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http://www.omniture.com --> Sections Home Page Local News AP News Archives Business Classifieds Event Calendar Forums Life Opinion Obituaries Photo Gallery Since We Asked Sports Tempo Weather Special Coverage 2006 Britt Festivals --> Shop Our Valley AutoFinder HomeFinder JobFinder Search Our Valley Special Sections Homelife Magazine Joy Magazine Readers Choice 2006 Oregon Golf Info Oregon Wine Info Our Valley Other Publications Local Links Ashland News eSouthernOregon Newspapers In Education Personals Moving Here Movie Listings TV Listings Volunteer Customer Service Advertise With Us Media Kit Place Classified Ad Contact Us FAQ's Home Delivery Site Map --> Email Story to a Friend August 17, 2006 Channel switch peeves Charter cable customers Subscribers weren't notified before Tuesday's reshuffle because of a mailing snafu View new Charter lineup here By Greg Stiles Mail Tribune The past couple of days haven't been the best of times for many Charter Communications cable customers. The Rogue Valley's cable television provider caught many of its clients by surprise when a massive channel switch took place Tuesday. Although Charter made a public announcement to media outlets via fax and e-mail on Friday, its primary way of disseminating the news to its subscribers — via bulk mail — broke down. Charter expected channel cards to begin appearing in customer's mailboxes over the weekend. But many subscribers first encountered the change when they switched on their television sets Tuesday. "I was a little bit disgusted, but one woman in her 90s was just livid," said 79-year-old Kai Graff, who lives at Ross Knotts Retirement Center off Barnett Road. "Some of the people that live here said they were going to sue those blankety-blanks. I said 'Good luck.' " Advertisement Harold and Evelyn Murphy of Talent wondered where one of their favorite channels had disappeared to as they walked down Grape Street to the Charter Communications office in Medford. "Suddenly everything changed," said Evelyn Murphy, a five-year Charter subscriber. "We haven't found Channel 29 (the Hallmark channel) yet." Hallmark is now on Channel 187, available only to those who subscribe to the digital package. Mike O'Herron, Charter Communication's Southern Oregon area general manager, said the channel cards were held up someplace between the printing shop and post office. "We had hoped for them to show up over the weekend or Monday," Herron said. "I think they could be in mailboxes (Wednesday) because they were in the Medford post office (Tuesday)." Naturally, the cable company was deluged with phone calls and e-mail with a few spilling over to the Mail Tribune and local radio stations. "We touch 54,000 homes and there is a correlation between the more people touched and more phone calls," O'Herron said. "Any time we change channels or rates, no matter how small or big, the (response) numbers feel big." By reshuffling the channels, popular networks such as Northwest Cable News, Fox News, Hallmark Channel and Discovery Channel disappeared from the basic cable package. "Of course people want to know why," O'Herron said. "Some people don't know the numbers and some people have upgraded to get the channels. Have we lost customers? I would say we have lost less than a handful. Certainly customers upgraded in greater numbers to get what they wanted. In some cases, when they no longer can get it on their level, they discontinued service. But we're not seeing hordes of numbers like you might think." The shuffle was the final straw for some subscribers. Willa Johnson, the 80-year-old director of the Phoenix Chamber of Commerce Information Center, bluntly said adieu to her cable reception after 25 years. "If I can't get Fox News there is no point in getting cable; it's the station I watch the most," Johnson said. "Most of the stuff on cable is junk and most of television is junk. We got cable when we moved up here in 1981. They kept upping and upping the rates and then when they went to offering basic, they gradually upped and upped it. Why get it when I can't find the one channel I want? I'm free at last now, I don't have to sit in front of the boob tube." Bryan Perry, who runs Breckenridge Adult Foster Home in Phoenix, said there's a more subtle and ominous detail that many may have overlooked. "There are a lot of televisions that aren't programmed for triple-digit channels," Perry said. "Think what that means if you're in assisted living or senior residences. ... There might be 200 or 300 televisions in some of those places." In order to get the triple-digit channels, many subscribers will need to acquire a converter box, which O'Herron said will cost $6.95 per month. "Essentially they're saying people can't get what they want because they don't have digital box," Perry said. "When I called, the lady at Charter said there was a place on the Web site to voice grievances. But I don't have Internet." Reach reporter Greg Stiles at 776-4463 or e-mail [email protected] . How have changes in the Charter lineup affected you? Join the online "Cable TV frustrations" forum at " target="_blank">www.mailtribune.com/forum. Advertisement Copyright © 1997-2006 Mail Tribune, Inc. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions | Website Feedback online casinos news Home Security Systems California Casinos Men's Clothing Southern Oregon Loans --> GMAT Prep Fundraisers Send Flowers Entertainment Guide --> Casinos Canada Trunks, Footlocker Online Casino Reviews