Comcast beats satellite?

[jfalkingham]

ah, the joys of Google's AdSense.

[Clemsole]

Do you believe everything you read.

[bobnielsen]

Do you believe everything you read.

I suspect the point related to where you read it :D

[jfalkingham]

Do you believe everything you read.

I think the point is how you need to be careful with Google's AdSense, its all in the setup.

[trainman]

Well, it can be hard to get everything in to 40+70 characters, so let me help them out:

Comcast Beats Satellite (in Picture Outages, Clueless CSRs, and Poor Picture Quality)
See the difference yourself and switch (to satellite) today.

My job actually is writing and editing ads such as this -- not for Google, but for a company whose name ends with an exclamation point.

[roadrunner1782]

Do you believe everything you read.

I know I sure don't!:D

[BattleScott]

I'm confused. What is the point of the thread?

[Nick]

"Comcast beats satellite"

I sub to Comcast and Dish. In my opinion, from a marketing standpoint, the Comcast ad placement on satellite-interest board(s) makes a lot of sense. Based on what I understand from reading online DBS boards over the years, not every sat sub is delighted with their respective provider; additionally it is apparent to me that D* subs are far less satisfied than E*'s.

YMMV :whatdidid

When the time comes that Comcast franchises dump their analog tiers and double their HD offerings from present numbers, they will give satellite a real run.

To my knowledge & personal experience, Comcast has the:

- most subscribers
- best HD picture quality
- nicest CSRs
- best, most responsive tech support*
- best-functioning, bug-free HD DVRs
- quickest, slickest VoD with the most "free" offerings

*I called C* early one morning recently -- the tech showed up before noon - the same day!

[JoeTheDragon]

"Comcast beats satellite"

When the time comes that Comcast franchises dump their analog tiers and double their HD offerings from present numbers, they will give satellite a real run.

To my knowledge & personal experience, Comcast has the:


- best HD picture quality

- best-functioning, bug-free HD DVRs
[/SIZE]
I don't think so comcast uses over compressed mpeg 2 and high cost small dvrs they just now moveing to 250-320gb hd in them.

comcast also costs a lot more comcast digital preferred cost just about the same as direct tv hd dvr but comes no hd or dvr that costs $15-$20 /m per box more. also in some areas you need the sports pack to get speed, fox movie channel and a few others.

[Shades228]

"Comcast beats satellite"

I sub to Comcast and Dish. In my opinion, from a marketing standpoint, the Comcast ad placement on satellite-interest board(s) makes a lot of sense. Based on what I understand from reading online DBS boards over the years, not every sat sub is delighted with their respective provider; additionally it is apparent to me that D* subs are far less satisfied than E*'s.

YMMV :whatdidid

When the time comes that Comcast franchises dump their analog tiers and double their HD offerings from present numbers, they will give satellite a real run.

To my knowledge & personal experience, Comcast has the:

- most subscribers
- best HD picture quality
- nicest CSRs
- best, most responsive tech support*
- best-functioning, bug-free HD DVRs
- quickest, slickest VoD with the most "free" offerings

*I called C* early one morning recently -- the tech showed up before noon - the same day!

Sorry to burst the bubble of customer satisfaction but check out real customer satisfaction awards and then I might look at Dish's sub growth the last 6 quarters. Numbers seem to go against your opinion.

[Justin23]

"Comcast beats satellite"
it is apparent to me that D* subs are far less satisfied than E*'s.]

How is it then that D* has ranked higher than E* & Cable in Customer Satisification the last 8 or so years in a row?

J

[mx6bfast]

What's D* and E* gonna do? File an injunction to have the ad removed? It's about as vague as you can get.

[jfalkingham]

I'm confused. What is the point of the thread?

:sure:

Perhaps to better setup adsense to not display ads from comcast.com on a satellite board?

[mx6bfast]

I'm confused. What is the point of the thread?
It mentions D* and Comcast together, so it has to be posted about.

[jfalkingham]

How is it then that D* has ranked higher than E* & Cable in Customer Satisification the last 8 or so years in a row?

J

They did and they may still be rated higher, but as of late it has been abysmal, just my experiences and opinion, but it is a far cry from how it was years ago, even 2 years ago.

[jfalkingham]

"Comcast beats satellite"

I sub to Comcast and Dish. In my opinion, from a marketing standpoint, the Comcast ad placement on satellite-interest board(s) makes a lot of sense.


It does make sense, however if I were running such board, I would block that site URL. You can't catch 'em all, but Comcast is an obvious one, especially if you have members that are mostly sat customers and a good deal donate to be a member. That said, the click through does add to the adsense account balance.

[wildbill129]

How is it then that D* has ranked higher than E* & Cable in Customer Satisification the last 8 or so years in a row?

J

Sorry, you are wrong there. For 2008, JD Power ranked AT&T U-verse number one. DirecTV averaged 6 or 7 depending on the market. You can read the press release here:

http://www.jdpower.com/corporate/news/releases/pressrelease.aspx?ID=2008204

The ratings are here:

http://www.jdpower.com/telecom/ratings/television-service-ratings/west

[Nick]

Sorry to burst the bubble of customer satisfaction but check out real customer satisfaction awards and then I might look at Dish's sub growth the last 6 quarters. Numbers seem to go against your opinion.You're (not your) not bursting any bubble -- I have no bubble, no illusions about the MCVP business. My opinions are, as I said previously, based on my own "knowledge & personal experience".

On the subject of changing providers, I wouldn't even consider switching to D*, what with all their problems, renowned glitches (brrriippp!) and interminable updates. When all is said and done, all I want to do is watch tv. I don't need to make a hobby (or a career) out of it.

[Justin23]

Sorry, you are wrong there. For 2008, JD Power ranked AT&T U-verse number one. DirecTV averaged 6 or 7 depending on the market. You can read the press release here:

http://www.jdpower.com/corporate/news/releases/pressrelease.aspx?ID=2008204

The ratings are here:

http://www.jdpower.com/telecom/ratings/television-service-ratings/west

Averaged 6 or 7? What are you looking at? I clicked on your links and saw D* in the top 3 for all areas of the nation?

This is the one I was looking at...http://www.theacsi.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=149&Itemid=157&c=DIRECTV&i=Cable+%26+Satellite+TV


J

[wildbill129]

Averaged 6 or 7? What are you looking at? I clicked on your links and saw D* in the top 3 for all areas of the nation?

This is the one I was looking at...http://www.theacsi.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=149&Itemid=157&c=DIRECTV&i=Cable+%26+Satellite+TV


J

I was looking at customer service. In the west they are 6th. In others they are higher, but not number one, not even in overall satisfaction. DirecTV used to get the JD Power award every year. Not anymore......I bet the numbers really slip at the end of this year.

I had not heard of the index you linked to. I wonder how the different surveys are conducted and why one is so different from the other (JD Power vs ACSI). You site does have an interesting summary relating the increase in customer service being related to partnerships with other service providers:

Cable/Satellite TV
Viewer satisfaction among subscribers to cable and satellite television declined 2% to 63. Even though there has been improvement among some, it seems difficult to move the ACSI needle much for the industry as a whole. DirecTV appears to be different. It has greatly extended its lead over DISH Network. Just two years ago the two were tied at 67, but now DirecTV stands atop the category, up 4% to 71. DISH fell for a third straight year - down 2% to an historical low of 64.

Because satellite TV companies partner with telecommunications companies in order to offer additional service packages, such as voice and Internet, it is likely that the partner companies have an effect on the satisfaction their customers. DirecTV’s voice partner Verizon is the ACSI leader in its industry, while DISH Network’s partner Sprint Nextel is at the opposite side of the scale. As is typically the case, the health of a company’s customer relationship is reflected in stock price movements. DirecTV’s share price has fallen 19% over the past twelve months, about half the market average. DISH has dropped 61% over the same period.

Among cable TV providers, Cox Communications leads for a sixth straight year and reaches an all-time high with an ACSI score of 66. But Comcast, the largest US cable company in the country, has made an even bigger leap, up 9% to 59. Over the past year, Comcast has used a novel approach in customer communications. The company monitors customer feedback on blogs and via the social networking site Twitter in order to identify disgruntled customers and address customer dissatisfaction on a one-to-one basis. Charter Communications has moved in the opposite direction, down 6% to an ACSI score of 51, a record low for any company in the 15-year history of ACSI measurement. Its stock has been delisted and is trading around a nickel.

[RACJ2]

I was looking at customer service. In the west they are 6th. In others they are higher, but not number one, not even in overall satisfaction. DirecTV used to get the JD Power award every year. Not anymore......I bet the numbers really slip at the end of this year.

The JD powers ratings you were looking at are sorted alphabetically. If you sort them by Overall Rating, D* is #2 or 3 in each region. Or you can scroll down below the article and look at the bar graphs.

[BattleScott]

:sure:

Perhaps to better setup adsense to not display ads from comcast.com on a satellite board?

Well where else would you want to display adds trying to woo satellite subscribers?

[Shades228]

You're (not your) not bursting any bubble -- I have no bubble, no illusions about the MCVP business. My opinions are, as I said previously, based on my own "knowledge & personal experience".

On the subject of changing providers, I wouldn't even consider switching to D*, what with all their problems, renowned glitches (brrriippp!) and interminable updates. When all is said and done, all I want to do is watch tv. I don't need to make a hobby (or a career) out of it.

Re read what I typed before you try and put the wrong word in the sentence that you're attempting to correct me on.

You didn't say knowledge & personal experience when you were talking about Dish's customer satisfaction being higher than DirecTV. You said:

it is apparent to me that D* subs are far less satisfied than E*'s

So I'm not sure what's apparent to you other than posts here. So if your judge of people's happiness with a service is a place with less then a half percent of registered users compared to the service I would say your sample size is very small.

The bottom line is both companies are consitantly lower than DirecTV in customer satsfaction from a national standpoint.

[Shades228]

Well where else would you want to display adds trying to woo satellite subscribers?

BBB or one of those websites that promotes negative reporting for any company.

[crasmus22]

full disclosure: after 13 years with DIRECTV I suspended my account while I run with Comcast and HD TiVO. I plan on coming back in time, but evaluating for now...

Thanks jfalkingham. Post your findings when done evaluating.

[Billzebub]

"Comcast beats satellite"

I sub to Comcast and Dish. In my opinion, from a marketing standpoint, the Comcast ad placement on satellite-interest board(s) makes a lot of sense. Based on what I understand from reading online DBS boards over the years, not every sat sub is delighted with their respective provider; additionally it is apparent to me that D* subs are far less satisfied than E*'s.

YMMV :whatdidid

When the time comes that Comcast franchises dump their analog tiers and double their HD offerings from present numbers, they will give satellite a real run.

To my knowledge & personal experience, Comcast has the:

- most subscribers
- best HD picture quality
- nicest CSRs
- best, most responsive tech support*
- best-functioning, bug-free HD DVRs
- quickest, slickest VoD with the most "free" offerings

*I called C* early one morning recently -- the tech showed up before noon - the same day!

First let me state that everyone should choose the service they are happy with. If you like Comcast, by all means pay them. That being said, I am in the unique position of having DIRECTV at home and Comcast at my apartment in Harrisburg that I keep for work.

There really is no comparison between Comcast and DIRECTV. Let me address each of your points:

- most subscribers: I think you're right here. Of course most of Comcast's growth was driven by buying other cable companies. I really think this is a matter of mature versus changing technologies. Cable has been around and been able to offer local channels quite a bit longer than satellite TV. I would be interested to see subscriber growth numbers over the last 5 years in individual franchise areas.
- best HD picture quality: say what? I have them both and I don’t think Comcast comes anywhere near DIRECTV. My cousin has a 55 inch Samsung 1080P DLP TV with Comcast. He comes to my house to watch the Steelers on my 50 inch 720P DLP TV with DIRECTV on Sundays. Believe me; he isn’t here because I’m such a good host.
- nicest CSRs: I’ve dealt with them both and I think they’ve both been pretty nice.
- best, most responsive tech support*: I was going to go into a long rant about Comcast tech support, but the real problem is with the technology itself not the support.
- best-functioning, bug-free HD DVRs: Have you used a Comcast HD DVR? They only have about 20 hours of HD recording time. If you have a series recording of one of those shows that repeats often during the week it will keep recording the same episode over and over if you watch and delete the original recording. If you have even a momentary power outage the guide and to do list are lost completely and it takes days to repopulate. Also, the Comcast DVR has an annoying habit of not stopping the recording of an hour show till the disk is full. I've awoken in the morning at 6:00 to find a 1 hour show from 11:00 the night before still recording.
- quickest, slickest VoD with the most "free" offerings: While I’m not nearly as in love with this as you, I agree their VOD is better.
My lease is up in January and one of the factors I’m looking at when searching for a new apartment is a balcony with a view of the southern sky so I can get rid of the evil empire and get DIRECTV in Harrisburg.

[jpl]

I don't mean to fan the flames of this thread, but why is this an issue? I mean I understand the fact that there's a Comcast ad on a board dedicated to DBS... but why, exactly, would Comcast advertize on a Comcast board? Isn't the point of advertizing to grab customers? If I only advertize to my existing customers, what exactly have I done, beyond waste money, that is? I guess you could make the case that such ads help to placate the fears of existing customers: 'I saw that ad saying that other guy is better... oh wait, my provider is telling me they're better', but that's not really the tenor of these ads. These ads are designed, based on what they say, to grab customers.

[jpl]

There's one thing to keep in mind here - in determining how well liked Comcast is. And that is: location. Nick is from GA (per his signature). Here in the Philly area Comcast is one of the most reviled companies around - they're despised in their own backyard. Those of us who've dealt with them in this area can understand why (although I understand they've improved dramatically since I was a customer). But if you talk to people in other areas, they LOVE the company. It's almost like they're talking about a totally different company. And in many ways, they are. Because their service varies so much from area to area (channel line-ups, HD, pricing, customer service) it really is like you're dealing with two totally different companies.

Comcast in this area has a reputation for bad customer service, incessent price increases, and a small number of available channels (around here Comcast now comes in 5th in terms of number of national/local HD channels - behind FiOS, RCN, Dish, and DirecTV)... by a long shot - I think I can get maybe 40 HD channels around here. My experience with their customer service was so bad that when we switched to DirecTV, my wife and I actually 'fought' over who would get to call Comcast to tell them to go pound sand. Again, I understand they've improved, but they used to be pretty horrible.

[rking5150]

I'm fine with Comcast spending money to support this site!

When I moved to Georgia from Maryland in 2004, I was told by a (lazy) D* contractor that I couldn't get D* at my house. Probably because I have a steep roof, and he just didn't feel like doing the job. As a D* subscriber for 5 years at that point, I was upset, but decided to give Comcast a shot.

Comcast came on schedule, but within the first week I lost all service. I called Comcast repeatedly -- and, after waiting over an hour each time, was told that they didn't know about the outage, and that they would get someone on it "right away." Well, two weeks later, I called again, and was told that the outage was the result of a severe storm somewhere in the area. I told the CSR that was odd, since I thought only D* had storm issues. (the irony of this was apparently missed by the CSR).

Anyway, I had another D* contractor come out to look at things, and he had no problem putting a dish on my roof. I've been back with D* ever since.

So, Comcast can adverstise all they want; its a poor choice of advertising space for them.:lol:

[jfalkingham]

Well where else would you want to display adds trying to woo satellite subscribers?

Sure if Comcast controlled what appears, but the owners of DBSTalk.com can control the content of the ads. Sorry you don't see the irony of it. I have plenty of adsense ads on various pages, and I customize them to purposely filter out certain ads.

[jfalkingham]

Comcast pays Google money. Google will pay dbstalk.com for the clickthrough on the ad. Comcast does not pay for nor support this site. It can be filtered by dbstalk... it's not like Comcast is placing an ad here, but because of circumstances, they are allowed to be on the top in a google ad.

AdSense is a great way to boost site revenue, but you really have to tweak it so that ads that appear will generate enough clicks.

For AdSense here, it would make more sense to have it show ads for Dish, Weaknees, etc than Comcast. It would generate more clicks and more revenue.

[mopzo]

Until another service offers NFLST, I'll never switch.

[Guesst925XTU]

To me the ad makes perfect sense.

-In my area Comcast gives CBS/NBC/FOX/ABC/CW/MY & PBS from both New York & Philadelphia, DirecTV doesn't. DirecTV just gives me New York.
-In my area Comcast SportsNet owns the rights to several local sports teams which are not available on DirecTV.

So in some ways Comcast *DOES* beat DirecTV.

However, in many other ways DirecTV beats Comcast in my area:

-DirecTV has better picture quality (Comcast's analog channels look horrible)
-DirecTV has better prices
-DirecTV has more national HD channels
-DirecTV goes out much less frequently than Comcast and for much shorter time spans.

So in other ways Comcast *DOES NOT* beat DirecTV.