Must I have a cable box?

anonymous · March 2006

I have "basic" cable service from Time Warner (just the regular network channels, PBS and lots of home shopping and public access channels). When they hooked up the service, they also hooked up a cable box, for which I paid $6/ month rental. Four years later, I discovered I don't need the box after all, so I returned it.
I now want to upgrade to "standard" service, which basically allows me to add CNN, History and Discovery to what I have--no premium channels, no digital, no 500+ channels. I have this same kind of service from another provider (Adelphia) at another house--no cable box needed. However, when I called TW to get the upgrade, I got different answers from 4 different reps, the last one insisting he couldn't process the upgrade unless I rented the box (one of the reps actually told me to call 800 OK CABLE, which happens to be the number for Cablevision!).
Does anybody know whether I really need the box for the type of service I want? And is it treally true that TW and Cablevision have the NY area carved up so that I'm stuck with whichever company covers my area (TW)?

stacey · March 2006

I do think you need the box. I tried to do the same thing for a small tv in my kitchen and (I already have cables boxes) was told I do need the box. This was from Cablevision.

I do know that I cannot get TW Cable where I live only Cablevision and I think it is some sort of regulatory action. It is either or. I did ask about these cable cards that I have heard about and was told that I can get rid of the box by inserting these cable cards into a tv's slot (so far only plasmas and HDTVs have it) but it I would not have the on-demand service nor would I have the guide. I think I pay about $5 or 6 a month to rent my cable box.

dw438 · March 2006

Subject: Re: Must I have a cable box?

pai54 wrote:
Does anybody know whether I really need the box for the type of service I want? And is it treally true that TW and Cablevision have the NY area carved up so that I'm stuck with whichever company covers my area (TW)?

Yep, in Brooklyn, TW and Cablevision split the boro up.
You can only go with the service provider in your neighborhood.
That until Verizon get a franchise to fiber-optic cable NYC.
TW got Brooklyn Heights, Park Slope, Carroll Gardens, Bay Ridge, Greenpoint, Williamsburg, Sunset Park, Fort Hamilton, New Utrecht to name a few.
Cablevision got the rest. Prospect Hts, Ft. Greene, Bed-Stuy, etc.
In crass political terms (this happened in the 1980's) when the two companies carved up the city TW got the affluent areas, (all of Manhattan, all of Queens, where there's money in Brooklyn, Staten Island), Cablevision got the rest, which in the great scheme of things as politics goes balances out their heavily affluent subscribers on Long Island, Westchester, Connecticut and Bergen County, NJ. And if you want anything more than just the very very basic service, no matter where you are, remember you're in New York City where everything costs, yes you'll need a box.
I'm in the biz.

anonymous · March 2006

Subject: TW/Cable

Very interesting, and not surprising.

Does this mean that there is realistic potential that Verizon will be an option in the (near) future?

dw438 · March 2006

Subject: Re: TW/Cable

Flexi wrote: Very interesting, and not surprising.

Does this mean that there is realistic potential that Verizon will be an option in the (near) future?

Probably not in the near future, but closer than we think.
The way cable franchises work in NY State and most other places is that each company negotiates a franchise agreement with local government. It can be as big as all of NYC and the city Dept. of Info. and Technology ...
or on Long Island as small as an incorporated village.
Verizon is rolling out a system called FiOS that competes with cable, they're using parts of Texas and two villages in Nassau County NY as test markets. It takes a lot of cash to re-wire the world, and to grease politicians' palms ... as was done in NYC in the '80's and '90's.

meganlibrarian · March 2006

Subject: Re: TW/Cable

Flexi wrote: Very interesting, and not surprising.

Does this mean that there is realistic potential that Verizon will be an option in the (near) future?

I coincidentally just read an article yesterday in BusinessWeek about this very topic (Verizon's cable TV/related services' plans and prospects, focused on this one town in metro Ft Worth-Dallas).

URL for the article: http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/06_12/b3976057.htm

Essentially? No idea. I'd guess probably not in the next few months, but your best bet might be to monitor this forum: http://www.dslreports.com/forum/vzfiber

cat · March 2006

Subject: cablevision vs. time warner...

Is Cablevision as good/different than Time Warner?
I am about to move to Kensington and it sounds like cablevision may cover that area.

also... i have an old box from a zillion years ago ... what do i do with it?

thanks.

stacey · March 2006

Subject: Re: cablevision vs. time warner...

cat wrote: Is Cablevision as good/different than Time Warner?
I am about to move to Kensington and it sounds like cablevision may cover that area.

also... i have an old box from a zillion years ago ... what do i do with it?

thanks.

I love Cablevision. I have friends who have Time Warner and are not as happy as I am with my cable service. Their digital cable as well as their version of Tivo is excellent. I also like their high speed internet.

I think they really dont care about the old boxes anymore, just the digital ones.

dw438 · March 2006

Subject: Re: cablevision vs. time warner...

stacey wrote: [quote=cat]Is Cablevision as good/different than Time Warner?
I am about to move to Kensington and it sounds like cablevision may cover that area.

also... i have an old box from a zillion years ago ... what do i do with it?

thanks.

I love Cablevision. I have friends who have Time Warner and are not as happy as I am with my cable service. Their digital cable as well as their version of Tivo is excellent. I also like their high speed internet.

I think they really dont care about the old boxes anymore, just the digital ones. TW system seems to be more user-friendly, and has more choices for the same price. I have had stellar service from TW forever, even during periods of bad weather, and my internet service has been well worth it. Either/or, it's really the only game unless you want a dish up on the roof ... and the dish won't give you internet or the Rangers in HD.

Must I have a cable box?

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