Comcast defends MSNBC shift

Sarasota Herald Tribune ^ | July 3, 2009 | Toni Whitt

[Presbyterian Reporter]

First it was a PBS station, and now Comcast has moved its MSNBC news channel from 42 to higher channels that require a digital cable box.

While some subscribers are claiming it smacks of an anti-liberal conspiracy, Comcast officials disagreed.

They said that it is all part of the digital revolution in television, and that it is only designed to give the cable company's viewers better service.

MSNBC was available only to subscribers with the full basic service, so those who have the limited basic service would not have noticed because they never had the channel.

Those who have full basic service can now get one free cable box which will give them access to channels 83 and 185, where MSNBC has been moved, said Elaine Lunkes, Comcast's director of community and commercial development.

While Lunkes said the "vast majority" of subscribers have the full basic cable services, she would not specify how many subscribers -- or what percentage -- were affected by the change.

MSNBC did not return phone calls for comment on Thursday.

Lunkes said the move "accommodates new broadband coverage" such as more high-definition programming, capacity for an expanded video-on-demand library and faster Internet speeds.

But the decision had Jean Zawitoski, a 15-year Comcast subscriber, wondering whether the motives behind the company's change were more political than technological.

"MSNBC is a liberal station," said Zawitoski, a Charlotte County resident. "Fox and some of the others are more conservative. I thought it was very unusual, to say the least, that of all the stations they could have chosen it was MSNBC.

"To me, that is limiting opinion," she added.

Zawitoski said she plans to file a formal complaint with the Federal Communications Commission.

[Presbyterian Reporter]

There are times when story in a liberal newspaper is good news to a conservative.

I happened across a letter to the editor while reading the free, online version of the Sarasota HT in which the liberal letter writer was complaining about MSNBC being moved from its prime Channel 42 slot to a subprime Channel 83 slot.

I would think Comcast made this move because of MSNBC's low viewership.

But the good news for conservatives is that Comcast's decision will result in even fewer viewers of MSNBC and cost the liberals to spend money on a cable box.

A win-wind if I say so myself.

[9YearLurker]

Ha ha!

[tx_eggman]

Damn ... now I’ll have to search it out and block it again

[exist]

Because I was too cheap to upgrade I had to suffer with no Fox News for the last 2 years. That means I had to watch CNN and MSNBC all throughout the primaries. It was torture.

Thankfully they pulled on MSNBC and we got Fox now.

[GraceG]

Dear Comcast;

Please move CNN, CNBC, CNN Headline News, ABC, CBS, and NBC to the digital channels so that we may see them in glorious High Definition.

Your truly,
Loyal Customer

[a fool in paradise]

"MSNBC is a liberal station," said Zawitoski, a Charlotte County resident.

POPPYCOCK. There is no media bias, except at Fox.

We all know that. < /sarc >

[Presbyterian Reporter]

It appears Comcast has moved MSNBC to a different channel in the Pittsburgh market.

Yahoo!!!

http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/09184/981453-67.stm

[Spok]

At least we’re all in agreement that MSNBC is not a news channel.

[bcsco]

I’d never had known if it hadn’t been for this article. I have a fairly high level of Comcast, but don’t even know what local channel MSNBC was being broadcast on before this, let alone where it’s at now.

[Buck W.]

My inlaws have Dish Network and Fox News is part of an upgrade package, while CNN is in the basic service.

[jessduntno]

MSNBC was available only to subscribers with the full basic service, so those who have the limited basic service would not have noticed because they never had the channel.

No one noticed because no one watched...

[WayneS]

More importantly, ComCast has also moved the Cartoon Network to a higher channel, which requires the digital box.

Evidence of a consiracy against the reality-impaired?

[cripplecreek]

Its on channel 47 on my scamcast cable.

[G Larry]

If they’d just get an 8 foot couch, they could seat all of the viewers in the studio and free up a lot of bandwidth....

[djf]

I am so effin sick of Shaq and the dwarf I could hurl...

[Presbyterian Reporter]

Comcast may have done the same thing in Seattle to improve the viewers appreciation of Olberman’s good looks in high definition.

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/technologybrierdudleysblog/2009408896_comcast_channel_shuffles_in_au.html

[ICU812]

Now that’s Comcastic!

[EagleUSA]

While some subscribers are claiming it smacks of an anti-liberal conspiracy, Comcast officials disagreed.
:::::::::
Excellent.

[festusbanjo]

Comcast looked at viewership levels and since the local cable providers also make a boatload of revenue selling advertising, decided to replace BSNBC with a network that might actually have viewers, like say...the Test Pattern Network.

[Oldeconomybuyer]

Live + Same Day Cable News Daily Ratings for July 6, 2009

P2+ Total Day
FNC – 1,334,000 viewers
CNN – 782,000 viewers
MSNBC –474,000 viewers
CNBC – 183,000 viewers
HLN – 374,000 viewers

www.tvbythenumbers.com