Can we talk about television service...

[RMAMom]

We currently have Comcast. We have a DVR on one TV and 4 other TVs in the house that just have the cable. A few weeks back they took away two of the HBO channels from the cable only TVs and on Nov 30th they will take it completely. They are also requiring a box on all televisions to see anything at all! They are giving me two boxes but there is a charge for any more than that.

I am really unhappy about all of this and think it's time to start shopping for a new service. I have Verizon at work and don't like the customer service at all so I am leaning towards Direct TV.

I am wondering what your experiences are with services other than cable?

 

[Tina]

I had Directv for many, many years and, for the most part, was satisfied. I do like the Directv DVRs. I do not like that fact that you have to BUY your own boxes (unless you only get the freebie install non-DVR boxes), yet you don't own them and must send them to Directv when you cancel. I didn't like that OnDemand is not part of standard Directv service. I only cancelled a couple of months ago and at that time you still needed to buy additional equipment. I did some reading on it and decided not to bother because the shows still need to be DOWNLOADED to watch them - meaning not instant access.

I'm now on RCN cable since they recently bought out the crappy company in our HOA and upgraded our network in the neighborhood. Part of that deal was also the requirement to have boxes for any signal (necessary for full digital service, they don't offer analog anymore). I'm just as happy on RCN as I was on Directv, only now I have OnDemand and didn't have to buy any equipment that I'll have to return (just a small DVR rental fee).

I also recently installed a Roku box and signed up for NetFlix. After spending a few weeks using this, I'll weigh whether or not to dump the pay movie channels on the cable. Roku or another streaming player may be an option for you too.

 

[aprilgail2]

I had optimum but recently switched to FIOS. I was paying 206 a month with optimum but am now paying 133.00 with FIOS so I am pretty happy about that...that is for TV- 3 multiroom DVR boxes, 2 regular boxes, 2 seperate phone lines (different phone numbers) and internet.