THE ESPN vs COX CABLE WAR

CharlieMaxwell · Nov 28, 2003

There is currently a war going on with ESPN and Cox Cable (7 1/2-million subscribers). Cox is currently paying $20 million for the ESPN package and ESPN wants to raise that rate 20 percent when the contract expires in March.

Cox says that if that is the case, they will have to pass that along to the customer by taking ESPN off the BASIC service and switching it to a premium service.

ESPN must be careful when raising its rates because even they cannot afford to lose or piss off 7 1/2 million subsribers.

It should be interesting what part Directv pays in this scenario.

Since the current contract runs out in March, we will see what happens during the upcoming baseball season.

sfeiner · Nov 28, 2003

it might be scheduled for march

it might be currently under negotiation

BUT SORRY FRICKIN COX CABLE ALREADY RAISED THEIR RATES 2 MONTHS AGO CITING THIS VERY CONTRACT AS THE REASON FOR THE INCREASE! LYING SCUMBAG BLOODSUCKING BASTARDS!

COX CABLE= BLACK RHINO

bigboydan · Nov 28, 2003

why not drop cox cable and switched to dtv or dishnet it's cheaper

CharlieMaxwell · Nov 28, 2003

Both Directv and Dish Network would require the purchase of the dish and recivers. In addition, if you purchased the NBA Season Pass, the NHL Center Ice package or the MLB Extra Innings package through Cable Tv, you would have to re-order those packages through the Directv.

Those prices would not be retroactive, but would be at a NEW and HIGHER rate. The satelitte tv companies also would not honor if for example you had paid the entire year of NBA or NHL in one shot. They would also not honor if you had partial payments and had some remaining.

Charlie

bigboydan · Nov 28, 2003

both dtv and dish will both give you free receivers if you pay for the subscriptions and they will aslo sell you different packages set up for your tv veiwing so with that being said just pick the package that suites you best.

Railbird · Nov 28, 2003

dishtv sucks, no tennis channel yet, and always loses signal.

CharlieMaxwell · Nov 28, 2003

Bigboydan - I think you are missing the point. Let's say you have already paid the $179 for the NBA Season Pass and the $159 for the NHL Center Ice package through COX Cable.

If you tell them to disconnect and go with the either of those satelitte companies, you will AGAIN have to pay for any sports packages you want. They WILL NOT honor the money you have already spent with Cox Cable.

In addition, if you had a quarterly payment plan with Cox, the satelitte companies also WILL NOT honor that.

Charlie

exilarch · Nov 28, 2003

I have a better idea: Boycott all of these greedy bastards. Easier said than done, though, because we are all hooked, and we need our daily sports fix.

CharlieMaxwell · Nov 28, 2003

Exilarch - You might wind up seeing something like what satelitte and cable companies now do for movies. Charge by the event. In other words, if you want to see tonight's game between the Houston Rockets and Sacramento Kings they would charge you something similar to a pay-per-view movie.

Imagine what the cost of Clippers games on a pay-per-view basis would be

Charlie

ChuckSims · Nov 28, 2003

Hey Charlie, Get rid of cable after NBA League Pass expires. Cox Cable just raised their prices citing higher program costs. Now we find out those crooks at Cox lied. Only 20% of your cable bill goes to programming costs. The rest goes goes to pay off the huge loans Cox has outstanding.

ChuckSims · Nov 28, 2003

DirecTV is always offering free dish, free installation and 3-4 months free programming for new customers. You have to agree to one year of Total Choice programming. I believe its about $40 a month. Can't beat it. Tell Cox to shove their price increases every 6 months up their greedy asses.

CharlieMaxwell · Nov 28, 2003

Chuck - I already have Directv, but I know quite a few people in Vegas that have Cox and they have been telling me their horror stories.

Charlie

ChuckSims · Nov 28, 2003

Charlie, ESPN is raising their prices to everyone not just Cox. The reason Cox has taken it public is that they realize people are not going to put up with another price increase from those greedy bastards. And they are right!

CharlieMaxwell · Nov 28, 2003

But I think Cox is the only company that has said it was going to move ESPN to a premium channel

exilarch · Nov 28, 2003

Cable service is provided by corrupt monopolies.I quit Adelphia when the Rigas and sons plundered the company,and they raised rates to cover the theft.

ChuckSims · Nov 28, 2003

My friend has Adelphia cable. He says they are raising their rates again. He is looking at buying a dish.

WINNINGHAND · Nov 28, 2003

that would hurt.

bigboydan · Nov 28, 2003

oh the hell with it anyone just get a satelite dish and hack the damn thing that way you won't have to pay a cent

soccerbob · Nov 28, 2003

These two companies have something very much in common. They're both greedy corporations that do what the hell they want to do and don't really care whether the consumer likes it or not.

Cox overcharges for their cable service and their internet service. Their technicians are pretty good with repair and installation. If you have to call and talk to a customer service rep, you will be on hold forever but they have always been helpful with me once you finally get through. Their tech support for their internet service is average, again, once you finally get through on the phone.

With ESPN, let's be honest. What would most of us do without it? I love ESPN but they do some things that I find very annoying. Some of their anchors are pompous asses. They think they are the show. When you call ESPN, it's very tough to talk to a live person. More often than not, they don't answer e-mails.

ESPN is going to raise their rates. It's going to happen. Now Cox will either eat the increase (doubtful) or they will pass the increase on to the customer (likely). After that, it's up to the customer to decide if they want to pay the increase in their cable bill or go and get a satellite dish. ESPN and Cox both want to make as much money as they can. In the end, the consumer has to decide whether they will pay for the product.