I believe this is the last straw. There is another game in town (Wave) in recent years, and I will be going down there on Monday to see if they have a package that suits.
TCM is apparently available in a Sports and Entertainment package, which I couldn’t even find listed as an option on their website. Maybe that option isn’t available in my market. But the station is still on the lineup and now it says that it needs a subscription.
Anyway, I am looking forward to going down to the Comcast service office with all my equipment (after the changeover is complete), laying it on the desk, and saying “Byeee.” Forever.
OP, assuming this is not temporary, the other option is to become a cord cutter and get your TV by streaming package(s). Here are several which include TCM: https://flixed.io/watch-tcm-without-cable/amp/
Yes, I’m very peeved about it, too. TCM is my favorite channel. They want another $10/month for the “Sports Entertainment” package, which has literally no other channels I need or want. So a $10 increase just for TCM. Fuck that noise!
From my brief research, I think I’m going to switch to YouTube TV, which has all the channels I want to watch, including TCM, and is only $50/month, with a cloud DVR. I’ll continue to use Netflix, Criterion, and Amazon Video on Roku. And I’ll sign up for HBO on Roku.
The change will render my Tivo useless, except for a few dozen movies and shows that I’ve recorded and not watched.
I’ll still have to use Comcast/Xfinity for Internet, but no more TV, and I may look into dropping the phone line, too, just to punish them, and going to VOIP. Any suggestions? I had Vonage briefly when I lived in Las Vegas, but had lots of dropouts in calls.
I would think that dropouts are more likely a problem with your Internet connection more than the company providing VoIP, but that’s not based on much technical knowledge. Of course with the loss of net neutrality, Comcast could punish your VOIP traffic if it isn’t being provided by them (not that I actually think they are doing that).
If they are pulling the images off of the film, then HD would be better. AIUI, film has much higher resolution than any video format.
I remember one of the very first HD programs I saw with my HD TV was Hogan’s Heroes - and the quality was tremendous. I assume that the show was filmed instead of video-taped, and that allowed them to make true a HD quality broadcast.
Note - it was some special HD channel, since at the time there was little to no HD over-the-air programming.
Apparently most of their library has SD videos, but they began creating HD versions a few years ago. The TCM Comcast is dropping was offered in HD, at least in MA.
The majority of TCM’s content (virtually all movies before the mid-50s) has a 4:3 aspect ratio, meaning there will be black bars on the sides. But that doesn’t mean it’s in SD resolution. I watch it on HD, and my perception is that most of their films are at least HD quality, even the older 4:3 stuff.
I have TCM back, at the cost of an additional $10 month; this apparently includes at least one other movie channel, which I haven’t checked out yet. I am hoping this will be temporary, as I want to switch to another provider.
However, I went to the other provider’s office today in Daly City, and it was closed in the middle of the day (1:30) and the "come back later"sign said 2:30. So either the office is staffed by one person who went out for a late lunch, or the one person was off sick today, or the office is not staffed at all. I will give them one more chance on Thursday. I really don’t want to call another cable company and subject myself to their relentless selling, by people whose English is so heavily accented I can’t understand them.
The weirdest thing happened when I tried to call Comcast directly. I called their 800 number and my call seemed to be hijacked to someone who was trying to sell me DirectTV. So I hung up and messaged Comcast to call me. What the heck was that about?
I just called Comcast/Xfinity about cutting TV and phone, and found that because I’m still in a two-year introductory offer, an Internet-only package would only be about $15-20 less than what I’m paying now for Internet, TV, and phone. So that wouldn’t save me any money over switching to YouTube TV ($50/month) and VOIP.
When they asked why I wanted to do that, I explained that I was peeved about having to pay $10 more a month for TCM, and they offered to give me that package for $5/month for six months. So I took it.
In six months, if they don’t make me a better offer, I’ll drop Comcast’s TV package and sign up for YouTube TV, which will total a bit more than I’m paying now, but less than Comcast’s regular pricing for Internet/TV/phone (about $160/month). Then I’ll decide whether I want to drop Comcast’s phone and go for Vonage or some other VOIP provider.
The takeaway message: Don’t just agree to $10 for the Sports Entertainment package. Threaten to cut the cord and ask for a deal.
A few times a month I contemplate cutting the cord and going with YouTube TV. I have landline/Internet/cable via ATT Uverse. I just know that if I want to drop cable, they will stick me with a price increase for landline and Internet. Do I need a landline? Yes. ATT will always find a way to screw the consumer.
I’m not going to buy useless and worthless sports channels. While TCM is easily one of the top 10 channels I watch when I do watch TV, $10 a month when we pay Comcast so much already???
( I’m not allowed to curse in this forum, am I? Because this is ‘curse like you’re a sailor and your credit card has just been declined’ worthy.)
Exactly how I felt, but I really do want TCM, and I wasn’t ready to pay $30+ more a month to switch to YouTube TV, just to spite Comcast. So when they offered me $5/month for TCM (and all the other crap I will never watch), I accepted.
But I’ll remember this when my intro package expires and drop Comcast TV like a hot turd as soon as they up the rates.