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How does your pay TV provider stack up?

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By Jill Kelley, Staff Writer Updated 1:43 PM Thursday, May 28, 2009

With the looming switch of U.S. televisions to digital programming and the increasing number of pay TV providers, it is a good time to take a look at provider options.

In the Dayton area, the primary cable or satellite TV providers are Time Warner Cable, DISH Network, DirecTV and the newest player, AT&T U-verse.

The coverage area for these may vary, so contact the provider directly to see if your home or business is eligible for the service.

John North, president of the Better Business Bureau, said the best selection depends on personal choice.

“There are pros and cons to each, and they all have varying qualities,” he said, adding that the BBB suggests reading each contract thoroughly and checking with friends and neighbors to get their input.

To that end, the newspaper conducted an unofficial online poll at D aytonDailyNews.com/go/bargains on Wednesday, May 27, to get the opinion of current and former customers in the Dayton area. The poll drew more than 270 votes, and some reader responses are included in this story.

North added that the BBB has ratings of each company, as well as a complaint history, that can aid in consumers’ selection.

Those ratings are included here as well.

Time Warner Cable

Time Warner’s Basic Cable, which offers network stations 2-24, starts at $10-$11 per month. The company is offering DTV conversion special as well, allowing various discounts on that price.

Time Warner’s Standard Package has more than 70 channels, including the networks, TNT, ESPN, MTV and CNN. That digital package starts at $47 per month.

Like the other pay TV options, as channel volume increases, package price goes up.

Also, most services offer the option to include a DVR recording system or a package that bundles TV, phone and Internet access. Time Warner’s bundled packages start at $99.85.

Respondents to the online poll were mixed regarding Time Warner, with detractors citing rate hikes and poor customer service, although the company came in close second in votes online.

The BBB was less conflicted. Their rating for Time Warner Cable, Southwest Ohio: A+

DISH Network

DISH Network’s basic package is called Dish Family, offering “over 50 channels of family-friendly programming.” However, that package does not include TBS, TNT, Disney, ESPN and many other family favorites. That package starts at $19.99 per month.

Their next step up, the Classic Bronze 100, is among the many packages currently on sale, starting at $9.99 per month for six months, when it then goes up to its regular $34.99 per month.

The big controversy with dish is whether service is interrupted due to weather.

Many of our online respondents said they had that problem, while others said they never have.

DISH Network came in fourth overall in the poll, just beating out “Other.”

The BBB’s rating? B.

DirecTV

DirecTV gets the gold star for coming in first in our online poll, and for garnering the nod from the latest American Customer Satisfaction Index, released earlier this month.

Among major nationwide providers, DirecTV was tops, while DISH ranked fourth, Time Warner was sixth and AT&T came in last at eighth.

DirecTV starts their pricing at their Family Package for $29.99 per month, for around 50 channels. Disney Channel is included, but ESPN, TNT and MTV are not.

The next highest package offers around 150 channels for $34.99 per month for 12 months, after which it goes up to its standard $55.99 per month.

Online respondents were heavily in favor of DirecTV, lauding the company’s options and easy-to-use Web site.

The BBB, however, did not share that love. It gave DirecTV a C-.

AT&T U-verse

U-verse is the newest pay TV option in the area, and it is still not available in all areas of the Miami Valley. Despite that, or maybe because of that, it came in third in the online poll but did not inspire any comments.

U-verse has packages that start at their U-family option for $49 per month. That package does include favorites like the networks and Disney, but not others like ESPN, TNT and TBS.

And, likely because it is AT&T, the bundling packages are heavily advertised, with its basic option starting at $99 per month. Both of these prices are part of a sale that ends May 31.

And, just to add to the mystique, the BBB does not have a rating for U-verse.

Final notes

The Ohio Department of Commerce, which documents and addresses consumers’ concerns with their cable or satellite TV providers, has created a hot line to assist cable consumers to file a complaint with the department. That number is (800) 686-7826.

“I would advise people to shop around, compare services being offered and find where they can get the most services they need,” said ODC spokesman Dennis Ginty.

Added North: “Also, when you talk to a customer service representative, if it’s a bad experience, it is likely going to be a bad experience in the future.”

Contact this reporter at (937) 225-7325 or jikelley@DaytonDailyNews.com.

Digital switch June 12

As of June 12, full-power TV stations nationwide must begin broadcasting exclusively in a digital format. The initial deadline was pushed back from Feb. 17.

For those who still have analog TVs, there are three options, according to DTVanswers.com:

Purchase a DTV converter box for your existing TV set. The FCC has coupons available for converter boxes on certain TV sets at www.dtv2009.gov or call (888) 388-2009.
Purchase a TV set with a built-in digital tuner.
Subscribe to cable, satellite or other pay TV service, if that carrier offers the local broadcast stations you want.

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