They just raised some sports fee by $2 for sports channels I never watch, but I can't remove said channels from the package. Doesn't breaking it out into a separate fee introduce the possibility of legal severability of the fee and said sports channels?
This also would apply to the broadcast fee. Breaking it out into a separate fee would seem to ALSO introduce the idea that these services could be refused. They are not integral in any technical way to the reception of other channels. And, by Comcast's OWN ADMISSION, they are no longer even part of the base package.
I would gladly lower my bill by whatever outrageous amount by dropping both of these fees and their related channels. I can pick up the local channels I am interested in using my TiVo and an antenna. (In fact, it seems patently outrageous to me that local channels would charge anything more than a token amount for retransmission. They are vying on minor technical hurdles. Comcast should immediately deploy new X1 converters that accept an antenna input, just like DISH receivers have offered for years).
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Legal severability of sports and broadcast fees/channels?
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NBC Boston unwatchable (awful bitrate)
Let me preface by saying that almost ALL the HD channels in Boston now look awful. My guess is that Comcast switched Boston from MPEG2 to MPEG4 and destroyed the bitrate (there's a whole thread on this). If the other thread is accurate, all MPEG4 channels are encoded at around 3meg/sec "HD" which is almost 50% below Netflix bitrate! Even when there isn't rapid motion, there is no sharpness--the colors look bland. Why the hell would I continue to pay $7/month 'Broadcast fee' when this how a broadcast network looks on Comcast (not even a 2nd tier channel)? To make it even more insane, NBC Boston (the channel) and NBC (the network) are both owned by Comcast!
I simply can't understand why Comcast would ruin their HD offering when MPEG4 allows them to upgrade quality & still save frequency! Comcast is absolutely pushing me to streaming & OTA, since they are significantly worsening their HD quality (HBO HD channels also look awful now)...and forget about 4K!
All pictures shown above were paused images of a Dateline special on NBC last night. The second image is a zoomed-in version, where you'll notice the macroblocking of faces & balloons is literally off-the-charts. Yes, there is motion in this scene (background graphics changing, along with balloons dropping) but this is totally nuts. Even the third image looks almost like 16:9 SD to me as there is no sharpness to the image and the colors look extremely dull.
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Lower picture quality after changing to rg6
Hello,
I recently had the main line going into my apartment replaced with rg6 coax (from rg59) and now I'm noticing the picture quality isn't as crisp. The reason it was changed in the first place was I had a Comcast tech come out (due to my Internet constantly going out and pixelation on my tvs) and noticed the main line coming into my apartment was very old and could have possibly been the reason for my issues. Now that it's been replaced I've noticed the picture quality isn't the same. My Internet seems solid and fast so no problems there. When the Comcast fishers came out to run a new cable he checked the power level on my dvr and said I was good to go (+2.5). Does anyone know what could have caused the picture quality to decrease? I checked to make sure the coax cables going into the splitter, the wall, and the dvr were tight and secure. I even switched out my hdmi cables but no joy. If I call Comcast to have someone come out to take a look (again...) is there something specific I should be telling them to take a look at to steer them in the right direction? Any help would be greatly appreciated as I'm starting to get quite frustrated. I've had 3 techs out here over the past month (and multiple billing issues) and I thought id finally have everything working after getting a new cable ran. It seems I was mistaken :(
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[Comcast Equip] Comcast TV services to be available on Roku and other devices
Given that cable companies are now facing new FCC rules for "unlocking" the set-top box, Comcast has now responded by launching a partner program today that will allow 3rd-party companies' devices to deliver Comcast's video services, including live TV, Xfinity on Demand and cloud DVR:
Comcast and Roku Bring Xfinity TV Partner App to Roku TVs and Roku Streaming Players
Customers Will Soon Be Able to Access Comcast's Cable Service on Roku Devices
App Will Feature Xfinity's Emmy Award-Winning Guide, Live and On Demand Programming from Broadcast, Cable and Premium Networks, as well as Cloud DVR Recordings
Comcast press release, Business Wire - April 20, 2016
http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20160420006318/en/Comcast-Roku-Bring-Xfinity-TV-Partner-App
and
Comcast Launches Xfinity TV Partner Program; Samsung First TV Partner to Join
New Program Expands the Range of Retail Devices Xfinity TV Customers Can Use to Access Their Cable Service, Including Live, On Demand and Cloud DVR Programming
New Xfinity TV Partner App Will Leverage Open Standard Technologies to Provide Access to Xfinity TV Content and Guide on Smart TVs and Other IP-Enabled Devices
Comcast press release, Business Wire - April 20, 2016
http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20160420006320/en/Comcast-Launches-Xfinity-TV-Partner-Program-Samsung
 
Also on MCN:
Comcast Launches 'Xfinity TV Partner Program'
Samsung is first smart TV partner on board; Comcast also to launch app for Roku's platform
By Jeff Baumgartner, Multichannel News - April 20, 2016
http://www.multichannel.com/news/content/comcast-launches-xfinity-tv-partner-program/404333
Comcast: No Charge to Register and Participate in New Xfinity TV Program
But partners must bear costs of development, marketing, integration
By Jeff Baumgartner, Multichannel News - April 20, 2016
http://www.multichannel.com/news/content/comcast-no-charge-register-and-participate-new-xfinity-tv-program/404336
 
 
EDIT: Karl has a news item up on this now: https://www.dslreports.com/shownews/Comcast-Offering-Xfinity-TV-Without-a-Set-Top-Box-136781
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Do I need to upgrade my equipment?
Hi everyone -
I have done some research on this forum and on Google, and my findings lead me to believe that my equipment is out of date, and that I am therefore missing out on features that I am paying for. For example, one of my boxes does not support pausing live TV.
I have spoken to Comcast customer service, and they tell me that my equipment is the latest equipment and there is nothing wrong with it and does not need to be upgraded. I don't believe this though, because I've seen reference to newer equipment online.
Can anyone here confirm if my equipment is indeed the newest equipment available?
I have three pieces of Comcast equipment.
1. Xfinity X1 DVR Box - model number PX001ANC.
2. Xfinity X1 non-DVR box - model number PR150BNC
3. Xfinity cable modem - model number TG862G/CT
I live in Houston and have Comcast Triple Play with basically all TV channels and 250MB internet.
I appreciate any advice/info that anyone can give!
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[Other] Comcast program guide switching from Rovi/TV Guide to Gracenote
Since Wednesday, I noticed the text on Comcast's EPG (at least on the Memphis system) had changed, with the program descriptions about the same (word for word) as those on Zap2it.com. There were some slight variations in the program titles. They used to get their listings from TV Guide. Is this happening on other Comcast systems or with other providers?
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[Content] NBCUniversal Shuts Down Cloo Network
Just after this announcement last month, https://www.dslreports.com/forum/r31198157-Content-NBCUniversal-to-Shut-Down-Esquire-Network-Cable-Channel , NBCUniversal has now shut down yet another channel:
NBCU Shuts Down Cloo Network
Second NBCU network eliminated in as many months
By R. Thomas Umstead, Multichannel News - February 1, 2017
http://www.multichannel.com/news/content/nbcu-shuts-down-cloo-network/410615quote:NBCUniversal has dropped yet another network from its portfolio, pulling the plug on its crime-themed channel Cloo.
The network, which launched in 2006 as Sleuth channel, aired mostly reruns of crime procedural dramas such as Law & Order, Monk and Psych.
NBCU pulled the plug on the channel Feb. 1 due to a lack of MVPD carriage, an NBC spokesperson said. Nielsen universe estimates put Cloo in about 23 million TV homes. The Cloo website now redirects to USA Network's home page.
The announcement came the same day NBCU announced that female-targeted Oxygen network would transition into a true-crime branded channel this summer: http://www.multichannel.com/news/content/oxygen-rebrand-true-crime-channel/410607
An NBCU spokesperson said the Oxygen and Cloo announcements were not related and no NBCU employees were affected by the closure. ...
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[Bill] Nice try comcast
I added a digital cable box to one of my locations that I dropped Tivo. Knowing that the box is $9.95 and I'd also have a pro-rate amount. I get my bill and it shows Digital Outlet $9.95 then I got a credit of $9.95. Then a New charge for Digital Outlet $11.00. I did a webchat and the rep credited me the $11.00 Pro rate charge and charged the normal fee to $9.95. Is comcast getting ready to increase the cost of cable boxes?
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Local Franchise authority info no longer on Bill ?
The FCC usually tell people to contact their Local Franchise authority for problems. I remember seeing this information posted on my bill. I looked at a recent bill and I no longer see that information appearing.
Is Comcast require to post this information on their bill? Is there anyway of finding finding out who they are for the South Florida area?
Thanks.
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Comcast keep giving the same fee new names for same box.
Comcast wants $9.95 for the CableBox.
The FCC said that people should be able to avoid this cost by owning their own CableCard equipment.
So Comcast charges you a $9.95 for a Cable card( the same amount that they originally got for the Cablebox you were supposedly replacing with your own equipment.
Now for some reason comcast does not want to tell you that they are charging you $9.95 for a CableCard so they now shift the name again to say that its an " Outlet fee" whatever the heck that means. ( Their employees still admit that even though it said "outlet fee" it is really just a cablecard fee.)
My cablebox is unplugged and my new TIVO(Cablecard) in plugged into the same outlet. Yet I am still being charged for an outlet. Comcast will undoubtedly say that the outlet fee is referring to a device not the outlet.
Even with the ROKU app, comcast will probably end up charging you the same price as a Box or DTA to lease the app.
I can't believe the regulators can't see though comcast name game as they take the exact same cablebox cost and somehow figure out a way with word play juto to transfer that cost to whatever you have.
Look at the data side, if you lease a modem, you pay for a lease, if you own your modem, you don't pay that lease and avoid that cost. However on the TV side, its all different names for the exact same fee. Why can't they treat the cablebox the same as they treat owning your modem(it plugs into an outlet as well, maybe another so called outlet fee) ?
One employee even admitted to me one time that it does not matter if you own or lease the equipment, they will figure out a way to take the fee either way.
This really does go against the spirit of the FCC intend for CableCard and the right to own your equipment. I mean, whats the point if comcast is just going to make up some magic fee that ends up charging you the cable box fee while calling it something else?
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[Rant] HD TV Quality - How Do They Get Away With It?
Do most people just not notice how bad their HD service looks? It's like a low resolution bit-starved YouTube video. I was watching an episode of Taboo last night and there was a scene in which I couldn't even make out the expression on Tom Hardy's face because it was so blocky. Looking at the service menu on numerous channels and my SNR is always 39db plus or minus 1db and have no errors whatsoever, so this must just be their compression.
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[Comcast Equip] Roku Comcast app infro needed
I have 2 cable boxes but am using 2 Roku streaming devices to watch Comcast television and Xfinity on demand instead of the cable boxes. Can I return both my cable boxes and just use Roku??? Or do I need a cable box for each Roku I want to use??? Or can I have just a single cable box for all my Roku device's???
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[VOD] History Vault VOD -HD Receiver Required ?
"History Vault" is listed under VOD with both programming in SD and HD (at an additional monthly fee, of course). When I click on a program in either category, they both indicate "HD Receiver Required".
My setup is just a 5-yr old LG TV and the Arris RNG150 STB connected via coax. I've had that box for about 18 months. My new double-play contract shows X1 and I have been able to view HD channels.
Would I be able to actually receive the History Vault programming if I add it? I don't understand the bit about the 'HD Receiver required' bit. And would adding that package mess up my contract ? I presume not since it's not downgrading, but not sure.
Thanks very much !
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[Comcast Equip] Question about DTA programming
I'm on the Digital Preferred plan also using HD/DVR. Reception at main tv using DVR is fine. I also rent 2 DTAs for bedroom TVs. I notice there are multiple channels that do not show up on the DTAs that are showing up on the DVR.
For instance my granddaughter loves to watch Disney Jr at the DVR but that channel does not even show up in the Guide at the DTAs. My DTAs show nothing available from channels 122-127 on the DTAs which show up fine on the DVR.
Is this a programming issue from Comcast, not available using DTAs or what?
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[TiVo] TiVo access to XFINITY On Demand
Signed up for e-mail alerts and got a notice this morning that Tivo access to Xfinity Ondemand has hit Colorado:
TiVo Premiere DVRs work with Comcast in all regions and now have access to XFINITY On Demand in the following areas:
Colorado
Fresno CA
New England/Boston Area
Portland OR & Southwest WA
Sacramento CA
San Francisco Bay Area
Santa Barbara CA
http://www3.tivo.com/products/source/cable/tivo-comcast/index.html
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[Apps] Is there an xfinity app for smart tv?
I just purchased a new smart tv (Sony Bravia). I use the wifi to view apps such as HBO GO, Showtime Anytime, as well as many of the popular stations.
I also watch XFinity on my mobile devices through the xfinity app. With the app, it's exactly like watching cable tv (channels, DVD, on demand, etc.)
I'm thinking of putting a smart tv in an area of the house that is relatively inaccessible to the cable wire
Is it possible to watch the smart tv (wifi) through an XFinity app (for the tv) so the watching experience is like watching cable (instead of going from app to app)?
The Bravia is a google tv
Can I be a "cord cutter" with one if the tvs
If so, how?
Thanks
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Comcast $15 Mandatory Self-Install kit !
I was speaking to Comcast about getting some TV services. They said they have a mandatory self install Kit. They said the local office will include this with the CableBox. I asked what about if you refused the self-install kit and they told me they will still charge you.
Has anyone gotten TV service in the past few months experienced this? The guy waited until I finalized my order and was just quickly giving me a summary and quickly read over the part on the $15 self-install kit.
This reminds me of when Sprint waited until you renewed your 2 year contract, picked out your new phone, gave all the information, ready to start service then was like, Oh one last thing, there is now a $10 surcharge for data on an Smart phone per phone per line.( Keep in mind that Data was suppose to already be included in the plan)
What do you guys think about this $15 MANDATORY self-install kit? Seem like they are trying to charge you an installation charge regardless of if you have a tech install or self-install. Like when you buy your own TIVO cable Box and they charge you the same thing as renting a Cablebox as an " outlet fee"
I was not very happy about that.
Thanks.
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[X1-X2] Splitter configuration question for X1
I just kicked DirecTV to the curb today and added an X1 DVR and two clients to the house. I misplaced my four way splitter and the wall wart to the zero loss splitter so I had to make do with what I had.
Here is my configuration. Ground block to two-way with modem going off one leg (SB 6183 although may be upgraded to CM 1000 in near future internet only modem, no voice) and then to three way with the DVR headunit going off the 3.5 and the clients (which are XiD-C units) off the 7.5 legs. Will I have issues with this setup.
I don't know if the Ideal splitters from Home Depot will do.
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[Price] x1 price
if switched over to X1 and i get a X1DVR and 2 XID boxes will the only extra cost be $10 for anyroom dvr service or is there also a charge for the DVR box? i was told at the office there will only be an extra $10 charge for anyroom dvr service is this correct??
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weird glitch or what?
I'm getting programming on channels 2 - 1879
I've never seen this before... the lower # channels are always SD and around 700 starts all the HD stuff... but once i get in the 1000s it appears to be in a similar layout to the app... all the news channels/movie channels/public broadcast channel... etc etc are lumped together
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