Q Why did we lose Channels 6 and 19 from Cable One’s lineup? Will the cost be lower because there are fewer channels now?
A “We dropped Channels 6 and 19 from our lineup as of yesterday,” Cable One manager Joe Michaels said on Tuesday, “and they were dropped to make room for additional services coming soon.”
Michaels said that high-definition USA and hi-def Sci-Fi channels are definite additions and Oxygen will be added into the digital value package.
“And those will be on by March 31st,” Michaels said. “We’re working on several others that will be coming soon — mostly high def services — and announcements will be coming on those.”
The two channels were dropped because they are what Michaels referred to as “triplicate networks,” already available on other channels.
Customers’ bills will not be lowered because of the changes. Michaels added that bills will not be increased, either, because several are being added, including We, Disney, Animal Planet and ESPN U, some of which are high-definition channels.
“We don’t charge any additional for our high-def channels,” Michaels said. “If they’re a basic customer with us and have the equipment to pick up the high-def services, then they’ll get these because we don’t charge any additional for our high-def.”
Readers with questions on topics of local interest may send them to “Because You Asked,” in care of The Emporia Gazette, Drawer C, Emporia KS 66801. Questions need to be signed, but names will not be revealed. Questions submitted anonymously will not be answered.
ladysingstheblues (anonymous) says...
This is just terrible. The stations (6 and 19) broadcast the same programming during the early morning and prime time. The rest of the day and late evening they have different programming. I like to watch those channels a lot! It really irritates me that CableOne can just make whatever changes they want without notifying customers until after the fact, and then we can do nothing about it. But other than going to a dish, what choice do we have -- NONE! All the hi-def channels do is repeat the other non-hi-def station. Very irritated!!
February 4, 2009 at 1:59 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
sadinemporia (anonymous) says...
Cable One made my decision to convert to Dish Network one of ease. Cable One increased their rates so much, yet took away several channels, but didn't get anything added. Now they are fighting to get business. Unfortunately, that's what happens when you conduct business in a poor fashion. They were a monopoly at one time, not so much anymore.
February 4, 2009 at 2:14 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
railroadhorn (anonymous) says...
I'm not going to benefit by more HD channels. I like KMBZ news from Kansas City. Now I'm left with watching the Fox channel for KC news. No Len Dawson on sports. No Larry Moore. I've watched these people for decades now NOTHING and with no warning either! This stinks.
February 4, 2009 at 2:43 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Jallanpoe (anonymous) says...
This a excellent example why I fired cable on and got dish network. I don't know where are the problems that cable one talks about in their commercials. You can drive around town and about every other house has satalite. And my satalite bill hasn't raised in 3 years unless I added more programming. We need cox cable to come in!
February 4, 2009 at 10:04 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
justthefacts (anonymous) says...
Don't hold your breath. When the existing HD stations disappeared a few months ago I called and was informed that in order to get them now, it will cost another $30 a month PLUS I have to rent a converter box even though I have a fully digital HD TV. When asked who ordered the scrambling of the existing HD stations, I was told the stations ordered it. I have a hard time the stations ordered that, sounds like another way for cable to make money. Just wait, the stations that will replace the ones gone will be there...so long as you pay more money a month and have another stupid converter box and another stupid remote. Time to call the federal officials and beef them up about this sweetheart deal.
February 4, 2009 at 10:34 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
justthefacts (anonymous) says...
Another comment, not the manager said "digital package" not "basic package". We're on our way to get screwed again. It's time the public utilities commission start regulating cable companies like they do other utilities that use the public right of way and have no competition. I suspect you are going to see a hole lot more satellite dishes up soon. We will be purchasing them by next month for sure if rates go up on cable.
February 4, 2009 at 10:38 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
lets_get_reasonable (anonymous) says...
That's why everyone should just switch to Direct TV. I absolutely love it. I had Cable One's digital package with a DVR for the longest time and I got so fed up with their changing prices, even PPV's that we never even ordered. PLUS, the fact that they had around 200 additional channels was pointless because all the channels were crap! They took away MTV2, fuse, a lot of the channels I watched regularly. Direct TV has cheaper prices, and a heck of a lot more channels. Plus the DVR is great because you can set it up to automatically records shows - only the new episodes, no repeats :)
February 5, 2009 at 11:08 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
daniellaughs (anonymous) says...
Out of curiosity, how much time do you spend watching television upon a daily/weekly basis? 848 channels is a bit excessive, no? (http://www.cableone.net/LI/Pages/loca...)
February 5, 2009 at 2:50 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
HenryVIII (anonymous) says...
“If they’re a basic customer with us and have the equipment to pick up the high-def services, then they’ll get these because we don’t charge any additional for our high-def.”
We'll see about that! We have basic cable and we used to get all sorts of HD channels for free. Mind you, we only found them by doing a random channel search one day. Sooner or later, the channels all disappeared. (only have CBS, PBS, ABC, and NBC in HD now) I don't know why Cable One would do this. Most of the HD channels we were able to get we already had in standard definition, so I don't know why we shouldn't be able to get them in HD. (TBS, TNT, ESPN, etc) I rather like watching movies and sports in HD, but Cable One took them away in an attempt to get me to buy digital cable. (I assume)
Obviously, Cable One has the capability to deliver a bunch of HD channels via Basic Cable. I would like to know why they have removed all of these channels from basic cable. I'd like them to list the HD channels that will be coming up for basic cable customers. I really don't like doing a channel search every week to see if Cable One has added anything. Please include the HD channels in the list of your basic cable lineup.
I also think the prices for basic cable w/internet are getting quite high. If they don’t get some things sorted out soon, I imagine I’ll be switching to satellite soon.
'enry
February 5, 2009 at 4:22 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
justthefacts (anonymous) says...
HenryVIII
That was what I was talking about. They said they HAD to scramble because the stations REQUIRED them to do so. My question was why just before the changeover since they have been there for quite some time. I was told it would be another $30 and I would have to rent a converter even though my new TV is HDTV and digital compatable and I was getting the channels already. I was told you needed the converted to descramble the channels. If I have to do all that, I might as well just get satellite. IT's about $20 a month cheaper and you get more channels, including the local ones. I say again, it's time for the public utilities commission to start controlling the behavior or cable companies. They are in the phone business, internet business and television. It's time to make them tow the line like every other entity that uses public right of way to string their cables and clutter up the view of the sky.
February 5, 2009 at 5:34 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
nks (anonymous) says...
Satellite for us too. We have been debating for a couple of months now.
We have been a loyal,on time paying ,customer for almost 10 years and we called to try to get their "bundle package" by adding internet a while back. I was told that we did not qualify for the "bundle pack" rates because we were already a cable customer. I was trying to GIVE them new business and they didnt act too excited to want it.
Now they can just lose ALL of our business.
February 5, 2009 at 8:08 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Joe_Strummer (anonymous) says...
sadinemporia, I agree. The cable company made my decision easy for me. I finally got tired of Cable dropping channels at a whim. What I find funny is in the cable commercials they slam the satellite company's, yet I have better service, more channels, and rarely lose a signal. Strangely enough I lost channel signals far more on cable stations than I ever have w/ Dish. My monthly bill is much cheaper as well.
February 6, 2009 at 8:12 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
TacoBellB (anonymous) says...
A couple questions:
Why did Cable One take away these channels BEFORE they had the new ones ready to "replace" them?
Can they do something about the fact that if you accidentally stop on those channels, the noise is deafening (or is that just my TV)?
February 6, 2009 at 9:25 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
daniellaughs (anonymous) says...
http://www.turnoffyourtv.com/healthed...
February 6, 2009 at 11:29 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
daniellaughs (anonymous) says...
Do what the rest of us do: http://www.cnn.com/2009/TECH/02/06/in...
February 6, 2009 at noon ( permalink | suggest removal )
4Jayhawks (anonymous) says...
I have been recently considering getting cable because we are getting frustrated with satellite. It's not that cheap when you figure you pay for each receiver and their protection plan. You do get lots of channels but how many shopping channels and music channels does one really watch? And they do take channel off channels occasionally also. And they will not give you a promotional package on anything once you are already a customer. Tried that. So point being, although the grass may look greener it doesn't always taste better. We will continue to research cable before jumping into it because we don't want to have a worse deal than we already have.
February 6, 2009 at 8:27 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Jallanpoe (anonymous) says...
4 jayhawks, I pay for one reciever,for 2 rooms. And the protection plan for each reciever is a joke! I took it off, and I haven't noticed any channels disapearing. I keep notice we keep getting more. Try to get a dvr from cable one, u get charged for every room you have on in. Go on and change, you'll wish you had satalite back!
February 7, 2009 at 9:47 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
4Jayhawks (anonymous) says...
After reading all these posts I am thinking I will stay with what I have. We have 3 receivers and pay for 2. We got the protection plan because we had to have some work done on the dish and it cost us a bundle. We had a spanish package and did lose several channels we watched so switched to an english package. I will also say we used to have Dish Nework and we like Direct TV much better.
February 7, 2009 at 4:02 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )