bentheguard: I live in an apartment complex where it is either DirecTV or nothing. No cable, no Dish Network, no choice! I stuck with DirecTV when they dropped G4, but now that there is no new Futurama or South Park, then I'm done!

G4 sucks the rotting fluid out of a dead donkey's ass.

/still bitter over TechTV

6655321: Bradog: I'm wondering if I can use this as a convenient excuse to break my contract.

The only right you have is to pay the bill. The business can change the terms and conditions of your contract whenever they want.

That's what they want you to think, but it's not legal. That's the whole point of a contract: to set up the terms that both parties agree upon. Even if you write "I can change whatever I want whenever I want" into the contract, it's not valid.

Earguy: Yeah, well we're also Daily Show/Colbert Report free, which sucks.

Try the internet. You'll only be a day behind but they still remain funny.

saloman: Rhames: Earguy: Yeah, well we're also Daily Show/Colbert Report free, which sucks.

Well, go to the Comedy Central website and watch it for free.

This is what I will be doing. I put the blame for this mostly on Viacom's part. A 30% increase is ridiculous and bundling channels rather than breaking them isn't good for the consumer.

Murdoch, Inc. has to be thrilled that Daily Show, one of the few voices of reason against the Faux News propoganda machine, is no longer on DirectTV.

And this is why DirectTV is balking at the huge license fee increase. They look at that and say "you're giving some of your most popular shows away for free. Why should we pay you more for them?"

With respect to blame, it's really a two-pronged issue. Viewership is down across the board for a variety of reasons. Decreased viewership means decreased ad revenue for Viacom, so they want to make that up by increasing license fees. Cable companies don't get the ad revenue so when they see decreased viewership they want lower license fees since fewer people are subscribing to cable to get those networks. I don't really blame either, though my perspective would probably be different if I had Direct TV and watched these networks regularly.

Stewart and Colbert have run out of marijuana jokes, Republican bashing slap stick pieces, and soft liberal interviews, so there's not much to miss there. MTV? Does anyone seriously watch that shiat anymore? I couldn't tell you if they are playing music videos, reality television, or advertising for Bowflex. Nick-a-what-again? Sponge Bob is so poorly animated that I couldn't tell if my son was watching them jump a shark or a floating load of whale come. Nick hasn't come up with a hit show in ten years, so obviously whoever is in charge isn't interested in throwing any more money down that whole, especially with the health food craze eroding manufacturers' abilities to pump our children full of tripled processed, super refined sugar-caine. If they die, they die.

The people who are going to complain about this are likely television zombies who are more upset that their routine has been disrupted rather than the actual loss of programming. Once their oatmeal minds settle onto something just as inane, they'll forget these shows even entertained them when they were remotely new, like ten years ago. fark DirectTV. fark Viacom. Go read a book or just sit there and think. Maybe after a few years of that, you won't bore yourself to tears when left without a humming distraction.

Monmaji: Mr. Potatoass: FTFA: "Programmers like Viacom typically won't allow anyone to buy their channels individually, but we hope to change that," DirecTV said in its statement.

Oh, the irony.

It's actually an FCC regulation that prevents providers from offering ala cart programming.

/DTV Service tech
//getting a kick etc.

That's not true. From the FCC:

"Cable television operators are not required to offer channels on an à la carte or individual basis. However, cable operators are free to offer channels other than those required to be on the basic tier on an à la carte basis. ... For example, if a cable company offers MTV in a package with other channels and the subscriber wants only MTV, the subscriber must purchase the entire package. If the company, however, chooses to offer MTV à la carte, a subscriber may purchase just MTV."

bentheguard: NickelP: bentheguard: I live in an apartment complex where it is either DirecTV or nothing. No cable, no Dish Network, no choice! I stuck with DirecTV when they dropped G4, but now that there is no new Futurama or South Park, then I'm done!

By law, they can't restrict you from getting any sat provider you want. If they allow dtv they can't restrict dish differently.

The complex goes through a company called Consolidated Smart Systems, and the apartments are all wired for DirecTv. There are large communal dishes on the roofs of the buildings. It is a huge scam, and I miss having Cox Cable.

/did not know this when we first signed our lease
//would not have signed if I knes

The FCC has ruled that TV is a free speech right, and if the apartment complex has language in their lease that prevents you from choosing a satellite provider, not only is the language unlawful and invalid, but you can get damages if/when they obstruct you from installing your own satellite system - subject to it being installed in a safe place, and you having renter's insurance to cover any damages, should they occur.

Same goes for HOAs.

/won a case, cost the HOA $35,000
//asshats

NutWrench: Folks who can't imagine life without cable should buy a cheap antenna, hook it up and see how much stuff is broadcast over the air for free. I live in a fairly rural area and get 12 digital channels, most of them in HD.

I never realized how much time (and money) I was wasting before I cancelled cable.

Also look at how many cable shows are sold over Amazon/iTunes per episode the day after they air. I watch Mad Men and Breaking Bad that way. Episodes in HD cost $2.84 (same PQ as cable and sound is in 5.1) and I own them forever. The combined cost of each season comes out to be less than a month of cable.

Mr. Potatoass: FTFA: "Programmers like Viacom typically won't allow anyone to buy their channels individually, but we hope to change that," DirecTV said in its statement.

Oh, the irony.

It's actually an FCC regulation that prevents providers from offering ala cart programming.

/DTV Service tech
//getting a kick etc.

DarthBart: bentheguard: NickelP: bentheguard: I live in an apartment complex where it is either DirecTV or nothing. No cable, no Dish Network, no choice! I stuck with DirecTV when they dropped G4, but now that there is no new Futurama or South Park, then I'm done!

By law, they can't restrict you from getting any sat provider you want. If they allow dtv they can't restrict dish differently.

The complex goes through a company called Consolidated Smart Systems, and the apartments are all wired for DirecTv. There are large communal dishes on the roofs of the buildings. It is a huge scam, and I miss having Cox Cable.

/did not know this when we first signed our lease
//would not have signed if I knes

If you've got a south facing balcony, put your own dish on it? If the complex gives you a problem, print out a copy of the OTARD rules, staple it to the back of your pants and say "read this, and while you're down there, kiss my ass".

Thanks for that post. I had no idea there were FCC regulations regarding antennas and satellites. It doesn't really work for me now since I don't have a south facing apartment, but I know my lease says I can't put a dish on the balcony if I did. That will be good to know for the future.

Electromax: spentmiles: rugman11: Yesterday I went for a walk with my wife at the local nature reserve, I read a book while riding the stationary bike, and I had sex with my wife. I also watched Sunday night's Falling Skies and we watched Conan together.

A nature reserve is a tame imitation of an actual forest.
A stationary bike is an simulation of actual bike riding.
A sex with your wife is a convenience replacing the risk of engaging an actual woman.
A television show is a two-dimensional replacement of a multidimensional experience.

Your life is the perpetual execution of the same, boring fractal equation.

You tell people to read books just posts above this one, those are just tame imitations/boring equations/two dimensional replacements/convenient simulations of real life the same as TV or anything else. But I'm sure reading books makes your life so much more thrilling than the day that guy described.

/I know, I know...

Reading a book requires interaction on your part over and above staring mindlessly at a screen with flashing colors.

bentheguard: NickelP: bentheguard: I live in an apartment complex where it is either DirecTV or nothing. No cable, no Dish Network, no choice! I stuck with DirecTV when they dropped G4, but now that there is no new Futurama or South Park, then I'm done!

By law, they can't restrict you from getting any sat provider you want. If they allow dtv they can't restrict dish differently.

The complex goes through a company called Consolidated Smart Systems, and the apartments are all wired for DirecTv. There are large communal dishes on the roofs of the buildings. It is a huge scam, and I miss having Cox Cable.

/did not know this when we first signed our lease
//would not have signed if I knes

If you've got a south facing balcony, put your own dish on it? If the complex gives you a problem, print out a copy of the OTARD rules, staple it to the back of your pants and say "read this, and while you're down there, kiss my ass".

spentmiles: rugman11: Yesterday I went for a walk with my wife at the local nature reserve, I read a book while riding the stationary bike, and I had sex with my wife. I also watched Sunday night's Falling Skies and we watched Conan together.

A nature reserve is a tame imitation of an actual forest.
A stationary bike is an simulation of actual bike riding.
A sex with your wife is a convenience replacing the risk of engaging an actual woman.
A television show is a two-dimensional replacement of a multidimensional experience.

Your life is the perpetual execution of the same, boring fractal equation.

You tell people to read books just posts above this one, those are just tame imitations/boring equations/two dimensional replacements/convenient simulations of real life the same as TV or anything else. But I'm sure reading books makes your life so much more thrilling than the day that guy described.

/I know, I know...

BilldaCat10: NHL gamecenter isn't an option if you want to watch your local team - you only get out of market games.

Fark those blackout restrictions. It gets worse during the playoffs, since just about every game is "in market" so you have to wait until the next day to watch it. Try going a whole day without hearing something about last night's game...

Still, beats paying $130/mo for a bunch of shiatty programming just to get live HD hockey games from Charter.

Tobin_Lam: NutWrench: Folks who can't imagine life without cable should buy a cheap antenna, hook it up and see how much stuff is broadcast over the air for free. I live in a fairly rural area and get 12 digital channels, most of them in HD.

I never realized how much time (and money) I was wasting before I cancelled cable.

I live in a city of over 150,000 and I get 3 channels(including subchannels). According to one of those antenna website, Fox is the same distance as the other stations but it won't come in. It is going to be football season soon so that is unacceptable. Even worse, the channels that do come in don't come in very well.

I tried the rabbit ear thing, with only a few channels coming in, and not too well at that. And I live in a large city, less than 10 miles from the antenna farm where all the transmitters are.

I bought a rooftop DTV antenna, strung some coax and now have dozens of OTA signals that come in strong. Spend ~$100 bucks and you might see a big improvement.

This is helpful: Other Ways to Watch (From DirectTV)

Could really give a shiat about Viacom networks. I'm still pissed about FIOS dropping Funimation, though

I asked about this in the other thread but -- we're forced with DirecTV as it's included in our rent (well, it's included as an amenity, they're careful not to say it's included in the rent cost itself). We have a Roku and use it for a lot of our viewing, but it'd be nice to be able to stream shows from sites like Comedy Central. My laptop has WiDi built-in. Does anyone know of a home theater receiver with integrated support for Wi-Di or a receiver that doesn't suck? Reviews all seem to be horrible for everything I can find on the market. I don't need a full system, either, just the receiver, since the laptop already has the transmitter built-in.

Also, doing this, will I even be able to stream the shows via WiDi or is there some kind of content protection that's going to kick my ass?

NHL gamecenter isn't an option if you want to watch your local team - you only get out of market games.

Savage Belief: AMC

I'm shopping around to see what's out there. Now I know not to choose Direct TV. Crap, is my only choice left Comcast?! I guess it's time to hook a PC up to the tv again, or upgrade my blu-ray player to support Amazon Prime.

Every time I see things like this I hope it's what pushes the FCC into forcing cable companies to have to allow customers indivual channels the providers have been fighting it for years with the argument that they cant do it when the technology has been around for 10 years, I hate paying for 300 channels when I only need 7

I don't really care about Snooki. What I do care about is Dish taking AMC off their list. How am I supposed to get my Walking Dead fix now?

PinocchioDeBergerac: There's NHL GameCenter, which streams via Roku and PS3. I haven't tried it myself yet, but it's at least an alternative.

http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=543056


For as much as I splurged on my tv and surround, I think I'll stick with the dependable feed via Direct Tv...plus I can record games as I watch my Hawks fall apart. Also I don't own a PS3.

I wish I could get my husband to agree to having satellite internet. We live in the country, which I enjoy, but internet options are limited to dial-up, satellite, or using our phones as wi-fi hot spot for the computers. Using are phones is faster than dial-up, but it is still to slow to download tv shows or movies. I don't watch a lot of tv, but it would be nice to have the option of downloading something if I wished to.

spentmiles: The people who are going to complain about this are likely television zombies who are more upset that their routine has been disrupted rather than the actual loss of programming. Once their oatmeal minds settle onto something just as inane, they'll forget these shows even entertained them when they were remotely new, like ten years ago. fark DirectTV. fark Viacom. Go read a book or just sit there and think. Maybe after a few years of that, you won't bore yourself to tears when left without a humming distraction.

A Spentmiles post that isn't satirical trolling?

j0e_average: Fark Viacom
Fark DirecTV
Fark paying for any TV.


Go outside. Read a book. Spend time with friends and famliy. Ride a bike. Have sex.

FTFY. This is Fark afterall.

Is there a way to get all the programming that comes on channels such as Science Channel, Discovery, History, etc. etc. without having to go with friggin' Charter or the satellite slime AND without having to have some kind of game console? This whole thing grows confusing for me. And about as quickly as does my damned Charter bill.

Earguy: Yeah, well we're also Daily Show/Colbert Report free, which sucks.

Well, go to the Comedy Central website and watch it for free.

I've been hearing for weeks about the AMC/Dish kerfuffle, and now this.

Makes me glad my cable provider is my city. Not a single issue with subscription fees.

Direct TV is getting farking greedy. They are going to overcharge themselves right out of business. I just cancelled my membership with them.

/If corporations are people, I want this person to DIAF

I know when Time Warner bought out my ISP, Fox tried tripling their fee for their channels, the local affiliate went off the air for quite a while, caused a shortage of digital converter boxes right when I was trying to get into the OTA thing. So now I have a Leaf sitting downstairs by my TV and I can't find a converter for less than 40 bucks.

reverendsaintjay: This normally wouldn't effect me, but I'm in a hotel this week and I'm quite put out that I won't be able to drown out Mr Apnea next door with the sweet sounds of Stewart and Colbert as I try to drift off to sleep.

Looks like I'm spending the rest of my nights here in the bar.

Colbert and Stewart are in the second week of a two week vacation anyway. Last week was repeats, this week they weren't even doing that. I have a feeling by time they return this mess will be sorted out. Doesn't help you this week but at least it may help to know they aren't even on to watch if the hotel had CC going.

badhatharry: So how much lower is my bill? My bill better go down.

They'll probably find replacement channels. You know they are out there.

/Anime Channel would be a good replacement.

No new Futurama for me tonight.

/Fark Viacom
//Fark DirecTV

The kids were watching, well, *attempting* to watch Spongebob on Nick while I was making dinner last night. Attempting, because the screen was filled with two crawlers--one from Viacom and one from DTV. The Viacom one said basically "we're only asking for a few cents more per customer," while the DTV one proclaimed, "Viacom wants $1 billion more!". It was quite funny to watch the 'battle of the crawlers' take place over Spongebob's face.

This normally wouldn't effect me, but I'm in a hotel this week and I'm quite put out that I won't be able to drown out Mr Apnea next door with the sweet sounds of Stewart and Colbert as I try to drift off to sleep.

Looks like I'm spending the rest of my nights here in the bar.