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‘A Soup of Misery’: Over Half of People Say They’d Abandon Their Cable Company, if Only They Could
Washington Post ^ | Brian Fung

Posted on 06/06/2014 4:19:10 PM PDT by nickcarraway

Frustrated with rising prices? Check. Keep getting hit with more fees and charges? Check. You're paying for more channels than you'd ever want to watch? Check.

These are just a handful of the most common complaints consumers have when it comes to grappling with cable companies. And it's not just anecdotal: A survey of subscribers on the nation's biggest cable providers has found that more than half of Americans would abandon their cable provider if they felt they could. Cable rage is real, and here's the data to prove it.

Fifty-three percent of respondents to a recent survey said they'd leave their current cable company — if they had a choice. But as many as 70 percent said their options are too limited, according to the study by consulting group cg42.

(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Culture/Society; Extended News; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: business; cable; predator; scum; soup; television; vermin; worst
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To: nickcarraway

Just drop it. You won’t miss it.


21 posted on 06/06/2014 5:02:36 PM PDT by ViLaLuz (2 Chronicles 7:14)
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To: Advil000

Couldn’t get on FR without my cable Internet.


22 posted on 06/06/2014 5:03:03 PM PDT by 9YearLurker
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To: nickcarraway

You can abandon it. It’s easier than you think!! Just do it and reclaim your life. Cut the cord!!

KK -> Cable free since 2012. $5K richer. 25.000 fewer commercials (Mr Kitty’s estimate)


23 posted on 06/06/2014 5:05:36 PM PDT by KosmicKitty (WARNING: Hormonally crazed woman ahead!!)
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To: nickcarraway

About 9 years ago I did one of those trials for cable, and something that amazed me was seeing the movie, or show behind a permanent ad/logo for the network, I couldn’t believe it.

It would be Western or a Space movie, with an ad in front of it, they would also run small scroll ads during the show, and then every 6 or 7 minutes there would be full advertisement breaks.

I don’t see how people can deal with all that, I do realize that it is conditioning, that is why after being away from TV, one loses the ability to enjoy it or tolerate it.

Watching TV is largely a conditioned habit, and I think a strong one for most people.


24 posted on 06/06/2014 5:17:48 PM PDT by ansel12 ((Ted Cruz and Mike Lee-both of whom sit on the Senate Judiciary Comm as Ginsberg's importance fades)
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To: nickcarraway

Just give me the channels I want — stop stuffing my channel selector with CRAP!

TV should be PRO-CHOICE!!!


25 posted on 06/06/2014 5:19:36 PM PDT by workerbee (`)
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To: nickcarraway

This is a great GOP conservative issue. Most of the trouble is from Democrats. Chop, chop, chop and make it an issue in the fall.


26 posted on 06/06/2014 5:29:15 PM PDT by 1010RD (First, Do No Harm)
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To: nickcarraway

I had cable way back in the 1970s. Since I was paying for it I felt obligated to watch it, even if the program wasn’t very interesting. After six months or so I got tired of banging my head against the wall and cancelled it. Haven’t had it since.

Now I don’t watch TV at all. Last TV I watched was Sarah accepting VP in 2008. Now I’m annoyed if I go into a restaurant and they have the TV turned up so loud you can’t have a decent conversation. Rant off./


27 posted on 06/06/2014 5:32:23 PM PDT by upchuck (Support ABLE, the Anybody But Lindsey Effort. Yes, we are the ABLE!!)
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To: upchuck

Of course they can abandon the cable company, it is not mandatory by law that you have cable.


28 posted on 06/06/2014 5:35:57 PM PDT by GeronL (Vote for Conservatives not for Republicans)
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To: nickcarraway
I just joined the the Cut the Cord club and couldn't be happier. Between Off Air channels and Roku I get more than enough content. I am content to know that $100-150 per month is not going to support a gang of buffoons, shysters and criminals.
29 posted on 06/06/2014 5:37:45 PM PDT by Kid Shelleen (Beat your plowshares into swords. Let the weak say I am strong)
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To: nickcarraway

Cut the cord.

I did it a year and a half ago and haven’t missed it a bit. Now, I have time to sit on my couch all night with my laptop. :)


30 posted on 06/06/2014 5:40:11 PM PDT by Skooz (Gabba Gabba we accept you we accept you one of us Gabba Gabba we accept you we accept you one of us)
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To: wrench
commercials fill the rest.

Do you remember when the idea of paying for cable TV was that you wouldn't get commercials?
31 posted on 06/06/2014 5:40:57 PM PDT by Kid Shelleen (Beat your plowshares into swords. Let the weak say I am strong)
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To: nickcarraway
Back in the early 1990's, there was an outcry about Cable Companies charging too much for cable. Congress got into the act to regulate Cable Costs. Needless to say, Cable costs skyrocketed after that.

Before, you could get Basic Cable for $12-24/month, with any extras (HBO, Showtime, Cinemax) being $12/month extra each.

NOW, you have "al la carte menus", "special tiers", etc. So, not only is it expensive, but confusing as well.

I had a friend who worked as a Customer Service representative for Comcast....for one month. He said that after 30 days, his nerves were shot from all the people cussing him out.

32 posted on 06/06/2014 5:50:13 PM PDT by MuttTheHoople (Ob)
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To: nickcarraway
turn on the tube, watch until dawn
one hundred channels, nothing is on
endless commercials, endless commercials, endless commercials

the whole world's glued to the cable TV
it looks so real on the big LCD
murder and violence are rated PG, too bad for the children
they are what they see

*****************

- Joe Walsh, Analog Man

33 posted on 06/06/2014 5:55:46 PM PDT by Charles Martel (Endeavor to persevere...)
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To: nickcarraway
"if Only They Could"

Their heirarchy of needs is funny--entertainment in itself for those who don't have or want such needs.


34 posted on 06/06/2014 5:59:46 PM PDT by familyop (We Baby Boomers are croaking in an avalanche of corruption smelled around the planet.)
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To: Kid Shelleen
Do you remember when the idea of paying for cable TV was that you wouldn't get commercials?

Yeah, it didn't take them long to discard that sales pitch. Digital satellite radio tossed the same lie out there at first, too. At least the ads there are still relatively sparse.

I miss seeing the local stations "sign off" at 2:00 a.m. or so, with the National Anthem and images of F-16s and fluttering flags. Last saw that around the time that Reagan left office.

35 posted on 06/06/2014 6:00:33 PM PDT by Charles Martel (Endeavor to persevere...)
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To: nickcarraway

Not only did I cut off the cable, but have stopped all TV in the house.

Years ago. My family and I don’t miss it at all.


36 posted on 06/06/2014 6:00:35 PM PDT by RandallFlagg (Uninstall Fascist Firefox. Get Pale Moon.)
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To: nickcarraway

I live in an area where there’s virtually no such thing as non-cable TV because the reception’s so bad due to the terrain. I WISH I could dump my cable, but there’d be no TV otherwise. So now I pay around $162/month for basic cable, a few of the non-premium channels, most of which I don’t watch, and cable internet and digital phone. If there were any way around it, I’d be on it in a heartbeat.


37 posted on 06/06/2014 6:00:56 PM PDT by Fast Moving Angel (It is no more than a dream remembered, a Civilization gone with the wind.)
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To: Advil000
hit the $5 bin at WalMart and come away with (usually) at least one, multi-movie DVD.

Picked up a 4 disc, 17 movies DVD the other day of war movies ... some older b&w, some color.

38 posted on 06/06/2014 6:08:47 PM PDT by knarf (I say things that are true .. I have no proof .. but they're true.)
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To: nickcarraway

Defund the left. Cancel your cable.


39 posted on 06/06/2014 6:09:07 PM PDT by who knows what evil? (Yehovah saved more animals than people on the ark...www.siameserescue.org.)
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To: nickcarraway

Just got rid of Brighthouse internet and landline and Dish TV. total was about $200/mo. Got AT and T Uverse does all 3, for $139. when I called Dish, rep said she would take my $90 bill down to $65, when I said no, she said she would take it down 12.50/ mo more. Final offer was $50/mo after tax and fees. I still said no. They should have offered before. If you are paying a lot tell em you want a discount NOW, see if they play ball


40 posted on 06/06/2014 6:17:18 PM PDT by shuck and yall (if you ain't offended, you aint payin' attention)
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