Our Cable Television Company example essay topic

Recently, our cable television company switched from analog to digital cable; and ever since they made this change, it has been one thing going wrong after another. First of all, they raised our rates. Then we were presented with this huge, black cable box to put on top of our television set. Also, I learned that I had to have a box for every television set in the house.

The real inconvenience came when I was informed that I could no longer watch one television show while recording a program from another channel. That makes a lot of sense, doesn't it? We must hook up a second television set accompanied by a second gigantic cable box just to record something other than the channel I was watching. The clear picture that I had been used to seeing every day now had days when it was fuzzy and days when 70% of the channels went out completely. Many times the reception broke up into tiny squares like jigsaw puzzle pieces trying to make a complete picture. Customers may have three boxes without charge, but that does not make the digital system perfect.

Of course, cable TV isn't perfect, either. Cable rates for the most popular basic package spiked 8.2% while the cost of living rose only 1.5% in the same period (David Lieberman). My cable television company switched from analog to digital saying it was progress. Most customers would get better value for what they would spend for television programming. This means more channels per dollar (Henry Grinchell). But our rates went up and the picture quality went down.

Television is a vital tool in today's society. Advertising comes at specified intervals. A director of marketing of Los Angeles-based interconnect A dlink says, "We " re more than just local cable. We " re delivering advertisers' messages to the consumer most likely to respond to them.

It's the closest thing to addressable advertising that's being offered today " (Vicki Lins). Toddlers begin their educations with Bert and Ernie from Sesame Street. Teachers direct their students to documentaries as learning aids. People unable to leave their homes for whatever reasons can have the world brought to them via TV. Politicians rely heavily on TV broadcasts to get their platforms out to the public. One campaign manager compared political TV cable advertising to the proven effectiveness of red balloons and emery boards (Joe Slade White).

And, of course, old movies and other entertainment help all of us to relax. Television is a very important part of our lives, and we must have a good picture. I interviewed a cable technician when he came to our house as a troubleshooter. He was eager to talk about what had been done in other small towns, and what could be done in our neighborhood. "Now, there is only one way that the problem can be fixed. The installers must dig up the old underground cable and replace it with a new one".

(Bobby Hudson) It would cost almost the same amount of money to dig up the old cable and splice it as it would to dig up the old one and replace it. The company used the equipment that was already in place, causing the problem with the reception. To install all new wiring at the same time, though, would have deprived our small community of any TV shows that couldn't be seen via rabbit ears. Our community is so small that there is only one company available. The cable system should return to the way it was, or at least the company should give you the opportunity to either accept the new service or keep your old one.

Lightning struck the new digital line, completely destroying the digital receiver. Although the cable company replaced their black box, it meant another trip to the cable office. We had to bring the new one home and reinstall it. To solve the problem and make satisfied customers, you must give them a choice. My grandfather lives in Indiana, and he will be allowed to go back to the cable TV after he has fulfilled his one-year, digital contract.

He is anxious to return to his uncomplicated viewing. Our company offered us no such choice. I understand it is probably more complicated than they can tell me. It could be that they have invested too heavily in adopting the new system to abandon it. But in conclusion, we would like to go back to our uncomplicated cable TV. We don't like the ugly, black boxes that sit stacked with our VCRs on top of our TVs, and we don't like being able to record only what we are watching.

If we could go back, our only problem then would be to keep fresh batteries in our remote controls.

Bibliography

Grinchell, Henry. "Satellite TV versus Cable TV: Making the Right Choice". Satellite Insight. com. July 10, 2003.
Lieberman, David. "Spikes in Cable Rates Set Off Anger". USAToday. July 9, 2003: B 1.
Lins, Vicki. "Campaigns & Elections: Using Cable TV in Campaign 2000: Big Media Opportunity for Small and Large Campaigns".
FindArticles. TBR Virtual Library, TN. July 10, 2003.
White, Joe Slade. TBR Virtual Library, TN. July 10, 2003.