Time Warner to roll out a cheaper cable TV package

Seems like a desperate move to me. Who pays for cable any more? I bet the company's on life support just now.

@Uraniumfish I scrolled through all the comments that this piece elicited. Seems like most people watch TV on their computers nowadays and subscribe to Netflix or even use the old fashioned TV antennas to get ABC, NBC and CBS which are free to air in NYC. I think Time Warner should allow us to choose the channels we want to see rather than offer us what their idea of Essential is.

@Uptowngirl: I have no idea. My girlfriend pays the cable bill. I'll ask her. I wonder if she switched to the basic package would she still get the BIO channel, Syfy channel, and TCM. She watches shows on these stations most of the time.

I just watch TV online - I never watch TV on the "tube." I much prefer internet-based TV. More convenient, higher-quality definition, and no cable bills!

@Ajadedidealist: Smart lady. You do pay a fee for that, right. I mean, that is what the writers strike was about two years ago.

I am a big television watcher...on my computer! I agree that it's much more affordable and I love that there are fewer commercial interruptions as well as that you can watch shows when you feel the desire.

@Everyone I am so surprised to hear that everyone watches TV on their computer! I know ABC streams nearly all their shows do other channels also do the same? even fluff like E ?

I watch a lot of shows on my computer, but I still watch a lot on my tv. How do you have Dexter viewings with friends if no one has cable?

@JenMac I actually sometimes love vegging out in front of the TV can't really do that with my computer.

My thoughts exactly, uptown! It's just not the same on the computer.

@Everybody: The only time I watch a movie on my computer is if it is through NetFlix. I don't bother watching movies any other way.

@uptowngirl If it isn't streamed, you can usually buy it on iTunes. Or get it for free through torrents. You do miss out on the vegging out thing, though, which is slightly sad but ultimately cheaper.

@BroadwayBK: I don't like torrents. Someone bought my computer repair book and attempted to place the e-book version online to give away for free. Every time that was done, I caught them and had the site take the e-book listing down.

@ajadedidealist I somehow don't feel like spending $2.99 an episode on the Kardashians on iTunes and Hulu and other live streaming sites are not available in HK.. China!

@ajadedidealist I am too scared to use Torrents for fear of viruses and such

@Uptowngirl and Adjadedidealist: Do not use torrents. They carry viruses and spyware. I tried to download a program by way of a torrent and right away my antivirus program caught it.

I go through TW (over here they keep changing there name but are the same company and are currently called Windjammer). The new package I have has a limited number of channels with internet and phone all for a monthly price of $120. What screws you over though is the channel pack you want. There are two: Blue and Red. We have both so the price goes up. I tend to watch the HI channel and that is in the Blue channel pack I think. Honestly, TW has lost enough customers bc of customer service. We are only with them bc we aren't allowed to have satellite where we live. It "brings down property value". Just over the Thanksgiving holiday, we lost more than three hours of TV and a pretty much all the customers in my area demanded a credit to there account.

@Freyja4 Does anyone know why NYC residents are not allowed to have satellite TV? I did hear something about the dish antennae disfiguring the building facades. Is this true?

@uptowngirl What? I thought DirectTV was satellite.

How effective are torrents, BTW? I tried to download a movie and didn't have a lot of luck, but I oculdn't tell if I'm just incompetent.

@Uraniumfish The number of seeders helps speed along the download process. I always use the torrent that has both good feedback (comments left by downloaders) and a good number of seeders.

I'll have to keep trying, in that case.

I have no clue, to be honest.

@BroadwayBk we are not allowed to have Direct TV in our apartment building and I have been told the reason for this is that the city doesnt want the facade of buildings to be disfigured by the installation of satellite dishes. Though I think this rule only applies to Manhattan. Direct TV is quite popular in Queens.

@uptowngirl Ah, that's interesting. You can definitely get Direct TV in Brooklyn. But they want to lock you into a two year contract, and I am just not prepared to have cable on such definite terms.

aaah I knew there was some kind of catch to that.. do we have a lock in for Time Warner? We had it for nearly six years before we moved and returned the setup box..no wait I think we only returned the modem we still have the set up box because of basic cable..funny though we have no TV in NY anymore..

@Uptowngirl: Well, you better tell about a few thousand dish owners that. About a week ago, I went to the roof of the building I live in and saw thousands of dishes. And they all had the emblem DirectTV on them. And most of them were on the top of the four buildings in front of me.

@hhusted That seems like a waste since it probably only takes one or two dishes to power the whole lot of them.

@uptowngirl I actually don't know. That's who provides our internet service, and I know we're not locked into that. My roommate calls and threatens to cancel whenever he wants them to give us a cheaper deal.

@hhusted How could you see the Direct TV emblem from so far away?

@uptowngirl I just went to the Direct TV website and entered my old LES zip, and apparently the service is available there.

@BroadwayBK I think the service is available in my zip too but apparently the buildings disallow the installation of satellite dishes on the facade of the building. Its different if you have a private balcony and can install it there.

@uptowngirl I wouldn't be surprised if some buildings put restrictions on what you could put on your own balcony!

@BroadwayBK: I had my super's binoculars.

@hhusted Egads, binoculars?

He carries that thing with him all the time, along with his camera. He's a peeping tom. I just thought it would be interesting to see what was on top of the other buildings. I didn't look in any apartments. Just the top of the building. I do have some class and dignity. Plus, I respect the rights of others to privacy.

@Hhusted OMG didnt think this kind of peeping tom syndrome existed in NYC as well.. its very common here in HK that's why I keep my bedroom drapes drawn all day..

@ajadeidealist Hah! It' s okay, it's Europe...

I always wonder about peeping toms in this city.

Speaking of crappy things like Time Warner, does anyone else have Apple TV? It's infuriating. 6 hours to stream a movie? Seriously?

@JenMac how does Apple TV work?paid subscriptions or free to use?

@Uptowngirl: Depending on the person. There are bad Scorpios and there are good Scorpios. But the common trait of all of them is that they look at everything with a sexual eye. They make great detectives. James Bond was a Scorpio character. That is what made him so charismatic with women and mysterious as well. Scorpios are great with hiding things, especially information.

@JenMac thanks for the information - This seems to be the future of cable.. bet you can hook up your TV as well via an HDMI cable..

@Uptowngirl: Depends on the TV and if you have the cable to do it, but yes you can. It is possible.

@JenMac That sounds pretty cool. I use wii to stream Netflix, and I think there is a Hulu channel you can download, but I have yet to look into that.

@BroadwayBK: Yes, I believe there is a Hulu channel. Here is the website to learn more about it.

http://www.hulu.com/

Hope this is what you were referring to.

Hahahahahahahaha! Hulu is essentially just a website, and therefore if you've used Hulu you've been to the website. But thanks :)

And for the record, I meant that I believe there is a Hulu channel for Wii. Which means I would be able to access the website's content through Wii on my television set.

@BroadwayBK Hulu doesn't allow overseas viewers to log in..bummer