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Washington, D.C. (August 16, 2007) -- I get scores of e-mails every week from readers asking everything from whether they should buy a new HDTV to when will their TV provider add new high-def channels.
So, from time to time, I will publish my responses here in this new column called, "Ask Swanni!"
Q. Why do you think satellite keeps beating cable in these customer satisfaction studies? I saw that DIRECTV just won the J.D. Power rankings. -- Oscar P.
Cable TV's customer service still has a bad reputation, largely due to poor service provided during the 1980s and 1990s when it had a virtual monopoly in most markets. The old joke about the cable guy being late to a service call was funny because it was so true.
While some cable TV operators have made vast improvements in the customer service area, many people can't shake the negative experiences of the past and thus are less likely to give them a strong rating.
Q. In your story about Blu-ray beating HD DVD in sales of the new 300 DVD, you didn't mention that the sales are only for the first week. -- Tony W.
The article noted the two discs were released July 31. So I think it's obvious that the sales data is not very old. That said, I am amazed at the lengths that some HD DVD supporters will go to defend their favorite high-def disc format. Blu-ray is killing HD DVD in just about every category, but the HD DVD supporters continue to say that the sky is blue.
Q. Do you expect more local stations to go HD with the news this year? -- Kathy T.
Yes, after the new TV season begins in September, I think you will see a slew of stations making announcements. Many stations around the country are making the preparations now, adding new lighting and cameras. They are just waiting for the best time -- largest viewing audience -- to make the switch.
Q. Do you think Time Warner will settle their dispute with the NFL Network before they start showing regular season games in HD? -- Frank S.
I wish I could be hopeful, but I'm not. Time Warner wants to put the NFL Network in an elite sports programming package so it can charge more for it, but the network is 100 percent opposed. By the way, the NFL Network's regular season games begin Thanksgiving night.
Please click to read Part Two of Ask Swanni.
So, from time to time, I will publish my responses here in this new column called, "Ask Swanni!"
Q. Why do you think satellite keeps beating cable in these customer satisfaction studies? I saw that DIRECTV just won the J.D. Power rankings. -- Oscar P.
Cable TV's customer service still has a bad reputation, largely due to poor service provided during the 1980s and 1990s when it had a virtual monopoly in most markets. The old joke about the cable guy being late to a service call was funny because it was so true.
While some cable TV operators have made vast improvements in the customer service area, many people can't shake the negative experiences of the past and thus are less likely to give them a strong rating.
Q. In your story about Blu-ray beating HD DVD in sales of the new 300 DVD, you didn't mention that the sales are only for the first week. -- Tony W.
The article noted the two discs were released July 31. So I think it's obvious that the sales data is not very old. That said, I am amazed at the lengths that some HD DVD supporters will go to defend their favorite high-def disc format. Blu-ray is killing HD DVD in just about every category, but the HD DVD supporters continue to say that the sky is blue.
Q. Do you expect more local stations to go HD with the news this year? -- Kathy T.
Yes, after the new TV season begins in September, I think you will see a slew of stations making announcements. Many stations around the country are making the preparations now, adding new lighting and cameras. They are just waiting for the best time -- largest viewing audience -- to make the switch.
Q. Do you think Time Warner will settle their dispute with the NFL Network before they start showing regular season games in HD? -- Frank S.
I wish I could be hopeful, but I'm not. Time Warner wants to put the NFL Network in an elite sports programming package so it can charge more for it, but the network is 100 percent opposed. By the way, the NFL Network's regular season games begin Thanksgiving night.
Please click to read Part Two of Ask Swanni.