ha! caught red handed. or something...

The FCC will probably handle Cablevision just like they are handling Comcast.

I severely doubt that they actually "trained" the CSR's to say that stuff, at least not as a company wide directive. Usually this stuff comes about because some bozo CSR supervisor thinks they know everything and start telling people the FCC this and the FCC that. I'd bet that the "official" training material, official communication say nothing of the sort. These kinds of things are usually due to poor communication between the supervisors and the peons they communicate this stuff to. We had the same problem at a cable company I worked at. The dipshit supervisors made up what ever they could to fill in any blanks in their knowledge. It's easy to blame the government, so that was usually their answer.

Regardless of whether it is in the training or no, clearly there is a relatively widespread issue, since the same thing happened more than once. We've all called up a customer service line and received the wrong story--sometimes many wrong stories--but I, for one, rarely receive the same wrong story from several different people at the same company. A decent company would recognize that and take steps to fix it, even if the problem had not originated with training materials or similar.

@Pylon83: You have a team meeting a hard copy and then a link on the KDB with the same info on what to say to customers They also have a Q&A part just in case t customer need more info 9 times out of 10 its shit Ask to speak to a call center mamager not a sup And Yes they are trained like that if they follow the steps they should all sound like robots

Cablevision is being really sketchy about it. There online media admits the truth, but the commercials try to be deceptive.

I'm a current customer, and I feel insulted by Cablevision. They are the best game in town (15mbps/2mbps down/up is unbeatable, and the HD DVR depicted above works excellently with superb picture quality) and I don't want to put up a dish.

FiOS is coming soon though, so Cablevision should cut the antics.

They are switching to Switched Digital Video, which allows them to fit a lot more (especially HD) content. Also, from what I've read, you can fit a couple HD feeds in the space of one HD feed. It makes sense to get everyone to go to digital cable.

This will be less of an issue when they're mandated to take cablecard STBs in June, but until then, you must rent for $6 a month if you want digital. And I am opposed to that for my 15" TV.

Wait, how is this predatory?

@Pylon83: I agree. I've worked in a call center before and some of the supervisors I worked for had some serious Little Big Man know-it-all complexes. So they probably asked someone who they THOUGHT knew better and said "FCC".

When will they learn? It's not the crime, it's the cover-up.

Well, it's the crime too. But you know what I mean.

So... Wal*Mart, Best Buy and others get fined by the FCC for not telling customers anything and customers not doing their homework, but Cablevision is directly lying to customers and it's okay?

ask an international or nhl customer how does switch video work for them ...not

Would it be funny to see the scripting that they ( cablevision ) uses for this issue hmmm??

@RumorsDaily: They're saying that the FCC is making you pay them more money to keep getting your cable channels. In fact, they're just increasing your price. They're raising prices and blaming it on a nonexistent regulation instead of them trying to get more money, which would cause people to object/negotiate.

@huadpe:

What's doubly-genius about that, blaming it on non-existent regulation, is that it poisons their ignorant customers against the idea of regulation...the only thing that could prevent (or at least render transparent) the price increase that they are blaming on regulation.

@huadpe: Well said.

As much as I want to say: "Well, it's not predatory when you can get a digital OTA for free (or relatively cheap)," I realize that not everybody can enjoy the variety of channels available OTA by many New Yorkers or are even able to get a decent reception (I hear those living in Manhattan between high rises can't even get a decent signal with an antenna nor will their building assoc. let them install an antenna)

Cablevision's "reggaeton" ads for their "Optimunm Online" service bundle are a bigger crime than their lies about why they moved several channels from analog to digital.
[www.youtube.com]

@jfischer: Oh yes, absolutely annoying! Grrr...

On a further off-topic note, that ad was definitely written for an English speaking audience. I saw the exact same ad aired at a Spanish language channel and it doesn't have the same ring to it. Boo! (Stereotypical thing... I thought it might've had a chance to sound good in Spanish too)

ok consumerist is going down hill FAST.
Cablevision started that over 3 years ago to force an upgrade that was needed on lots of set-top boxes.

@jfischer: just a side note [cablevisionmustdie.blogspot.com]

@huadpe: Well they all have raised rates : fios cable dish Trust that cable does its homework to see who has raised what and still have their increase to be lower than everyone else

@packetscan: Thanks for the enlightening post. What happened to the ! button !!!

If you don't like this kind of story, go elsewhere. I found the story interesting and in the flavor of other posts here. Is the problem that there is no 'consumer' for you to blame in this one?

@coopjust: Ummm... for the record, that HD-DVR is the same one I have with Time Warner, and it's a piece of shit. First, it's slow as hell. You change the channel, and 5 seconds later, it shows up. I know, I know, "5 seconds is nothing." Yeah right. You try going to the guide, selecting a channel, then count out five mississippis every time before you change it. See how fast it gets old. Also, and much more annoyingly, almost twice per month, the box starts doing something crazy. This includes:

1. When switching to a channel from the guide, keeping the guide picture (you know, the tiny one in the upper right corner) and just filling the rest of the screen with black
2. Cutting off the sound
3. Refusing to do ANYTHING, including just changing channels normally
4. Getting stuck on the DVR list

The only way to fix this is to reset the box; and, that doesn't mean just turning it off. It means unplugging it and waiting a few seconds before plugging it back in. Sadly, then comes the waiting. Just like everything else this box does, a reset takes FOREVER. Seriously, it takes about 20 minutes for this stupid box to boot up.

That's not a big deal, except when you are trying to watch a show-which I obviously am, or else the box wouldn't be fucking up, and I wouldn't be trying to reset it. Or, imagine it happens when you're watching one show and recording another. Now you're screwed out of two show. Joy!

Oh, and fuck cablevision too.

@packetscan:
Well 3 years ago you didnt really need box yuo can just take the cable the hook it up to your tv and get family and basic channels even now most of the channels you can still get with just tht wire if you live on long island NJ is assed out they need a box Brooklyn they need a box or they will only get 2-22 bronx I forgot but it should fall into play with Brooklyn

It's very simple. Whenever a cable company rep tells you something, ANYTHING, just believe the opposite. Incidently, this goes for ANY corporation. If they told you the sky was blue, it's probably for their profit, and it's probably red

@cablevisionmustdie.com: Calling all disgruntled Cablevision call center employees. Send us your FCC is to blame script!

Headline should have been: "Cablevision lies about not lying."

@Pylon83:
Good point. I could definitely see that.

@cablevisionmustdie.com: what

@DrBologna: Your DVR may suck, but honestly, that model doesn't seem to be too bad. I'm not experiencing any of the issues that you are, and this is definitely a step up from the previous model that we had. If you can find the time, and if the folks at your local TW office are decent, just swing by with the box, explain the issue and ask for an exchange

Time-Warner uses different software on there boxes than Cablevision. Cablevision uses SARA software, TW uses either Passport or Navigator, depending upon location. All 3 softwares have issues, but from what I read online SARA seems to be the most stable (gee, that's scary).

Cablevision and TimeWarner use different software on their boxes. Cablevision uses SARA software, TW uses either Passport or Navigator, depending upon location. From what I have read online, SARA seems to be the most stable of the software (gee, a scary thought!).

@sleze69:lol right is right wrong is wrong and for disgruntled employees for you go to www.jobvent.com

RCN in chicago is also pulling the same BS. They're cutting off analog cable and forcing its subscribers to rent digital cable boxes for $5 a TV.

@unravel: "and if the folks at your local TW office are decent"

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!

Okay, okay, I'm good now HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH!!!!

Wait, okay, HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!

etc.

Actually in NY, Time Warner uses Mystro software. I think it may be Time Warner's own, I can't be sure from my reading. They did have a Mystro project announced a couple of years ago which fuels my assumnption.

From everything I can tell personally and from reading others complaints Mystro is very user unfriendly, and vastly unstable. IOW, both other software choices would be better for the consumer - hence TW chooses Mystro.

Get ready for some serious wrist slapping and finger wagging by the FCC over this.

@DrBologna

From what I understand, TWC is rolling out the 8300HDC, rather than the 8300HD (non c) that I have. I hear a LOT of complaints about the former, virtually none about the latter.

According to the FTC website, "cable operators must make local broadcasters' primary video and program-related material viewable by all of their subscribers." The FCC's ruling today allows cable operators to comply with the viewability requirement by choosing to either: (1) carry the digital signal in analog format, or (2) carry the signal only in digital format, provided that all subscribers have the necessary equipment to view the broadcast content." Here is the PDF version.

[hraunfoss.fcc.gov]

I've just filed a complaint with the NY Public Service Commission ([www.dps.state.ny.us]) in connection with this situation. We'll see what develops. {ProfJonathan}