Comments on: Fixing the high-cost of cable TV http://www.garth.org/archives/2003,05,10,6,fixing-the-high-cost-of-cable-tv.html Journal/Blog/Whatever Sun, 05 Feb 2012 17:57:40 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4-alpha-19719 By: Kathie http://www.garth.org/archives/2003,05,10,6,fixing-the-high-cost-of-cable-tv.html/comment-page-1#comment-3 Kathie Mon, 12 May 2003 18:52:51 +0000 http://www.garth.org/archives/2003,05,10,6,fixing-the-high-cost-of-cable-tv.html#comment-3 Digital Cable: the Six Second Flip. I, had a similar revelation up here in the Klondike regarding MyChannels. My cable company, GCI, was deadpan when I mentioned it. Facing the high cost of cable and the erratic nature of my income, I was forced to lose such greats as TCM and IFC because I wasn't interested in paying $25 for the other 20 or so "special interest" channels that I never watch (oh, aside from the plastic surgery procedures). GCI wasn't interested in working with me at the time to reduce my cable bill and still have the channels that I prefer. So, I slashed the packages to which I subscribed.<br /> <br /> One month later, I get a call from GCI asking if I would like a 30 free trial of the "special interest" channels. After 30 days, I am able to keep them for a mere $3 per month this time. <br /> <br /> It's funny. Satellite TV isn't much of an option up here for the average user: the dishes are far too big and expensive due to the tilt of the Earth and our proximity to the top of the world (so say the satellite providers). Some of the sports bars have them, and I see the occasional eye-sore on top of a garage or in a lawn, but GCI's got it made up here for the time being. Still, they raise their rates considerably. I woke up one day and realized I was paying $110 for cable tv (not including my modem). I lost all premium packages, aside from HBO7, and everything above 99. The cost now? $63 (with 2 converters).<br /> <br /> Not that I'm complaining. Since reacquiring TCM and IFC, I'm a happy tv consumer at a soon-to-be $66/mo rate. Digital Cable: the Six Second Flip. I, had a similar revelation up here in the Klondike regarding MyChannels. My cable company, GCI, was deadpan when I mentioned it. Facing the high cost of cable and the erratic nature of my income, I was forced to lose such greats as TCM and IFC because I wasn’t interested in paying $25 for the other 20 or so “special interest” channels that I never watch (oh, aside from the plastic surgery procedures). GCI wasn’t interested in working with me at the time to reduce my cable bill and still have the channels that I prefer. So, I slashed the packages to which I subscribed.

One month later, I get a call from GCI asking if I would like a 30 free trial of the “special interest” channels. After 30 days, I am able to keep them for a mere $3 per month this time.

It’s funny. Satellite TV isn’t much of an option up here for the average user: the dishes are far too big and expensive due to the tilt of the Earth and our proximity to the top of the world (so say the satellite providers). Some of the sports bars have them, and I see the occasional eye-sore on top of a garage or in a lawn, but GCI’s got it made up here for the time being. Still, they raise their rates considerably. I woke up one day and realized I was paying $110 for cable tv (not including my modem). I lost all premium packages, aside from HBO7, and everything above 99. The cost now? $63 (with 2 converters).

Not that I’m complaining. Since reacquiring TCM and IFC, I’m a happy tv consumer at a soon-to-be $66/mo rate.

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