Tiering of services
Some one in this thread state that they would like a package that included just Voom 21, and all the other non premium HD channels in a stand alone package. And would be willing to pay a fair price for it. Well would $50 a month be fair? 'cause that is what you got with Voom, AND you get 50 plus other channels for free!! or is $50 too much? How about not having to buy the receiver? or pay $0.22 for the remote rental? (my local cable co. charges that for rent), How about if the equipment is installed for free, and serviced by technicians (quality of that service in some areas may be low, no need to comment). How about no 2 or 3 year commitment? Just 6 months. What if they threw in high quality service of all your Local Channels? (if you get none, then you're not local).
If all you watch is HD, then those pesky SD channels can be hidden on your voom box.
Everyone's definition of "basic" is different on this board, but everyone with a voom sub originally agreed to the definition of basic. but now everyone wants "their" basic needs covered at a basic price. Sorry, it probably won't happen if you are finicky about your needs. You may need to pay more than hambuger pricing to enjoy steak, EVEN THOUGH hamburger may include a few steak pieces.
For those that feel slighted because last month the only thing you wanted was a DVR but now that Voom has claimed to be expanding, your bitchin cause you don't get to enjoy the expansion, get over it. If that is you, then you can thank God Dolan for giving you one more thing to whine about, since that is the only thing that makes you happy.
Everyone. . . (scratch that) . . . many here are complaining that basic voom doesn't have Every SD channel, well basic cable in my area doesn't either, in fact it's 16 channels including 4 shopping channels, NO HD channels, not even the locals in HD,yippie! Even expanded cable only has 70 channels with plenty of Spanish channels and even more shopping channels, and that is $40 a month (NO HD). If I get "Digital Cable" for $70 (60 for the service, and 10 for the ONE receiver) then I can have hundreds of channels I don't have the time to watch, but not HD, HD takes another $20 or $30 with a DVR, but that doesn't include DiscoveryHD yet another $10 for the one channel. Add some premiums for $15-20 bucks per package. Get over it.
Since D* and E* have been successful with multi tier packaging, it is almost certain that V* will assume that same structure as they get more channels ramped up.
But trying to compare V* to E* or D* by counting channels, "Well E* has the XX number channels for $xx. and D* has XX channels for $xx.xx" OH MY GOD, let's count the shopping channels on D* and E* as real channels (no offense intended, for those of you with shopping maniacs for wives) and all the pre-paid progamming as real channels, and all the . . .
Which channels do you watch? Does Voom have that entire group at a reasonable price? does D* or E* have that exact group, or do you have to buy more than the $10 basic E* package to get those programs. Then you add in the Extra HD (if you don't feel that Vooms HD options, voom21+ and other HD versions of channels) is worth anything then you are connected to the wrong service provider.
Even if they split their teirs and have 15 options, don't expect them to group their "tiers" is the way you want. That is what "packages" are for. You won't find a "sports tier", you'll find a "sports package", ADDED onto what ever "tier" you are paying for, that tier will have some sports already, and some movies and some news and some discovery channels, maybe even the ones you want.
I personally wouldn't pay $40 bucks for one channel or 5 channels either. VavaVoom isn't requiring that you pay $40 for one or five channels. They offer packages, Basic Voom is over 100 channels (Audio included) for $50 bucks, and VavaVoom, which is about 30 channels for $40 bucks more. If you don't need the 30 channels then don't pay the $0.75 each.
Voom has alway kept the Sports and Marquee packages as separate for description but have included them in basic voom, that could change.
Whew, got that off my chest, but I reserve the right to amend or amplify or even add onto these items in the future