I switched over to Verizon FiOS for my TV after years of DirecTV. Now I no longer get Coin Vault and Barry Chappell coin shows I know I can watch them online but, strangely, I miss watching those hucksters at work!
The same thing happened to me when I switched from Dish Network to Cablevision but I don't much miss 'em. On a side note, how do you like the Fios? If they ever make it out my way I've been thinking of making a switch because Cable is getting expensive.
The crap these shysters spew is almost intolerable yet thousands of folks fall into their crap traps!
I like to watch them, but they seem to sell the same stuff over and over again. I wonder what kind of show it would be if they showed real collector coins.
I got the Triple Play from FiOS (TV/Phone/Internet), now I get free HD channels (was extra with DirecTV), tollfree calling to US & Canada, and super-fast internet. They'll get out your way eventually, since they plan on wiring the whole Island. I take it you're on the south shore? Anyway, when you get it, don't get the lowest prices TV package (prime HD) since they kind of scimp on the channels. The middle package (Extreme HD) has all the channels I want. Part of the deal I signed up with was getting FREE SHowtime, Flix, and TMC + on demand movies. BTW: you can try calling CableVision and tell them you're thinking of leaving and see if they lower your rate.
It also made me wonder how much the other cable huckster are ripping off the public - you know like the jewelry guys and the knife show.
Yup, I've thought of that. It's good when 'providers' compete. The Cablevision blaggards just recently changed the signal so that you need a cable box in order to receive reception on other TVs. I had to go out and get three extra 'boxes' at the cable store and they're free for one year. After that it's something like $6.95/box/month. It's gonna get too pricey for my taste. I know Verizon is running a two year deal at $99/month (two year agreement) for phone, internet and TV so I may switch when they get out my way. Right now I know they're in Ronkonkoma/Lake Grove. Shouldn't be long till they make it to me. I'm just south of Port Jeff.......
It's not just the guys on the idiot box. Some mail order coin dealers are almost as bad on their prices ( i.e. Littleton) but you don't have the showmanship to go with it. Those guys (coin vault, et. al.) don't know what a rare or even a scarce coin really is.
When they finally get to you, wait to see if the are running a "special" offer. When I signed on it was $84.99/month with a 2 year contract for phone/internet/TV with a free-for-life multi-room DVR After it was installed, I upgraded my TV package from PrimeHD to ExtremeHD which was another $10 a month (well worth it, IMO). With taxes and fees, it runs to about $106/month or so. So far, I'm very happy with their service and would recommend it.
Regarding coin vault, I miss them. My favorite tv episode ever was a recorded coin vault, (I was able to go back and record it). One of the guys had a mountain dew in the freezer to get cold, and asked someone to get it out for him. Well I guess they left it in too long, and it was frozen when he opened it up. As God is my witness, he put the cap back on, shook it up, then took the cap off and stared right down the opening of the bottle........ Mountain dew shot all over his face, his clothes, all of the coins in front of him, it was GLORIOUS! Good times. As for cable, I recently got jacked by the "digital" cable scam. It just sounds like a way to force us to pay for each tv now. I live on a 1/3rd acre lot with about 50 trees, (mostly hard maples), and am seriously considering cutting some down just to be able to get satellite tv reception.