FCC Orders Time Warner to Restore the NFL Network

Well, I have the NFL Network back for at least 30 days. The FCC ordered them to comply with a rule requiring 30 notification of channle deltions. These "people" need to get their act together, reach an agreement and keep the NFL Network for their customers. Here's the story:

http://www.multichannel.com/article/CA6359548.html

Oh, I forgot to mention something that really aggravated me on this issue of Time Warner yanking my NFL Network. While I was on the phone with the Time Warner rep, I asked if there was someone else I could voice my complaint to. They told me that the only thing I could do was post comments on a special website they created. The site is truly insulting.

http://WWW.NFLGetReal.com

You have to give them you name, email, phone and address and choose one of 3 possible votes. The 3 choices are all positive for Time Warner and Negative for the NFL Network (it should be in a package, packages are great and how could they charge the cable co so much). That is truly asinine and insulting. Way to go Time Warner! Adding insult to injury rarely inspires loyalty in customers.

Today I turned the channel to the NFL Network. It had disappeared. WTF? Well, it turns out that Comcast traded some of their areas to Time Warner as part of the Adelphia breakup. So now I'm a Time Warner customer without the NFL Network instead of a Comcast customer with the NFL Network. No notice, no explanation.

I called to complain and was told that Time Warner will NOT be getting the NFL Network, period. The rep told me that they had sent out notification. I found a letter in the mail bin from yesterday that indicated the ownership change and promised "great things" and better services...no mention of losing the NFL Network. I asked if I would be getting a discount on my packaage since they took away the channel that promted me to upgrade to my current digital plus package. The answer was NO!

So, now I'll miss all of the great shows that I have loved on NFL, plus miss 8 games that are being shown on the NFL Network this season...including one featuring my hometown Dallas Cowboys. What a crock...I live for football season and this sucks.

Apparently this will be happening in several other major citeis as well. The unlucky fans in these cities will probably be about as thrilled as me. Green Bay is on the list. So I guess the fans there will miss the home game on 12/21 against division rival Minnesota. That will not go over very well.

Enough of my rant for now. I'm going to put some thought into what actions we can take to try to influence Time Warner to do right by their customers. Worst case, I may have to move to satellite. Hopefully we can convince them to give us back the NFL Network. So call them. Complain. Take a lot of their time complaining. Perhaps some protests (peaceful ones) would help them understand how bad this is for their customers. If you have thoughts, ideas, etc, please post them in the comments.