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Your lack of watchable content led to my service cancellation

Posted Wed May 26, 2010 3:03 pm, by Gregory F. written to Time Warner Cable

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The content on cable has deteriorated to the point where it's unwatchable. News has become commentary. It's overwhelmingly USA-centric, even though this is New York, an international center. The programs available to my kids are littered with commercials, and I believe it's not appropriate to show commercials to 4 year olds. I can't choose the channels I want to subscribe to. And it continues to deeply annoy me that a portion of my cable bill goes to Fox News.

I have now canceled my cable service altogether. Cut it off. Returned the box.

I have been much happier watching purely public channels (eg. PBS for news), and programs bought on Apple TV and Netflix that have no commercials.

I AM PREPARED TO PAY A PREMIUM FOR GETTING WHAT I WANT, BUT YOU DON'T SEEM TO KNOW HOW TO SELL IT TO ME. Until you figure out how to sell me what I and thousands of other New Yorkers want, you won't get my business at all.


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by MadCat Posted Fri May 28, 2010 @ 12:18 PM

I COMPLETELY agree! We haven't had cable in our home for three years
now for exactly the same reason!!!

Good for you!

Reply

by Christine M. Posted Thu May 27, 2010 @ 6:02 PM

I agree with this letter. Most of what is on cable is junk. We
dropped it years ago due to money problems. Although we can afford to
get it back now, we choose not to. We've stayed in hotels with cable
TV, and a quick flip around the dials shows that there is very little
worth watching and paying for.

As far as kids' shows are concerned - I know people who do have cable,
but still won't let their kids watch anything but PBS. No
commercials, and the quality of the programming is superior.

Thanks to free digital TV, we now receive FIVE different PBS
channels. This is mostly what we watch. For a fraction of what we
used to pay for cable, we can make a generous donation to our local
PBS, to help keep their fine programming on the air.

We don't miss cable at all, we'll never pay a cable bill again.

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by Jared C. Posted Thu May 27, 2010 @ 3:07 PM

Must say I agree with OP. I'd much prefer to select the channels I
watch and ONLY pay for those channels:

- Comedy Central, Fox, MSNBC, FX, Spike TV, Cartoon Network (for Adult
Swim), the ENCORE movie channels and Comcast Sportsnet are really all
I'd need.

That would probably lower my bill to about $15-20 bucks a month!

The Disney channels - ESPN, Disney, ABC, etc. - and the channels that
focus on sports alone (like the college football divisons) cost the
most...but since I never watch any of these...I could get a really
cheap bill if I could select my channels.

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would need VS and NBC too - as some hockey games shown on these - n/t by Jared C. Thu May 27, 2010 @ 3:09 PM


by Casmly Posted Thu May 27, 2010 @ 11:44 AM

Good for you dropping cable! I've done the same and find that I watch
a whole lot less tv because of it.

The major factors behind my dropping cable were the sky rocketing cost
and the fact that I couldn't pick and choose the channels I paid for.
I get why cable companies don't allow this. However, I also firmly
believe that if enough people drop cable and turn to
alternatives(internet, Netflix) cable companies will be forced to
change the way they sell their merchandise.

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by Just Simply Bella Sera Posted Thu May 27, 2010 @ 9:12 AM

Time Warner Cable does not have control over how cable stations choose
to present their news. They also cannot control the commercials cable
stations choose to air or the number.

The only two things I can get behind you on are a) Not being able to
choose the channels you want to subscribe to and b) A portion of the
bill going to Fox News.

It sounds like you have found better options for you and your family.

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by PepperElf Posted Thu May 27, 2010 @ 2:05 AM

i have nothing wrong with the concept of doing away with TV. i also
have nothing wrong with the idea of doing so over lack of content



however... the network provider -- whether it's TWC, Verizon, Dish,
direct tv, or whomever -- has absolutely NO control over whether or
not the station is good or bad.


all they are responsible for is making sure the subscriber can see the
tv channel.


when it comes to crap programming the blame lies with the networks.





and believe me i know for a FACT that TWC themselves CANNOT control a
network.

Last year or so up in Buffalo NY, TWC got in a fight with one of the
local stations.

Local Station said "Our contract is up soon. You will pay us $$$ if
you want to carry our channel." (I believe it was over a million)

TWC said "hell no, people can see you for free on open air."

LS said "fine. We're the only station with a contract with the Bills.
We will win this."



For a while TWC stood their ground, and after the contract ran out
they dropped the local station.


within about 6 weeks TWC caved in.



yeah. if TWC can't even order a local tv station around... there's no
way in HELL they're going to be able to order around every single
cable network.


=)

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by olie Posted Wed May 26, 2010 @ 11:20 PM

I hope you are introducing your child to the latest in technology:
Built-in Orderly Organized Knowledge device (BOOK).


The BOOK is a revolutionary breakthrough in technology. No wires, no
electric circuits, no batteries, nothing to be connected or switched
on.
It's so easy even a child can operate it. Just lift its cover!

Compact and portable, it can be used anywhere - even sitting in an
armchair by the fire - yet it is powerful enough to hold as much
information as a CD-ROM disc.

(The above is part of an e-mail sent to me.)

Spend time with your child, commercial-free, with books.

Reply


This would make an interesting infomercial. by CrazyRedHead Thu May 27, 2010 @ 9:32 AM

That's great! by Jared C. Thu May 27, 2010 @ 3:04 PM

by RedheadwGlasses Posted Wed May 26, 2010 @ 10:42 PM

So don't let your kids watch TV.

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by Donno Posted Wed May 26, 2010 @ 3:55 PM

To me, it is more a commentary on what Joe Six Pack wants to watch -
garbage.

I don't blame you for cancelling your service. Cable is chock full of
nuts.

I used to get several stations off the antennae at the World Trade
Center, with my tower antenna I erected only in 2000. Sadly, that
functionality was not replaced. If you are in NYC, perhaps you can
get some network tv broadcasts, in addition to the public stations.

Reply


Re: Your lack of watchable content led to my service cancellation by Maegan Z. Wed May 26, 2010 @ 3:47 PM


Fox news crushes the competition by RowdyRetailer Thu May 27, 2010 @ 1:38 AM

by Maegan Z. Posted Thu May 27, 2010 @ 8:44 AM

Or most Americans like a good laugh.

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by RowdyRetailer Posted Thu May 27, 2010 @ 10:46 AM

Good Day!

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That's why I'm leaning towards most Americans wanting a good laugh. Which your mention of Reagan made me do. by Maegan Z. Thu May 27, 2010 @ 1:20 PM


RE by RowdyRetailer Thu May 27, 2010 @ 2:05 PM


His foreign policies. by Maegan Z. Fri May 28, 2010 @ 3:05 PM


Hindsight is 20/20 but.... by RowdyRetailer Sat May 29, 2010 @ 12:55 AM
by Ben G. Posted Fri May 28, 2010 @ 7:35 AM

for the current administration, whose approvals ratings are heading
towards the bottom quicker than any other first term president.

Or maybe they are sick of the double standards of CNN and MSNBC.
Treating Obama with kid gloves on the issues because he is a democrat,
but if you have that evil R next to your name in politics, THEN they
turn on the fact checks and hard questions.

Reply

by NathanG Posted Wed May 26, 2010 @ 3:22 PM

good luck finding a cable provider without commercials. Or one that
lets you pick and choose what channels you pay for, beyond premium.

Reply


Hulu by PepperElf Thu May 27, 2010 @ 2:08 AM


Always options by NathanG Thu May 27, 2010 @ 7:32 AM


Great TV choices! by RedheadwGlasses Thu May 27, 2010 @ 12:32 PM


o yeah... all of my faves are free by PepperElf Thu May 27, 2010 @ 2:36 PM




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