Comcast has suddenly pulled MSNBC off in this small town in Vermont. This is a community with no broadcast TV signal (too isolated and moutainy) and because of the mountains, dish TV service is not possible for some. So, for me and others, we have no choice but to deal with Comcast (ugh) or do without TV.
My wife and I work in the entertainment industry...we need TV to keep up on pop culture (like it or not) and Countdown is my wife's main daily dose of news. This is a bad day for us. I'm angry that FOX (of course) is not singled out for this, nor CNN.
Below is my letter to Comcast, the unresponsive response, and my rebuttal. I would like to hear what others are planning. I called my congressman and the FCC, just to note that "Comcast is a poor corporate citizen worthy of scrutiny".
I''m outraged to see that suddenly I do not have MSNBC, unless I order it and pay more. I already pay enough as it is. Why was MSNBC singled out, in an election year, and not FOX? I think this is a bad move. I can at least get my internet from someone else, if not TV. And I''m about to find out how to take further local action. Eventually, you''re cable licence will be up for renewal locally....I will fight it. I''ve been a customer of yours before (in NJ) your people are nice, but your leadership seems like they are right wingers (the kind of people who are ruining this country) and isn''t that why MSNBC and not FOX is the one cable news station moved?
The response:
I understand you would like further information regarding the removal of
MSNBC from your Comcast channel lineup.
Our goal is to provide a wide choice of quality cable networks and local
broadcast channels reflecting the diverse programming interests of our
customers. In addition to requests from customers, the following
factors play a part in our decision making process:
· FCC regulations, such as requirements to carry all local broadcast
channels
· Requirement by local broadcasters to carry their affiliated cable
networks
· The number of access channels required by local government
· Customer satisfaction with networks carried in other systems
· Customer satisfaction with similar networks
· Importance of the network to our diverse community
· Level of interest across a percentage of our customer base
· Per-subscriber programming fees charged by the network versus the
value added to the line-up
(Digital Systems Only)
As you may know, we have been investing millions of dollars in new
technology to increase the channel capacity of the system through
digital technology. So an additional factor in launching new channels
is whether or not a particular network is available in the digital
format.
What this all means is that we take all requests for new networks very
seriously, and that we carefully consider the overall impact of adding
each network. While we cannot honor every request, we do take each
request into consideration in planning future changes to the line-up.
Thank you for choosing Comcast.
Reply:
Dear Comcast,
I am not at all satisfied with your response. My point was that in an election year, your customers should not have to do without one of the major cable news networks, especially in a communty such as mine, in which there is NO broadcast service and (because of mountains) limited satalite tv service.
I do not see anything in the list of factors in your response that explains the timing of this change. MSNBC has seen increased ratings for its prime time news offerings, at the expense of CNN and FOX. Moreover, FOX has a documented history of biased reporting. Biased reporting is not in the interest of my, or any, community.
There is no requirement to make any change in your analog news line up prior to an election. This is a choice you are making, and it reflects poor corporate citizenship. I have already called my congressman (Rep. Welch) and they have been gotten many calls about this. Since this is a nationwide problem (again, all over the country we can watch FOX for free, but have to pay for the slightly more liberal alternative....why?) there are a lot of angry people. Care to find out how angry?
Isn't it better business not to provoke politically active, organized people?
I didn't appreciate reading about Comcast attempting to hire people to attend a hearing about internet access, since you also provide that for my household. It's hard to do business with a company that behaves this way, and provides form responses to customer complaints that do not address the substance of their complaints.
I can certainly switch my internet provider, and will. And encourage my friends and neighbors to as well.
I would rather keep my TV access, but if I get mad enough I will do without rather than doing business with a company that behaves with such disregard for the customers (and country) they claim to serve.
Please reconsider the timing of this change. After the election, by all means upgrade whatever channel, but prior to the election, give your clients the widest possible choice. It's the right thing to do.