Digital Cable Shootout problems: Week 2

[Jasonma]

Well gald to see there's been no reduction in service now that Comcast has taken over for AT&T. I still get the same problems with the Shootout! I got nothing but a not authorized screen when I tuned in today. After calling and complaining, they "sent a signal" to my box which has nicely taken it offline for up to 30 minutes, which means I can't watch any TV during that time. So not only do I now not get the Shootout, I can't even watch the game on FSW.

Anyone else with Comcast problems?

[Knave]

I had trouble like that last year with Adelphia. It didn't get resolved until I went in person to a local office. I was able to talk with the woman in charge of PPV events and she cleared it up right away. It's a hassle to go in person but it's worth it in the long run.

[FlashMan]

Originally posted by Jasonma
Well gald to see there's been no reduction in service now that Comcast has taken over for AT&T. I still get the same problems with the Shootout! I got nothing but a not authorized screen when I tuned in today. After calling and complaining, they "sent a signal" to my box which has nicely taken it offline for up to 30 minutes, which means I can't watch any TV during that time. So not only do I now not get the Shootout, I can't even watch the game on FSW.

Anyone else with Comcast problems?

did they resolve this problem or leave you hanging?

i swear, i don't know why some of these companies hve so much trouble providing the Shootout. do they have the same trouble offering NBA Pass or the NFL football package?

[Jasonma]

Originally posted by FlashMan
did they resolve this problem or leave you hanging?

i swear, i don't know why some of these companies hve so much trouble providing the Shootout. do they have the same trouble offering NBA Pass or the NFL football package?

They left me hanging. The "best" they can do is send a technician out on Thursday to see if they can figure out what the problem is. After repeatedly telling them that this isn't the first time I've had this problem and EVERY time the problem has been on their end they told me they can't "elevate" the situation until a technician comes out and rules out the possibility that it's at my end. I'm calling back today when more of the managers are in the office to see if I can get a different answer.

If they don't have it fixed by next weekend I'm getting a refund and cancelling the Shootout package. I've fought this battle constantly for the last 3 seasons, I don't have the energy to fight it any more...

[dawgpound2]

Originally posted by Jasonma
They left me hanging. The "best" they can do is send a technician out on Thursday to see if they can figure out what the problem is. After repeatedly telling them that this isn't the first time I've had this problem and EVERY time the problem has been on their end they told me they can't "elevate" the situation until a technician comes out and rules out the possibility that it's at my end. I'm calling back today when more of the managers are in the office to see if I can get a different answer.

If they don't have it fixed by next weekend I'm getting a refund and cancelling the Shootout package. I've fought this battle constantly for the last 3 seasons, I don't have the energy to fight it any more...


There you are in Bellingham, WA struggling with the digital cable MLS Shootout. You know what the digital cable MLS Shootout package is like where I live? Neither do I! Ain't offered. You know what little hick town I live in? Los Freakin' Angeles!

Terrible, any way you look at it.

[Jasonma]

Well now the technician is coming out today. When I tried to tell her (again) that the history of this problem has been on their end, she informed me that it must be on my end. Why? Because if they had the problem they would be "flooded" with calls complaining, and my call is the only one they've gotten. Obviously she doesn't know the subscription base of the Shootout and the fact that they were never "flooded" with calls before when I had problems, yet the problem was on their end.

[Sneever Flion]

Why do companies make it so freaking hard for you to spend your money?

Comcrap sucks anyway. Go with DISH.

[ShadowNC]

The thing that puzzles me the most about this is that this past weekend was supposed to be a free preview weekend of the Shootout. Seems really messed up that you paid for it and couldn't get it, and others (like me) who haven't paid a cent yet were able to watch every game.

Was the free preview just a Cox promotion?

[Sneever Flion]

Originally posted by ShadowNC
The thing that puzzles me the most about this is that this past weekend was supposed to be a free preview weekend of the Shootout. Seems really messed up that you paid for it and couldn't get it, and others (like me) who haven't paid a cent yet were able to watch every game.

Was the free preview just a Cox promotion?

Nope. DISH has it as well.

[Knave]

Originally posted by dawgpound2
There you are in Bellingham, WA struggling with the digital cable MLS Shootout. You know what the digital cable MLS Shootout package is like where I live? Neither do I! Ain't offered. You know what little hick town I live in? Los Freakin' Angeles!
I asked this by PM too but perhaps I should ask it here too in case anyone in a similar situation is reading this thread. I'm in Los Angeles and was originally told that the shootout would not be offered. This turned out to be untrue. (I'm on Adelphia in Santa Monica.)

So I thought should ask what cable system you're on.

Also, the free preview on Adelphia went the first two weeks. Perhaps it was different on other systems but everyone - whether or not they paid for the package - should have gotten all the games this last weekend.

[Counselor]

I encouneted the exact same problem about 60 miles south of B-ham in Everett, WA. Comcast is sending a tech out Thursday.

Can the Bellinghamer let me know via a post here if the tech is able to accomplish anything today, or whether I should continue calling in to Comcast? I can't imagine what a tech would do in a home--this seems a pretty clear case of something being screwed up at the Comcast end of the line. Worst part is that I don't know how they'll be able to test if what they do works until the games come on again next weekend. I'm no fortune teller, but I can foresee this process repeating itself over and over again.

I'm assuming, by the way, that the package worked last week during the free preview? I knew they'd screw this up.

[Jasonma]

Originally posted by Counselor
I encouneted the exact same problem about 60 miles south of B-ham in Everett, WA. Comcast is sending a tech out Thursday.

Can the Bellinghamer let me know via a post here if the tech is able to accomplish anything today, or whether I should continue calling in to Comcast? I can't imagine what a tech would do in a home--this seems a pretty clear case of something being screwed up at the Comcast end of the line. Worst part is that I don't know how they'll be able to test if what they do works until the games come on again next weekend. I'm no fortune teller, but I can foresee this process repeating itself over and over again.

I'm assuming, by the way, that the package worked last week during the free preview? I knew they'd screw this up.

The tech just left. He pulled up the diagnostic screens on the cable box (don't ask me how) found one thing wrong, called the office and had them reset the box and change the variable so it was correct, and he said it should be fixed. The problem he said was that my box was "Intelco" (or maybe my box was in "Telco" I couldn't tell, and I don't know what it means) and had to be set to RF. Once they forced that change from the office and reset the box he said I should be good to go. He also told me that this was something they can, and should have, fixed from the office and sending out the tech isn't requried. They can controll all those box settings from the main office.

One note, if you do get the main ofice to reset your box, the settings you set under setup will return to their defaults. The tech looked at them before hand and reset them to where I had them on mine, but you'll have to do that yourself.

[billf]

Check the shootout channels and see if you have the next week's schedule on the screen. If so, then you're good. InDemand puts the week's schedule ona there so you know which games they are showing on which channel.

[Knave]

Originally posted by billf
Check the shootout channels and see if you have the next week's schedule on the screen. If so, then you're good. InDemand puts the week's schedule ona there so you know which games they are showing on which channel.
That may not be meaningful. At least as far a Adelphia is concerned the on-screen guide is provided by TV Guide and bears no necessary relation to what's on Adelphia's computers.

[Kryptonite]

Originally posted by Knave
Also, the free preview on Adelphia went the first two weeks. Perhaps it was different on other systems but everyone - whether or not they paid for the package - should have gotten all the games this last weekend.

everyone (cable, dish, directv) got the free preview for the previous two weeks.

[Jasonma]

Believe it or not, Comcast has actually realized their incompetance on this package. My wife just told me that she just got a call at home from Comcast. They looked into my problem and found that there was an error in the way the package was coded. (The No Duh award for this week goes to...) The problem has been fixed, and they will be calling me Saturday afternoon to confirm that the package is working.

If it actually works, I'll give them credit for finally fixing the problem, but it shouldn't have taken so much work on my part...

[Counselor]

Cable guy just left my place with similar comments. Tinkered with the Telco/RF settings, referenced problems with the computer coding of PPV events at Comcast, and became generally frustrated trying to deal with Comcast's own customer service folks. Good news is that he was a soccer fan and seemed as annoyed as I had been that the package wasn't sorted out. He also offered to call on Saturday to see if it was working. Like you, I find it ridiculous I have to take time out of my day to deal with this.

Interesting to hear about the call from Comcast though. Wonder if I should get on the horn again and reference your conversation with them? Is it just me or does it seem like there is a serious issue at Comcast whereby the left hand and the right hand rarely know what the other is doing. Thanks for the info.

[billf]

I'm not a Comcast customer anymore, but I was last year and had many many problems. I wrote to the local Comcast GM and ended up getting the Shootout for free. If the problems last too long or creep up again later in the season, give that a try and see what happens. I agree that it takes too much to deal with Comcast CS. I spend more time on the phone with Comcast last year for a host of problems than I did with every other company I deal with combined.

[Jasonma]

Hey Counselor, I talked to Comcast again and they say everything is set up for this week. The guy will be calling me right at 4:30 tomorrow when the first game starts. If you send me a private message with your phone number I can give it to the guy who calls as another person who has had trouble with the package.

[Knave]

Shouldn't we be starting a "Digital Cable Shootout problems: Week 3" thread?

You know there'll be problems. There always are ... :rolleyes: