sherri's blog

Wish I could say it ain't so but according to the may posts I've read it seems that Cox Communications has indeed moved TCM from their standard cable package and moved it to a more expensive one. Isn't that just like the cable companies. In order to increase their profit margin they remove the popular channels from the lower priced packages. This move forces their subscribers, especially if they feel they really must have TCM as part of their programming to move to a higher priced tier.

Eventually Cox Communications will probably move all their channels to the higher priced packages. I'm sure there will be some exceptions such as local channels and those channels that subscribers pay for but never watch.

Let's face it Cox Communications main objective is to reap huge profits from the service they provide  to their customers. They are not about to give their customers something for nothing. Nor are they likely to start a campaign whereby they reward customer loyalty.

Maybe it's time for Cox customers to show this cable company the same type of loyalty they show them. Cox customers should take their money and cable needs elsewhere. 

Comcast Communications customers in Illinois are expected to pay a higher rate for watching their favorite tv programs and also for the privilege of having Comcast as their cable tv provider. Beginning in April cable customers can expect to see their monthly rate increase by 3.5%. According to  Comcast company officials the rate increase should come as no great surprisre. I mean after all the company will be adding 30 full time jobs in the Peoria district during the course of the year. Comcast also says they will be adding more channels for a good portion of their digital cable customers. What happens if you're not a digital subscriber. Does that mean there's no channel increase for you, only rate increases.

While Comcast professes the  current rate hike is necessary for better service, I tend to wonder what else could be behind it. Didn't Comcast just recently absorb or take over all those customers who previously relied on Insight Communication for the tv programming. Whether these two companies engaged in a swap out, buy out or whatever they want to call it, the fact is it couldn't come without a price. Could the new rate hike be a way to help defray the cost of the transaction. The only ones who know the answer to that $64,000 questions is the upper echelon at Comcast.

In closing the only action that would have been a suprise from Comcast would have been NO RATE INCREASE. While no increase would have been nice let's face it, yearly cable tv rate hikes at least for the foreseeable future are here to stay.

It appears that Charter Communicatons, perhaps in an effort to put more cash into their coffers has agreed to sell information regarding their customers viewing habits to Nielsen Co. While this act will currently effect only those customers in L.A. (roughly 330,00 subscribers) we all know how quickly things can spread and get out of control.

Lest I spook some people I'll clarify about what Charter is selling. They will be selling the information that is garnered from subscribers digital set-top-boxes. This data will allow advertisers and tv programmers to have a better idea of what people are watching. Some of the acquired information will be what channel a box is tuned to oe whether it' a show is recording. According to Jim Heneghan senior v.p. of ad sales for Charter " there will be no way to trace the information back to any household" I'm sure Mr. Heneghan's word will allay any concerns Charter's customers might have regarding the disclosure of any of their personal info, not matter how trite it might seem to Charter. Riiight!!!

Charter Communications will be paid by Nielsen who will then turn around and resell this data to their clients. Who knows how many more times this information will be sold. Once the ball starts rolling who know's when it will finally stop.

Now I don't know about you but I am sick and tired of the companies I do business with selling my information to anyone with a buck. I don't recall Charter or anyone else for that matter asking me personally if they could sell my information. Nor do I recall signing any release forms giving them the right to do so. If anyone is to gain financially by the selling of my then it should be me. I feel that anyone company who sell my info without my express written consent sholud be held legally accountable.

It's bad enough that the goverment is peeking, poking, spying and yes perhaps even selling information about it's citizens. There's also a slew of companies already out there that broker in selling peoples personal information alebit without consent. Do we really need a cable company getting into the act of selling their customers information. Enough already.

Former Insight Communications customers in Lafayette, Indiana will have to start looking for more ways to come up with extra cash each month. In January Comcast Communications one of the leading giants in the cable industry acquired Insights customers in Lafayette.

The changing of the guard so to speak has not gone smoothly for the former Insight customers. Seems they are having difficulty with their billing, loss of internet service and most importantly the inability to connect with Comcast Customer Service to help resolve their issues.

Newly acquired Comcast customers who went to the local Comcast office were faced with even more challenges. If they wanted to resolve their issues they had to take time out of their busy day to stand outside and wait in line for who knows how long. Now I don't know about you but I consider my time to be valuable and don't feel it should be wasted by waiting in line. Especially since a company I am doing business with didn't have the sense to anticipate what problems could and did arise with a changeover.

As if these inconveniences weren't enough the real kick in the teeth was yet to come. Just this week (March 9-15) Comcast gleefully, I'm sure sent pamphlets to their newly accquired customers which informed them of an impending rate hike. Beginning on April 1st Comcast's rate for Total Standard Basic Package will increase from $49.30 to $52.24 which is roughly a 6% rate increase.

In addition to the increase in the total standard package I'm sure it comes as no surprsise to Comcast customers that the cost for Premium channels will also increase. You have to remember what you're getting for this higher price. Which is "Quality Peformance and Service" If the current problems that former Insight customers are experiencing is what Comcast considers to be quality service then it has to make you wonder what Comcast considers inferior service to be. 

Fans of the wickedly funny show Reaper will be happy to note that The CW will be airing several new episodes. The first will air on Thursday, March 13.

Our entire family has been huge fans of this uproariously funny show since it first aired. We laugh through the entire show. The casting, plots and dialogue are pure genius. 

For those of you who haven't yet see it I'll give you a brief synopsis. The Show is about a young man who on his 21st birthday learned that his parents sold his soul to the devil. His contract with the devil states that he is responsible for catching and returning escaped souls to hell.

Each escaped soul is caught and dispatched to the netherrworld via a unique vessel. Therein lies the fun. Sam (the main character) enlists the help of his two friends to carry out the devils bidding.

While it would take to long to explain all the interwoven story lines and eccentricities of the show I'll just tell you DON'T MISS IT. Even if you never saw the first season you'll quickly be able to catch on. 

Oh Yeah! Actor Ray Wise who plays the role of the devil truly makes the show what it is. His character alone makes the show worth watching. 

HBO who has brought you such great series such as The Sopranos, Entourage, Sex and the City and a host of other will be premiering a new miniseries this month titled simply "John Adams". This seven part series will chronicle the life and times of this great man who wore many hats. He was a farmer, lawyer, political thinker and true patriot.

Whether you're a historian, history buff or just want to watch a quality show that is both entertaining and educational then this miniseries which will premier on March 16th is a definite must see. If you can't be home to watch it then be sure to set your DVR to record this fine show.

Just the other day while having some free time from my busy schedule I decided to catch a flick on one of the movie channels on Satellite TV. The movie I settled on was Grindhouse:Death Proof. I chose this flick for several reasons. One reason is that I am a fan of both horror genre and Quentin Taratino who co-wrote, directed and produced this film alon with Robert Rodriquez.

Kurt Russel, of whom I am a long time fan starred in this movie. He played a psychotic has been stuntman named appropriately enough, Stuntman Mike who stalks and kills woman with his souped up car. He however, because he is sitting in the drivers seat in unable to be killed. His luck will eventually run out when he targets the wrong group of women.

The appearance of Mr.Russell's character  in Grindhouse reminded me of another character he once played in the classic film "Escape from New York". The character was Snake Plissken. While their psychological profiles were different their outward appearance was very similar. 

Watching Grindhouse:Death Proof had me thinking about another movie, the classic thriller  "Duel" which is about a trucker stalking a motorist on a rarely traveled and lonely stretch of road. In Grindhouse I also appreciated the directors approach to not havig the movie be just another slasher film like Texas Chainsaw Massacare and Friday the 13th.

While this movie had more suspense than graphic horror it should definitely be at the top of your must see movies list .

I have been a Satellite TV customer for quite a few years now and I must admit that they never cease to amaze me. They are constantly striving to add more to their line-up. Fans of the long running and  popular game show Wheel of Fortune will be happy to know that Satellite TV has rolled out the welcome mat to game show host and icon Mr. Pat Sajak, who is also the founder of Pat Sajak Games.

Beginning this month Game Lounge on Satellite TV will be the exclusive carrier an interactive version of Mr. Sajaks game creation called Code Letter Crossword Connections, which is a game that uses Mr. Sajakspatent -pending code letter system with a traditional crossword. Some of Mr. Sajak's other game titles will also air on Game Lounge.

While the addition of Pat Sajak to the Game Lounge is cause for celebration they will also be other games in the offing. There will be new titles from Mattel, Nickelodeon, Cartoon Network and a new math based game from Thirteen/WNET New York and PBS KIDS GO! - Cybercahse.   

Cox communications has recently announced the addition of seven new hd channels to their line-up in the Phoenix area. The company has also promised to provide even more hdtv channels to their subscribers by the end of the year. While that's all well and good one has to wonder why Cox isn't giving any specifics to their by "the end of the year" statement.

For instance when exactly will the number of hd channels increase. The statement by the end of the year is somewhat vague. It can mean anywhere from September to December and quite possibly January of the following year(2009).

Secondly whats the number of  hd channels subscribers can expect to receive. Will it be 40, 50, 60 or perhaps 100 or more national hd channels. I don't recall seeing a total projected number.

The last question one has to ask is "What's it going to cost me"? You know that if Comcast keeps good on their promise to increase the number of hdtv channels in their line-up by years end that an increase in you cable tv rate is just over the horizon. The question is how much more will you have to pay.

Satellite TV once again outshines the competition with their recent actions. Satellite TV has recently entered into a cost sharing agreement with NBC which will enable the network to continue airing the drama series "Friday Night Lights". Full details of this partnership have yet to be released.

Fans of the show probably aren't all that interested in the minute details of the agreement between NBC and Satellite TV anyway. I know I'm not. I just thrilled that the show will remain on tv. In the wake of what seems to be an inexhaustable supply of reality tv shows it's nice to see a well acted and scripted tv series be saved from the chopping block.

It would appear that through their actions executives of both companies know a good thing when they see it. I'm going out on a limb here and asuming that the key players who brokered this partnership realized that not all tv shows have to have nothing but sex and violence in their content in order to maintain viewer loyalty. So a big thank you to NBC and an even bigger thanks to Satellite TV for keeping Friday Night Lights alive.