What kind of cable TV package do you New Yorkers out there have? Matt and I are trying to decide what to get from our provider, Time Warner Cable. We only want TV – we don’t need Internet access, because our DSL is paid for by Matt’s employer.
I’d be fine without digital cable, except that according to the channel lineup, some of my favorite channels are only available on digital, such as Turner Classic Movies and TV Land; so are BBC America, which Matt would love to have, and LOGO, the new gay TV network.
Of course, the TWC website doesn’t make it easy to find any of the cheaper packages; I actually had to call Time Warner Cable to learn that the digital package, without premium channels or any other bells/whistles, is about $56 per month (plus whatever fees they tack on, I guess). There’s a pricing chart online, but it’s rather confusing.
Anyway, what do you get from TWC, and about how much do you pay for it?
Marc has RCN. It’s the underdog, and it’s (significantly, I think) cheaper than TWC. And if it’s on 14th Street, it’s probably in your neighborhood too.
In any event, your tastes will likely require you to get digital cable. I think it’s worth it.
We can’t get RCN in our building, just TW.
i get standard cable for about 50 bucks (i also get Road RUnner internet – my total bill with tax is 98 smackaroos) but am seriously considering the digital cable tv, whihc has a bunch of other interesting channels, not the least of which is LOGO which just started last night (24-hour/day queer channel) i THINK the lowest level digital package has HBO, but i’ll check before i go up anotehr 20 bucks for that package
well, i’d been thinking about doing it for awhie, and the website STINKS – since it’s pushing the DIGITAL PHONE. (I just called them about upgrading my account) DTV valuepac sounds like what you’re talking about, and WITH TAX, comes close to 65 bucks. does NOT include any premium channels but for me, i may go for ENTERTAINNET package, plus the DVR recording, which is DTV, ROAD RUNNER internet, one premium channel and a box that records shows on a DVR – $122.00 with tax! ouch! (if you want the DVR recording, will cost 8.95/month)
CALLING is much better than the website, beleive me – especially for a SALES CALL, you don’t wait on hold so long
I’ve got the digital cable and cable modem package. 4 premium channels (HBO, SHO, Starz and Cinemax) for $120 or so.
When you call Time Warner, find out if your building has any special deal. My old building in Chelsea had a special rate so it worked out to be around $96 a month instead of what I pay now.
If you get digital, would that mean you’d have to use an IR blaster with your TiVo?
I’ve resisted digital for a long time because I prefer the direct coax connection. Zero chance of channel-changing failure.
Just to answer brian w’s question, I think it depends on the cable box. In the setup at my previous apartment, I had a digital cable box that conveniently had a serial connection (see step 2 here), so I didn’t have to use the IR blaster.
http://www.thedesertsun.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050713/COLUMNS25/507130340/1085/NEWS01
http://www.qtelevision.com/site/
http://www.qtelevision.com/site/iwantqnetworkpop.asp
Mayor’s vision fully in focus
Cindy Uken
The Desert Sun
July 13, 2005
As a member of the Palm Springs Human Rights Commission in the 1990s, Ron Oden was instrumental in getting Black Entertainment Television included in the local programming lineup. Now Mayor, Oden is lobbying to get more programming included that focuses on yet another minority group – gays and lesbians.
But his vision for what it could bring is much broader than local programming; it’s an economic opportunity.
Oden, widely thought to be the country’s first openly gay black mayor, is lobbying strenuously to get Q Television Network, a Palm Springs-based network, included on the Time Warner Cable television lineup. Q Television Network is a nationally syndicated gay television network run by and programmed for an audience that identifies itself as gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender – and straight. It would be a natural fit for Palm Springs, which boasts a significant gay and lesbian population.
But for Oden, this is about so much more than just adding a network that is gay- and lesbian-based; it’s about doing what’s right for Palm Springs. And that’s what really gets his creative juices flowing.
This is the place where noted retailers like Nordstrom and J. Crew frequently come for print advertising and catalog shoots.
More than 800 shooting days – including movies, TV shows, commercials and still photography – netted the valley $28 million in revenues in 2004, according to the Inland Empire Film Commission.
With the right production studio, Palm Springs and the Coachella Valley just might be able to take things to the next level. Theoretically, it could become a Hollywood satellite that turns media production into a source for year-round, high-paying jobs?
“If they get on Time Warner, they are going to build a production studio in the city,” Oden said. “It gives us another opportunity to do things here. They’re going to syndicate some national shows and broadcast from here on a daily basis. We’re moving, baby.”
Oden said one of the complaints he often hears is that there is no place in Palm Springs to produce programs; if Q Television Network builds a studio here, that would void that complaint.
Time Warner corporate officers are trying to negotiate a nationwide agreement with the type of network product Q Television Network offers, said Kathi Jacobs, director of government and community relations for Time Warner. The company is considering three different products in the same network genre; Q Television Network is one of them. She said a decision in expected “sometime in the future.”
Carol Hinnant, vice president of acquisitions for Q Television Network, said Tuesday, “We are still talking with Time Warner and hope for a positive resolution in the next couple of months.”
As I’ve gotten to know Oden better during his tenure as mayor – and watch how he works – there are no accidents. Most everything he does is by design.
Earlier this year, he talked of his vision to reestablish Palm Springs as a playground for the stars. He enlisted the help of actors, singers, writers and others to brainstorm ways to attract more stars and visitors to the city – and bring the Hollywood allure back to the desert.
Once a bit static, the picture is starting to become much clearer. It’s becoming a don’t-miss drama.