I've read all the comments and replies on this website. And I can't believe you guys can't figure this out. It's not rocket science. Nor does it dwell in the realm of advanced nuclear fission. Take a deep breath and sit on the other side for a moment. You are a company (Altice) looking to enter the U.S. market with the purchase of a communications company. You already own communication companies in Europe. So, you purchase 70% controlling interest in Suddenlink Communications (7th largest U.S. cable company) in May 2015. Then you buy Cablevision (4th largest). You've spent 27 billion. That's a lot of cash. So, you know trimming will be done. But, you're not done yet. Now you're thinking about buying T-Mobile. Very ambitous. But you need more cash for that. You've sold in December 2016 your Belgium and Luxembourg communication companies. You've got some cash but you need more. Here's an idea.... place your U.S. cable companies in an IPO. The sale of the stock will raise more cash. Now..... where are we going with this? Cable boxes will disappear. No need for them since third party providers can do that for you (Hulu, for example). In other words.... it's all about the internet.... wired and WIRELESS. Phone services.... ya need the internet. T-Mobile? Wireless. Have you ever heard of a T-Mobile trouble call? And the majority of TC's concern cable boxes (missing channels, bad fitting, etc). And because the internet is easier to maintain, would you need as many technicians as you have currently? Nope. What ever happened to Verizon and AT+T linemen? Are poles actually needed? Hell no... essentially everyone's got a cell phone.... hello satellites. Now back to Cablevision. Not all regions are turning a profit. Trucks are driving for miles to reach one customer to the next. Too much wasted gasoline and not enough subscribers. The average monthly Cablevision cable bill is over $157. Sh--... that hurts. And you know that. So, you'll sell those regions to any interested party. And if you're in that region, now you'll have a new employer, with a different set of rules. I pity you, but it's not my problem. It might be Charter, Comcast or who the hell knows. And do you think your NEW OWNER will grandfather your salary and benefits? To all my fellow technicians, "think outside the box", put yourself in the owner's position and consider what you would do. If you buy a house, don't you tear down walls, repaint, fix that which is worthy of repair and get rid of waste and equipment that is no longer needed? This isn't rocket science fellas. It's simple sh--. What's being done.... YOU would do. So..... where's the shock? What's the confusion? What used to be.... at Cablevision.... will NEVER return. You know that. And like a consumer shopper, or owner, you will shop for the lowest price. PERIOD. This is what is happening. To all you young studs or rookies, time is on your side. You're cheaper to employ. But the clock is ticking for the veterans. Those who have been there and done that. Who were there from nearly the beginning. And Jesus.... the stories we can tell you. And how many times was the opportunity for voting a union in, was turned away because of the veteran's faith in Cablevision. Clearly, the word "loyalty" has disappeared from Webster's. Thank You's were in the form of bonus checks. And how we prayed for snow. That meant overtime. All hands on deck. And paychecks were hefty. ALL GONE. Wake up fellas and take the buyout if you get the chance. Ball game over.
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I love the reasoned analysis. It's not that technicians will not be needed, it's RF techs that won't be needed. The business is evolving, not disappearing.
Fiber is very reliable, when kept in an enclosure and never exposed to the elements, customers, landscapers, etc. You also act like WiFi problems don't exist, and you make it seem like customers will be content with not having someone come to their homes for service or education. The cable world is changing and technicians need to change with it, not against it.
Perhaps an explanation about cable boxes are necessary when it comes to thinking "outside the box". Remember.... YOU own a cable company and YOU need to cut down on costs, raising your profits, or bottom line, and thus, making your shareholders happy. If you can get rid of that portion of your services you can vastly improve your bottom line. Perhaps your biggest headache is when a particular channel (say, Disney, or CBS) decides to raise their subscription price. Next, you'll see commercials concerning how Cablevision is refusing to show these channels because of so and so. So... what's the solution? Hand that problem off to someone else. Simple a----t. With third party providers (Hulu, Sling, etc.), that headache is gone. This gives customers options of choosing other providers BUT keeping their internet service. Not Cablevision's fault. And that is key. Again..... put yourselves in the owner's shoes and you can easily figure out which route to take. By no means do I support the old and new owners of Cablevision or their management. I couldn't care less. They have made a ton of money off of our sweat. But their actions and future actions only emulate what we do in our very lives and homes. We all shop for a better price. We all search for the least expensive service. And when the budget says "no way".... we cut down... when we want it bad enough. There's no complaint to the landlord for raising the rent, when you've stayed in the same place for years. Where's the loyalty there? You'be been there for years and look what he does. I refer to the line from "The Godfather ".... it's not personal.... it's business". THINK OUTSIDE THE BOX people, figure it out, grab the buyout and get the f--k out!!!
Obeone clearly feels the force . The Empire will rule !
Well there you go like I said it's pricing and the whole bundle crap. But if given a choice and the price was right people still prefer to have a cable box. Internet does not offer the convenience of a set top box. People love multi room DVR as well. People have tried to go that route with internet only and take our garbage leaf antennae and it s---s enough for them to end up ordering cable boxes and that's a fact because I install these people everyday.
The one thing people hate is cable wire all over the house what they wish for is wireless connection throughout the house. But that's not going to happen no time soon. Iam beginning to doubt any real technicians are writing on this forum.
People prefer set top boxes?? You are mental. Cable TV is a forced bundle item for your Internet service and nothing more. Given the choice 75 percent of people would just take a broadband package. Unfortunately it's usually cheaper to bundle all the sh-- together.
This is the absolute truth. You are fighting for a job that will be obsolete in 5 years anyway.
" What ever happened to Verizon and AT+T linemen? Are poles actually needed? Hell no... essentially everyone's got a cell phone.... hello satellites."
Lol what you smoking? Number one linemen are and will always be needed. True maybe not as many but still needed. As for satellites are you kidding me? No one even likes to use satellites because they are a pain in the a-- during bad weather. Cell phones, satellites and internet tv has been around for years and neither one has dented the cable market enough. People still prefer a set top box and secure isolated cable signal over satellite. The problem has always been the price. People try to go cheaper but always come back.
No my friend the fact of the matter is fiber is in position to minimize the need for inhouse technicians and outside plant engineers. That is the Altice goal. This is where the money will be after investment is done and then they will sell the company at double the price they bought it for. This is also why it's important for them to eventually use more contractors. It's true cablevision is no more. It's also true all our jobs are in danger but not exactly for the reasons you described.
But the bottom line is most of these technicians despise union and only use union to scare management never have they had or ever will they vote yes for union. Unfortunately this time around this little scare tactic will only hasten our end, and unfortunately no one really cares enough to fight it properly instead they want packages or will wait it out until they are let go. That's the cold hard truth.