Cablevision writes:
"There is no direct connection between the digital transition of broadcast television stations that will occur across the nation in early 2009 and Cablevision's decision to transition away from the duplicate analog feeds of a certain number of channels that we already carry in digital format.Great! This fully supports what we wrote and is an important clarification for anyone who was confused by Cablevision's letter or their customer service representatives.
Unfortunately, Cablevision goes on to say:
Neither our customer service training, nor our customer communications, link the two in any way."Hold on. Let's immediately disprove the second assertion. We posted two recordings unequivocally showing that their "customer communication" blamed the FCC for the loss of analog programming.
As for Cablevision's training, we spoke with four customer service representatives and each one said the same thing. These weren't rogue agents conjuring up their own unsupportable explanations. Two CSRS put us on hold to consult their materials, came back, and repeated their assertions.
When we asked the agents to tell us who instructed them to mention the FCC, they expressly stated that they were following Cablevision's training. We strongly suspect that if we (or you) called back, we would again receive the exact same answer. Could all the agents have made the same mistake, and lied about their training? Absolutely, but Occam's Razor seems to shred any suggestion of a coincidence.
Cablevision admits that their agents repeatedly provided incorrect information. Two questions remain: Are they now lying about their training; and, how will the FCC admonish Cablevision for their deceptive and predatory behavior?
PREVIOUSLY: Cablevision Blatantly Lies To Subscribers As The FCC Twiddles Its Thumbs
Cablevision Uses Digital TV Transition To Upsell Basic Cable
As previously said, for each analogue channel being taken off, 3 to 4 digital non-HD channels can be put in and I guess about 2 HD channels. The additional money they raise by renting digital boxes can be used for enhancement of their network, equipment, or line their pockets. So they force us to pay for their capital expenditures that were already covered when they set the base package prices!
Base line: We are paying them twice for the same thing. Isn't it fraudulent or even illegal to ask for something to be paid twice? We pay for a package of channels, not for a specific delivery mechanism. Ok, someone wants all HD: Go pay for it. Someone else doesn't: Pay for it, too. That's what comes out at the end of the technology jungle. But whatever technology Cablevision chooses for transmission, analogue, digital, copper, fibre, is their business and I couldn't care less, therefore I shouldn't pay for their decision.
On top of that, Cablevision praises digital as a picture quality improvement. Actually, the picture quality decreases when going digital: The data is being compressed and the provider can decide by how much. This decreases the number of displayable colours for each frame. It is obvious when many different base colours and shades are in a picture. Looks like reducing a computer picture to 256 colours to save storage space. And let alone these blocks of smudge when the transmitter and cable box run out of sync...until the next synchronization frame is being transmitted. Happens in my area during lightning.
Cablevision just started to charge me for the converter after 1 year free usage. I'll threaten to take them to small claims court. Don't think that'll accomplish much, but let's see what's happening when I actually file the case with the county court and they get served.
At the very minimum I want an option to buy a box of my choice vs. renting whatever they decide. Can't imagine a base box to be more than 1 year of rent.
Anybody an idea on how to get dual tuner Picture in Picture working except using 2 cable boxes per TV and a jungle of remotes?
]]>I got home last night, and found that I was missing about a dozen channels.
When I called cablevision this morning, I was told that in addition to the
cable box I already have, I would have to shell out an additional $6.50 per
set to per month to view the channels I was getting yesterday.
To be fair, the CSR did not tell me it was an FCC mandate, but part of the
bandwith migration intiative (or whatever). I then had her transfer me to
her supervisor. After about a 10 minute wait, I got the supervisor on the
phone, who told me the same thing.
I really didn't expect any sort of satisfactory resolution, but I figured it
was worth some time to give these people a piece of my mind. And I am sorry
to say I "killed the messenger". After frustrating the supervisor to the
point where he couldn't utter anything but "I'm Sorry", I told him his
answers were unacceptable, and asked for his supervisor. He put me on hold,
and I just hung up and wrote them a nasty note.
Meanwhile, I have copons for my digital to analog converters, but is it even
worth it? I realize the older tvs will need them eventually, but it isn't
going to solve this problem, right???
I called to complain on the cutoff day (this week in Piscataway). They told me that I was entitled to the free cable box. This did not thrill me because we have 8 TV's, 5 of them heavily watched (2 kids' rooms, our room, kitchen, and the HDTV with Tivo Series 3 - and 2 cable cards - in the den). When I called back to schedule the cable box appointment they told me that I wasn't really eligible, then, after I went to a supervisor, told me I was, but only if I TURNED IN A CABLE CARD !!!!! This was because of the HD channels I had just lost for my Tivo. I asked the supervisor whether he could with a straightface advise me to trade the capability to record two programs at once for the ability to get the Kung Fu channel/Monster channel etc.? He couldn't. In the end I got a credit for the cost of a cable box for a year. Oh my I can't wait for FIOS!!!!
]]>
From what I understand, TWC is rolling out the 8300HDC, rather than the 8300HD (non c) that I have. I hear a LOT of complaints about the former, virtually none about the latter.
]]>From everything I can tell personally and from reading others complaints Mystro is very user unfriendly, and vastly unstable. IOW, both other software choices would be better for the consumer - hence TW chooses Mystro.
]]>HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!
Okay, okay, I'm good now HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH!!!!
Wait, okay, HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!
etc.
]]>@sleze69:lol right is right wrong is wrong and for disgruntled employees for you go to www.jobvent.com
]]>Cablevision and TimeWarner use different software on their boxes. Cablevision uses SARA software, TW uses either Passport or Navigator, depending upon location. From what I have read online, SARA seems to be the most stable of the software (gee, a scary thought!).
]]>Time-Warner uses different software on there boxes than Cablevision. Cablevision uses SARA software, TW uses either Passport or Navigator, depending upon location. All 3 softwares have issues, but from what I read online SARA seems to be the most stable (gee, that's scary).
]]>@cablevisionmustdie.com: what
]]>@Pylon83:
Good point. I could definitely see that.
@cablevisionmustdie.com: Calling all disgruntled Cablevision call center employees. Send us your FCC is to blame script!
]]>It's very simple. Whenever a cable company rep tells you something, ANYTHING, just believe the opposite. Incidently, this goes for ANY corporation. If they told you the sky was blue, it's probably for their profit, and it's probably red
]]>@packetscan:
Well 3 years ago you didnt really need box yuo can just take the cable the hook it up to your tv and get family and basic channels even now most of the channels you can still get with just tht wire if you live on long island NJ is assed out they need a box Brooklyn they need a box or they will only get 2-22 bronx I forgot but it should fall into play with Brooklyn
1. When switching to a channel from the guide, keeping the guide picture (you know, the tiny one in the upper right corner) and just filling the rest of the screen with black
2. Cutting off the sound
3. Refusing to do ANYTHING, including just changing channels normally
4. Getting stuck on the DVR list
The only way to fix this is to reset the box; and, that doesn't mean just turning it off. It means unplugging it and waiting a few seconds before plugging it back in. Sadly, then comes the waiting. Just like everything else this box does, a reset takes FOREVER. Seriously, it takes about 20 minutes for this stupid box to boot up.
That's not a big deal, except when you are trying to watch a show-which I obviously am, or else the box wouldn't be fucking up, and I wouldn't be trying to reset it. Or, imagine it happens when you're watching one show and recording another. Now you're screwed out of two show. Joy!
Oh, and fuck cablevision too.
]]>If you don't like this kind of story, go elsewhere. I found the story interesting and in the flavor of other posts here. Is the problem that there is no 'consumer' for you to blame in this one?
]]>@huadpe: Well they all have raised rates : fios cable dish Trust that cable does its homework to see who has raised what and still have their increase to be lower than everyone else
]]>@jfischer: just a side note [cablevisionmustdie.blogspot.com]
]]>On a further off-topic note, that ad was definitely written for an English speaking audience. I saw the exact same ad aired at a Spanish language channel and it doesn't have the same ring to it. Boo! (Stereotypical thing... I thought it might've had a chance to sound good in Spanish too)
]]>As much as I want to say: "Well, it's not predatory when you can get a digital OTA for free (or relatively cheap)," I realize that not everybody can enjoy the variety of channels available OTA by many New Yorkers or are even able to get a decent reception (I hear those living in Manhattan between high rises can't even get a decent signal with an antenna nor will their building assoc. let them install an antenna)
]]>What's doubly-genius about that, blaming it on non-existent regulation, is that it poisons their ignorant customers against the idea of regulation...the only thing that could prevent (or at least render transparent) the price increase that they are blaming on regulation.
]]>Would it be funny to see the scripting that they ( cablevision ) uses for this issue hmmm??
]]>ask an international or nhl customer how does switch video work for them ...not
]]>I'm a current customer, and I feel insulted by Cablevision. They are the best game in town (15mbps/2mbps down/up is unbeatable, and the HD DVR depicted above works excellently with superb picture quality) and I don't want to put up a dish.
FiOS is coming soon though, so Cablevision should cut the antics.
They are switching to Switched Digital Video, which allows them to fit a lot more (especially HD) content. Also, from what I've read, you can fit a couple HD feeds in the space of one HD feed. It makes sense to get everyone to go to digital cable.
This will be less of an issue when they're mandated to take cablecard STBs in June, but until then, you must rent for $6 a month if you want digital. And I am opposed to that for my 15" TV.
]]>@Pylon83: You have a team meeting a hard copy and then a link on the KDB with the same info on what to say to customers They also have a Q&A part just in case t customer need more info 9 times out of 10 its shit Ask to speak to a call center mamager not a sup And Yes they are trained like that if they follow the steps they should all sound like robots
]]>