Chat With Susan Wornick Regarding Cable Tier Buy Through

MODERATOR: Welcome to The Boston Channel.com chat with NewsCenter 5's Susan Wornick.

MODERATOR: Susan will be answering your questions about the cable tier buy through law and how it could save you money.

MODERATOR: This is a moderated chat, so your question may not show up right away. Also, if several people ask the same question, we'll just put one of them up, to avoid confusion.

MODERATOR: Be sure to hit the "Submit to Moderator" button to send in your question, or we won't see it.

mmodar: Is this a new regulation or a little-known new one?

Susan Wornick: the law was passed in 1992 but the cable companies had 10 years to comply for alot of reasons .. some technical. the grace period ended last fall .. so that's why we are just hearing about it now

mmodar: As a Comcast subscriber (Basic Expanded Basic) I'd like to be able to cherry-pick the channels I want, but can't get rid of the likes of home shopping center. Would I be able to do that now?

Susan Wornick: yes. if you pick just the very basic service .. you will get the 20or so over the air regular network programs .. and then be able to select which premium channels you want a la carte (and for a price ranging from 12.95 to $13.95

bostonguy: question about the price in the news article, don't you also need a box and remote to get a channel like HBO?

Susan Wornick: there are different kind of kixes and need for them .. digital for example mandates a different box for receiving HBO. Call your company to find out if you need a box and which one

taranfive: I live in Goucester with basic cable and it runs about 41.00 a month is there anyway to lower my bill?

Susan Wornick: yes. you can get the very basic service for under $10 ..

bostonguy: standard cable channels are not offered a la carte correct, I think you are just saying that HBO and movie channels are a la carte correct?

Susan Wornick: yes you are right. The law allows the cable companies to decide which channels they want to offer as premium channels. Comcast has 5 .. HBO Starz Encore The Movie Channel Cinemax and Showtime .. (I think that's 5!)

number13: if you return their box and remote can ;you get options

Susan Wornick: yes. you should be able to start from ground zero with the very basic service (I assume you are talking about digital and the digital box) you have options that Comcast says they are happy to discuss with you if you call the customer service numberon your biill. By the way .. Comcast also is moving many of those customer reps to Mass... they used to be in other parts of the country .. so it will be better communication

bostonguy: Does Comcast make you sign a contract like Direct TV?

Susan Wornick: I am not familiar with a contract you must sign .. like with dirtect tv .. but a signature may be required to receive certain equipment

lovelymari: Susan, I've tried in the past to change my programing. What should I do if I still get resistance from Comcast?

Susan Wornick: call us .. we'll call their PR person (who has really been very helpful to us in the past) She insists Comcastis trying to become more customer friendly and we are holding her to that. We are not shy about calling her with individual problems.

pwocker.: Hello Susan: Comcast has moved NESN from its Premium Channel to its Extended Basic Bundle. Because of this move they require that customers buy into their Extended Basic Service to watch the Red Sox Game. This increases NESN from a $10.00 Premium channel to a $38.00 bundle. Is this prohibited under the Cable Buy-through Federal Legislation?

MODERATOR: Thanks for all your questions. We have many queued up, so don't be surprised if it takes a while for Susan to get to yours. Also, see if someone else is asking a similar question.

Susan Wornick: no .. unfortunately it is not. And another thong .. none of this applies to Digital because digital wasn't a factor when thelaw is written. We have to get congress to go back and amend the law to make it all inclusive. But back to your question .. NESN is not included inthe premium channels available a la carte .. no such luck... I do think that is calculated on the part of the cable companies .. I'm sure baseball is a huge money maker for them. By the way .. alot of how channels are designate

snakemyst: what if you have a different cable company other than comcast?

Susan Wornick: It doesn't matter. This is a federal law .. applies to every company around the country

bostonguy: you can't pick just regular cable channels a la carte, just premium, i believe you missed the point on one of those questions earlier

Susan Wornick: yes .. sorry if I missed that .. to be clear .. a consumer can only pick certain station a la carte .. 5 premium stations that I listed above

Susan Wornick: make that certain stationS a la carte

cajopzz: Is there nothing that cab be done about the cost for service for digital tv and my options?

MODERATOR: Thanks for all your questions. We have many queued up, so don't be surprised if it takes a while for Susan to get to yours. Also, see if someone else is asking a similar question.

Susan Wornick: not really .. as I said .. the law applies only to analog .. but the companies do have various digital packages .. so maybe you can something cheaper than you have currently.manies

NancyPowel: Does this apply to satallite also - they offer the same programming

Susan Wornick: no .. cable companies like Comcast see satellite as their competition by the way ..

mariejane: gan the cable refuse to down grade your service until your bill is up to date

Judy115: I'm Comcast in Wey., paying $105. a mo., but no HBO, TMC,etc. It's ridiculous.

Susan Wornick: I am not sure .. but probably. The can probably freeze your account .. or cancel srvice altogether until your finanical committment is set

Mandaj: I have comcast - do i jcall them and tell them that I want the basic plan plus hbo (or whatever additional channels that i want)?

Susan Wornick: wow .. that is alot for no HBO. Yes ..call them and tell them you want the basic package .. and then whichever premium channels you wants for movies .. and .. you can get only one .. or all 5 .. the key is you pay a la carte

tommyo: I have just recently purchased a HDTV; I do realize the need for a digital tuner,however, Comcast charges to use a Comcast box. I thought HDTV was afree service, as this is the future broadcasting method. Any thoughts ?

Susan Wornick: too mamny thoguht to rerally get into here .. but essentially .. the cable companies charge for the digital service .. the HDTV IS free .. just not available unless you pay the premium for digital ..

greggp: Comcast obviously doesn't want to publicize this...is there "A Script" to say to them to have them spill the beans?

Susan Wornick: by the way everyone .. I apologize for my spelling and typos .. I'm trying to go really fast and I'm not that great a typist (AND I spell poorly!!!)

Susan Wornick: I would use my name. I suspect by now they have had so many inquiries about my report they are all very aware of what the law is and the services are

anniep: did i understand, that, if you have a digital box, your options are different?

Susan Wornick: yes. digital is different than analog. The new law applies to analog only because digital wasn't a factor in 1992 when this was passed. But that doesn't mean you must have digital. The cable company can't force you to have digital (tho they do a really good job of marketing its advantages. Those advantages are more money of course!)

armstead: What if you don't want any premium channels only channels like History, Discovery etc. Do you have to buy packages for these?

Susan Wornick: yes

mami1: i've repeatedly called Comcast about getting a less expensive option and they've sid that if Iwant HBO then the plan I have is my only option and that option costs me $75.00 a month...there must be a cheaper alternative

Susan Wornick: if you have analog service you can get the basic service and buy HBO a la carte. That's the essence of the new law

beno: I have digital cable and I understand the law does not apply to digital...why is this?

Susan Wornick: becasue the law was written and passed in 1992 .. and digital wasn't a factor.

LAFlats: If I was to cancel my cable with ComCast, reinstate it with basic cable (approx 7.50/month) and HBO (ala carte) would I get the exspanded basic stations?

Susan Wornick: no .. you would get the channels provided with the basic service (about 20) and HBO or any other premium movie channel you wanted to add a la carte

norash833: comcast doesn't tell you about the digital classic which is cheaper than digital plus

Susan Wornick: Comcast told us they are inthe process of updating their website as well.

sue66: Can you pick which channels you want in "expanded basic"?

cablerocks: I just got HDTV service from Comcast.....the HDTV box is ONLY $2 more per month ($7.25).....they offer PBS, ABC

Susan Wornick: there are actually several digital packages as there are with analog. You have to ask .. "what's the cheapest?"

scout9: My Comcast bill says basic service is $12.62, but I thought you said it should be $6.00 and some change

Susan Wornick: expanded basic is a package. O you canot pick which channels you want to be in that package.

SVIATOR: i live in fall river is there another cable company other than comcast?

Susan Wornick: the very basic service is analog only and doesn't include any premium channels.

Susan Wornick: I don't think so .. another problem with cable (in my opinion) is that there isn't a free marketplace where many companies can come into town and compete all at the same time. Cities and towns have their own commissions and generally they decide which comany (one company) will provide the service. The other big provider in Massachusetts is RCN

ultrav22: will I be charged to switch from digital to analog?

Susan Wornick: you shouldn't be. I haven't heard of a penalty clause .. tho some companies may charge for a service call to have boxes picked up. Call a custoer service rep and make sureyou ask specifically of there's a charge and what it is for

simonsmom: You answered my question about getting non-premium channels but I would like to know if you need to have their equipment to get these. We have on occasion gotten some of these by mistake for a few days just fine w/o their equiqment but they seem to try to push their cable box saying it's neccesary for channels other than basic.

Susan Wornick: you do need certain boxes for some premuim stations. For example .. a couple of weeks ago I couldn't get a certina movie at home because I discovered I didn't have the roight equipment in the room.. I was however able to get the movie in another room.It's all very confusing!!!

anguspet: I have Charter mini basic @13.01 and satellite tier for 36.58 just to get NESN. Anyway to get around this?

paaunt: I have comcast cable. When I called and asked if I could purchase NESN separately, I was told no and I wonder why?

MODERATOR: Thanks for all your questions. We have many queued up, so don't be surprised if it takes a while for Susan to get to yours. Also, see if someone else is asking a similar question.

Susan Wornick: I am not familiar with Charter .. or their price loist .. but I doubt that they offer NESN a la carte .. and the only way to get it would be either buy a package thru them .. or they was you are doing it. By the way .. as I mentioned earlier .. cable companies see satellite compsnies as their big competitors .. not other camble companies (probably because as I said .. it isn't exactly a free markektplace!!)

SusanKB: How can they charge for "basic" AND "expanded basic" ?

Susan Wornick: it is 2 different services with different channels inthe packages

Reffer: How do I get a list of what the "basic" 20 channels is?

MODERATOR: If you have a problem getting timed out, just send something to the moderator, even nonsense. I won't publish it, but it will keep you in the chat.

Susan Wornick: call the cable company. Comcast tells me they are delighted to helpt thru their customer service reps. They also say they are adding dozens of new reps to cut down on wait time .. but the other side of that coin is that newer people may not know everyting theyare suppose to ..and that's why some are giving out wrong information

tedco: Susan, my mother moved into her new condo 3yrs ago and order cable...she never recieved a bill and assumed it was included in her condo fee, (it isn't however), yesterday she lost half her channels and is afraid if she calls the cable company they will try to charge her for the past 3 years, any suggestions?

Susan Wornick: yes .. ahve her call us next week (because of this story all our lines and voicemails are jammed up) and we will try to make a call in her behalf to negotiate something. 781 433 4265. I work with 2 wonderful women here .. Sarah and Michelle .. and tho we are often days (and sometimes weeks behind) we try to help everyone we can

paaunt: Thank you Susan for all you do for we -- the consumer!

Reffer: Are channels like ESPN or ESPN2 considered to be "Premium" Channels? I believe we had to buy the "expanded" basic in order to get those, when in fact, those would be the only ones we (my husband) would want.

Susan Wornick: that's the catch .. no .. ESPN 1 and 2 can only be accessed thru a package.

tutunjiana: In Belmont we cannot get FOX news. Comcast says it is BElmont's decision not to receive this channel ? Is this true ? The other neighboring towns all get it.

Susan Wornick: I am trying very hard to feel bad that you can't get Fox news .. but I'msure you understand .. !!!!!! Yes .. cities and towns have alot to say about what the carrier provides. That's why there are discrepancies bewteen towns even with the same company

djmichaud: My mother is currently using analog. She is under the impression that at some point everyone must switch to digital. Is this true?

Susan Wornick: no .. tho I don't think the cable companies would agree. They insist that digital is the way to go. Our technical people here tell me digital doesn't even necessarily mean better picture

saramiah: Susan, Are there taxes and surcharges on top of the $6,21 basic costs in Boston?

Susan Wornick: yes. there are state and federal taxes.

SVIATOR: isn;t it true that if you have cable ready tv's that you don't need a box?

Susan Wornick: the way I understand it you still need a box for certain programs .. but call you company to see which ones

MODERATOR: We've got about 5 minutes left for the chat, so we'll get to as many questions as we can.

saramiah: Susan, thanks for the chat and the consumer spot on the news. I now only watch channel 5 noon news. I love your side comments and relaxed style.

framingham: Hi Susan, Your the best person on WCVB!! We love to watch you

bunnyrun49: I guess it's like buying a newspaper - you can't just buy the sports section and the comics.

janny42: Thank you Susan for the opportunity to ask these questions.

bostonguy: don't forget about the box charges if you get premium channels, your quote did not include those, $20.20 is only programming charges...

turbo_37: moderator : can you tell me how to enlarge my "chat" screen size?

MODERATOR: turbo -- screen size is fixed.

Susan Wornick: right .. there are so many things to know .. and again .. I want to remond everyone .. Comcast says they really want to hear from customers with questions!! Don't be shy about calling them

janny42: As soon as 2: 00 arrives, I am calling the cable company to ask to switch to an analog box! If they refues me...what should I tell them?

cablerocks: sounds like we need to do another oen of these real soon

Ray39mo2: Thanks Susan for the information, your great.

Susan Wornick: ask to speak to a supervisor .. and tell them about what you learned about your rights. The Comcast PR personhas been very helpful to us and insists that they want to help people who call. They admit that some wrong infomration is going out and they are trying to educate all of their operators

deelh: Thanks Susan. Have a wonderful and safe week-end.

Susan Wornick: thatnks to all of you for participating (and putting up woith my bad typing and spelling) I truly appreciate all the nice comments and hope to do this regulalry on a variety of topics. Have a nice weekend everyone .. remember .. they aren't clising the malls of pizza places .. so .. forget the weather!!!

MODERATOR: Thanks everyone. We'll try to do another of these soon!

scout9: Thank's Susan!

Ray39mo2: Have a safe and dry weekend ha ha

MODERATOR: Good bye all!

janny42: Thank you again Susan, and have a good weekend. Rain Rain go away--come again another weekend!