What does it mean when...

stevej37 · 12-14-2022, 08:50 AM

....you see a message scrolling across the bottom of your tv every half hour.
It says "Comcast is threatening to remove NBC-TV8 from their line-up. This will include all college and NFL games. Call ***-*****

I haven't called yet. Is this a scam for something else?

JackDidley · JackDidley's Garage

The NBC station wants more $$$ for programing than Comcast wants to pay. It is part of the negotiation.

stevej37 · 12-14-2022, 09:01 AM

I see. What does the phone call lead to...a money request?

JackDidley · JackDidley's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by stevej37

I see. What does the phone call lead to...a money request?

I never called but I think its a line to Comcast so you can tell them you want to keep NBC.

stevej37 · 12-14-2022, 09:06 AM

I like NBC morning news...so I might give them a call.
I'll have to catch the number tomorrow.

Norm K · 12-14-2022, 09:15 AM

Assuming you're not extremely rural, a cheap digital antenna will get you your local stations independent of any cable company.

_

stevej37 · 12-14-2022, 09:23 AM

The closest NBC tower is 65 miles due south.
My garage is detached from the house and a few years back I put a 15ft mast with a double-stacker antenna on the end it.
I can get NBC in the garage, but I really don't want an antenna on the house.

rockfan4 · 12-14-2022, 09:36 AM

I'm really disappointed in you, Steve.
The thread title should be

Comcast is threatening to take away my WOOD!!

stevej37 · 12-14-2022, 09:41 AM

^^^ Hah! That's what it is WOOD-TV 8....I didn't think anyone would recognize that.

Seahawk · 12-14-2022, 09:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rockfan4

I'm really disappointed in you, Steve.
The thread title should be

Comcast is threatening to take away my WOOD!!

Post of the Year.

stevej37 · 12-14-2022, 09:47 AM

If I call them tomorrow....I'll start with that.

rockfan4 · 12-14-2022, 11:14 AM

How far apart are your house and garage?
Sling makes a device called a AirTV, it attaches to an antenna and then sends locals to the SlingTV app if you're on the same network.

So if you have a good wifi signal in your garage, you could put the AirTV in the garage, attach it to your antenna, and then watch local channels on the SlingTV app, either on a smart tv or roku or similar.

You're right in the middle of nowhere, right? Too far north of Grand Rapids for a good signal, and yet not close enough to Traverse City either. WOOD has a repeater in Muskegon, but it's really low power and you probably can't pick it up either.

I'm fortunate that even though my NBC station is in Eau Claire, they run a repeater near La Crosse so that I can pick up their signal over the air. If the weather is just right I can pull the Eau Claire signal, even with just a indoor antenna.

stevej37 · 11:27 AM

^^^ Yes...that's about exactly where I am.

I'll see what this leads to. If they do stop carrying WOOD...I'll start looking.

My problem is that I have Comcast Triple Play...which includes tv, home phone, internet service.
If I stop one of these...my bill goes up.
So..the only alternative is to stop all. Then I have to shop for internet and I still won't get stations like BTN...where most of the Big 10 games are.

I struggle with this decision every year.

stevej37 · 12-14-2022, 11:41 AM

[QUOTE=rockfan4;11873024]How far apart are your house and garage?
Sling makes a device called a AirTV, it attaches to an antenna and then sends locals to the SlingTV app if you're on the same network.

About 40 ft.
That would require a rotor if I wanted the other networks.

I have a SlingBox....but that's a whole diff thing.

juanbenae · 12-14-2022, 01:30 PM

the local Sacramento Fox station is running the same spot in commercial form.

stevej37 · 12-14-2022, 01:51 PM

Just now caught the phone number on the notice.

Called it and after verifying my account number, I get this message...."An ongoing third party issue is preventing us from taking online payments."

Wtf does that mean? I'm not trying to pay...I'm just answering the phone number on the tv screen.

Bob Kontak · Bob Kontak's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by stevej37

^^^ Hah! That's what it is WOOD-TV 8....I didn't think anyone would recognize that.

Anybody remember Woodrow the Woodsman out of Detroit?

mattdavis11 · 12-15-2022, 04:19 AM

The more that call the broadcasting network (WOOD), the more they know about demand, so the more $ they demand from Comcast.

I approach the other way around. I would call Comcast and ask them when they plan on shutting down WOOD 8 so you can cancel service.

stevej37 · 12-15-2022, 07:24 AM

^^^
I called the number last night and again this am.
It leads to the Comcast menu for callers. Nothing is said about the NBC problem.

Maybe someone is going to look at the number of calls...but I could be calling about other issues or programming changes.

stevej37 · 04:42 PM

Now, they are running commercials with the same message and phone number.

The phone number still leads to the Comcast/Xfinity menu for user help.
1-800-934-6489