Would you buy the following service?

[Shane]

Would you buy the following service? (Hypothetical)

A new TV service provider is considering offering 200 channels of all-digital TV, plus 50 high definition (HD) channels and 5,000 hours of on-demand programming, unlimited local home phone service and high-speed Internet access for $139 per month, including all equipment costs. The service doesn't require any installation fees, and you will receive a set top box and special computer modem in order to use the service.

In addition, you will have free use of a digital TV recording service (similar to TiVo) that will allow you to record your favorite TV shows and movies and watch them from any TV in your house and pause, fast-forward, and rewind programs.

-Shane

[peter m. wilson]

Hi Shane, and Happy NewYear,

The question is a bit like answer YES or NO to "Have you stopped beating your wife".

I have a similar package (slightly different in detail and price) so it would beg a few questions not the least is compared to what.

I have access to unlimited hours of on-demand free movies, but their not in HD and their much older than the PPV on demand choices which are also not in HD so my VOD is not even on my FAV ch list.

Now lets look at the $132.00.

Our Media room is top notch. Our 65" HD capable display is used for everything including nice conveniences like surfing the net together with my wife comfortably rather than having one person looking over the others shoulder on a small monitor.

We scale all our DVDs to HD rezez which makes them almost indistinguishable from either a HD broadcast of the same film, (I've A/B'd several) or as we confirmed yesterday at our "Once Yearly" visit to a Movie Theatre where we saw "Narnia", at the Matinee price of $25.00 + $11.00 for popcorn and a drink for 2 people.

If the sound and resolution of that film is what we can expect from the competing (about tobe introduced) HIREZ dvd players which supposedly will not show 1080i on my display which has only component inputs, the all inclusive $132 or lets say $150 tax in looks like a bargain for us since our equipment has been bought and paid for for 5yrs and I include audiophile speakers and mltidisc separate dvd-a and sacd players processed through a Flagship Denon driving 9 speakers.

Those folks starting from scratch will not be paying the $8000 for a 65" CRT rptv with a first gen progscan dvd player but excellent speakers and audio processing are still pricey. I think the HTIB has had it's greatest success due to poor overall budgeting by those who put most of their available dollars into the display.

In anycase it will take a sober look at budget and lifetstyle with possibly the help of a financial planner to decide if the $132.00 a month is the best value long term for those just getting started.

Peter M.

[fraamus]

I had Voom for it's entire (previous) life so I was willing to try new and untried technology BUT... You didn't say how high speed the internet service was (hypothetically). To me that is 3000-6000 Kbps and since I use it for my business I expect dependability. DSL has never fit my expectations of high speed and Voom never met my expectations for dependability (No disrespect to DISH, a different owner).

[robertwadebrown]

Shane, I'm already paying more than that right now so I'd be very interested. There is the point about DVRs. I have a Motorola provided by my cable company (2 actually, HD DVR 2-tuner) which doesn't even come close to the intelligence of TIVO. So, how the TIVO operates (from a user point of view) is important to me. Dependabiliy is everything, however, because I too use the internet for my business and need good email and download/upload capability and dependiblity. Also, I'm not all that excited about local phone service via Internet. VOIP isn't all that reliable yet. But then, I'm willing to entertain the option. I will say that I'm tired of HD programming such as from Voom which is nothing but replay after replay after replay of old series. That's not worth flipping through the schedule for. Certainly Universal(NBC) deserves to receive the "done the most damage" award fo the year in what they've done to the former Bravo HD. It's just awful.
Robert

[Polypro]

With a PCI Cable Card for my HTPC running SageTV...yes I'd pay it.

P

[ggotch5445]

Shane,

I would like to see a better price (ideally no more than $99), but I think I would go for such a service!

[Richard]

While I cast a yes vote it could easily be a no if the quality isn't there.

With HD DVD and Bluray, HD gaming, PC gaming... I may stop watching network TV again. They lost me for 10 years, HDTV brought me back but frankly the HD Lite delivery is getting on my nerves!

Now my wife on the other hand...

[DanKolton]

I already own an HD DVR, and have "broadband" internet and telephone service at far less cost. OTA reception isn't compressed, either. It would take a lot to make me part with that much of my social security check (maybe prescription drug insurance with no hole).

[welovetorun]

I would go for the service. We live in an area where a deal similar to that is offered but not quite as sweet as the one you proposed. The 200 digital channels would be nice and 50 HD instead of the 15 we get would be even better! $139 is not a bad price if you are including local and long-distance phone in that, but hopefully it could come down to pacify the Mrs.

Overall, however, considering the lack of installation costs and other stuff you included, it sounds like a pretty good deal. I'd probably jump on board.

[jdevine760]

Of course I would go for this service at this price point. I currently have a similar setup with TWC and pay about $190 a month for it. I only get 13 channels of HD with this arrangement so 50 would be superb. I also have both Blu-Ray and HD DVD players as well as a WMV-HD capable media center pc connected to my Sony SXRD 50" RPTV with 1080P on all. Where do I sign up???!!!