Ah, the joy of television! A few days ago, I got an envelope in the mail from a cable company in the area (Comcast). I don't have their cable, because the apartment complex I'm in only allows cable tv from one company, TVMax. Thinking I didn't need it, I tossed the envelope in the dumpster. In addition to the envelope, there was an oversized postcard from Comcast too, which said something about them buying out TVMax. So I realized right away I might want that envelope I just tossed in the dumpster. Fortunately, there was a lot of stuff piled up in the dumpster, and the envelope was sitting right on top. I reached in delicately, and pulled out the Comcast envelope.

Turns out, Comcast bought TVMax, so my cable is switching over to Comcast, and inside the envelope was a letter explaining some of the changes, and a form to fill out for approval to allow a Comcast technician into my apartment for the switchover. Now, keep in mind, I have basic cable. Not digital cable. Basic analog cable. I can't afford, nor do I need, all the additional channels I'd get with digital. I have no converter box, since I have no premium channels, and almost all newer tv's are cable ready. There should be no reason for a Comcast technician to come into my apartment, but what do I know?

Today I go to the Comcast website to see what channels I would get, what packages they offer, just in case I want to sign up for something different. My cable bill from TVMax was $37.15 per month, with Comcast it will be $44.04. There was an expanded digital package for only $2 more per month, that would require the converter box, and I would get a bunch more channels. I was undecided about whether to do it or not, after all, it's only two dollars a month, right?

After comparing the list of channels offered with the $44.04 Comcast package to what I currently have with TVMax, I'm gaining a few channels and losing one. I lose Sci-Fi Channel, but I gain TV Land, Hallmark Channel, Turner Classic Movies, Disney Channel (for all the rugrats I have running around here all day, lmao), CLTV (Chicagoland TV), Fox News, MSNBC, and Oxygen. What a tradeoff! I don't watch Sci-Fi that often; sometimes I'll catch an episode of Stargate, or a Star Trek marathon, or a Farscape marathon. Other than that, I don't watch it much, it's not a big loss for me. However, gaining Hallmark, Oxygen, TCM, and TV Land, is awesome!!!

The other thing I am considering, is the fact that if I upgrade to the enhanced cable option, I don't really get that much more in channel selection. I'd get the music channels, but what do I need them for? I have 11,000 songs on my computer! I would get some pay-per-view channels, because I'd have the converter box for them, but I don't buy pay-per-view movies. So in reality, I don't really need to go with the enhanced cable option. I think I'll be just fine with the standard cable options, and I highly doubt comcast will need to enter my apartment. Even if they did, I wouldn't have a problem with it.

So now I have this form giving them permission to enter, and this letter explaining everything. In the letter, it says, "Your building will be converted to Comcast services between Tuesday, September 26, and Thursday, September 28." That's all fine and good, but when I talked to one of the leasing agents tonight, that's when they will be here signing us up with the appointments to come and switch our cable over. Who KNOWS when the appointment will be! The letter also states that billing with Comcast will begin on September 29. What if I go there on September 28, wherever they are on the property, and they can't give me an appointment until September 30? Or October 1? Will I lose cable for two days? Interesting questions I can't wait to have answered!