The Pres of HBO recently intimated that it is as real possibility. There is a link floating around here somewhere.It would probably devalue their programming and couldn't get as much out of retrans fees.
The Pres of HBO recently intimated that it is as real possibility. There is a link floating around here somewhere.It would probably devalue their programming and couldn't get as much out of retrans fees.
$200 for how many months of usefulness and with what limitations? If they support VOD and/or content download that's a different story.
The cheap ones seem to be the Series 2 and earlier. We know that most don't leave the TiVo fold by choice.And everything after the Series 2 have Netflix, Hulu +, MLB.TV, Youtube with a few other minor apps and allow you to download Amazon rentals and purchases.
Congratulations HDRoberts! One wonders what your wife will expect/want out of TV... My wife drives me crazy with a stupid Dr Phil show on the Oprah Winfrey Network. Gag.
I am, like OP, heavily considering pulling the plug. I am getting married and am looking to reduce expenses in September..
Sorry but " getting married" and " reduce expense" can't be used in the same sentence as it's theoretically impossible!
looked into this a little more. we already have free cable in our area. it is really cruddy, but as such, we have a few tivos with lifetime connected to it for the kids. HD is on the main tvs (722 + 211k).
we have twc for internet. looked at their package that includes "preferred tv"- this has more channels than top120. it includes many HD channels with use of a set-top box. they confirmed our tivos will work, but we need the cards (as expected).
The bundle package is $20 more than we currently pay for internet alone. they offer the sports pass, which includes redzone, for $9 more. as much as it sounds like a terrible idea, this is the route we will most likely go.
$80/mo for satellite seems excessive considering the amount of channels we watch. that is about as much as we will pay for internet + tv.....
If the gov't (FCC) didn't have the rule in place for cable companies, then cable companies wouldn't be offering cheap cable card options either. Make the playing field the same for cable and satellite, either force them all to provide the option, or none at all.And with the satellite providers not offering anything like cable cards or credit/no extra fee for owned equipment, it's an expense you can't avoid with them.
And so what? As long as you can get equipment deals from cablecos, why not take advantage of them? The satellite providers should be more competitive and offer some kind of deal. While it is within their rights, Dish is being an ass by charging people the same fee (with a different name of course) for owned equipment as they do for leased equipment.If the gov't (FCC) didn't have the rule in place for cable companies, then cable companies wouldn't be offering cheap cable card options either.
I know you don't work for a satellite provider, so why do you want to get rid of one of the few pro-consumer rules that cable customers have? Dish/DirecTV could actually not be asses about it and not charge an access fee for customer owned equipment. Nobody is forcing them to charge these fees.Make the playing field the same for cable and satellite, either force them all to provide the option, or none at all.
If you have your own equipment, satellite providers can't compete with the bundled pricing from the cabelcos. I'm saving around $50 per month with a Comcast Triple Play (and getting a lot more than when I had AT200 w/BB@H) compared to having Dish for TV, an ISP for internet and a VOIP provider for phone. Comcast actually gives me $5 credit for my two cable cards (my plan already includes a HD STB at no extra charge). The extra fees for satellite/cable company equipment really adds up. And with the satellite providers not offering anything like cable cards or credit/no extra fee for owned equipment, it's an expense you can't avoid with them.
And so what? As long as you can get equipment deals from cablecos, why not take advantage of them? The satellite providers should be more competitive and offer some kind of deal. While it is within their rights, Dish is being an ass by charging people the same fee (with a different name of course) for owned equipment as they do for leased equipment.
I'm not begrudging anyone wanting to take advantage of the situation, nor am I advocating taking away the option. I was just pointing out how the antiquated law has created an imbalance in that arena, and that if the law wasn't there, you can bet there wouldn't be a low-fee option.
They can thank the EU's version of the Supreme Court for that. They have had a hard on for like the past decade going after Microsoft.I totally agree with you that if it wasn't for the law, then the option wouldn't exist. But as far as there being an imbalance, well that's because the satellite providers choose to make it so. In Great Britain Windows Media Center works with satellite. There is no reason Dish/DirecTV couldn't do the same thing here with WMC/Tivo.