ESPN, Discovery, Universal, HDNet channels will be subject to an $8 per month rate increase beginning next month.

That sucks. I was at my buddy's place last weekend - he has Suddenlink HD. I saw a couple of HD channels that I don't get on DirecTV and asked about them. He said that they were initially free, but now you have to pay extra to get them (not sure if it was a package or a per channel rate). He was pretty upset about it. If SL is going to cut out ESPNHD/DISCHD and make you pay extra for it, it'll cause a lot of people to switch over to Dish or DirecTV.

[This message has been edited by Emeril (edited 3/13/2007 5:59p).]

99 Aggie is about to come tell all of us how great Suddenlink is.

Does this show up as "HD Plus Tier - $7.95" on the bill? If so, I'm already paying it in addition to the $10.90/month for the box.

Suddenlink is terrible. My problem is I have a cable modem and no phone line through Verizon. Any one have any ideas on high speed internet options with DirectTV or Dish? I'm betting it will cost about the same as a Verizon phone, DSL + DirectTV or Dish. Although a challenge, Suddenlink has managed to deliver worse service and Cox, amazing.

I thought you could get internet without subscribing to cable now? It is definitely a better option that DirecWay unless you live in BFE.

You can get cable internet from SuddenLink without cable TV, for $10/month extra. Problem isn't availability or cost, though, it's crappy service—frequent interruptions & slowdowns, and unhelpful support. I'd switch to DSL in a heartbeat if it were available at my address; satellite & wireless services are too damn expensive.

Edit: Cable internet does seem a bit faster and more consistent this week...coincidence? Maybe this means SL's network isn't robust enough to handle its normal load.

[This message has been edited by southcutt (edited 3/13/2007 10:19p).]

This isn't new Cox did that for years. It seems once your're hooked on the new low sign up fee prepare for your rate hike six months down the road.

New name - same old TCA Cable. Glad I have DSL and Dish Network HD.

Great they are always increasing their rate on something. Unfortunately, from what I've seen satellite doesn't compare to the quality of picture that cable provides. The picutre is so much clearer and sharper than any of the satellite providers. I've had direct, dish, and Voom and none of them could match it.

It's $50/month for cable internet from SL without a cable tv account. I'm one of the few who hasn't been plagued by poor download/upload speeds, but I still think the price is outrageous.

Call Verizon, they do bundles with DirecTV. I finally gave up on Suddenlink. I got tired of paying $20 bucks more a month for slower internet and around 30 fewer channels than I had in Corpus Christi. I now pay $100 a month for phone, DSL, and HD Satelite TV. And for those of you worried about the lack of HD channels, you should call DirecTV and ask about the HD channels that are being added this year, you may be pleasantly suprised.

I think if you had HD before, you should get all the channels without paying the $7.95 extra. Only the new HD customers should have to pay it, IMO.

My parents live in Katy and they have MORE HD channels and pay about what we pay. SL is just trying to make us pay more, as always.

Doc - is there an activation fee? Is the $100 a special and then it will go up after so many months?

If you are speaking the truth, I will definitely look into it.

I switched to DirecTV last November. I have the Choice Plus package with HD converter and a regular converter in the master bedroom. $80/month.

Like I said above, it's $50/month for internet with SL. That puts me at $130/month for tv/internet. I'm saving $20/month over just having SL for tv and internet and get more of the channels I actually want. Verizon tells me that I can't get DSL at my house (which is nuts, because I have a friend about four blocks over who has DSL).

There was an activation fee for the telephone (which we don't use save for ordering pay per view), and we payed extra to get the HD-DVR. Installation (four rooms) was free, but I warn you now, the HD dish is about twice the size of the regular dish. The price is good for a year, but the Verizon guy told me to call back if the prices go up and gripe, they'll go back down.

I think I should also mention that we didn't get the uber package, just one of the decent packages with HD along with the regular run of the mill DSL and phone. If you want all the channels, the fastest DSL, unlimited long distance, and the like; you'll be looking at about $200 a month I would imagine.

quote:

---

99 Aggie is about to come tell all of us how great Suddenlink is.

---

Nope. I was upset to see my bill go up 15% as well. I didn't understand that was going to be the case.

I still think that when everything washes out the monthly costs are going to be similar for high-end cable and satellite packages. Not having multiple ugly dishes on my house/property and having the signal possibly interrupted due to weather count for something, too.

What about the fact that Suddenlink is gouging its customers? You can look at the packages offered in Houston vs. those offered in BCS and the differences in programming and price is rather noticeable. I don't care if they don't have any competition in BCS; that is still not a good enough excuse to offer the paltry channel line up/terrible internet and charge a premium price. I loved it when I called to cancel and they were offering everything they could to keep me. I told them I wanted all the channels that customers in the Houston area get for the same price. They didn't have anything to say. It’s no so much that I feel like satellite is better than cable (because if could have the Time Warner package I had in Corpus I would), but satellite is a hell of a lot better than the crap cable that is available here in BCS.

Many DSL providers will now provide what is known as naked DSL so you don't have to have a landline phone account.

Anyone know if locally Verizon will do this?

Verizon will, I think they charge $5 extra for the service.

I want to see numbers from everyone that claims gouging. I'm not disputing, and I'm not averse to switching, but I want to see the non-promotional pricing for customers. I'll list what I've got on this thread when I get home and maybe someone else can do the same for satellite.

I want to see what the normal customer pays for ultimate programming (multiple HD DVRs, top-tier channels, several movie packages, Internet).

[This message has been edited by 99_aggie_grad (edited 3/14/2007 3:21p).]

THIS HAS ME PISSED OFF.

Soon, to keep HD (meaning ESPN HD) and Internet, I will be paying 130 a month.

This is outrageous.

Can someone please do a cross comparison since I am ignorant about Verizon and satellite?

I am considering switching to Verizon cell phone service from Cingular. Is there any deal that can be done with that? I am willing to sign a contract, ect.

Yeah, if I hadn't of just signed a contract with Cingular I would have done my cell with them too. The more stuff you add, the sweeter the deal. But yes, for the satelite and cell a contract is required.

I'm near 190, red.

I have 1 HD converter and 1 regular box, HD channels (excluding the new additional charge ones), high speed internet, HBO and Starz...I pay $130 now, but it was lower in previous months.

I had the same with the exception of a regular box, Sunrise. When I left, I was up to $140. Even with being gouged for high speed internet plus paying DirecTV, I'm only at $130 now.

I'd still like to know specifics. Let's get some good comparison's on here. Someone with tons of satellite options please post here. If you've got cable elsewhere, post here. NO PROMOTIONAL PRICING.

I exaggerated the increase of my bill. It actually has increased only about $10 (6%) over the last two years with the addition of more HD channels. I had a prorated charge for the HD Plus Tier for February that made it appear high this month. I removed it from the bill listed below.

fly, what are you getting for $80 from DirecTV?
Sunrise, what HD channels do folks in Houston get that we don't?

BCS HD channels:
PBS
FOX
CBS
ABC
NBC
TNT
ESPN
Discovery
Nat. Geog.
Universal
HD Net (news)
HD Net (movie)
HGTV
Food
A&E
HBO
Showtime
Starz
-----------------------------------
Here's my current SL bill:
Total Cable Services $116.25
Total High Speed Data Services $39.95
Total Taxes and Fees $17.20
Total Current Charges $173.40

Monthly Cable Service
Movie Tier 2 @ $4 = $8
Sports/Info Tier 2@ $3.98= $7.99
Digital Cinemax 1 @ $8.47 = $8.47
Digital HBO 1 @ $8.48 = $8.48
HD Plus Tier 1 @ $7.95 = $7.95
Limited Basic 1 @ $ 18.99 = $18.99
Expanded Service 1 @ $26.00 = $26.00
FCC Fee 1 @ $0.07 = $0.07
P.E.G. Access $1 @ $0.15 = $0.15
Digital Converter - DVR/HD 2 @ $14.90 = $29.80

High Speed Data Service
Preferred High Speed Internet (4MB+) 1 @ $39.95 = $39.95

Taxes and Fees $17.20
-----------------------------------
I suspect that the pricing for satellite is similar, but I'd love to be proven drastically wrong. Show me the money.

[This message has been edited by 99_aggie_grad (edited 3/15/2007 12:22a).]

At first glance, DTV sucks for HD. They offer ESPN2 that SL doesn't, but that's it. They lack many others that SL offers, including NG, A&E, Food, HGTV, PBS?, Starz.

Can you get local channels in BCS on satellite?

Do you have to sign contracts for satellite? I notice that a service commitment is required for their high-speed Internet. 1.5M Earthlink DSL for $19.95. Good price, terrible speed.

I see the word "commitment" all over the DTV site. What's the deal?

I'm genuinely interested in pursuing satellite if it indeed blows away cable with price. Here's my first stab at real research.

[This message has been edited by 99_aggie_grad (edited 3/15/2007 1:02a).]

If enough people contact other cable companies, then possibly they might move into the area and set up shop... might or might not work, but its worth a shot at least.

M. Todd Holt
Chief Financial Officer
Knology, Inc.
Phone: 706-645-8752
E-mail: todd.holt@knology.com

Matt Derdeyn
Group VP, Corporate Finance and Treasurer
Mediacom Communications Corp.
100 Crystal Run Rd
Middletown, NY 10941
Phone: 845-695-2612
Fax: 845-695-2639

$80/month gets me their Choice Plus Package, HBO, Cinemax, Showtime, and Starz, and an HD Converter. I also have local networks.

quote:

---

At first glance, DTV sucks for HD. They offer ESPN2 that SL doesn't, but that's it. They lack many others that SL offers, including NG, A&E, Food, HGTV, PBS?, Starz.

---

DTV is fixing to add a bunch of new HD channels, including a lot of what you mentioned above. They've been running ads about "more HD than any cable network" or something like that. Not sure if you're going to have to pay extra on top of the $10/month HD package, but I doubt it. I noticed yesterday that channel 79 is listed as "NGHD Test" on the channel guide, so it won't be long.

We've got DTV with HD & TIVO. We only have one receiver in the house. I can't give you an exact monthly cost because we always have some odd sports package on our bill (NCAA football, basketball, March Madness package, NASCAR Hotpass, etc) but cost for one tuner with HD & TIVO is about $120. That's damn near all the channels available, too. The only thing we don't get is the kid package (Noggin, Baby, etc). Our HDs are ESPN, ESPN2, HDNet, HDNet Movies, TNT, HBO, Showtime, the locals, Discovery, and three or so others that I can't remember.

[This message has been edited by Emeril (edited 3/15/2007 12:29p).]

fly:
Are the locals BCS?
Choice Plus or Choice Plus HD?
Is the converter a DVR? I assume not since you didn't specify.

So it looks like my pricing is comparative to those stated here. If you take away the extra HD DVR and service that I have, my cable is about $105. And the only thing I lack are the Showtime channels.

So far, no real proof that SL is gouging me. But I'm still open for more numbers. I'm really not an SL lover, per se, I've just never seen the real proof that satellite is a better deal.

Pricing is fairly similar that I think it's a wash. I just choose not to go with SL on principle that I detest Cox.

I think I pay about $75 for two TVs with DVR and the HD package. No movie channels. This is with DirecTV. It's $35 for 3.0/768 Verizon DSL.

Are the locals BCS? Yes, BCS/Waco
Choice Plus or Choice Plus HD? HD
Is the converter a DVR? No, I've had TiVo for years


The gouging is not compared to satellite; it's compared to other SL markets. BCS pays more for less when put head to head with even my parents in Livingston.