The Proposed 10 dollar Cable Tax

[VanIsle]

We have digital TV over the phone line along with internet and home security. Save shiitloads and one bill is nice.

I have not researched it myself but hubby tells me that digital in BC is much more expensive than satellite. He did the talking to Telus. I assume that is what they told him. Now if I can just get permission from our townhome committee to let us put the satellite dish in on the 29th, life in the TV dept. will be good.

 

[L Gilbert]

Well, I suppose of Starchoice, ExpressVu, Shaw, et al get to add $10 onto our monthly bill, we can cut loose a package (and save $12 or 15) or drop a tier (and save $25). That should make them happy. Greedy morons.

 

[gerryh]

At this point in time the cable and Sat company's are REQUIRED to carry local TV stations. If they are also going to be required to pay these stations then they should have the option of NOT carrying them if they don't feel the cost is justified. Sound fair?

 

[missile]

Some good points! The CRTC forces cable to put certain stations on basic and there are many I hate on my basic package...APTN and the all French ones, for examples. Local TV,when we had such a thing, was totally free and ad supported.

 

[damngrumpy]

There are a couple of conditions that could be applied. If we have to pay for local
stations then force them to run local or Canadian programming in prime time.
That way the American channels could run their programs, and I wouldn't have to pay cable for seeing CSI on the American and Canadian channels.
Oh the locals wouldn't want to do that, would they, which means they want the money to buy programs that are already on the mainstream cable networks.
For years the local stations were arrogant institutions that were seated high above
public opinion. Now the world has changed and local stations who ignored the
interests of the average guy, now want to buy import programs to compete with
what is already on cable. They still don't get it, people want local programing and
weekend local news, not syndicated shows. The problem is the cable companies
are already providing local programs and developing local talent, so the answer
is no, no more money for the same old thing.

 

[damngrumpy]

The local television networks never cared about people they cared about money. In
fact for years they never cared about employees either, and likely still don't.
I worked in that industry for awhile and I say if the networks are under pressure it
couldn't happen to nicer people. The so called tax isn't really a tax from what I
understand, they just want to cable companies to pay for airing their signal.
The problem is for local stations and Canadian networks is just bought more and more American and foreign programing over the years. They produced less and
less quality shows, or programs that people like myself want to watch outside of
sports. The cable companies bring in the American shows and therefore the
Canadian are merely repeats and simulcasts. As for local information of interest
the cable companies run local format material and have done a better job than
local TV outlets. In short local and Canadian regional stations dug their own hole
and now with advertising on the net and else where, they have lost their place.
It serves them right.

 

[Ron in Regina]

Enough!!!! This is Dumb!!! Nobody here needs to be throwing out
personal Insults like this. There are no 12yr olds on this Forum.
The Personal Insults stop here.

.....

 

[Georgy]

Taxed to death...

I don't watch TV. I hear it from time to time but never watch. When our girl heads to school next fall the TV service gets axed.

I don't have my TV on right now either....there are some shows that I do like to watch at night, but to get taxed yet again?? I heard on the news today that the industry made $400million last year? So why the Tax? Because they can!! Because no one will stop it!
as for the other guy...the liberal dood, is this tax a $10.00 a month tax? If so, $120.00 is a week's worth of groceries for most people. Yes, we don't need to watch tv this is true; so I guess that should make it alright for companies to just add whatever the hell they want to? Will service get better? NO.....companies like Rogers & Bell already have a $5.00 a month fee "in case" you use it if something goes wrong with your dish or your phone lines. BUT, at the end of the year, do they give you a rebate if you didn't need to use this service? NO....insurance may go up 14%, I've driven for 33 years with no accidents or tickets....will I get a rebate for being a 6 star driver? Have I received one yet? NO. Is it fair that my insurance goes up because of all the idiots on the road? No, but it does. Right off the bat my paycheque is dinged 33% tax. Then, every time I buy something, another 13% tax. Soon to change as well if the HST comes into effect in July. People are sick and tired of being taxed to death. There's even a death tax AND an inheritance tax.
Do you think maybe, just maybe, people are tired of being taxed???

 

[Avro]

Wow, I can't believe people are actually defending the cable companies. Everytime you get a bill from the cable giants you are getting ripped off. The networks want a piece of it a people lose their minds.....hilarious.

It's simple, if I want channel a I pay for channel a and not b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z to get channel a.

 

[AnnaG]

Wow, I can't believe people are actually defending the cable companies. Everytime you get a bill from the cable giants you are getting ripped off. The networks want a piece of it a people lose their minds.....hilarious.

Yeah. Sad in a way, too.

It's simple, if I want channel a I pay for channel a and not b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z to get channel a.

Paying for what you want and not what you get that you don't want, should be the deciding factor.