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Subject:
From:
Craig & Terry Knowles <[log in to unmask]>
Reply To:
Craig & Terry Knowles <[log in to unmask]>
Date:
Sat, 22 Feb 2003 11:26:37 -0500
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I wrote to Comcast (formerly ATT Broadband), my cable/ISP service in New Hampshire regarding CSTV.  Here is their reply:

Thank you for writing.

Thank you for your recent inquiry regarding delivering CSTV  in  Weare. At present, Comcast has no immediate plans to launch this channel in your town. Comcast serves many customers with diverse viewing needs. We do our best to deliver a channel lineup of quality networks and services to our communities. I have forwarded your inquiry to our Marketing, Programming and Managerial Teams so they are made aware of your request. 

Comcast has designed a channel line up which appeals to most widespread segment of our customer base. The main factors influencing our programming decisions are:

* Customer Demand: Viewership ratings from Nielsen Media Research provide a valuable, quantitative method of gauging viewership and usage of cable networks. Comcast conducts periodic research surveys with customers which provides us with feedback on the types of programming that are in demand by customers. Direct customer contact is also a valuable tool used to access customer interest in programming services.

*Competitive Landscape: Like any business in a competitive environment, Comcast is constantly monitoring programming decisions made by our competitors.

* Business Factors: Comcast pays a fee to many of the programming services carried in your channel lineup. We work on behalf of the customer and company to enter into the most favorable long-term relationships with each network in order to keep rates as low as possible.

* Government Mandate: We are required by law to carry every Broadcast TV station in the area, as mandated by the FCC. Additionally, we are required to carry a certain number of local access channels, as mandated by local communities.

Clearly we are restricted by channel space which limits the number of new services that can be added to your channel lineup. We continue to monitor the progress of growing networks and periodically evaluate our channel lineups in concert with the demands of our customers.

If you have any future questions or problems, please feel free to email us again or contact our Technical Support line for further assistance.  We are here 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.  When replying to this address, please include this message as well as all previous correspondence regarding this issue.

Jim
Comcast Electronic Customer Care
-------------------------------------------
Please visit our Online Help Desk at
http://help.broadband.att.com/
Tel: 1-888-633-4266  -  Customer Care 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
Tel: 866-447-7333  -  Internet Support 24 hours a day, 7 days a week


It sounds as though they are open to change at least.  The channel space argument is a red herring as there is loads of bandwidth open, even on a basic cable package.  There would be more if they would ditch that home shopping crap and a few others, and still more room up on the digital TV channel package.

Craig Knowles
UNH   '71

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