Brighthouse Seems to be Clueless

[Impala1ss]

As D* is getting ready to add many new HD channels, BHN remains silent regarding any new HD channels. As a business, don't they care about losing customers in bulk? And they will lose them for the 2 year contract that we will sign with D*.

Even if BHN adds channels they will be unable to get these lost subscribers back for a long time. They will lose about $125/month from me and it pisses me off that they could care less. I am happy with their PQ and don't want to leave but they are forcing me too. Is this their President's position? Apparently he is such a douche that he doesn't care.

 

[skottey]

I share your frustrated sentiment completely. I am sick and tired of their lack of HD adds too! Where the hell is Cinemax HD? What about all the new Discovery Channels in HD? This is sick. I can't wait for Verizon Fios in St. Pete where I live and have BHN.

I am so unhappy with the offerings of BHN that I also subscribe to Dish and their HD package. I shouldn't have to subscribe to two services to get what I want (and still not everything).

But this has been going on for years. I used to get Knology and BHN in order to get what I want.

BHN sure does lag, always has, and probably always will. I have said before and I will say it again, they would probably still be riding on analog if it wasn't for satellite and the cable competitors that keep nipping at their heels. The president of BHN is a douche you say. Great way to put it, I like that!

As D* is getting ready to add many new HD channels, BHN remains silent regarding any new HD channels. As a business, don't they care about losing customers in bulk? And they will lose them for the 2 year contract that we will sign with D*.

Even if BHN adds channels they will be unable to get these lost subscribers back for a long time. They will lose about $125/month from me and it pisses me off that they could care less. I am happy with their PQ and don't want to leave but they are forcing me too. Is this their President's position? Apparently he is such a douche that he doesn't care.

 

[stevenl]

you guys crack me up.

 

[stevenl]

Just on the 20th of this month BHN added another on-demand channel for HD. Called HD showcase. its included in the HD Pack and you get unlimited access to it.

BHNS current HD lineup in Central Florida

We offer 19 High Definition channels. The programming available on these channels is determined by the broadcaster and may not be entirely HD. Channels provided in HD are:
Bright House Networks HD channels
WESH NBC Broadcast
WRDQ-27 Broadcast
WKMG CBS Broadcast
WFTV ABC Broadcast
WOFL FOX Broadcast
WRBW My Network TV Broadcast
WKCF The CW Broadcast
WFME HD Broadcast
Discovery HD Theater Broadcast
A&E HD Broadcast
TNT HD Broadcast
ESPN HD High Definition Pack
ESPN2 HD High Definition Pack
HDNet High Definition Pack
HDNet Movies High Definition Pack
MOJO High Definition Pack
HBO HD HD Premium
Showtime HD HD Premium
HD Movies on Demand On Demand Channel


Dish HD offers about 15 more national channels but charges 20$ per month extra for those channels. Not to mention for the Locals its another 6$ so that brings
DishHD = 26/month BHN HD = 6/month Sure you get more but pay more. BHN is still the better dollar for dollar value.

Thats even if you can get the locals HD in your location. Not to mention BHN's HD picture in orlando blows away anything DishNet has to offer.

Lets look at DirecTV

They have basically the same package Bhn does as far as channels go, in fact I think BHN offers more,

DirecTV charges $9.99/month. for their basic HD package which include locals I think,

in this case BHN is cheaper by 3 dollars and has the better picture and the same channels. (give or take 1 or two)

Not to mention with BHN you dont need to buy a 300$ receiver, You get top quality Picture signal (no HD-Lite!) and if you ever have a problem your service calls are always free. (unless you break something, which can be covered by timeguard)

Do the math play wit hthe numbers + quality of service. BHN Is without a doubt the better value over Dish or Directv, in the Orlando market. If having 15 more channels is worth everything else associated with it including the contract and other associated fees, then by all means. It surely will cost you more, then with BHN but of course you will get those 15 more channels. Its a cost vs benefit factor and unless 15 channels is that big of a deal to you, you will not leave BHN. I assure you BHN will compete and keep up its HD programming lineup in par with those companies in which it competes. If BHN were to add 15 more HD channels, expect the HD pack price to go up.

 

[BFG]

comparing 26 to 6 is really silly

if you compare a dish bill to a bhn bill you'll see that dish is less and you get more

but to the original topic, i dont think the cable comanies really care or worry about what that satellite companies do. the bulk of their business are people who have no choice but cable or who still have basic cable or pay their bill month to month with no interest in other options

 

[stevenl]

comparing 26 to 6 is really silly

if you compare a dish bill to a bhn bill you'll see that dish is less and you get more

but to the original topic, i dont think the cable comanies really care or worry about what that satellite companies do. the bulk of their business are people who have no choice but cable or who still have basic cable or pay their bill month to month with no interest in other options

Who doesnt have a choice of satellite? Except a small margin of people who are in Apartments that face the wrong way. Almost EVERYONE in the USA has access to satellite service. Satellite touches far more homes then cable by a huge number.

I chose to compare HD prices because that is what the OP was concerned with. So I am comparing the apple to the apple. HD cost vs HD cost. If I get time I can break it down to ya with everything basic package vs basic package. But if you really care that much feel free to yourself.

and to say you get more im assuming you just mean in # of channels, to me more is just "How many channels" Its the overall quality and value of the service I get. When you buy something you get what you pay for.

Call dish when you have a problem with a tv not working right or something or a line is bad in your house. BHN will replace it for free will Dish? Soemtimes that peace of mind knowing you will not have any extra charges is important. To me it is. If I know ok My monthly bill is 100/month and if anything goes wrong BHN will fix it free, or my monthly bill with dis is 90$ and anything goes wrong I pay for it and its my hassle to deal with. Well I will gladly spend the extra 10bucks a month to know If I call someone I get them their within 2 days fixing my problem with no cost to me, Specially in florida. The lightning capital of the world. Im sure any Dish installer/service guy will tell ya Lightning is rampant and blows alot of crap up. Your home owners insurance will cover it.. but with a nice deductible....

 

[stevenl]

heres a simple one..

DirecTV - HDDVR service with 195 channels cost:

69.99/month + Requires an HD DVR for only $199 (after $100 INSTANT online rebate)

So First month: 270$s / 70/ each month their after, And it includes

Extras: HBO? 13/month Second Premium: 11/month

You can get about 4 TVS on free, with rebates and stuff 4 boxes. (like 5.99 per extra receiver not to mention you have to BUY the receiver.)


Ok lets look at BHN Shall we?

Digital with HD DVR: 68.44(includes localhds/and few others) + HD pack(like 7 more hds) for 6

Monthly total: About 73 a month for More than 250 channels ( so slightly more then dish but the best part?)

Alot of those "Extra" Channels that you dont get with dish Include by far the biggest seller for me. ON-DEMAND!!! Get over 30 FREE on-demand network channels, including Free Movies on-demand. Not to mention access to premiums (hbo/show/etc) On-demand

Premium Channels? First one is 9$ then second is like 7 and it goes down as you combine more. So again BHN is cheaper on providing premium channels..

So lets compare:

DirecTV Monthly : $70 (includes 195 channels, and 4 TVs)
Start Up: (With HDDVR): 199.99 + $35 Activation = 234.99
Contract: 2 years

BHN: Monthly: $73 (includes 250+ channels and as many tvs you want)
Startup: None (With HD DVR)
Contract: None


All information was obtained using my best ability from Directv.com and cfl.mybrighthouse.com

So were talking 3$s a month difference (of course add in the 234$ upfront for dish) give or take, and Directv has basicaly the same HD lineup as BHN but BHN offers by far the better picture quality.

 

[skottey]

Just on the 20th of this month BHN added another on-demand channel for HD. Called HD showcase. its included in the HD Pack and you get unlimited access to it.

Actually, I just scrapped the $6 HDpak the other day since I get all those channels except Mojo with Dish as part of the HD package. Incidentally, I still get HD Showcase On Demand. The other six channels are off.

Dish HD offers about 15 more national channels but charges 20$ per month extra for those channels. Not to mention for the Locals its another 6$ so that brings
DishHD = 26/month BHN HD = 6/month Sure you get more but pay more. BHN is still the better dollar for dollar value.

Thats even if you can get the locals HD in your location. Not to mention BHN's HD picture in orlando blows away anything DishNet has to offer.

I don't get locals with Dish, I get them with BHN and even if I didn't, here in St. Pete I can pick up all the locals with a Radio Shack OTA HD antenna. $50 antenna and it works great.

BHN's lineup and picture quality are about the same here in the Tampa market as it is in the Orlando market. Comparing side by side on the duplicate HD channels between BHN and Dish, they are really about the same. (ie Discovery Theater)

Not to mention with BHN you dont need to buy a 300$ receiver, You get top quality Picture signal (no HD-Lite!) and if you ever have a problem your service calls are always free. (unless you break something, which can be covered by timeguard)

I didn't buy anything with Dish. All is rented.

Do the math play with the numbers + quality of service. BHN Is without a doubt the better value over Dish or Directv, in the Orlando market. If having 15 more channels is worth everything else associated with it including the contract and other associated fees, then by all means. It surely will cost you more, then with BHN but of course you will get those 15 more channels. Its a cost vs benefit factor and unless 15 channels is that big of a deal to you, you will not leave BHN. I assure you BHN will compete and keep up its HD programming lineup in par with those companies in which it competes. If BHN were to add 15 more HD channels, expect the HD pack price to go up.

It isn't all about the $$$$. Obviously the fact that I am paying both BHN and Dish means I am willing to spend money on what I want. Not that I am saying your comparison between the two is worth anything on this topic. I am just very annoyed with BHN for not adding channels. All they really have up on Dish is that they have more of the SD premium channel multichannels (All 26 HBO/Cinemax and all Showtime/TMCs) and the ON Demand Channels. Dish has going for it a much better DVR and more HD. At this point if I had a gun to my head and had to pick just one service, I would keep Dish. And that is the sick part. BHN does just barely enough to get by. They are doing nothing to add channels. You keep bringing up $$$ but I would love to have BHN add 15 channels and pay more for it. If BHN gave me EVERYTHING I want, I could scrap Dish and just have BHN.. no matter what it goes up I'll be paying less than the $200 I am paying now for both services. Bring it on! Add more channels and raise the price. That is what I want!

 

[skottey]

Call dish when you have a problem with a tv not working right or something

Dish support has been helpful to me and not charged me a penny for anything. BHN isn't bad either until you ask about channel adds and they tell you they haven't heard of any.

 

[skottey]

of course add in the 234$ upfront for dish

I didn't pay squat for my Dish equipment. As I said, I have both BHN and Dish. You are looking simply at $$$ value and not quality and quantity. Many of us are willing to pay more for more channels, both HD and SD. The fact is, BHN DOES NOT DELIVER. Several channels have been added to Dish in the six months I have had the service.

BHN has added very little in the last few years. Yes, I appreciate the Versus HD for my hockey fix, but I am still waiting for Cinemax HD and Starz On Demand, among others. Incidentally, I have my Starz sub with Dish because they at least carry the HD feed of the channel. Unlike BHN.

 

[stevenl]

They are doing nothing to add channels? They have already begun testing going beyond the 750mhz spectrum to free up space. Where we used to stop at ch 116 they are attempting to use higher channels, and monitoring how switched video is doing. You also have to understand to BHN is FORCED by the government to carry analog channels. (soon will not be the case) but they cannot FORCE people to get a box, (dish can weird huh?) Could you imagine the amount of channels BHN could add if they turned 70 analog channels into digital? They would have the capacity to add some 700 new channels (std digital) or if they made them all HD: A little more then 140 depending on the BW requirements of the channels themselves. (IE: content)

BHN has alot more regulation and stipulations then Satellite providers, so they do not have the extra BW capacity's to handle the number of channels Dish can. Has little to do with Not wanting to add more, it has to do with "Do we have the space for it" And with limited space, BHN can not fit much more HD channels in, they are basically full, without removing some analog channels and putting them digital, which would then upset hundreds of thousands of customers to please a small % of hd customers? So until Switched video is solid, or BHN can free up spectrum, they will be picky and choosey with which HD content they add. Has nothing to do with being greedy or a douche. Has to do with physical limitations of the cable plant.

Surely Id love if they upgraded the whole plant to a N+1 and used 1ghz systems with BDR nodes. Thatd rock! But that would take years to do, and cost Hundreds of Millions.

 

[stevenl]

Dish support has been helpful to me and not charged me a penny for anything. BHN isn't bad either until you ask about channel adds and they tell you they haven't heard of any.

Have you had them visit your home for a trouble call? Ask them how much that costs.

 

[stevenl]

I didn't pay squat for my Dish equipment. As I said, I have both BHN and Dish. You are looking simply at $$$ value and not quality and quantity. Many of us are willing to pay more for more channels, both HD and SD. The fact is, BHN DOES NOT DELIVER. Several channels have been added to Dish in the six months I have had the service.

BHN has added very little in the last few years. Yes, I appreciate the Versus HD for my hockey fix, but I am still waiting for Cinemax HD and Starz On Demand, among others. Incidentally, I have my Starz sub with Dish because they at least carry the HD feed of the channel. Unlike BHN.

Did you read anything I wrote or just skim the highlights? I did a mock order on directv.com and mybrighthouse.com and those are the numbers I got. You can wheel and deal with BHN or Directv and get it cheaper im sure. But I compared apples to apples. The price they will offer me without any hassle from both companies. Keep in mind as Mentioned that is DirecTV VS BHN I did not do Dish, maybe I will later I dont have time atm.

You seem to be going for channel quantity over quality. or even price. Sure if you pay more you get more. BHNS service costs less so as far as HD goes you get less. (Do you get any on-demand content with Dish yet?)

again 20$ for dish HD 6 for BHN, OF course Dish will have more HD channels. You pay more. When BHNs HD pak is 20 bucks im sure they will have as much or more. But if you look at the price, you get about 15 more channels with dish in HD vs BHN so thats what almost a buck per channel you are paying... If its worth it to you go for it. But to me its surely not.

 

[skottey]

So until Switched video is solid, or BHN can free up spectrum, they will be picky and choosey with which HD content they add.

MND, Versus, the elimination of INHD2 (not BHN's fault) and INHD change to Mojo is hardly simply being "choosey." Other than those changes and that HD Showcase, they haven't done crap in a long time.

 

[skottey]

Have you had them visit your home for a trouble call? Ask them how much that costs.

No, I haven't needed to. If they tried to rape me financially I would drop them in a heartbeat. I am in no contract.

 

[skottey]

Did you read anything I wrote or just skim the highlights? I did a mock order on directv.com and mybrighthouse.com and those are the numbers I got. You can wheel and deal with BHN or Directv and get it cheaper im sure. But I compared apples to apples. The price they will offer me without any hassle from both companies. Keep in mind as Mentioned that is DirecTV VS BHN I did not do Dish, maybe I will later I dont have time atm.

You seem to be going for channel quantity over quality. or even price. Sure if you pay more you get more. BHNS service costs less so as far as HD goes you get less. (Do you get any on-demand content with Dish yet?)

again 20$ for dish HD 6 for BHN, OF course Dish will have more HD channels. You pay more. When BHNs HD pak is 20 bucks im sure they will have as much or more. But if you look at the price, you get about 15 more channels with dish in HD vs BHN so thats what almost a buck per channel you are paying... If its worth it to you go for it. But to me its surely not.

You need to look at the overall price of Dish vs. BHN.

You need to understand my complaint is that BHN does squat to add channels. Price is not the issue. As I said, I subscribe to BHN and Dish and if BHN had what I wanted, I'd gladly ditch Dish, just have BHN, and pay more.

But I will bitch until BHN lives up to my expectations.

 

[stevenl]

Please re-read my post about what BHN does to add channels and why its just as easy as flipping a switch.


Bye all means Bitch, its your right as a customer.

 

[iceturkee]

Just on the 20th of this month BHN added another on-demand channel for HD. Called HD showcase. its included in the HD Pack and you get unlimited access to it.

BHNS current HD lineup in Central Florida

We offer 19 High Definition channels. The programming available on these channels is determined by the broadcaster and may not be entirely HD. Channels provided in HD are:
Bright House Networks HD channels
WESH NBC Broadcast
WRDQ-27 Broadcast
WKMG CBS Broadcast
WFTV ABC Broadcast
WOFL FOX Broadcast
WRBW My Network TV Broadcast
WKCF The CW Broadcast
WFME HD Broadcast
Discovery HD Theater Broadcast
A&E HD Broadcast
TNT HD Broadcast
ESPN HD High Definition Pack
ESPN2 HD High Definition Pack
HDNet High Definition Pack
HDNet Movies High Definition Pack
MOJO High Definition Pack
HBO HD HD Premium
Showtime HD HD Premium
HD Movies on Demand On Demand Channel


Dish HD offers about 15 more national channels but charges 20$ per month extra for those channels. Not to mention for the Locals its another 6$ so that brings
DishHD = 26/month BHN HD = 6/month Sure you get more but pay more. BHN is still the better dollar for dollar value.

Thats even if you can get the locals HD in your location. Not to mention BHN's HD picture in orlando blows away anything DishNet has to offer.

Lets look at DirecTV

They have basically the same package Bhn does as far as channels go, in fact I think BHN offers more,

DirecTV charges $9.99/month. for their basic HD package which include locals I think,

in this case BHN is cheaper by 3 dollars and has the better picture and the same channels. (give or take 1 or two)

Not to mention with BHN you dont need to buy a 300$ receiver, You get top quality Picture signal (no HD-Lite!) and if you ever have a problem your service calls are always free. (unless you break something, which can be covered by timeguard)

Do the math play wit hthe numbers + quality of service. BHN Is without a doubt the better value over Dish or Directv, in the Orlando market. If having 15 more channels is worth everything else associated with it including the contract and other associated fees, then by all means. It surely will cost you more, then with BHN but of course you will get those 15 more channels. Its a cost vs benefit factor and unless 15 channels is that big of a deal to you, you will not leave BHN. I assure you BHN will compete and keep up its HD programming lineup in par with those companies in which it competes. If BHN were to add 15 more HD channels, expect the HD pack price to go up.

and directv will be adding 70 hd channels before the end of september.

 

[skottey]

Please re-read my post about what BHN does to add channels and why its just as easy as flipping a switch.

The technical problems are BHN's problems, not mine. If they have to run completely new cable, fiber to my house like FIOS, than they should do whatever it takes to upgrade their network. So what if it would cost millions to upgrade. They are spinning their wheels getting nowhere by not upgrading. All they have to say is "we are currently doing a major infrastructure overhaul and your neighborhood will be able to handle another 70 HD channels come Spring 2008." Oh great.. now we are getting somewhere. But their canned response on everything is that they "haven't heard anything" about anything!

Why does it matter? Because thousands of us are already planning to jump ship when FIOS becomes available. That could easily change for BHN if they start living up to our expectations. I have no love for FIOS, I just want who offers me the better content, and looking at the channel lineup for FIOS in neighboring Tampa leaves a lot to be desired with BHN.

As for Internet, I have a totally separate 15/2 business RR account that I will keep unless Verizon offers a better price with Static IP. But as an IT person serving business customers and residential customers locally, as well as an RR reseller, I am fully aware of the Verizon DSL problems locally and can only imagine that they are not resolved when carried over into the Fiber world. Roadrunner on the other hand has given me and my customers very few problems, so I stand behind them.

You have to understand that not everybody wants a triple play bundle. I have different needs for different areas of my life. That is why BHN's Pivot phone BS is so annoying to me. They are dumping time and effort into cellphones while their core business (television) goes down the pot. I think these companies are getting carried away with trying to be the one stop shop for all things phone, TV, Internet, cell phone, alarms, hookers, etc... BHN could do a lot better with television. How can you not agree on that statement?

 

[jcarrera]

I don't understand why you rant about BHN's HD coverage so much. If they are screwing up, mismanaging, and will go down the tubes, as you allege will happen--and I agree, why do you care? You obviously don't like them, and you have alternatives...Dish, DirectTV, OTA Broadcast, OTA Satellite, FIOS when it comes, etc.

The market will take care of BHN; either they will improve--or they won't and will suffer the consequences. They don't have a captive market any more, but haven't realized that yet.