We live in Whitewater and after wanting to upgrade with Charter recently, switched to directv. The Charter customer service reps (tried 3) had no idea what my question was or how to answer it and could hardly speak english. No such problems with directv! we have wonderful service, low cost, lots of HD, and the BTN!!

janesvillecomments, you make a good point. However, my guess is that if a la carte channel selections were available for cable/satellite subscribers, the price for those individual selections would go up to the point where buying a channel "block" or package would be about the same. Much like buying the paper at the local store each day is more expensive than having it delivered to your home. Buying in "bulk" will always be cheaper than buying "one-at-a-time". In any case, you are right, it would give people more flexbility and control over what comes into their homes, and would allow people to custom tailor their TV viewing to their specific tastes.

It's time Janesville insist that Charter Cable (or any other cable provider that comes into town) offer ala carte channel selection. There is no reason with today's technology why either cable or satellite providers can't offer channel-by-channel selection of what viewers wish to subscribe to.

I'm tired of having to support dozens of channels I never watch. If they can do Pay-Per-View, they can certainly let viewers select the indvidual channels they wish to subscribe to. Most sports fans could easily drop enough of the channels they have to pay for now as part of the "Basic Package" to pay for the Big Ten Network.

If the "premium" channels are worth so much because they are so popular, let them be sold individually to those who want to view them. If subscriptions drop off once customers are able to choose what they have to pay for, perhaps some overpriced channels will get realistic about their pricing.

People, people, people- many of you seem to believe that there is not an alternative to the cable franchise in Janesville. There is. Getting a dish is easy, and in many cases includes FREE installation, as well as FREE satellite tuners. In addition, if you know a friend/family member who has a dish, make the switch, refer their name as the one who got you to switch, and the satellite provider will even pay both of you for your trouble. Janesville is not a big enough market to support two cable companies, and we shouldn't rely on our local leaders for help either. From the posts, it is apparent that the general feel on this thread is that people are not happy with Charter cable. I haven't noticed anyone complaining about their satellite provider. Do I sound like I work for a satellite provider? Maybe, but I don't. I am simply a satisfied customer. Empower yourselves, if many of you dislike Charter as much as you say, make the switch, you'll become satisfied customers too, and you won't regret it.

Blue21, yes you can get local channels with DirectTV. I wouldn't say DirecTV is the best, but is most definately better than Charter.

I agree that something has to done about Charter. I just a notice my bill is going up another $5.00 and am getting nothing more. The city needs to really look at this franchise.

I back Charter on this one. Big 10 is crazy. They want $1.10 for the BTN in big 10 states only $0.10 in others states per subscriber. I have season Tix. and even if they offered it I would not take it. They charge me every year just for the right to but tix., the tix. price wont stop going up and now they want to hold us hostage because ABC and ESPN will give them 7 million to make the BTN. WCLO is still free that is where I will get it from. It also makes no sense for the big ten. You would think you would want to show that you have the #1 team in the nation and let the country (and recruits) see how good the confrence is by showing it on the 2:30 ABC. But no they basically black it out.

to blackIrish: I also agree with your comment about the customer service rep that is named "Jim"... It used to be that when you called from Wisconsin, you talked to someone in Wisconsin, not Canada, not Michigan, and certainly not INDIA.. the Customer servise went downhill real fast after they out-sourced the call centers....

We moved to the country a while back, and had to get a dish. We went with DirecTV, as their programming fit our needs best. Local channels became available soon after (it is an upcharge BTW). In October this year, they added a bunch of HD channels, and claim to have a hundred or so by year end (HD is also another upcharge but worth every penny). After seeing my TV picture compared to friends' with charter, I would never switch back to charter, even if it were free. All channels are equally good on the dish, whereas some of the higher channels on charter tend to get snowy, or have some video noise. This all equals unacceptable in today's world of high resolution TV's.

Yes you do get locals with a Dish now. They have been available to sattelite companies for about 7-8 years now.

I got sick of playing the cable games along time ago. Charter blows! I've had Directv for over 12 years now and my rate has gone up once during that time. I'll gladly give them my $100 a month. I get some local channels directly from them and if you have an antenna you can get local in HD free anyway. Their service is a billion times better and the part I like the best....when they add channels such as Big10 I don't get charged any more! And I have a choice of 7 HBO's to watch from! Charter just gives you more and more headaches everytime you turn on your tv, lineup changes, rate changes etc... Not to mention they basically have a monopoly in this one cable town, they can do as they please and all the subscribers can to is take it on the chin. Go satellite, I have never once regretted it. And no, I don't work for DTV I am just an actual satisfied customer. How many of Charters customers can actually say that?

I have Charter now, and I am wondering...can you get Local Networks with the Dish? You never used to be able to...

I too was a CHARTER cable subcriber, Until Oct 1 of this year,, I live in the " upgrade area" of charter, in northern rock county, the upgrade was done to accomodate the new subdivision in our neighborhood. They were to "pump up the power" to this area for a certain number of lots/homes in that area.. needless to say they wanted more, they only upgraded to the origanal amount of dwelling, they just split the lots and added (to the area-cable draw) more than a third more.. now for the BTN/NFL issue.. I called and e-amiled our Local Cable Company (Charter) and insisted thatthey put those networks on basic cable (like thay inteded them to be.. But with "Charter" and thier infinite wisdon, they informed me that they do not nor are they in the future, putting BTN/NFL network on their basic service, I called the cable company to diconnect my cable and phone (from Charter), and was asked why ... I informed them that since they started th "UPGRADE" our service has went from bad to worse, #2 they did not have the BTN or NFL network, I asked if they were evergoing to get then in the near future?? I was told "NO"!!! and that even if they did, it would be part of thier "Sports Tier" and would be charged a fee (usally $5,99/mo for that.. The CSR also stated... "Beside, Do you realize You will only miss 3 game on BTN and 2 games on NFL.. I told her that "Do you realize that those might be the game I want to see.. She actually changed the subject.. I told her effective IMMEDIATLY to disconnect my service .. I am awaiting to see if my bill reflects the date of my Disconnect....
I have Dish Network, and am VERY HAPPY with it.. the cost is about the same, but the programing is more to our needs..
SAY GOOD-BYE to CABLE

Its time the cable companies wake up. Not only are they losing customers because of situations like this, but they are also lagging VERY far behind in HD content, and pricing. I am about to switch to DirecTV HD because of more standard programming, (Big 10, and NFL Network included), more HD programming, (40 channels now, near 100 by end of year, vs. the 12 on cable), and all of this is cheaper than what I'm paying for cable, which just sent a notice that the price is going up another $5.00 a month. I know of people that have had DirecTV for 10 years and only had about a 3-4 dollar increase. Cable, its time to wake up before you lose all your customers.