TiVo Co-Founder Jim Barton Resigns

[dfergie]

“We are extremely grateful to Jim for his years of dedication and his commitment to innovation that he has provided to TiVo since its founding.

TiVo Co-Founder Jim Barton Resigns - Deadline.com

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Warning: This is an Old Thread This discussion is older than 90 days. information contained in it may no longer be current

[riffjim4069]

Strange how this matter was posted in an SEC filing and not a press release. Conversely, Comcast just slightly raised their additional digital outlet fee while drastically reducing the cutomer owned equipment discount. The net effect is customers are paying a $7.45 Cablecard fee for each additional Cablecard device (a 45% increase). Yikes! For that money you can lease an HD set-top-top with On Demand capabilities. Yep, paying a $7.95 monthly fee for a stinkin' $29 Cablecard. Obviously, Comcast does not want consumers using Cablecard devices.

As much as I like Tivo their business model is in real trouble...and the cable companies aren't helping matters.

[SatinKzo]

Where are you that there is a $7.45 additional CC fee per device? Where I am 1st one is free (same for you I assume) and $1.50 for each additional card per device, so devices that only use 1 card have no fee. Also, where I am for each device I own, there is a $2.50 credit for customer owned equipment.

[mike123abc]

Cable cards on cable one cost $3.50/month here.

[riffjim4069]

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Where are you that there is a $7.45 additional CC fee per device? Where I am 1st one is free (same for you I assume) and $1.50 for each additional card per device, so devices that only use 1 card have no fee. Also, where I am for each device I own, there is a $2.50 credit for customer owned equipment.

If you're only receiving a $2.50 credit for customer owned equipment, then you too are paying $7.45 for each additional Cablecard device you have on the network. The recent programming rate increases were modest...well, they were in line with the additional charges being demanded by programmers. However, the Tivo/Moxi/TV (Cablecard) folks having multiple Cablecard devices are getting screwed with what amounts to an 88.6% price increase. Let's look at my bill:

Old Price:
Comcast Digital $80.00
CableCard $0.00 (first device)
Additional Outlet $9.25 - $5.30 (customer owned equipment discount) = $3.95
Sports Entertainment Package $6.95
Discount -$10.90
Performance Internet w/PowerBoost $45.95

New Price:
Digital Preferred $86.55 +7.11%
Additional Outlet $9.95 - $2.50 (customer owned equipment discount) = $7.45 +88.6%
Sports Entertainment $8.95 +28.78% (Flyer says $7.95)
Discount -$10.90
Performance Internet w/PowerBoost $48.95 +6.25%

Now, if I were to lease a Comcast HD set-top-box I would be charged $9.95. This includes the "digital outlet fee" + built-in Cablecard + the rental price of the set-top-box. Additionally, it includes the Programming Guide and two-way services such as VOD and PPV. So how and the heck is this fair? It is not! I am paying $7.45 and get only the Cablecard. WTF? Verizon FiOS charges us $3.95 for each Cablecard...there are no "digital outlet fees" of any other such nonsense. At one time we leased five (5) multistream cablecards and paid Verizon $19.75 per months to suppport all our owned devices (Tivs, Sony HD DVR, HDTVs, etc.). If we had Comcast these rate would be 4 x $7.45 or $29.80 each and every month. Too much for a $100 worth of cablecards IMO. If they're going to charge customers $9.95 per month for each additional digital outlet, then they certainly need to provide, at least, a $6.00 customer owned equipment discount.

The bottom line is that customers should not pay more than $3.95 per month to lease a Cablecard (my opinion). I have complained twice to the FCC because this pricing policy does not encourage people to buy their own set-top-boxes. It is an unfair practice that discourages people owning Tivos, etc. We currently have three houses we're maintaining (not by choices) and I am traveling/living in all three. Because of the price increase I was forced to drop-down to Blast Internet w/lifeline cable channels (require Internet, but don't need television since I have an OTA antenna) for $59.95 per month, and I have been given two $10 per month credits for 12-month for each FCC complaint. I will just have to do without digital cable...heck, I'm already paying for the channels with FiOS so I don't need to pay for them a 2nd or 3rd time. I can stream them with my Slingbox, but that sucks on a 60" screen! Perhaps I may look at an Slingbox HD. We shall see. I plan to continue filing complaint with the FCC until Comcast has a Cablecard friendly pricing policy that is in accordance with the Telecommunications Act.

My new bill as of yesterday:
Blast Extra (doubleplay w/Limited Basic and one digal adapter) $69.95
Promotion Discount -$10.00 for 12-months
FCC Complaint #1 discount -$10.00 for 12-months
FCC Compaint #2 discount -$10.00 for life
$39.95

[SatinKzo]

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I humbly disagree.

I don't pay additional outlet fees, I have 3 devices with cable cards, my bill has no additional outlet fees at all and 3 credits of $2.50. My base service is $79/month for digital preferred with blast internet, yes it's a promo but promo or not, no additional outlet fees, with taxes etc and after credits I pay $81.23 a month.

I am mobile right now or I would try to grab a screen shot

I know comcast has regional billing setups as I remember different fees/tiers where I was back in Michigan. Seems as if we are in different billing systems. Then again, knowing comcast, you are right and mine is screwed up in my favor. If my bill looked like yours with those fees, I'd join you in complaints about fees since you (and I) are taking on the responsibility of replacement costs and maint.

Have you tried discussing with the corporate offices? I have had a wonderful experience with them, I wonder if they would be able to help here. If you google it, it's a 215 area code and it reminds me of the ceo@echostar email from back when I had dish.

*edit

FCC Cablecard quote

http://www.fcc.gov/guides/cablecard-know-your-rights

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Look at 3rd item
•Use your own set-top box without extra charge. FCC Rule 76.1205(b)(5)(C). Your cable operator may charge you to lease a CableCARD or tuning adapter, but may not charge you an additional service fee for using your own digital-cable-ready television or set-top box.

This line along with comcast's fees of $0 to $1.50 in my area. So anything above that would cause me to complain to FCC.