Need assistance from TiVo - almost 100% no MRV in Fairfax, VA via Cox Communications

[warewolf]

(cross posted)
http://forums.tivo.com/pe/action/forums/displaythread?rootPostID=10417300

TiVo,

I and the rest of the TiVo community need your help. All of us who are consumers in Fairfax, VA through Cox Communications cable TV are unable to use TiVoToGo or Multiple Room Viewing, a feature that we pay or paid for -- all because Cox has set nearly 100% of their channels to "Copy Once". This includes both analog channels and their digital counterparts. This is not limited to "premium" channels or "pay per view" channels. When we look at one TiVo's recorded programs from another, we see a sea of red (/) "copy protected" signs.


Please come save us, we've been trying to get Cox to fix this and we're being stonewalled. Apparently, they have no interest in keeping us as customers. Many of us only have one option for Cable TV service in Fairfax, VA, namely Cox.

[Revolutionary]

Just want to second warewolf's cry for help.

Virtually every channel except a handful of standard definition extended cable channels are set to 0x02, all the time, every program. The local broadcasts are of course still set to 0x00.

This problem exclusively applies to those of us using Tuning Adapters. Since adding the tuning adapter, I have lost the ability to transfer programs from channels I receive via cable card -- including both analog channels and HD channels.

Our appeals to Cox have gone unheeded. If Tivo can assist us, we would be most grateful!

[deaddeeds]

I politely contacted Kathryn from Cox yesterday and she has already responded saying she would check out the issue.

I also contacted Fairfax County and alerted them of the issue but no response as of yet.

We will see what happens but the squeaky wheel gets the grease.

[Revolutionary]

deaddeeds: no harm in enlisting Tivo to help, in addition to other pressures discussed in that thread. ;)

[bkdtv]

If Verizon FiOS is available to you, you can voice your displeasure by switching providers. With FiOS, recordings from every channel support both TTG and MRV.

I realize this is not an option for many, especially for those living in condominiums and apartments.

[deaddeeds]

If Verizon FiOS is available to you, you can voice your displeasure by switching providers. With FiOS, recordings from every channel support both TTG and MRV.

I realize this is not an option for many, especially for those living in condominiums and apartments.

If I could switch, I would! Verizon has been telling me for two years that FIOS is coming soon. I ditched the Cox phone service already and went to VOIP with Ooma.

[TexasGrillChef]

(cross posted)
http://forums.tivo.com/pe/action/forums/displaythread?rootPostID=10417300

TiVo,

I and the rest of the TiVo community need your help. All of us who are consumers in Fairfax, VA through Cox Communications cable TV are unable to use TiVoToGo or Multiple Room Viewing, a feature that we pay or paid for -- all because Cox has set nearly 100% of their channels to "Copy Once". This includes both analog channels and their digital counterparts. This is not limited to "premium" channels or "pay per view" channels. When we look at one TiVo's recorded programs from another, we see a sea of red (/) "copy protected" signs.


Please come save us, we've been trying to get Cox to fix this and we're being stonewalled. Apparently, they have no interest in keeping us as customers. Many of us only have one option for Cable TV service in Fairfax, VA, namely Cox.

Legally speaking they can "Copy Protect" all channels EXCEPT the rebroadcast of your local channels that are available OTA.

Are they "Copy Protecting" your locals as well?

Now I agree... whats legal and what they should do for customer satisfaction are TWO entirely different things.

I am with TWC here in DALLAS-FORT WORTH.... and about 50% of our Digital cable stations have been "Copy Protected".

Now keep in mind. MOST Digital stations are NOT requiring the Cable companies to "Copy Protect" their channels. OTHER stations are. One example is HBO. They DO require a cable company to copy protect their channel. ESPN (All varieties) also require the cable opperator to "Copy Protect" their channels as well.

I feel for you 100%. I wish you all the best of luck. So here are my suggestions on getting cable consumers in your area to change their decesion. Sadly.

1. Get a petition going & signed. Try to get at least 50% or more of those who actually have cable service in your area.

2. Complain to your local city/county goverment, Your state house/senate/govenor & to your state/local Utility/Corporation commission.

3. Get one of your local TV stations to make a "NEWS" story out of it. Several stations in Dallas have a "In Your Corner" or "Consumer Warning" reporter that helps make consumers aware of "Issues" people are having with local businesses.

4. Write you Federal State Senator/Represenative and The FCC so that maybe we can get tougher restrictions on a national level about "Copy Protection".

5. Go OTA and drop Cable, get a movement going to get more people with TiVo's in your area to drop cable. When the cable company starts seeing more people canceling service than ordering new service for a while. They will start to make changes.

This isn't an easy thing to fight. MANY cable companies around the country are starting to LOCK down more & more stations.

TGC

[berkshires]

ESPN (All varieties) also require the cable opperator to "Copy Protect" their channels as well.

I feel for you 100%. I wish you all the best of luck. So here are my suggestions on getting cable consumers in your area to change their decesion. Sadly.

1. Get a petition going & signed. Try to get at least 50% or more of those who actually have cable service in your area.

2. Complain to your local city/county goverment, Your state house/senate/govenor & to your state/local Utility/Corporation commission.

3. Get one of your local TV stations to make a "NEWS" story out of it. Several stations in Dallas have a "In Your Corner" or "Consumer Warning" reporter that helps make consumers aware of "Issues" people are having with local businesses.

4. Write you Federal State Senator/Represenative and The FCC so that maybe we can get tougher restrictions on a national level about "Copy Protection".

5. Go OTA and drop Cable, get a movement going to get more people with TiVo's in your area to drop cable. When the cable company starts seeing more people canceling service than ordering new service for a while. They will start to make changes.

This isn't an easy thing to fight. MANY cable companies around the country are starting to LOCK down more & more stations.

TGC

ESPN is about the only digital channel NOT MRV/TTG protected on my TWC system. How odd.

I agree that making complaints and taking action is the thing to do. One of the best things to try for is get the flag designated by the content channel instead of the cable operator. That way content can be protected by the true owners if they desire, but cable cos. can't make those unilateral decisions. A plausible goal.

[warewolf]

I firmly believe that all the channels that are part of extended basic digital service, that the TiVo can receive without the use of a cable card -- should be MRV capable.

Now, along the lines of premium channels, such as HBO, or Pay Per View stuff, that I can totally understand no MRV.

I'm bent out of shape because I had FiOS, moved 3 blocks, and can't get FiOS anymore. Oh, and Verizon keeps rubbing it in my face that FiOS is in my area by sending me junk mail every day. They tell me that "expansion is not planned" for my area. Thanks!

[warewolf]

http://www.tivocommunity.com/tivo-vb/showthread.php?p=6988297#post6988297

Somehow I doubt that Cox is going to enable us to have MRV and TTG.

Somehow I doubt that I'm going to continue being a Cox customer.

Maybe we should get the form mods to sticky a thread describing how Cox is devaluing our purchased TiVos? Cox doesn't care if TiVo subscribers are under served. We're the minority, and they obviously have no interest in keeping us as customers. While I'd love to make a statement by leaving Cox, I doubt it will get the point across.

[h0mi]

Cox in San Diego is doing similar stuff, but I've found that Sci Fi network is unprotected here.

[wierdo]

Cox Oklahoma seems to only copy protect when it's specifically requested by the provider. Basically HBO and PPV are the only things not CCI 0x00 here.

Letters to higher ups may see a result. (although it will probably also result in some changes for the worse for me if there are in fact more channels that desire copy protection than are protected on my system)

[warewolf]

Lets try getting Verizon's attention.

https://www22.verizon.com/ForHomeDSL/channels/orderdsl/olo_fios_fn_popup.asp?NextPageName=FN&fiosFN=Y&Type=FS&Window=POPUP

Sign up for notification of when FIOS will be available in your area.

[deaddeeds]

Fairfax County Department of Cable Communications and Consumer Protection has made a formal request to Cox to respond to the fact that the T/A has added Copy Protection.

[sfm]

Couldn't Tivo help out here a bit by offering another option with respect to MRV: allow one to simply "view" any recorded program (copy protected or not) from another Tivo in the network instead of actually copying the program to the requesting Tivo. Depending on transfer speeds this may inhibit some usefulness (30 second skip, fast forward) a bit but seems to me this combined with some simple safeguards (like not allowing a program being viewed/sourced from one Tivo to another to be viewed from any other Tivo until viewing is terminated) would satisfy the spirit and letter of the copy protect rules that are forced upon them.

[warewolf]

I'm going to start e-mailing all the TV channels that I enjoy watching and wish I could MRV from one TiVo to another. You'd think that Cox, as the company that has the business relationship would seek out this information for us, but I doubt we'll get it.

Since Verizon had the CCI bytes to "copy freely" on FiOS, either Verizon is being extra special nice to their customers, or Cox is being extra not-nice to their customers.

So I'm going to the horse's mouth. What Cox says "We don't change it, we simply pass along what the channels use" is going to get disputed.