Time Warner Is in Hog Heaven

[rtt2]

Time Warner Is in Hog Heaven

By Mavis Scanlon

Time Warner Cable in Los Angeles wants to let EchoStar know that being a pig isn’t so bad.

After all, as the operator pointed out in an open letter to customers in the Los Angeles Times, pigs are versatile and smart, are ingrained in our pop culture (think Miss Piggy and Porky Pig) and are relied upon by humans for everything from food to clothing to medicine.

The ad, which ran in Los Angeles, Orange County and the San Fernando Valley Dec. 17, was TWC’s tongue-in-cheek response to EchoStar’s pointed online, print and broadcast campaign bashing rising cable rates and featuring a pig wearing a dirty T-shirt with the tag line “Stop feeding the cable pig.”

“We just wanted to respond and have some fun with it,” says Deane Leavenworth, VP government and media relations for the division, while at the same time “remind customers what cable brings to the table.” Employee morale got a boost as well, he said, as the full-page ad was plastered up in the region’s call centers.

While the ad touts the numerous video channels, VOD, local broadcast channels, high-speed data and the fact that cable does not require annual contracts, there is no mention of price, which is the point of the EchoStar campaign.

As EchoStar spokesman Steve Caulk (who had yet to see the ad) said, “Anytime anybody wants to call attention to our cable pig advertising campaign and, in so doing highlight awareness of cable’s long history of price increases, we’re pleased.”

[sampatterson]

...and yet dish raises its rates again, granted, not as much as most cable companies. E*=Pig in Wolf's clothing?

[JM Anthony]

...and yet dish raises its rates again, granted, not as much as most cable companies. E*=Pig in Wolf's clothing?

Okay, so I'm long of tooth, but I can't remember the last time E* raised their rates and I've been with these guys pretty much since their launch. (With two teenage daughters, however, my satellite bill is one of the last things I watch!!)

I'm not a big fan of raising rates for anything, but I'd also like to see E* stay healthy financially. This industry needs strong competition and that won't happen if they are strapped for cash. Comcast is carrying a lot of debt if I remember right and that has to hamper their ability to finance system upgrades, particularly in today's financial climate.

[DS0816]

I'm wondering: with my interest in having a load of channels -- many of which aren't offered by DirecTV or Dish Network and any of my two cable provides -- would going C-Band be a good option? Or is it just too expensive? Ah, I'll give more thought to that. No system, I will say, is anywhere near being ideal for me. They're all plenty flawed. It just comes down to what our choices are, and what decisions we make.

[Timmy]

I have seen Time Warner's digital and hd lineup--it is superior to Dish. They carry every local hd channel, all the hd movie channels, and, in addition to hdnet and hdmovies--they also carry the two indemand hd channels. They also carry bmania, goodlife, trio, ovation, etc etc etc etc. People should look at Time Warner's lineup and take lessons.

[Bogy]

Okay, so I'm long of tooth, but I can't remember the last time E* raised their rates and I've been with these guys pretty much since their launch. (With two teenage daughters, however, my satellite bill is one of the last things I watch!!)

I'm not a big fan of raising rates for anything, but I'd also like to see E* stay healthy financially. This industry needs strong competition and that won't happen if they are strapped for cash. Comcast is carrying a lot of debt if I remember right and that has to hamper their ability to finance system upgrades, particularly in today's financial climate.I think this is what you are saying, but let me emphasize it (I think). Most cable companies have been making huge improvements to their networks over the past few years. This is expensive, and for them to remain financially healthy, they have had to raise rates.

Also, what is often ignored, especially in the "feeding the cable pig" campaign, is the fact that many of the "increases" in cable customer's bills is due to adding services and programming. Going from analogue to digital is an "increase". Adding more digital outlets is an "increase". Adding movie tiers are "increases". Not exactly the most honest advertising campaign, but when has advertising ever been about honesty? E* has a campaign about the cable pig, cable talks about rain fade. No real difference.

Anyway, I think TW's response is hilarious. :lol: :D

[BobMurdoch]

...and yet dish raises its rates again, granted, not as much as most cable companies. E*=Pig in Wolf's clothing?

Yeah, OK. ESPN raised rates 20% AGAIN, and he only raised rates 0%, .01%, 2%, or 3.8%. In exchange there are 20% MORE channels than you originally signed up for (assuming you first signed up in 2000 or 2001). Everyone wants to scream bloody murder when he talks about losing access to Turner or Viacom content, yet no one is telling him to pay the ransom so they don't lose their channels.

Cable offers VOD. Who cares? Most of us are buying DVDs for the movies, and already record the shows we want to see on our PVRs.

Cable offers HDTV and numerous channel additions, but then overcompresses them so they are unwatchable. They say they offer Dolby Digital Sound, but then ONLY put digital coaxial ports on most of their units when most A/V receivers (especially the low to midrange ones) only allow for TOSLink.

So CABLE still doesn't get it. Their cable modem strategy is the only thing that seems to be working, as the Bells are still clueless in how to market DSL properly, and it is a tad slower as well. None of the cable guys in my area have PVRs yet. And all push through their increases every 9 months like clockwork, working out to double digit increases each year, which they blame on the programmers. (And Rupert hasn't even started flexing his muscles yet, wait until THAT gets going.... and do you think that the Republicans will attack the man who finally gave them a conservative media outlet in FoxNews?)

Bottom line, we will ALL be paying a lot more in the years ahead for TV. I'm actually relieved Charlie's increase was as small as it was.

[Bogy]

And all push through their increases every 9 months like clockwork, working out to double digit increases each year, which they blame on the programmers.
"All?" I don't get an increase every nine months. You should NEVER generalize in absolutes. :D

[BobMurdoch]

Apologies, I was using Comcast and Cablevision for my basis as they are the only two nearby that I have experience with.

[Earl Zuberbelt]

...and yet dish raises its rates again, granted, not as much as most cable companies. E*=Pig in Wolf's clothing?

My rates went up one cent a month... believe I can live with that. Chas is still right when he says..... cable bad/satellite good.

And TW have to be morons of marketing to draw attention to a competitors ad... you NEVER EVER do that.

-Earl
Yankee born Southern bred

[Bogy]

My rates went up one cent a month... believe I can live with that. Chas is still right when he says..... cable bad/satellite good.

And TW have to be morons of marketing to draw attention to a competitors ad... you NEVER EVER do that.

-Earl
Yankee born Southern bred
One cent a month! I'm sure glad my cable rates have not gone up as drastically as that. :D :lol: