August 4th, 2014
There was a lot of controversy when the Longhorn Network and the SEC Network were launched. Most cable and satellite companies couldn’t provide the two networks to their customers. Suddenlink customers will soon be able to enjoy the two networks real soon.
Most college football fans, coaches and media consider the SEC o be the best conference in the nation. The launch of the SEC Network comes just two years after the Texas A&M Aggies left the Big 12 to join the SEC.
“A number of our customers have expressed interest in the SEC and Longhorn Networks, and a sizable majority have told us how much they value Disney networks like ESPN and ABC Family,” Kathy Payne, Suddenlink senior vice president and chief programming officer, said in a prepared statement. “We’re very pleased we can provide those customers what they’ve said they want, and we’d like to specially thank the SEC and Longhorn fans who contacted us for their enthusiasm and patience, as we worked with Disney to complete this comprehensive, long-term agreement.”
The networks will be launched on Suddenlink Aug. 14 in time for the 2014 college football season. The networks will also be available on DirecTV and it will be available in approximately 87 million homes.
Tags: Longhorn Network, SEC Network, Suddenlink
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July 13th, 2012
Well, here we are again. It was only a couple of summers ago that I was writing about the standoff between cable company Suddenlink, and media giant Viacom. Well, the boys who brought you the annoying,walking and talking sponge are at it again. As I understand it, Viacom is demanding a thirty percent rate increase from Direct TV, for the privilege of providing its list of cable channels like MTV, Nick and Nick Jr., TV Land and quite a few others; this despite sinking ratings.
The Satellite provider has refused the higher rates and has stopped broadcasting the extra networks until such a time as a deal can be struck, but its not going well. Neither side is willing to budge. Now I am not necessarily an opponent of big companies. The person or group who provides goods and services has the perfect right to ask what they want for those goods and services. I’m fine with media, cable and satellite providers making money.
A rising tide lifts all boats. I get it. But I’m increasingly opposed to what I see as Viacom’s shakedowns of every cable and satellite company who carries their channels. The fact is the network giant does the same thing to the carriers as they do to us. They sell their networks in packages, forcing them to pay for unpopular, low rated channels and programming in order to obtain programs that actually sell. Thus, we as customers can’t pick and choose our own lineups.
Now I should say that this is all perfectly legal, however, I read a few different articles in order to better understand the issue, and numerous authors cite the probability that the loss of channels will drive more customers to the likes of Netflix or Hulu where they can not only pick their networks but their individual programs. I’m certainly no expert on how these markets operate, but it seems to me that Viacom is working hard to get as much milk as possible from a dying cash cow, before she finally expires. The company would do better (in my humble opinion) to find a way to give as much choice to the consumer as possible before they go somewhere else entirely.
Tags: Cable Channels, Cable Company, Cash Cow, direct TV, Hulu, Media Giant, Netflix, Nick Jr, Opponent, Privilege, Rate Increase, Rising Tide, Satellite Company, Satellite Provider, Satellite Providers, Sponge, Standoff, Suddenlink, Tv Land, Tyler Texas, Viacom
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April 12th, 2011
Over the past year and a half or so, we at the Tyler Directory have made a modest living writing about the energy jewelry craze. Interestingly enough despite endless criticism both on the internet as well as in some courts their popularity seems to be at an all time high. The manufacturer “irenew,” continues to wage an advertising offensive on the television audience led by pitchman Art Edmonds.
I’m finding that my animosity for this company is increasing by the minute. I’m still amazed and appalled by how it’s grown since I first became aware of it a year ago. Lately they’ve even had a label on the Suddenlink digital menu. With the advent of DVRs, viewers simply zip through traditional commercials. But by pasting an ad directly on the menu screen, company labels are always in front of an audience. Now I have actually come to like my suddenlink service, but I do wish the cable giant wouldn’t lower itself and its standards by raising irenew to the appearance of legitimacy by carrying their labels. I realize business is business, and advertisers pay good money for those slots, but I just prefer to see charlatans like these ones selling their wares from the back of a horse drawn carriage rather than marketing to a national audience.
Tags: Advent, Advertisers, Animosity, Appearance, Business Is Business, Cable Giant, Charlatans, Commercials, Company Labels, Horse Drawn Carriage, Irenew, Jewelry, Legitimacy, Menu Screen, National Audience, Popularity, Slots, Suddenlink, Television Audience, Tyler Texas, Wares
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January 2nd, 2011
Well the New Year’s weekend came and went, and my son is even now lying in my bed watching his favorite Upside Down Show episodes on Nick Jr. as he drifts off to sleep (hopefully). As a quick side note to Viacom’s confidence, there was a show you should have continued to make. With all the sounds effects and high energy, it actually seems to appeal more to little boys rather than little girls. It’s less about the little ones finding ways to express their emotions and more about playing, making noise and generally having fun. It’s kind of a nice change of programming for the dad of a child who’s all boy!
Putting the review aside for now however, when Saturday morning rolled around and I still had all my cable channels, I assumed that some kind of agreement had been reached between Suddenlink and Viacom, or shortly would be. I wouldn’t have to wait long for confirmation of my suspicions. The cable company sent out an e-mail to subscribers on Saturday afternoon explaining that they had “reached an agreement in principle on a long-term contract.” Obviously the details of the terms were not listed in the e-mail, but they did announce that Viacom’s new on demand, on line movie service would be available to Suddenlink customers, as well as the existing networks customers have come to expect. To their credit, Suddenlink cable also promised that there would not be changes to the promised rate adjustments. Instead the cable provider will simply eat the added cost for their standard services. The recent communication did not stipulate how long the company would be willing to take that hit but I would presume that at some point they will have to raise their rates. For the time being at least, it sounds like they will remain the same. Furthermore, Suddenlink customers will have the option of whether or not to opt out of Viacom’s new movies on demand service.
At the end of day I am glad the companies were able to hash out an agreement, even though I think Viacom’s methods don’t serve the public’s interest. I realize they’re not running a non- profit organization, but I find that the company’s lack of concern for customer satisfaction speaks rather loudly. All that aside, at least we will still have access to Nick Jr. and syndicated episodes of Everybody Loves Raymond.
Tags: Cable Channels, Cable Company, Cable Provider, E Mail, Existing Networks, Little Boys, Little Girls, Little Ones, Lying In My Bed, Movies On Demand, Nick Jr, Rate Adjustments, Saturday Afternoon, Saturday Morning, Sounds Effects, Suddenlink, Suspicions, Term Contract, Tyler Texas, Viacom, Viacom Dispute
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May 14th, 2010
For those readers who’ve been following my Tyler Texas Suddenlink saga I would like to offer this afterward. (Sorry Donny, I just want to be sure to offer our readers some proper closure). I eventually contacted the Suddenlink rep who offered to assist me in negotiating a better deal on my cable and internet service. After pulling teeth to get to talk with someone with decision making authority, I appreciated that a representative of the company was taking an interest in my case. Fortunately, most of the conversations took place via e-mail as well, so as not to take up any more of my time. The central problem I had was that each person I spoke to seemed to tell me something different. (I must have talked to five or six different people). This seems to be symptomatic of dealing with a large company like Suddenlink, with so many separate departments and entities, that they tend to function like separate businesses. The trick is to find someone who can cut through all little bureaucracies and make a definitive decision. Admittedly this is much easier said than done.
After a couple of emails I was told that a local supervisor would contact me to discuss my service. I spoke to the local super briefly over the phone and we came to an agreement. First off she compensated me for my time. Secondly, she offered to look at my account and see whether or not I could be given the advanced tier like I was originally offered by the disembodied voice I spoke of in my last article. As it turned out she was unable to offer that package at my current rate, but she did offer me thirty days free trial. I thanked her but declined. I’d rather not get used to having the additional channels and then have to either let them go or start paying eleven dollars a month more for them. With my tendency toward procrastination, I’d probably just end up keeping them. So in the end I didn’t get everything I wanted but at least I received satisfaction.
What does the future hold for Suddenlink and me? Long term it’s difficult to say. Having found some people there who are willing to assist me has made it easier to consider sticking it out and acquiring additional services over the long haul. If my service continues as it is now, I may be a Suddenlink customer for a while. To review my story, look for the following titles in this order, on this site: Direct TV or Suddenlink, Which One, Hard to Decide Hmmm? and Suddenlink Internet Service in Tyler Texas. Also, visit Suddenlink’s website at www.suddenlink.com.
Tags: Briefly, Bureaucracies, Conversations, Current Rate, Definitive Decision, Disembodied Voice, E Mail, Entities, Free Trial, Internet Service, Procrastination, Proper Closure, Pulling Teeth, Saga Ends, Satisfaction, Suddenlink, Supervisor, Tendency, Thirty Days, Tyler Texas
Posted in Internet, TV | 1 Comment »
