I've been debating and debating for the longest time, should I splurge and upgrade my cablevision package to finally get the Versus channel or should I stand firm on my stance of not giving James Dolan and Cablevision one more nickel. What should I do?
When the NHL came back from the lockout in ’05, they didn't re-up with ESPN, instead taking a few more dollars from the inconspicuous OLN network, now known as Versus. For a lot of hockey fans across America, Versus was not even available on most cablevision systems and fans screamed about losing the little hockey they had. First- and second-round playoff games in ’05 and ’06 were divied-up between Versus and NBC, and if you didn't have Versus, you missed those games.
For the past 2 seasons, I've put up with the few, couple of games that I couldn't get when my team was playing on Versus, but it was extremely hard once the playoffs started. I grew solice in the fact that other fans across the country were in the same predicament, but started to open up a little about upgrading my TV package.
I have had the lowest cable package (basic family) for the rough cost of $47 a month, for the last 18 years. Since I still used an old, analog box, I was told that to finally get Versus, I had to upgrade to their “IO” digital package and would cost an extra $9.95 a month. I have always gotten ESPN and ESPN2 as part of that package, but within the last 5 years thru numerous lawsuits and rulings, Cablevision has added MSG, YES, FSN and SNY to the basic family package AT NO CHARGE and with NO CONVERSION to “IO.” Why are they now charging me to get a few hockey games during the year and a handful of playoff games. MSG, YES, FSN and SNY give me Ranger, Knick, Yankee, Islander, Devil, Net and Met games all year-round at NO EXTRA CHARGE, but Cablevision wants me to pony up $10 a month to watch a few hockey games in a 2 or 3 month span!
I know Cablevision wants everyone to eventually go to “IO”, but if I have major league networks already, charging me extra for a MINOR league network is not enough incentive to make the switch. I'm not interested in all the OTHER CHANNELS I would get if I switched. Again, if you gave me MSG and YES for free, why can't I have rinky-dink Versus for free?
My common sense says that it's not worth it, but everytime an Islander/Ranger game is broadcast on Versus, it starts the debate all over again. I know I'll miss some good games, but it's the principle that counts, right?
What should I do?
0 comments:
Post a Comment