So what do you use for TV?

[LongIslandPiney]

I use Cablevision but am getting fed up with them. The internet and phone from them are good, but the TV is a joke. To rub it in they just added 10 more HD channels, but haven't added any SD channels in ages. They dont carry BBC America, NASA-TV, and a bunch of other channels. I dont plan on getting HD anytime soon, they are still wickedly expensive.
As far as their "exclusive" content, like News 12, I get the same news on channels 2,4,5,7,9,&11. Plus News 12 is always pushing some kind of "agenda. Not to mention the newscast is so amatuer. I dunno how News 12 over is in NJ, I cant imagine it being much better.
Anyway I was looking at switching to Dish network for the TV, but apparently they have a discrimintory practice of giving free installations to those with good credit (I have no credit), and if I wanted it I'd have to lay out a $200 deposit which I'd only get back in $10 increments each month. If I can pay the monthly payment of $55 or so, what's the problem?
It's too bad, because Dish had a good selection of channels.
But I've been looking at Direct TV, I hear they don't require credit checks, and I can get free installation with them. It's a little more than Dish. I know I won't save much $$, but that's not what I am swicthing for in the 1st place. I just want more for my money, and the satellites give me much more channels. Plus with Direct TV I get XM satellite radio, which from what I've heard sampling in the stores, sounds alot better than the crummy Music Choice I get with cable.
The last straw came tonight with Cablevision, was watching Man Vs. Wild on Discovery and the screen goes gray for several moments at a time, and I miss some key scenes. This always seems to happen in the evenings and it's annoying as well.
I wonder what everyone else's experience with cable and satellite has been, so I know before I make any decision to switch.
I'd keep cable for internet and phone but get rid of it for TV. I see alot of ppl with satellite dishes (60-70% of homes and apts in my neighborhood have them). It's no wonder given cable's high rates and lousy channel selection. (BTW the TV portion of my cable bill is $81, only extras, digital cable box (required for most of the channels) and DVR)

 

[Sue Gremlin]

You have cable now and no credit? I would think that would do something to your credit history.

Anyway. I had Comcast digital cable and switched to Dish Network. It wasn't terribly troublesome, but digital cable wins hands down with both programming and with on demand features. When we moved we went back to Comcast. Satellite is a little cheaper, but that is the only advantage I can think of.

You should be able to get a complete list of available channels for comparison before you do anything.

 

[Boyd]

I had regular Comcast analog cable for a number of years. When I moved to my current location I couldn't get cable and I kept putting off getting a dish. Surprisingly, I found that I didn't miss it, so I figured I'd just wait until I started missing TV. That was May 2006 and I still don't miss TV, in fact it very rarely even crosses my mind that I don't have it anymore.

I've been building up my DVD collection however, so I do watch movies. But I find I have a very short attention span for that as well. About an hour a day is all I can usually take.

Why don't you just get rid of your cable and concentrate on improving your credit score? That will make your life a lot happier in the long run...

 

[james ungehajer]

I have just the regular channels viewed on a 42" panasonic plasma, i used to have comcast digital cable, but the tube for me like you gets very boring after an hour or so.

Also i refuse to put any money in Eddie Sniders till, especially for the sports blackouts, not even an away game is shown during the week, i can also live without the 3 for 1 deal they are offering.

 

[omega]

I' still with the local monopoly, Comcast, which in the past 8 years has nearly doubled its rate for the same, if not less service. They removed Channel 10 (WCAU) saying it was "duplicative" of WNBC in NY. Well duh, but not the local news, adn I have old colleagues that work there. But they have not removed the philly ABC or CBS affilliates.

Here's my cynical view... for some reason, unbeknownst to reasonable man, they believe they (the comcast network) are in competition with WCAU, as several of their on air personalities used to work there. Therefore they decided they would get rid of the competition. Silly really, you can get WCAU if you go digital, but sorry, They aren't getting any more of my $$. I started my tv career at teh local cable system which was later bought by a recently convicted mob and later by comcast (actually traded for a system in FLA) so I know some of the behind the scenes garbage that goes on.

Right now I am waiting on FIOS. I really don't want a dish.

 

[Sue Gremlin]

Yeah, I am looking forward to FIOS too. We have it for internet service and it ain't bad.

 

[LongIslandPiney]

Yeah Fios is an option too but they are taking forever to roll it out. I just don't understand why credit history has anything to do with getting subscription TV.
If I can afford to pay cable, then I can afford to pay the dish networks.
This aint over, I personally think credit checks on anything other than loans, lines of credit, and mortgages is ridiculous. An invasion of privacy and another way to ripoff the consumer.
At least cablevision doesn't perform them but I hear Time Warner does with new subs.
If I get rejected by one of the dish companies than it goes to BBB, Comsumer affairs, and perhaps even a lawyer. It aint right what they are doing and it has to stop.

 

[LongIslandPiney]

Yeah, I am looking forward to FIOS too. We have it for internet service and it ain't bad.

I was very impressed with the fios demo at a local mall. Believe it or not they have had Fios internet and TV in the next town over from me for over a year now, but Verizon says it could be awhile before my town gets it. Alot of it has to do with franchises, and cablevision is trying to buy the towns so they reject competition.
From what I've seeb of Comcast it still has a much better channel line-up than cablevision. Cablevision is absolutely the worst, we're always the last to get new channels, always.

 

[Ben Ruset]

I went from Dish Network to Comcast. I wanted to get HD, and to do that with Dish (at the time) required the purchase of a almost $1000 receiver. Coupled with that, my regular dish receivers were burning out (as in, refused to power on after a few months) so I was constantly sending them back and being without TV for weeks. The crux was when they were going to charge me to fix an install problem that their installer did (didn't ground any of the cable wiring.)

We went back to Comcast, and for less than $10/mo I have a HDTV set top box with PVR, PVR in the bed room, and have some super special rate where I get Showtime and HBO, plus HD, PVR's, etc for about $60/mo.

I would probably switch back to Comcast Internet but I use my @verizon.net (I have DSL) email and it would suck to lose it.

 

[Boyd]

I would probably switch back to Comcast Internet but I use my @verizon.net (I have DSL) email and it would suck to lose it.

Actually you should be able to keep your Verizon address by switching to their basic dialup plan for $6.95/mo. Or at least that was possible a few years ago....

 

[LongIslandPiney]

Yikes, I guess I wouldn't want Dish network then. Those recievers must be made to break, from what it sounds like.

 

[Swanson]

Get Directv..I got rid of Comcast for their POS customer service and price. Directv has great c.s. and many more channels. If not see about Verizon in your area...