I hate cablevision!

Yeah, I've gone through practically ever package deal with them through the years. Unfortunately for us in Crown Heights, Cablevision has a monopoly on the cable TV service in our area. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that Verizon Fios is coming our way soon though. So here's how I understand the situation. They give you an introductory rate on internet and bare-bones basic cable when you're a new customer. I think that total comes to something like $48 a month. After 6 months, the rates go up. If you try to get internet alone, no cable tv or phone, the rate is also around $40 a month. If you sign up for "triple-play" they try to spin it like you're saving money. It ends up being $30 for cable, $30 for internet and $30 for a land line phone. So you're monthly bill ends up more than $100. Oh yeah, I forgot to mention that they charge you an additional monthly fee for use of the cable box. They are all about these hidden fees and introductory rates that go up after a period of time.

Bottom line, if you like cable TV and want channels like Discovery, VH1, MSNBC, etc... you're going to have to pay out the ass for it b/c Cablevision makes the rules. I guess we could always write our congressmen and complain about the lack of competition amongst cable companies in the area. Anyone ever try that?

oh and p.s. whats up with the channel guide... considering so many people pay so much for the service, you'd think they could get their act together and make something thats well designed and works smoothly.

Backinbrooklyn wrote:

oh and p.s. whats up with the channel guide... considering so many people pay so much for the service, you'd think they could get their act together and make something thats well designed and works smoothly.

^^^^WORD!! That crap looks like it was done on a Radio Shack computer from 1985. How about getting a decent selection of fonts and finding one that is pleasing to the eye? Oh, and a layout that's logical would help as well.

This is an aside... but does anyone else remember in the 80's and 90's when you could buy those illegal cable boxes? I realize technology's caught up with them and they dont work anymore. But, it's discussions like these that make me miss the days when you could really stick it to Cablevision. Oh well.

i was upset with the monopoly on cable tv and was able to get a MUCH cheaper deal on directv by being referred. it gets both you and the person who refers you $10 off per month for 10 months. they also have huge promotions going just about all the time. the catches are 1) you have to sign a 2 year contract (stating that you will have some type of service with them) and 2) you have to get your building's permission, but i'm sure most landlords will give it to you.

of course if anyone wants me to refer them, i would benefit greatly from that and so would you. my picture has never gone out or anything like that and the guy who installed it gave me his cell phone number for if i ever have any problems.

also, i have cablevision for internet only and i still only pay $30. so, there's that.

Subject: Cablevision is my worst nightmare

I've lived on the same block for the past 2 years and in that time I've had 10+ outages and have needed my cable box replaced 5 times. Yes, 5 times. The repairmen never have a replacement HD box on them, so they give me a temp until another appointment can be scheduled to replace it with an HD box. Yep, 5 times.

Worst. Cable. Provider. Ever.

Whenever they work on a neighboring apt, they end up messing with the wires coming up to my floor and disconnecting me. When I finally get a service guy out (usually several days later), he explains this to me and says that wires are mislabeled. I ask if is has been fixed. They say, "Yes". 3-6 months later it happens again. Great Job.

My friends bitch about Time Warner. Oh, how I wish I was back on Time Warner.

christ, i fucking HATE the cablevision channel guide. it is seriously the most poorly designed, least responsive interface for anything i have ever contended with.

The only way I know of to beat Cablevision is to hook your TV up to your computer and watch whatever you want whenever you want on the internet. I watched several epdisodes of the hot new AMC show "Mad Men" on hulu.com last night for example. Likewise my favorite show "HOUSE" when they were running new episodes. You can also get Neflix on demand for no additional charge if you're a subscriber.
All you need is a $50 box that converts your computer display signal to operate on your TV. I got mine mail order on the internet. Radio Shack also has a similar box for under $100.