So my little mom & pop cable TV company was acquired

[neebob]

by this company that I'd never heard of until they started advertising internet services on local radio several months ago. They operate in four western states.

Last week I got this letter from the president of this company, announcing the acquisition and blathering on about whatever it is they plan to do with the cable service. Hard to tell amidst the blathering. The line that caught my attention was about the family they bought my cable company from embodying the classic American entrepreneurial spirit he's always admired. Hmmm, I thought.

And now, since at least Saturday (I'm not sure because I didn't watch TV last week), there's Christian music on the channel with the rolling schedule, instead of the local radio station that carries NPR.

I plan to complain. Unfortunately, I live in a remote area and don't have any other choice. Time to get Direct TV, I guess.

I'm so annoyed.

[BlueEyedSon]

1. Dish network is the satellite alternative

Bad: DirecTV was recently acquired by Murdoch.
Good: Dish has FSTV (Free Speech TV http://www.freespeech.org/fsitv/fscm2/genx.php?name=home ).

[neebob]

2. Thanks

I'll definitely be looking into that. The problem is I'm still paying off a bad relationship choice that resulted in my near-ruination about five years ago. I just got a 3.5% raise that kicked me into a higher tax bracket and resulted in a net loss of $4.96 a month, and I was already maxed out. The cable costs $27.45 a month.

I'm definitely complaining if the Christian music isn't gone by the end of the week when it's time to pay the bill. And I may well cancel the service and do without for a while, despite the inevitable complaints from my 15-year-old.

[BlueJazz]

3. Yep...just parroting what BlueEyedSon says....

ScumBag Murdock owns a large share of Direct-TV.
Do your best to go with someone else.....

[bunkerbuster1]

4. man oh man, switching from NPR to Xtian music?

that's gotta hurt, even though it's just the preview channel.

[neebob]

6. Yeah.

"We at {new service provider} are strongly committed to leading-edge technology, high-quality programming, award-winning customer service and hands-on community involvement. These values have driven and distinguished our company since its founding in 1984. We will continue to be guided by these business principles as we welcome you into our corporate family."

I think not. I only left their name out because I'm not sure it isn't a mistake (because there are frequent blips in the service over weekends and one channel had a satellite outage message on Saturday) and the classic American entrepreneurial spirit people aren't still running the office - which is directly across the street, so it's not like I can't walk in there and ask. The thing is, the schedule channel has only ever lost audio or gone out entirely.

[SoCalDem]

5. Not Direct... Go with DISH..

:)

[Dem2theMax]

7. Brainwash time. 'Must get Dish Network.'

Link and Free Speech TV are so wonderful. You'll love it. And great excuse to get out of your cable deal. :)

[neebob]

8. OK

Must get Dish Network. Must get Dish Network. See, I'm easily brainwashed.

[Dem2theMax]

9. Hey, it worked! lol.

You really will enjoy it a LOT more. :)

[neebob]

10. Update

So later this morning I called to complain and got someone at a call center, I think, who knew nothing about nothing or so she said. But it didn't sound like a mistake.

"Maybe we don't have the rights to carry the station that was on there before," she says.

I told her I thought it was inappropriate and, after some hemming and hawing on her part, said I'm not going to pay to have Jesus piped into my home against my wishes. She said she understood and would pass the message on.

But the Christian station is still playing on my channel 2.

I checked out Dish Network, which looks pretty doable except it's not clear whether and how much cost is associated with the dish that goes on the outside of the house. Does anybody know?

[SoCalDem]

11. Call the tollfree number.. They always have specials with free install.

I called several, but this one was the best.. My son signed up thru them as well..

Their people are very helpful.. The first time I called, the lady told me to wait a month because they hade new PVR's coming out and it would be a better deal for me.. When was the last time a sales person advised you to wait.?? That was a selling feature to me..:)

If you decide to get dish, PM me.. I have a gift card you can give the installers, and save $5 a month on your bill.. I got them to give to my sons, and they were so antsy, they did not wait..

http://www.vmcsatellite.com/channels/dish_splash.cfm?sid=291&wcw=overture

[neebob]

13. Thanks for your kind offer

They do have a free installation, according to the website. Not that I ever expect the same deal to apply in my little out of the way town. I almost always have to pay extra or wait longer or go without something. But the service is definitely available.

I scoped it out, and the monthly price is doable. I was concerned about hidden costs, like having to buy or lease the dish, that would prevent me from getting it immediately.

As expected, my son is not into going without TV for any length of time - even though he spends more time in his room, yakking on the phone.

[PrisonerLazy8]

12. I don't get it

Who cares what music is playing on a menu screen? Does anyone really camp on the rolling preview screen long enough to even notice the music?

[neebob]

14. You're kidding, right?

It's not the music but the religion and the principle of someone at a company from which I buy a service deciding I should have to listen to religious music - not to mention the preaching and praying and pledging - when there are several alternatives.

I didn't care for most of the music that was on the other station, either, except classical - or much of the talk for that matter. In fact, I don't like any of the local stations. We don't have very many choices in this area. But the station that was on there before plays the widest possible variety, and no one should have a problem with it - except maybe conservatives who don't like NPR. So why not the local pop/oldies channel? Why not friggin' elevator music?

I can program TBN out of my channel lineup if I want to, but if I want to know what's on all 50 of my channels, I have to sit and watch that rolling schedule (which I cannot control) for a couple of minutes. If the music bugs me, I have to mute it. Why should I have to do that? Why the gospel station?

Last time I checked, this was still America and not (officially) Jesusland.