Obvious censorship bullshit

[Generator]

Well if I hadn't read about it on DU I would really be furious.

I have digital cable-an upgraded package with Comcast in Portland.

So I flip to MSNBC this morning and it's the weather channel. YES, I remember DU saying that Comcast was taking MSNBC-the home of Olbermann-the ONLY TRULY LIBERAL voice on cable teevee off of the BASIC cable package.

It's still on my system on a higher channel-128 one of the digital channels.

FOX NEWS still there-same channel.

CNN-still there-same channel.

DO NOT tell me this isn't censorship otherwise the others would be moved.

Obviously if you are smart enough to watch Olbermann you can find the other channel. But also obviously-you have to be wealthy-well not poor to HAVE it. Digital cable is damn expensive. I pay $90 bucks a month! I know basic cable is still not cheap-but they are excluding the one liberal voice at all (I know forget Tweety) from those that can only afford basic cable. It makes me furious-they didn't even change the channel numbers for the others. GOD knows a Fox viewer would never find it again.

[tom_paine]

1. Not surprising. The New Totalitarianism is getting blatant at a faster rate

Because the Bushies now see clear and easy sailing until they decide to pursue their Final Solution to the Liberal Problem. No one can know what it will be except to say that it will look different from the Final Solutions of the nazis, only because it would be bad PR for the Bushies.

And the "trickle-down" tyranny that I long ago predicted would be a defining feature showing us the Middle Phase Transition from Liberty to Tyranny had begun.

Read about the Black Funeral that was broken up by the Bushie Gestapo in Nawlins recently?

How about VIPR Teams and Behavior Detection Officers?

There's much more, most of it has been posted on DU, that indicates this phase and everything that goes with it, has begun.

Little things like this, too, serve the Royal Bushies in thae same ways that Hitler was served by his Wealthy Media Sycophants.

[meegbear]

2. They could also just be douchebags ...

when they took over the Boston area market, they took Turner Classic Movies and moved it from the basic package to the high end ones. MSNBC wasn't moved.

[Generator]

4. Have you checked today?

It just happened today. Last night it was in it's old spot. I know they move things all the time-but it's now not included in the news areas. I'm suprised they didn't put Fox business there-but they left CNBC. Does that get better ratings than MSNBC? Does the cable company care about ratings and what viewers want anyway? There is no competition here-it's the dish or Comcast.

[meegbear]

5. I'm not at home, but I checked the online guide ...

it was still listed as the same channel. I will check when I am home and if there is a change, I will post it.

[MadBadger]

7. Msnbc gets better ratings than CNBC. Is this true for ALL of comcast?

[tritsofme]

11. CNBC is more lucrative however

Since considerably higher rates can be charged for ads because of the niche market the channel mainly serves.

[meegbear]

18. It's still on the same channel ...

but there's nothing to say that changing lineups where you are is effective everywhere.

[Generator]

3. I have to add

It's also very subtle. Which makes me angrier. Like I'm too stupid to notice. It takes it out of the block of "news" cable channels-now you have zero chance of seeing it if it's Comcast on a health club or bar.

Oh yes-we had to add more channels-FOX business being one of them. I know that. But why did they pick MSNBC whose ratings have been going steadily up over the last year? Oh just random I guess.

[Freddie Stubbs]

6. How do you know they aren't trying to censor Chris Matthews and Joe Scarborough?

:shrug:

[Generator]

17. I appreciate the dissenting replies

Sigh. Obviously I realize it sounds paranoid. It doesn't even affect me-I've had the digital cable for years. But the singling out of the only news on cable that has any real dissent-Countdown-is just too much of a win for them. And I'm not the only one.

http://blog.coloradodems.org/2007/06/05/concerns-over-comcast-tv/

I have received a number of complaints over actions by Comcast TV. Apparently they are only providing CNN and Fox news in their basic package. The recent move of MSNBC to digital has created great concern on the part of Democrats that the news is slanted toward a more conservative message.

http://timrohrer.com/blog/?p=90

Comcast has finally silenced Keith Olbermann’s biting special comments that assail the foolishness of the Bush administration’s policies. Olbermann, the anchor of MS-NBC’s news program Countdown, has been airing a series of Edward R. Murrow-like special comments that have been an astonishing departure from the bland DoubleSpeak of network news broadcasts. Olbermann’s special commentaries exhibit a degree of critical thinking that is unmatched by any other news program on cable or broadcast television, excepting of course the satirical Daily Show and Colbert Report.

~
When I think of the things Keith has said on Teevee-things about the president that are NEVER heard anywhere else. Calls for resignation. Calls for shame over torture. Okay I cannot just dismiss it. I just can't. Keith Olbermann is like the tiny light in the dark-which ironically is just enough light to know I'm NOT crazy. The propaganda is.

[gateley]

8. I always think everything is about the money. If MSNBC's ratings have soared

(have they?) they'd jump on that to create more revenue.

[krispos42]

15. They think long-term

Any increase in advertizing revenue will be lost if the evil liberals get in power. They might actually have to do news, instead of infotainment. The might have to give up some of their tax perks. The might even be broken up as a monopoly!!!!

All of which will cost them money and power.

[MadBadger]

16. I wouldnt say MSNBC's ratings have soared.

They have gone up since last year, but everyone except KO is stuck well back in third.

[WinkyDink]

9. I'm on RCN, not Comcast, and my MSNBC is "basic".

[MadBadger]

10. It's also ridiculous that they are doing this because of censorship.

[tritsofme]

12. You really think they are doing this because of one on-air personality?

That's ridiculous.

MSNBC is the lowest rated cable news station and it probably made business sense to move away from basic.

[billyoc]

13. GE owns NBC, they're not being censored by any power on this earth.

They're just charging more for their broadcasts.

[Cheap_Trick]

14. a fox viewer

couldn't find his ass if both hands were crazy glued to it.

[stirlingsliver]

19. Comcast Sucks.

Comcast sucks.

Big Time.

I Hate Comcast.