WHY IS COMCAST CHANGING TURNER CLASSIC MOVIES TO SPORTS PACKAGE IN OCTOBER?

[RichNewman]

This is pathetic. You should reimburse me for removing something I watched regularly. I watch maybe 10 channels and you just remove one. I’m pretty much done with Comcast. I pay a few thousand dollars a year for lousy customer service and changes to programming on the fly.

[dcori]

Great job Comcast. So obvious the lower viewer ratings are due to an aging population where these movies have the most interest. How many millenials watching TCM? How many people on fixed income will now have shell out the 10 bucks becasue they can't cut the cord as its difficult to navigate the streaming platform. Let the stockholders take one for the team. 

[Ma34]

I do believe we should get a petition going as that speaks a louder voice 

is anyone interested in that if so let’s get that going

[Garo4381]

1. Apparently their sports packages are not selling well and they yank whatever popular program to stick in a "sports package" !  It won't work Comcast/Xfinity.   We are also looking at different options.

[KWH519]

Time to cut the cord

[thunderwalker]

Yeah, I was on edge but I switched to roku and Sling.

It pretty much had all the channels you want and one of the add ons is TCM.

You can get a cloud dvr two and never ever again have to rent equipment.

I told them to go to heck last night and cancelled all my services except internet. Later I will look for a cheaper internet provider.

Oh and you can modify all your subscriptions online never have to talk to the stupid customer service. They can be changed at any time.

Best decision of my life and am saving 300 to 400 dollars a year now.

Also no shopping channels or foreign language channels unless you want them.

[StJohnMe]

My dad's 92 years old and watches TCM everyday. He loves the old movies and both of us are not big sports fans, I would not purchase the sports package just to get TCM. It's not like I'm paying for the budget package, I'm paying $200 a month. It's a big slap in the face to say it nicely! 

[mkelso60]

What does TCM have to do with sports?  NOT A DARN THING.  <Edited>.  NOT HAPPY AT ALL, COMCAST.

[KWH519]

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@6818769 wrote:

Not only does my line up include multiple channels with the same program, at the same time, numerous foreign language channels, useless to us, now Comcast is taking TCM and putting it in with programming never watched in our house, SPORTS?

$197.83 plus all the additional nonsense charges, (i.e. "regional sports fee"?) is pretty hefty for the types of things provided in this line up.

Is Comcast trying to drive customers away?

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This is probably not trying to drive customers away, but that's what's probably going to happen. Trying to cut the cord.

[silverhorse72]

It is with great sadness that I discovered Comcast elected to move TCM to the "Sports Package"  which will increase my monthly cost by nearly $10.  As a 72-year old woman, I have absolutely no interest in accessing ANY sports program whereas I did find TCM a valuable portion of my current package.  In fact, this situation is a bit insulting as it appears Comcast is seeking to help offset its sports broadcasting fees on the backs of retired individuals living on fixed-incomes while I am already incurring a Comcast bill that is already over $200 a month and after I have been a loyal Comcast customer since the 1990's (that is over 30-years.)

At the risk of being called a "revoluationary" at my advanced age, I will sticking with my current package (minus TCM) and will NOT be signing up for this new programming.  However, I will BE utilizing my other options (e.g. Nextflix) much more widely.  I would encourage my fellow former-TCM viewers to do likewise.

In closing, I do find it a bit self-serving (albeit humorous too)  that the manager of this forum has marked this thread as being "answered" as I believe Comcast is far from offering an acceptable explanation for this channel hostage-taking.

[plp1223]

This is so disturbing, every month something changes to cost more and offer less. For those that watch TMC it is outrageous to pay more for what was included in the original package.  Lets talk about all the offers of free this and that and high speed internet at an introductory offer for the newbies. I have been with comcast for over 25years. Nice the way you take care of the old guard.

[Pargeon]

You, and all the CS reps, say

"We appreciate and value you all for choosing Comcast as your service provider. We can't thank you enough for your loyalty"

yet you offer us NOTHING for being customers for all these years.  You can thank me by:

*giving  me lower costs than you offer your new customers

*not changing your packages to make more money all the time

*remember you are supposed to be providing me with a service not just taking my money and providing me with LESS

Then maybe I would feel appreciated and want to stay with your company.  You only care about the bottom line -- how much profit can we make -- not how you can do better for customers.

[goldenautumn]

I am so sad and so disappointed in Comcast over this decision. I called in and operator blamed TCM for this. Im not buying that. Trying to capture as much money as you can from your loyal boomers who have stuck with cable and are the most likely to be watching TCM. This really is the last straw in my ability to have any faith in comcast. Going to Hulu. Shame on you for doing this to your loyal long term cable subscribers.

[dismukesk]

I'm so angry that Xfinity is forcing me to pay for a sports package just to watch TCM.  I don't watch sports.  This is the worst customer service ever.  I'm on  hold with Xfinity right now.  My only option is to change my channel lineup down to a less expensive option.   <Edited> When my 2-year committment is over I plan to drop Xfinity including the home secutiy service.   I'm in my seventies, very non-technical and don't do well with change but there has to be a better option then Xfinity.

[ruthieprince1]

Comast has really gone too far this time.  CHARGING for TCM and moving it to a Sports Package - Really?  Every other cable company on the planet includes TCM in their basic line-up.  I have had enough.  Direct TV is the way togo, and this is what is pushing me to finally leave Comcast.  I sincerely hope they lose a lot of cusotmers due to this ridiculous ploy to squeeze even MORE money from their subscribers, when they are already the highest priced cable company in the Nation.  There are many other choices out there today.  If they really had a care for their customers they would immediately reverse this stupid decision and pay more attention to their competition and to pleasing their customers.  Of course, this has NEVER been their philosophy - so why change now?

[scdegroot]

Thanks for the info! I was so blank off when I tried to watch a movie on TCM and got the message of prescription without any warning! What a disgrace!

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@Rob175 wrote:

<Edited>......I have other ways to watch TCM and plan to do so!!!  Moving to a "sports entertainment" channel<Edited>.  How about moving the home shopping channels, BET, and all the Spanish channels to their own packages!?.....probably won't ever happen since those channels sell their services to Comast on the cheap or free.....

The bottom line......<Edited>....cable TV companies your time is fast approaching and there will come a day (I hope soon) when you are a dinosaur!

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[ruthieprince1]

Just contacted TCM.  TRhey need to know how upset people are, AND that Comast is trying to blame THEM for this action!

[Beevs]

Ok, we have your favorite TV channel that you watch every day and bundled it with SPORTS? Did any executive search for logic in this arrangement? People who watch TCM are not your target audience for SPORTS channels of which we have a plethora already to wade through in the channel line-up. 

Want your channel back, just give us $12 more a month ---- how is that now a hostage/ransom situation? I am fed up and considering other  options including cutting the whole cord. 

[Eva7]

If TCM is not an option on my service, I will absolutely be looking for alternatives.  There is so little on without commercials and good quality these days.  TCM is the only respit to this glut of terrible TV shows on. 

I am the person in my neighborhood who convinced a5 families to stay with Comcast; I am seriously rethinking my advocacy.  

[hepuesta]

Hey guys, this is my take on this:

This is about saving Comcast/NBC (and their holdings/subsidiaries) vested interests in the “sports genre” and NOT about Comcast’s customers being given value for their money. One has to ask himself/herself: “What’s all this hoopla about cord-cutting??? Specifically adding TCM to a “sports package” doesn’t make sense and clearly is NOT a value to those who watch that (TCM) channel.... so why bother even offering the channel at all if it (TCM) is such a hindrance to Comcast’s channel lineup??? It is well known and common knowledge that sports (comparatively speaking) remains as a big portion of Comcast’s revenue BUT the fact remains, sports viewership continues to decline. (I’m not going to get into a debate of why sports viewership declining… that’s another whole different discussion). To continually invalidate and “bundle” a channel every few months (and disrespect the paying customers watching those channels) is a feeble, short-sighted attempt to maximize revenue and to rescue/support  a declining sports viewership at the expense of  “non-sports” customers. Comcast’s lucrative “sports interests” surely does NOT need “meek and insignificant” TCM to survive… (or does it? …. just sayin’….)

What do you guys think? 

[BonnieBA]

This is a blow to Retirees on fixed incomes and we appreciate like TCM Movies more than a lot of the other channels we do not watch. As many retirees I cannot afford the extra cost of extra Sports/Entertainment fees. Every time we pay for a two-year arrangement costs go up and that Contact is suppose to be for Two YEARS. With Xfinity1 costs close to $200 this decision is ridiculous.

[feedback60]

Cord cutting is taking a big bite out of cable revenues. This type of move however, is likely to accelerate the move away from cable since it diminishes the value of the product cable offers, and motivates users to exploere other options. The other side-effect is that it reinforces the opinion that cable companies are greedy and don't value their relationship with their customers. This compounds customer-resentment and further inspires the cusotomer to look at cord cutting.

The legal implications are also puzzling but not un-typical in the industry. If you were to sign a contract to lease a high-end car for three years at a set price per mont,h and the dealer lets you know a few months later that they are raising the payment arbitrarily, you would have recourse through your state attourney general. In this case (TCM), the analogy would be that the dealer would say you have to pay more per month or we are taking out the car's leather upholstery. In other words the product value will change unless you agree to new terms that lay outside the original contract. In most businesses this would be considred unethical to say the least.

[Eva7]

If TCM is not an option on my service, I will absolutely be looking for alternatives.  There is so little on without commercials and good quality these days.  TCM is the only respit to this glut of terrible TV shows on. 

I am the person in my neighborhood who convinced 15 families to stay with Comcast; I am seriously rethinking my advocacy.  

[Refuge]

What's the Next Comcast Surprise???

First Cinemax programming was "moved around" without actively contacting impacted customers (I hate those kind of surprises).

• For an additional fee you can still get it.
• In my opinion, all Comcast/Xfinity explanations provided have been lame

Now TCM programming was "moved around" without actively contacting impacted customers.

• For an additional fee, you can still get it by buying a sports package of some sort
• In my opinion, all Comcast/Xfinity explanations provided have been lame

In my opinion, these appear to be predatory business tactics although I'm sure there's a "perfectly sound" company explanation for it.

From an analytics standpoint, I'm not buying Comcast's data analysis on percentages of people and number of times TCM is watched. Please show me the analytics and facts Comcast.

In our household:

• TCM is was on no less than a few hours per day 
• Sports...never watched and our desire is not having those channels in our lineup 

[Witswits]

We already paid for a yearly subscription that had TCM included in the package. How do we get a refund so we can decide if we want to pay for it or simply give all that had TCM a 9.95 credit and then add the sports package for free to their service.

Problem solved and you will not lose as many customers as you thought.  Sooner or later all will be fed up with the price gouging and actually leave.

Can anyone post on these boards a alternative to Comcast as I think many will leave given the situation and what they just did to us again.

[JeffereyCawhorn]

TCM us still listed as part of my subscription but I can't watch it. If I'm going to pay more to get it I'll find another provider. I already paying $216 and that is too much.

[ruztur]

Mr Comcast:

     HELP!!!!    While you were away the kids there at the shop played with some of the settings and have blocked my TMC channel. I'm sure now that you know you'll take the steps to return TCM back to normal. Kids!!!

[MKmenta]

Why would Comcast change TCM to Sports Pkg.? I don't watch sports but will have to pay for the pkg to enjoy watching TCM. I am not happy and may change my service provider.

[Pinkycat1]

I'm with you.  This move makes no sense.  Maybe some younger viewers don't watch TCM much, but I have been a loyal comcast customer for over 25 years through all the ups and downs.  TCM is one of the main channels I watch.  It is a sneaky and indefensible move.  On a fixed income, I've had to watch any extra expenses, and cannot afford the fee.  This is really disturbing and has given me

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@mbg71 wrote:

I just received a notice from Comcast that they are removing TCM, Turner Classic Movies, from all current packages and moving it to the SPORTS ENTERTAINMENT PACKAGE?    What possible logic is there to that brilliant change?  TCM is widely viewed by many Comcast subscribers on their regular packages--NOT SPORTS ENTERTAINMENT PACKAGE!  I URGE COMCAST TO LEAVE TCM WHERE IT IS.  I am seriously considering cancelling my Comcast subscription over this.  <Edited>  Get real Comcast and leave TCM alone.  Seriously!

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reason to look elsewhere for service.  Besides the fact that moving it, younger viewers will have limited access to Classic TV and they will not have a chance to broaden their horizons.  BAD MOVE COMCAST! 

[rhunlenb]

I would like to express my displeasure to Comcast of changing TCM lineup in the package that I purchased.  TCM is one of the few channnels that I watch when there is nothing but junk on TV.  I too have been a loyal customer of Comcast.  I will not subscribe to a sports package that I don't need to watcht TCM.  Instead I will consider other options or other providers.  Comcast should at least grandfather their current subscribers.  

[chuckla]

I HATE SPORTS but I want my Turner Classic Movies! Why in the world you think the two go together is beyond me! One step closer to cutting the cord!!!

[MissingSC2]

I guess I have been living under a Rock. I didn't know of this change until this morning. Slipping TCM with sports??? Jerks. I just cut back on channels. I don't watch sports. 9.99 for old movies. now I am peeved. I already pay over $200 a month. I don't like my intellegence insulted. I have really been a proponent of cable... but they can kiss my axs. I have been wanting to sign up for Hulu I guess it's time.  

[rhunlenb]

Did TCM join Nexflix?  If so, then so shall I (rather I already have nexflix), I'll just have to watch it more.

[Dam76]

My parents live in a senior citizen community who only has Comcast.  There people are on a fixed income and now Comcast has removed TCM from their line up and now they have to pay for one of the few channels they watch.  Comcast has no heart and are bleeding those on a fixed income.  Shame on you.

[RPS15]

I plan to switch and cut the cord.

[cpzuber]

TCM is one of my husband's favorite channels. I too have hung in there with rate hikes, bad service,etc.  This is the last straw!. Tomorrow I will begin checking other companies for service. Comcast woos new customers, then treats them badly.

[G_K]

Comcast says that most TCM viewers watch only two movies per month, a demographic to which our household does not belong!  TCM is our refuge from movies filled with computer-generated graphics and news shows pushing partisan politics.  We are considering leaving Comcast, because it removes quality viewing while bloating its lineup with shopping and foreign-language programming. When people complain about having hundreds of channels with nothing worth watching, we'll add our voices to that chorus.

[Anon484065]

Dixie Gent I agree in principle, but you can't sue someone when the contract you signed says that anything in it can be changed without notice.  Of course, no one reads them.  

[Anon484065]

jaymax1146   DirectV and Dish Netowrk pull the SAME thing and once you sign a contract, you're STUCK. 

Better to just cut the cord, get a Usenet account, and use Comcast's internet to access it.  Downloading from Usenet is FREE and LEGAL.  That's what I'm doing Monday morning.

#FREETCM

[consultlb]

What "Brilliant Mind" decided that TCM belonged on a Sports Tier. I hope that all the elderly folks who rely on TCM sue you for age discrimination!

[Rjiggy]

So these geniuses would rather lose over $100 a month from customers canceling due to this, for the possible chance of an extra 10 or $12 gain from a customer?  Third graders learning business would make a better decision than this. 

[CCAndrew]

@statemisland
FYI It’s not TMC, The Movie Channel, it’s TCM, Turner Classic Movies

[rdav86]

Oh, you can call to complain.  And you will get the same rep you get during the week.<Edited>

[Anon484065]

staten island Don't wonder.  It's ALWAYS about money.  

#FREETCM

[Anon484065]

Jcleghorn ONE MORE CHOICE-  CUT THE CORD.  Use Comcast's Internet to access a Usenet account (purchacsed separately direct from a provider that ISN'T Comcast), from which you can download just about anything LEGALLY and FREE. 

#FREETCM

[lestercat]

Quality of customer service proves <Edited>. That's the only explanation for who I was talking to from comcast when i needed help.

[prove]

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@ComcastAlly wrote:

Hello, mbg71. Thank you for reaching out. 

Every month, Comcast pays programmers like networks, local TV station owners and others, for the ability to bring their programming to you. We regularly review our programming and sometimes make changes to ensure we're offering a wide variety of programming at the best value. We look at a variety of factors, including customer viewership and programming costs when making these decisions. Viewership of TCM is low, as over 90% of our customers watch less than two movies per month. Given this and contractual limitations on offering TCM a la carte, we decided to move TCM to the Sports Entertainment Package, which will help us manage programming costs that are passed on to our customers while continuing to make the channel available to those who want to watch it.

We sincerely appreciate all the feedback we have received in regards to this change. This thread has now been locked from receiving new replies.

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How does increasing prices increase value?

[Anon484065]

jCleghorn wrote: TCM's response is unfortunately the service provider made the decision and we can upgrade, or change carriers.

<Edited>

NO media in the US has MORE CLOUT than Comcast.  A service proovider telling THEM what they're going to do would be like a local store telling Walmart what they can and can't sell, when they can open and what they can charge. 

Give me a break.   

[hepuesta]

I agree. I have the same gripe with Comcast:

<Edited> One has to ask himself/herself: “What’s all this hoopla about cord-cutting??? Specifically adding TCM to a “sports package” doesn’t make sense and clearly is NOT a value to those who watch that (TCM) channel.... so WHY BOTHER even offering the channel at all if it (TCM) is such a hindrance to Comcast’s channel lineup??? <Edited>

My wife is nagging me to just drop ("cut the cord") Comcast as a cable tv subscriber since the ID Investigation Discovery channel had  entirely disappeared from the channel lineup. I'm getting tired of defending Comcast and giving them the benefit of the doubt.

Comcast is going to witness a backlash, the likes they have never seen before.... just sayin'.....

[Dam76]

Contact Tom Karishak your displeasure at moving TCM

https://www,xfinity.com/support/contact-us

Go to Tom Karishak’s picture and click on Read a Letter from Tom

on the last paragraph of his letter click on ‘contact me’