Tim Russert: 1950-2008 June 13, 2008

Alex Wong/Getty Images file; used in MSNBC.com link

I was surprised, shocked, and saddened to learn about a half ago that Tim Russert has died of an apparent heart attack today.  He was 58.

Tim was a great man, a giant in broadcast news, and one of my broadcasting inspirations.  In July 2004, as I was beginning my run at WGBB, I bought and listened to the audiobook for his book “Big Russ & Me,” about his love and appreciation for his father.  I listened to it again with my dad two months later, as we drove to Penn State, my sister’s alma mater (she was a senior at the time), to watch a Nittany Lions football game against UCF (the University of Central Florida) at Beaver Stadium.  Flooding along the Delaware Water Gap – as a result of the remnants of Hurricane Ivan – forced us to turn around on I-80 near the New Jersey-Pennsylvania border and drive home, giving my dad and I an opportunity to listen to more of that touching book.

My condolences to Tim’s wife Maureen Orth, his son Luke, his extended family, and his father, the original Tim Russert: Big Russ himself.

Up and down feelings about Cablevision June 4, 2008

5 1/2 hours ago, I called Cablevision and asked a customer service representative if any new channels would be added within the next few weeks.  The rep said “no,” which resulted in me lashing out at her, venting my frustration that all my optimism for channels being added in the future was for nothing and that I hate Cablevision.  I then hung up, wrote a frustrated post here, and called DirecTV.  I told one of their reps what had just happened with the Cablevision rep.  I was seriously considering, on knee-jerk impulse, to get DirecTV for my room because they had so many channels that I wanted that Cablevision will [seemingly, at the time] never add.  I didn’t buy a package, though, wanting to go over with the idea with my parents.  My mom didn’t like the idea, saying it was a “frivolous” one.  My dad would probably feel the same way.

As time passed, my frustration wore off.  So, I deleted my frustrated post, called Cablevision back, spoke to a different rep, and apologized for lashing out.  This rep was more optimistic, said that the earlier rep shouldn’t have just said “no,” and filled out an inquiry on my behalf that I would like Fox Business Network added to the lineup.

Long story short, I’m not switching to DirecTV.  I’d like to, but I just can’t do it.  My patience with Cablevision can be tried at times, but I need to remain patient and, above all, calm.

So, I apologize to those of you that were here earlier and saw me so angry.  Don’t worry, that post is long gone.

11/19/09 UPDATE: FBN has finally come to Cablevision!

My latest Cablevision update May 6, 2008

I got a notice in the mail from Cablevision that said the following:

In conjunction with continuously making technological improvements to our services, the following is important to review:
… Digital cable boxes will be necessary by 6/3/08 for each television set in your home on which you wish to continue receiving TLC, A&E, E!, Sci-Fi Channel, truTV, Animal Planet, Travel Channel, C-SPAN2, QVC, and OTB/RAI (new channel location 74).
C-SPAN is now available to the Broadcast Basic level of service on channel 77.

I then called Cablevision to speak to another customer service rep.  I asked if this change coincides with the addition of new channels.  She said yes, but that won’t happen right away.  Here’s where the feelings got mixed: I told her about what the rep I spoke to last Wednesday told me about Time Warner and Cablevision working together to have the same channels.  She denied that.  So much for that theory.  However, she asked if there was a specific channel I was requesting.  Of course, I told her Fox Business Network (FBN).  She said hey were getting a lot of requests for FBN and BBC America.  She suggested I go to Cablevision’s suggestion box to make any requests, adding that all suggestions are taken seriously.

Here’s hoping I finally get the channels I want without having to switch to another provider.  Wish me and my fellow Cablevision subscribers luck.

UPDATE: I made my channel requests in the suggestion box.  The list included FBN, FBN HD, and FNC (Fox News Channel) HD.

7/3 UPDATE: Yesterday, Cablevision announced they will be adding 15 HD channels at the end of this month.  I posted about it here.

11/19/09 UPDATE: FBN has finally come to Cablevision!

One week ago… April 23, 2008

…well, actually, one week and one day ago, I started this blog.  To all that have visited so far, thank you.  Keep checking back in.  There will be more posts to come.

P.S. Still no FBN (Fox Business Network) on Cablevision.  I’m about to call them again.  I know what’ll happen, but I’m doing it anyway.

UPDATE: Female customer service rep, after I requested that FBN be added: “I can submit the request [for FBN].  I’m not sure that’s going to happen [that the channel will ever be added], but…”  And then, I let out a frustrated sigh and hung up.  You know, maybe I should look into DirecTV.  It’ll be an extra $65 to $80 per month to spend, but with all the channels they have, it would be worth it.

11/19/09 UPDATE: FBN has finally come to Cablevision!

I want my FBN…and some other channels, too. April 17, 2008

Fox Business Network logo; Logo is owned by Fox News Network, LLC

It’s been six months since the Fox Business Network launched.  Cable providers like Time Warner Cable, Comcast, and Bright House Networks do carry the channel.  Meanwhile, my provider, Cablevision, does not.  I’m limited to watching the few remaining business programs on the Fox News Channel, the biggest of which is “Your World with Neil Cavuto,” for my business news on TV.  Otherwise, the only way I can see FBN is by going to foxbusiness.com to see video of select segments from FBN programs.

I have called Cablevision customer service a handful of times in the past six months, and each time, I’m told they’re “in negotiations” to carry FBN.  The last time I called, when I asked if they were any closer to carrying it, the customer service representative pulled up the channel listings and told of the channels they do have, as if I don’t know what’s available.

Switching to DirecTV or Verizon FiOS TV is not an option for me; I don’t have the extra money for either.  And although I’m dissatisfied with the channels Cablevision does not have, I’m satisfied with the channels they dohave.  I’m especially satisfied with their high-speed internet provider, Optimum Online.  In essence, you could call this a like-dislike (I won’t go so far as “love-hate”) relationship with Cablevision.  Yet, I despise their ads where an actor stands in front of a white background arrogantly and smugly promoting Cablevision’s wares: iO (Interactive Optimum) Digital Cable Service, Optimum Online, Optimum Voice (Voice over Internet Protocol; VoIP) phone service, free HD channels, and News 12.   He typically does all that while knocking the competition: “Phone Company TV.”  Then, he walks off camera (stage left) to silence, followed by a graphic (i.e. “HD is free with iO”) appearing on screen, dissolving to a logo, and the commercial fading to black.  In one commercial, the actor flaunts a J.D. Power and Associates award.

Perhaps another reason FBN has not been added yet is there has not been enough demand for the channel.  This may be why channels like ESPNU, Boomerang, Travel Channel HD, and The Weather Channel HD have not been added either, while other providers have had them for months, if not years (depending on when they were launched).  By the way, unless the NFL (National Football League) agrees to have NFL Network placed on digital sports tiers, their channel is not being added to any cable provider anytime soon, no matter how hard customers plead.

If you are a Cablevision customer like me, call 1-866-575-8000 and tell a customer service rep you want the Fox Business Network.  You can do the same for any other channel that they don’t have yet but should.  We can do it.  We can get our FBN.

If you’re a customer outside of Cablevision’s market, or a satellite/phone TV customer that has FBN, feel free to comment and let me know your thoughts on this.  I’d especially like to hear from those whose cable provider actually carries FBN.  (And if asked, I will remove the logo.)

UPDATE-4/17, 7:10 PM ET: I just saw an Optimum Voice ad with Barry Bostwick.  He played a character [appropriately] called “The Voice.”  Now, there’s a Cablevision ad I can be proud of…you know, until I get sick of it.

6/26 UPDATE: Contrary to what a guide at ChaCha said (my blog stats showed somebody getting referred to my blog from that site), I am not the guy in the Optimum commercials.  If you read this entire post, you’ll see I air my extreme displeasure with the commercials, but do not admit I am that actor.

7/3 UPDATE: Yesterday, Cablevision announced they will be adding 15 HD channels at the end of this month.  I posted about it here.

7/11 UPDATE: Why do people keep going to this post?  There’s more to my blog than airing my displeasure for an arrogant character in Optimum commercials and identifying Barry Bostwick as “The Voice” for separate commercials.  Feel free to look around.  Click Home, About or Archives to see my other blog posts.  And don’t think I meant Bostwick is arrogant because I didn’t mean that.

10/9 UPDATE: I saw the guy people confused me for in an ad for Lipo-Flavanoid Plus.  Suddenly, he doesn’t seem as arrogant (to me, anyway) as the character he portrays in the Optimum ads.

11/19/09 UPDATE: FBN has finally come to Cablevision!

8/16/12 UPDATE: And now, NFL Network and NFL RedZone are coming to Cablevision.