Cable TV, basically Spectrum/DIRECTV

[Lance]

Apparently a lot of people are very much put out with Spectrum, who took over the operations of Time-Warner Communications. It was a couple of years ago I dumped Spectrum for DIRECTV. Now the latter has raised their prices so much, Spectrum would like to have me back and is offering service of 10 hand-picked channels for $21.95 a month for guaranteed price for two years. As some may know, New York State wants Spectrum out of the picture in New York State because they have not made good on their promises. DIRECTV offers a better signal via satellite, and only on a handful of occasions have I lost a signal due to heavy snowing or raining. Spectrum was not able to negotiate better pricing to me, a long time customer. I am paying DIRECT about $169/month, which I feel is unreasonable; prices go up with no additional services. Spectrum handles the landline phone and computer connection for me. DIRECT TV does not want to negotiate anything. Any of our CMG members having trouble with TV/Cable/Phone connections/pricing. If so, what are you doing about it?

[John F]

When I moved to where I am now, Time Warner Cable was the only cable TV available in my building, and their internet service was better than the alternative, Verizon DSL. So that's what I got and that's what I have, though now it calls itself Spectrum. I don't have phone service over the internet from Spectrum, but rather a land line from Verizon.

Generally speaking it's been satisfactory. The Internet download speed is currently 75 Mbps, fast enough for streaming audio and video. Upload speed is 11 Mbps. Now and then the Internet service goes out, but usually it's back on within an hour or so, though once much longer than that. As for the cable TV, my bundle includes all the nonsubscription channels (no HBO for me), and my cable box includes a DVR (digital video recorder) which I can't do without. TV goes out very infrequently and not for long. The onscreen channel selector interface is simple and easy to use, much more so than the Verizon FIoS service my brother has in New Jersey.

(A handy site for testing your internet download and upload speed is at http://www.speedtest.net/.)

As for price, that depends. Here's a review of Charter's Internet service which may help you, but since prices differ with location, you probably have to phone them yourself.

https://www.reviews.org/internet-servic ... et-review/

[lennygoran]

Any of our CMG members having trouble with TV/Cable/Phone connections/pricing. If so, what are you doing about it?

Lance I use Comcast here in NJ and am relatively happy with it. Regards, Len

[jbuck919]

I had DirectTV before, but it was via satellite, the only possible connection where I live. Now I have Dish TV. I can't even remember why I switched, only that I wish it weren't so expensive.

[John F]

Yes, I remember the days when all we needed to watch TV was a TV set and, if we were really keen about it, an outdoor antenna. Actually, I know someone who still does that, though now he needs a digital TV set or a digital/analog converter, and with three public TV stations and the City University station in this area, he doesn't feel deprived. (I would because most of what I watch, including English Premier League soccer beginning last weekend, is on cable channels only.)

[jbuck919]

Yes, I remember the days when all we needed to watch TV was a TV set and, if we were really keen about it, an outdoor antenna. Actually, I know someone who still does that, though now he needs a digital TV set or a digital/analog converter, and with three public TV stations and the City University station in this area, he doesn't feel deprived. (I would because most of what I watch, including English Premier League soccer beginning last weekend, is on cable channels only.)

I don't know where the current NYC TV transmission tower is, if such even exists anymore. In Cornwall, 50 miles away, I got everything straight from the Empire State Building. Then they built the twin towers, and they actually interfered with the signal, creating a shadow on the screen. That's why the tower, which was an appropriate addition to the ESB, was moved to one of the WTC towers, where it looked rather ridiculous.

[John F]

The headline looks exaggerated to me, I don't believe it's going to happen, but maybe you should wait a bit before committing to Spectrum.

New York Moves to Kick Spectrum Out of State
By Vivian Wang
July 27, 2018

Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo’s administration moved to ban Charter Communications from New York on Friday, ordering the internet, television and phone behemoth to leave the state and hand over its business to another company.

The state’s Public Service Commission said Charter had failed to comply with the terms of its 2016 merger with Time Warner Cable. Under that agreement, the state allowed Charter to acquire Time Warner, making it the second-largest cable operator in the country, if the company agreed to upgrade or expand its broadband services in sparsely populated areas. The commissioners voted on Friday to revoke approval for that merger, effectively barring the company from continuing to operate.

The commission ordered Charter — which trails only Comcast in size — to file a plan within 60 days to find a replacement provider, without any disruptions to service. It also asked the State Supreme Court in Albany to force the company to pay additional fines.

Any actual halt to Charter’s operations is unlikely to come soon, as the company plans to challenge the order.

The Public Service Commission’s decision is the latest and most aggressive offensive in a prolonged battle between Charter, which operates under the brand name Spectrum and employs more than 11,000 New Yorkers, and Mr. Cuomo, who has accused the company of reneging on its promises to expand broadband service to rural areas of the state...

https://www.nytimes.com/2018/07/27/nyre ... dband.html