Cable TV Alternatives

[diminishingskills]

Over the weekend, I opened the Time Warner bill and found that they jacked my cable rate by $35/month (apparently some promotional rate expired). Five minutes and one phone call later, I had canceled my cable TV (kept the Internet service). I'd been thinking about canceling the service anyway; jumping the price that much made the decision easy.

I'm now looking into alternatives. No other cable providers currently service my area, so that's out (which is too bad; I've had very good luck in the past with both AT&T and Wide Open West). Of course there's DirecTV and Dish Network. However, years ago I had a terrible experience with Dish Network and would never go back to them, and that experience has colored my views on all dish-based providers (maybe unfairly so). Frequent service outages (every time there was rain, the signal would be lost), climbing on the roof in the middle of winter to knock snow off the dish, the ugly dish itself, terrible customer service ... I'd rather not travel that road if I can help it.

I haven't looked much into online providers of content (e.g. Hulu); don't know if that is a gold mine or not worth the time.

My viewing habits: I rarely watch TV other than sports and the occasional dose of Discovery/Bravo/Travel Channel/local news. (i.e., if you watch one episode of American Idol, Lost, 24, The Office, any of the CSI's, etc., you have watched one more episode than I ever have) Would like to have it as the occasional baby sitter for the little ones as well, although DVDs serve that purpose just as well. Part of me is thinking that I just won't replace it at all, and live without any TV. The more reasonable part of me knows that I could probably make that stick until the NFL/NBA seasons start back up, and then I'll be feeling some serious withdrawal.

Anyway, I'm interested in what y'all do for your TV providers (not counting cable) -- be it dish, online, or whatever. Although it's not why I called, feel free to vent on Time Warner as well. TIA

[mattvan1]

I have been a DirecTV subscriber from '99. Outages are now very rare, maybe once a month during a really bad storm/heavy rain. Picture quality is excellent, as is customer service, at least from my local DTV provider. Don't cancel TW just yet - call DTV, tell them that you want to switch, and you can probably cop free install and free boxes, as well as 90 day promotion packages.

[diminishingskills]

I have been a DirecTV subscriber from '99. Outages are now very rare, maybe once a month during a really bad storm/heavy rain. Picture quality is excellent, as is customer service, at least from my local DTV provider. Don't cancel TW just yet - call DTV, tell them that you want to switch, and you can probably cop free install and free boxes, as well as 90 day promotion packages.

Thanks for the advice, Matt. DTV is offering all those items you mentioned to new subscribers -- discounted rate for first 12 months, free install, free boxes, 90 days of movie channels. Looks like the monthly bill will be ~$75 after the promotional rate expires. That's less than the $90 that TWC was charging (for a comparable channel package), but not by much. Considering it.

[Larvell Blanks]

[quote="DiminishingSkills"

Thanks for the advice, Matt. DTV is offering all those items you mentioned to new subscribers -- discounted rate for first 12 months, free install, free boxes, 90 days of movie channels. Looks like the monthly bill will be ~$75 after the promotional rate expires. That's less than the $90 that TWC was charging (for a comparable channel package), but not by much. Considering it.[/quote]

I'm a new subscriber to DTV (about 2 months) and I've had nothing but good things to say. Customer service was very accomidating, set up was scheduled within days. Lots of different packages for your choice of viewing. They also have a promotion where you can get $10 off your bill for 10 months if you get someone else to subscribe and they reference your account # plus that person gets the same deal. We've had 2 people do this for us plus we used someone else's reference when we signed on. It's nice to open up the bill and only have to pay $35, even if it's only for the next few months. It beats the deal we had w/ Armstrong

[peeker643]

I have been a DirecTV subscriber from '99. Outages are now very rare, maybe once a month during a really bad storm/heavy rain. Picture quality is excellent, as is customer service, at least from my local DTV provider. Don't cancel TW just yet - call DTV, tell them that you want to switch, and you can probably cop free install and free boxes, as well as 90 day promotion packages.

You can pretty much play that game into the scenario Matt painted. The issue I had with DirecTV was they didn't bundle (at least not in the ballpark of affordability) and they hammer you per dvr or HD box. I've been with TWC for a year now so maybe the satellite companies have lightened up on the per box charge for service.

I had zero issues with outages or distortion with DirecTV, their CSRs were heads and sholders above TWC (who is simply, utterly and disgracefull awful when it comes to that) and that'd be the provider I preferred over any other offering programming if I was just looking at progamming, customer service and quality.

And John, believe me, you can work a deal.

[Ziner]

I like DTV, i just cant get it because my balcony does not face the right direction so I would encourage you to go with them. However since I am stuck with Comcast i threaten to cancel every 6 months and they continue to my introductory rate. Might want to give that a try in the future, sounds like it is too late to do that with TW.

If I were you I would hold off on DTV for about 2 months. If you wait you will get Sunday Ticket for free, they offer that promo every year. I think now it comes with a 2 year commitment, however when I first did it I only had a one year contract so I actually got free Sunday ticket for 2 years. Might want to give it a try and insist on a 1 year contract.

[diminishingskills]

I like DTV, i just cant get it because my balcony does not face the right direction so I would encourage you to go with them. However since I am stuck with Comcast i threaten to cancel every 6 months and they continue to my introductory rate. Might want to give that a try in the future, sounds like it is too late to do that with TW.

Ziner, that was the most surprising part. In my experience, when you threaten to cancel a subscription service like cable, the company will do everything short of blowing you to try to get you to change your mind. I gave the TWC rep ample opportunity to "save the day" with some offer to keep me as a valued and loyal customer ... not happening. Chick's tone of voice as much as said "don't let the door hit you in the ass on the way out".

Thanks all for the feedback so far. Encouraged to hear the good experiences with DirecTV.

[waborat]

Just like Matt said, I've had DTV since '99 and love it...

Anytime I've had a problem (most of it was when HD first came out) they've bent over backwards with freebies to keep us happy...

Absolutely nothing like Sunday Ticket

[municipalmutt]

I had DTV from the beginning and cancelled them last year. I took the dish down, put an outdoor antenna up in its place, and get about 35 channels over the air for free.
35 channels for free with nothing to watch = 235 channels for 90 bucks per month with nothing to watch.

[Orenthal]

I long for the days of analog cable and "black boxes."

I hear there is some whay to pull off something similar on Dish. Although I would never support anything like stealing, and always notified my cable company that I had my own equipment.

[mattvan1]

Try here http://www.dbstalk.com/index.php

More DirecTV info than you will ever want to know. Many of the people posting are serious techno geeks and/or actual installers. Many tricks on how to get the best deals, what to watch for during installs, etc.

[Cerebral_DownTime]

I've been looking at DTV for a while now. I just can't justify keeping RoadRunner and paying for DTV when it's cheaper to keep it bundled with TW cable. AT&T's internet sucks from what i've heard.

Although I would never support anything like stealing

Apparently you've never used torrents. Best. Free. Stuff. Ever.

[motherscratcher]

A few years back I had TWC and was reasonably happy. I was moving. It was a Wednesday and I was moving on Friday (I know I should have given them more notice). I called up TWC to ask them what I needed to do or if I could just hook up my current box in the new house as it was only 10 minutes away. The guy tells me they have to send somebody out to do something or other and they can't get anyone out for 2 weeks.

I say "2 weeks? Can't anyone get out here sooner. I don't want to go 2 weeks without TV. This is America goddamit!" He says sorry. 2 weeks.

I hung up and called DirecTV. They got someone out the next day. No problems.

I used to get service interrupted...not often, but enough to be annoying. Now, though, I can't remember the last time my picture was bad. I don't think it happened at all this past winter.

I'll never go back.

[aoxo1]

Get DirecTV, but don't do any of the promotional stuff and try to get it without a contract. Then you can turn it on during NBA season and turn it off after. Catch the Browns games over the air or at a bar. Or have it on for NFL season and get Sunday Ticket.

I don't know if you can actually get it without a contract, or how much it would cost, but I do know my dad has had it for years and just turns it on and off depending on the time of year. He basically is the same as you, never watches anything except the Cavs and Browns.

[FUDU]

DS if you're looking for somebody to rant with about TWC, or somebody to drive a Ryder truck through their front window, I'm you're guy.

I've always got a kick out of the fact that it is a federal crime to steal $60/month cable TV service but not that big a deal to steal a $75,000 car out of somebody's driveway.

[Fire Marshall Bill]

TWC sucks donkey dick

I broomed those theives 3 yrs ago and went to Dish vs Direct because of cost. I liked the packaging better and word of mouth they had a better rep

Have one here at the office also with fewer programs mostly for old movies on lazy days

...and the Coyote could beat Road Runner in a timed race

[Fire Marshall Bill]

A few years back I had TWC and was reasonably happy. I was moving. It was a Wednesday and I was moving on Friday (I know I should have given them more notice). I called up TWC to ask them what I needed to do or if I could just hook up my current box in the new house as it was only 10 minutes away. The guy tells me they have to send somebody out to do something or other and they can't get anyone out for 2 weeks.

I say "2 weeks? Can't anyone get out here sooner. I don't want to go 2 weeks without TV. This is America goddamit!" He says sorry. 2 weeks.

I hung up and called DirecTV. They got someone out the next day. No problems.

I used to get service interrupted...not often, but enough to be annoying. Now, though, I can't remember the last time my picture was bad. I don't think it happened at all this past winter.

I'll never go back.

You'll love this one...

I had my house sided and planned on installing Dish during the job.

Meantime, a municipal truck with a backhoe on it went past the house and clipped the cable and phone line. I bitched like a MF'r to everyone. To the township for hiring dunces and the cable company for their usual piss poor imnstallations.

I had them come out and repair it.

The next week I canceled the cable

The guy came back out with a WTF look on his face and disconnected the cable

I had so much fun fucking with them I gave thought to signing up again just to cancel

The Dish installer couldn't have been more accomodating and I'll tell you that as a contractor who knows all the tricks and mind games one can play to make their job easier rather than give you what you wanted

[Orenthal]

Apparently you've never used torrents. Best. Free. Stuff. Ever.

Or emule, or puzo.org, or xsharex.info. No idea about any of those things...

[swerb]

I've been TWC from day one. I've looked into switching a # of times, the prohibiting factor has always been how bad Direct TV zocks you for the HD DVR boxes. Sadly, I got 4 of those things in my house that I use, and a 5th box in my office.

What's Direct TV's current policy/cost on boxes?

TWC ... I paid nothing up front to get em, and rent em for like $7-$8 a month apiece.

Like Hnat though, my cable bill just keeps going up. Get HBO and Showtime for my boxing addiction. Paying an average of like $180-$200 a month when you factor in boxing PPV's. It's insane.

[Cerebral_DownTime]

That's TW's best upside the HD is seemless and pretty cheap. Plus the On Demand channels are great, especially the free ones. Roadrunner is still the best ISP IMO.

Or emule, or puzo.org, or xsharex.info. No idea about any of those things...

I've never heard of those either.

[waborat]

I've been TWC from day one. I've looked into switching a # of times, the prohibiting factor has always been how bad Direct TV zocks you for the HD DVR boxes. Sadly, I got 4 of those things in my house that I use, and a 5th box in my office.

What's Direct TV's current policy/cost on boxes?

TWC ... I paid nothing up front to get em, and rent em for like $7-$8 a month apiece.

Like Hnat though, my cable bill just keeps going up. Get HBO and Showtime for my boxing addiction. Paying an average of like $180-$200 a month when you factor in boxing PPV's. It's insane.

Paid $90 on Ebay for my last HD box (I think DTV is $200 for HD box?)...

They get you for $5 for each TV/box in your house, but you only pay for the HD/DVR service once...

We pay $95/month for Basic/HD/DVR/HBO/SHOW/3 TVs/Insurance...Goes up to $145 during football season for Sunday Ticket...Have RoadRunner for internet thru TW for another $45/month

[diminishingskills]

Here's what DTV is currently quoting on their web site, at least for my neck of the woods (all prices are monthly prices):

- Choice Extra channel package (210 channels, including anything I'd ever watch): $63.99
- HD Access: Free for life
- DVR service: $7 (for $3 more, can have the ability to record in one room and watch in another)
- Receiver lease fee: $5 (it's $5 per receiver, with the first one free; I would need two)

So I'd be looking at a long-term price of $75.99/month, plus whatever taxes and "franchise fees" and other crap that they tack onto the bill.

For the first 12 months, they are offering a $29/month credit, so for the next year my price would be $46.99. And for the next three months, they are offering free Showtime and Starz movie channels.

The dish, receivers (including one HD receiver), and installation are free.

So add that $76 DTV bill to my $46 TWC bill for internet, and I'd be looking at $122/month. It's a little more than the $105/month I was paying TWC previously, and a little less than the $138 they started charging me last month. But they are all quite a bit more than the $46/month I'm currently paying for internet alone ... and I haven't even thought about TV once the past three days. As I said before, I know that I'd hit serious TV withdrawal once we hit fall sports season, so I know my TV boycott probably won't extend past Labor Day. Till then though, I may just keep the TV dark.

[Orenthal]

That's TW's best upside the HD is seemless and pretty cheap. Plus the On Demand channels are great, especially the free ones. Roadrunner is still the best ISP IMO.

Or emule, or puzo.org, or xsharex.info. No idea about any of those things...

I've never heard of those either.

CDT, they are good, allegedly.

I want Verizon FiOS...