posted
from all info firestone seems to be a very professional and experianced company. i'm sure they will get everything right quickly. i mentioned this last week comcast had trouble with the hallmark channel last week, audio but no video. hallmark is new on comcast in my area but not new to cable
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quote:Originally posted by bill1352: from all info firestone seems to be a very professional and experianced company. i'm sure they will get everything right quickly. i mentioned this last week comcast had trouble with the hallmark channel last week, audio but no video. hallmark is new on comcast in my area but not new to cable
i know the press release said "the firestone family". does anyone know if that is the firestone tire and rubber family? i think firestone tire is now part of brigestone tire. maybe this is part of a new family focus. thanks.
posted
Thank you again BettingBabe for posting the SF information.
Since all of RCN's designated cities will begin receiving QTV N on Friday, perhaps RCN's intent is to wait until then to fully launch all cities at the same time with an ad blitz.
As an investor, I prefer a big campaign to piecemeal ads. Unless, daily PR's state that ___ city was added to the growing list ..........increasing the number of subcribers to.......
Posted by: Spring Rain In reply to: None Date:9/27/2004 2:57:45 PM Post #of 26591
I watched the Q! Here's my report:
Today I watched the 6 hours of QTN that my friend videotaped for me last Friday night/Saturday morning on RCN's channel 255 in San Francisco. The good news is that we are most definitely on the air. The bad news is that during those 6 hours the network was suffering severe technical difficulties with both the audio and video. I do not know if this was just a temporary problem that has since been fixed. As RCN is not available in my neighborhood, this videotape is all I have to go on.
The audio was choppy, consisting of periods of perfect sound, periods when the sound cut in and out, periods of static, and then for most of the tape, no sound at all. This was not a problem with the tape. My friend noticed the problems on the live broadcast as he recorded it.
The video picture quality was very good, but the picture frequently froze, creating a choppy series of still pictures. Viewing was thus very difficult. Obviously these problems will have to be fixed before Q is offered to subscribers. For all I know, they have already fixed the problem since last Friday.
Here's what I saw:
"Q NewsWeek In Review" – Smart looking newscast format. Well dressed, good looking female newscaster. News Director – Elazibeth MacDonald. Exec Producer – Frank Olsen. Sorry, wasn't able to hear the stories.
"Just Friends" with Stockard Channing. Written by George Bloom. According to the schedule it is about a woman who leaves her husband and moves to LA.
Commercials following "Just Friends": United Negro College Fund, anti-smoking commercial from www.everydaychoices.org, and noattacks.org
Music video titled, "Little Dear"
Feature: "Sweeny Todd" the Broadway musical by Stephen Sondheim with Angela Lansbury. I've seen this before, and it's fabulous. If you haven't seen it, you should.
"Q On The Move" – I was able to make out that each week they will visit a different US city. This week was apparently LA, because there was an interview with a star from "Queer As Folk". The interview included footage of him working out at a gym. Looked like a slick, professional format, but again the technical problems made it impossible for me to judge.
"I Will, I Do, We Did" – Q's original documentary about gay weddings in San Francisco. I very much want to see this, and it was frustrating that there was no sound and mostly only choppy still frames of the video. However the couples look wonderful – people I would definitely like to hear about. There seemed to be 5 female couples and 4 male couples. Chapter titles include, "Meet The Couples", "Why Marriage?", "This Day I Thee Wed", "California Superior Court Issues An Injunction", "What If Your Marriage Is Revoked?", and "Final Thoughts".
Anti-smoking commercial
Logo: "Q is out to become the preferred Gay and Lesbian television network of choice for the 21st century."
Logo: Coming soon to cable AND SATELLITE operators and audiences all over America" (capitalization mine)
Feature: "Kiss My Cleats" Covers the Gay Games V. Format looked smart as far as I was able to tell.
"Odysseys & Ovations" – Travel and the arts. Interesting looking people and places. Schedule says "visits with artists, writers and doctors".
posted
It looks like all the commercials that person saw were non-profit organizations. Q could give them free air time and write it off on their taxes, but until they are actually making money, it would be unwise to do that since they won't be paying taxes until they have revenue coming in.
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quote:Originally posted by Poot Poot: From IHUB board
Posted by: Spring Rain In reply to: None Date:9/27/2004 2:57:45 PM Post #of 26591
I watched the Q! Here's my report:
Today I watched the 6 hours of QTN that my friend videotaped for me last Friday night/Saturday morning on RCN's channel 255 in San Francisco. The good news is that we are most definitely on the air. The bad news is that during those 6 hours the network was suffering severe technical difficulties with both the audio and video. I do not know if this was just a temporary problem that has since been fixed. As RCN is not available in my neighborhood, this videotape is all I have to go on.
The audio was choppy, consisting of periods of perfect sound, periods when the sound cut in and out, periods of static, and then for most of the tape, no sound at all. This was not a problem with the tape. My friend noticed the problems on the live broadcast as he recorded it.
The video picture quality was very good, but the picture frequently froze, creating a choppy series of still pictures. Viewing was thus very difficult. Obviously these problems will have to be fixed before Q is offered to subscribers. For all I know, they have already fixed the problem since last Friday.
The frozen picture and choppys series of stil pictures sounds like poor signal reception for a digital channel. I get that sometimes on Dish Network (usually very briefly). One time I got it so much I had to re-align the dish. In fact, it sounds a lot like what I was getting on C-Band in the initial test.
The commercials sound like public service announcements. Well, maybe the REAL commercials will come once we are "officially" launched in all RCN markets and the signal problem is resolved.
Network Broadcast Operations are a CONTINUING situation. Understand that sometimes the different communication equipment, re-digitalization equipment, ect may be having problems turning the signal from analog to digital, beamed to the satellite, back down to the station, redigitalizied and then beamed to homes. It may sound simple but there are A LOT of things that can get in the way... I wish we had some Video Technicians or Video Production Managers on this board.
We are making steady progress, again, Q-Tv has NEVER made it this far...
posted
It amazes me how much opinion and conjecture poster on here go through on here instead of just getting to the source. I had been asking for weeks tio find someone in San Fran that actually had the programming so we could evaluate what was happening.. I was chastized for this.. now finally we have some news from an actual viewer, not all good, and instead on calling RCN or QTV to get answers, we all want to be experts and place our own opinion here. Why don't you just get someone to call the cable company? Would prevent several more days of this agony..
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quote:Originally posted by a4realguy: It amazes me how much opinion and conjecture poster on here go through on here instead of just getting to the source. I had been asking for weeks tio find someone in San Fran that actually had the programming so we could evaluate what was happening.. I was chastized for this.. now finally we have some news from an actual viewer, not all good, and instead on calling RCN or QTV to get answers, we all want to be experts and place our own opinion here. Why don't you just get someone to call the cable company? Would prevent several more days of this agony..
Great idea. Why don't you do it an report back to us.
As for me, I can't make long distance calls here from work of a personal nature.
posted
if you will read there was a message form RCN. there answer was that they are in a free view situation untillthe end of the month.
There will not be any major advertisers untill they are launched across the nation. those spots are paid for and it would not make sence to pay for advertising that is only going out to a freevu market.
so maybe you should read all the messages before you start typing. i seen the question asked. why cant you?
quote:Originally posted by a4realguy: It amazes me how much opinion and conjecture poster on here go through on here instead of just getting to the source. I had been asking for weeks tio find someone in San Fran that actually had the programming so we could evaluate what was happening.. I was chastized for this.. now finally we have some news from an actual viewer, not all good, and instead on calling RCN or QTV to get answers, we all want to be experts and place our own opinion here. Why don't you just get someone to call the cable company? Would prevent several more days of this agony..
quote:Originally posted by a4realguy: It amazes me how much opinion and conjecture poster on here go through on here instead of just getting to the source. I had been asking for weeks tio find someone in San Fran that actually had the programming so we could evaluate what was happening.. I was chastized for this.. now finally we have some news from an actual viewer, not all good, and instead on calling RCN or QTV to get answers, we all want to be experts and place our own opinion here. Why don't you just get someone to call the cable company? Would prevent several more days of this agony..
Do you need the phone number? let me know and I will give it to you.
posted
side note...hope it doesn't offend but it has been discussed here a few times...taxes
heard a senetor today that has been trying to change everything for 6 yrs. whole new system sounded great thought i'd pass it on. get rid of all current taxes, everything federal and go to a sales type federal tax on everything. everything we buy today has companies taxes priced in it figures to around 25% of the cost of each item. mob, drug dealers, the underworld, illegals pay nothing to the feds. by a 22% sales tax on everything sold both private & corperate you get everyone paying the same plus a basic living cost rebate the first of each yr. never report income of any kind, never file tax forms, fair to every income level and with rebate poverty levels will get most back. goods & services bought will be reduced because companies pay the same way, not income but on each item they buy to build or perform services. no rich folk loopholes or corporate loopholes...no capital gains taxes... anyway hope my posting this doesn't piss anyone off if it does...i'm sorry.
[This message has been edited by bill1352 (edited September 27, 2004).]
[This message has been edited by bill1352 (edited September 27, 2004).]
posted
i have lived in that kind of system for years in mexico, and it is really in my opinion the smartest move going. the idea is to tax consumption instead of productivity. work two jobs or overtime in the states and that puts you in a higher bracket and your productivity costs you more money. it's hard to get ahead by working hard. there are 3 levels of sales tax in mexico and many basic needs are currently not taxed.
a hard worker in mexico (personal not corporate, as businesses are taxed on income) gets to keep their pay, and doesnt have to deal with an inneficient annual filing of income tax. if you are going to buy other than basic food items and some medicine you pay your tax at the cash register. prices on almost all taxed items are already included in the sticker price, and not added on at the cash register. simple and no end of year surprises.
quote:Originally posted by bill1352: side note...hope it doesn't offend but it has been discussed here a few times...taxes
heard a senetor today that has been trying to change everything for 6 yrs. whole new system sounded great thought i'd pass it on. get rid of all current taxes, everything federal and go to a sales type federal tax on everything. everything we buy today has companies taxes priced in it figures to around 25% of the cost of each item. mob, drug dealers, the underworld, illegals pay nothing to the feds. by a 22% sales tax on everything sold both private & corperate you get everyone paying the same plus a basic living cost rebate the first of each yr. never report income of any kind, never file tax forms, fair to every income level and with rebate poverty levels will get most back. goods & services bought will be reduced because companies pay the same way, not income but on each item they buy to build or perform services. no rich folk loopholes or corporate loopholes...no capital gains taxes... anyway hope my posting this doesn't piss anyone off if it does...i'm sorry.
[This message has been edited by bill1352 (edited September 27, 2004).]
[This message has been edited by bill1352 (edited September 27, 2004).]
posted
Bill, your explanation of the sales tax sounds interesting. Would state sales taxes be ended?
What about seniors on a fixed income who now buy their prescriptions first and food and other necessities with what is left over
Would detergent, shampoo and toothpaste be almost 1/4 more for them too?
The number of elderly citizens in this country has grown and continues to increase each year.
Most of these people do not own a vacation home. On fixed incomes, many have already lost their homes because of high property taxes and home insurance rates.
I don't like paying taxes, but shifting the tax burden to those who are being pushed into poverty in their remaining days seems too drastic. Perhaps the senator has some exemptions for them in his plan.
I'm not bashing the plan--the simpler the better. This country has many problems that need to be addressed--all of these are complex. Why not start with taxes?
As for the drugs dealers, taxing their income sounds great, but first, let's force them out of business. .....but that's a whole new subject.
posted
Dont worry he will float to the surface again. lol
quote:Originally posted by Clyde Crashcup: I hate to say it but, I'm worried about U4. He has not posted for about 5 days. I wonder if the hurricans got him?
posted
No offense to anyone, but the consumption is extremely dumb and thats why its in Mexico and not the US.
First of all, the tax would be in the 25%-35% range on consumption items,(and thats a conservative range). That means when you go to buy a 30,000 car, you would have to pay taxes in a range of $7500-$10500. If you buy a $1500 TV, you pay $375-575 straight to the govt. You would have no deductions whatosever. Since you guys are investors, let me ask you, what could you be doing with $7875-11075? You could be investing it, possibly making more money for yourself. But with the flat tax, that money would go straight to the govt(car tax would be spread over the years, maybe) and that money that you wanted to invest is gone. That is what the poor and middle class will face; investing money would be gone or many people would have to spend less money, which would kill the all of the markets or kill the economy. Who wants to lead a limited lifestyle? It would serious limit the lifestyle of the poor and middle class.
On the other hand, the rich completely benefit from the tax and they would live even a better lifestyle.
If you didnt know, the Federal Tax Code is set up to "steal from the rich and give to the poor" by using phaseouts. The Federal Tax Code also provides many deductions and credits that really help the poor and middle class and sometimes the rich, so people can spend money and put money into investments to make more money.
Under a flat tax, you would receive none these deductions or credits and if you spent enough, you would probably pay more money to the govt with a flat tax because there are no deductions. It discourages spending, and that itself would send America's economy down to a lower grade.
You may think that the current Federal Tax Code is vicious and complicated, but it is complicated because they have to figure out ways to reduce your taxes so you can spend more and invest more, and thats what keeps this economy on top of the rest.
If the flat tax ever gets enacted, which it wont, America would be in for a shocking discovery.
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