and if one of their system sweeps catch you doing it they could either bump you to the "proper plan" (which is $60/month), charge you by the kilobyte (with no maximum cap...this is the scary part), or drop you altogether.

And you don't sound like you're on the proper plan since these days tethering plans have a maximum of 5GB/month (which is unreasonably low IMO for a plan advertised as mobile "broadband").

Pffffff......Hey ATT you can blow me after Comcast gets through. Like I'm worried.

 

[techs]

Hi! I am with Suddenlink. If you could email me the city/state you have services in along with your service address, I would be happy to see if we can get you into a better priced bundle. My email is tina-AT-suddenlink-DOT-com.

whoa creepy

And just a little bit sexy.

 

[Zargon]

People really need to learn to negotiate with their cable company.

you pay for a landline?

sucker!!





seriously though, not bad.

thats about 30 bucks less than they quoted me for dual room hd dvr service

with a 200 buck buy-in

3$analog cable(on top of my 60 buck internet bill) + free clear QAM HD and my dish helps balance me out

 

[her209]

People really need to learn to negotiate with their cable company.

Internet + Cable TV for $50 a month from Comcast
http://forums.anandtech.com/showthread.php?t=335100

 

[Marinski]

ya internet/tv prices are a joke. I'm paying 83 for comcast basic 100 channel tv, no dvr, and economy class (slower) internet. My intro rate was 65 for the same package except with faster internet. Then it went up to 75 with 100 more channels and faster internet. Now its at where its at, and Im paying more. And trying to negotiate with them is pointless. I've tried and threatened to cancel and all that and they just say they dont care. They really dont give a crap if you leave.

 

[Kanalua]

good luck negotiating in Hawaii...especially when they know your place is an apartment and wont allow DISH...

I already get a $30 discount from my wife's work...

 

[xrax]

most politicians own stock in cable companies

 

[guyver01]

you pay for a landline?

sucker!!

actually... the bundle with the phone is cheaper than the bundle i had without phone.

so.. they're paying me to have phone

well.. sorta..

i'm paying less and have phone

 

[Zargon]

yeah they do that to inflate their numbers


the lady kept telling me she could believe I didnt want a landline. I told her I was in my basement on my cell right now and she sounded worse than I did on their shit VOIP system they were running

 

[techs]

most cable companies own stock in politicians

Fixed for accuracey.

 

[aphex]

Brighthouse Networks down here in SW FL rocks.

$35/mo (including tax) for 7mb Internet w/ Basic Cable and Clear QAM HD

 

[Squisher]

Living large.
1 HDTV box, 1 HDTV+DVR, 1 digital box
All premium channels
Sports Entertainment Package
Internet
Landline

$245

 

[Fingolfin269]

We really shouldn't have to negotiate. Believe me I'm all for negotiation and do my best but not everyone can get the same deals mainly because not everyone has the same alternatives available. Not to mention the fact that you may have to call 3 or 4 different people before finally getting lucky.

This model is broken.

 

[oboeguy]

My problem is that the only thing I watch on TV is sports. ESPN, YES (Yankees channel), Versus, etc are only available on I suppose the 2nd tier of TV services. As for 'net access, the only alternative to TimeWarner cable in our building is Verizon DSL, which IME stinks. Competition at its finest!

 

[Acanthus]

$46 a month, 12 Mbit Roadrunner.

Hulu - Free
Joost - Free
Comedycentral.com - Free
Youtube - Free
I don't miss the bill, or the endless stupid programming.

 

[her209]

Living large.
1 HDTV box, 1 HDTV+DVR, 1 digital box
All premium channels
Sports Entertainment Package
Internet
Landline

$245

Holy shit dude!

 

[techs]

My problem is that the only thing I watch on TV is sports. ESPN, YES (Yankees channel), Versus, etc are only available on I suppose the 2nd tier of TV services. As for 'net access, the only alternative to TimeWarner cable in our building is Verizon DSL, which IME stinks. Competition at its finest!

Were you one of the people who got screwed by the whole Cablevision not carrying the Yes network?