Is CableVision a Useful Idiot for TVoIP?

Consumerist has an interesting expose here on the BS that CableVision is dishing out to its customers that they will lose services if they don’t upgrade to digital cable and they are blaming the FCC for the reason why. What I think of these kind of dealings I can’t print. –

Cablevision is lying to customers by claiming that the FCC will require all subscribers to upgrade to digital cable boxes in 2009. Digital cable boxes cost $6.50 per month, plus an extra $10.95 for digital service. Cablevision recently sent a letter to all boxless subscribers threatening to cut several channels unless they forked out a bundle of extra cash for digital service. When one of our family member called for an explanation, Cablevision shirked responsibility and placed the blame squarely on some crazy new FCC mandate. We called shenanigans and decided to call back and record our chats with several customer service representatives. Inside, the recordings of Cablevision lies and the FCC’s flaccid response.

This is what happens when you have a service monopoly in a particular area. I can’t support some wrath that Consumerist pushes in the article. But it is telling that a major corporation will out and out lie. Its just bad marketing and it forces customers to look around for alternatives.

The alternative? There are a few. Netflix and Netflix Online come to mind. But the bigger threat is TVoIP in total. Walling yourself off looking for ever higher revenue streams is not going to work in the end game for the cable co’s. Given TVoIP is just starting the major movie producers won’t be far behind. When the MGM’s and UA’s are streaming movies there too goes the Pay per View channel.

So go ahead CableVision, cheat your customers. You will pay for it in the end — literally.