It is not for CableVision to decide on behalf of all their customers that they will no longer carry channels 7 and 9 following BBC's decision to start charging for them.
If CableVision are not prepared to absorb these costs then they should pass them on to us, but give us the option of whether we want to subscribe. Those who agree with CableVision that the charges are unfair can decline to subscribe; those of us who think that an extra, say, $5 a month is worth it (particularly if it may enable the BBC to improve the quality of their programmes) can continue to get the channels. Everybody wins.
CableVision's current approach will only aggravate those of us who want to keep getting channels 7 and 9 but will be unable to do so. I want them on cable because I don't want to have to put up an antenna, I don't want the quality to be any worse than it already is, and I want to be able to record the programmes on my PVR. And yes, I am prepared to pay a premium for that, if necessary.
I'm also deeply suspicious of CableVision's claim to be fighting on behalf of their subscribers. If they were so concerned about us, they would have done something about their shoddy customer service a long time ago. Their claims that their customers can watch the programmes online are also untrue - full episodes from ABC.com and CBS.com are only available to residents of the United States.
If channels 7 and 9 do go off the air, we may just cancel our subscription completely. Because of CableVision's failure to get the major networks on their HD service, we are already downloading most of the TV shows we watch from iTunes. The main reason we haven't already given up our $120 per month CableVision subscription is that Mandy watches "As The World Turns", which we can't download. If we can no longer get that show, it's simply not worth us keeping our subscription.
I suspect, however, that CableVision is bluffing. Many of the most popular Bermudian shows, including Oprah, are on channels 7 or 9. I think CableVision would see a mass exodus of subscribers for WOW if they dropped them. While I'm not enthusiastic to see my cable bill rise any higher, BBC should stick to their guns. I may not like what they are doing, but I like what CableVision is doing even less.
