SCI-FI - how much national coverage? 50%?

If it used to be 70%, but certain cable systems have been removing the
channel and/or shifting it out of basic-cable coverage (what most
americans have).

Any idea what Sci-Fi's NEW coverage is? 50%? (As it was in the
1990s.)

Mac Breck...

Ditto for Pittsburgh, PA in 12/2003. Used to be on Extended Basic (the
upper tier of basic) for $48/mo., and then they moved it to Digital
Classic ($60/mo., not counting the practically required DVR for an
additional $10/mo.). I didn't go to Digital Classic. Since Sci-Fi was
the main reason I had Extended Basic, I cut back to the lower tier of
basic for $12/mo. :-)

John Duncan Yoyo...

Gee you could get DirecTV extended basic for that kind of money I got
tier out of the local cable service onto satellite when they put one
station in each tier I wanted..

Vendikarr...

In Sci-Fi Channel press releases, they indicate they are available in
85 million homes. Nielsen Media Research indcates there are 111.4
milliion televison homes in the U.S. This would give the Sci-Fi
Channel 76.3% coverage.

Mac Breck...

Meaning that that many homes actually subscribe to a tier that contains
The Sci-Fi Channel, *or* that many comes *could* subscribe to a tier
that contains The Sci-Fi Channel (i.e. The Sci-Fi Channel is "available"
on those cable systems.). I suspect that it's the latter.

videonovels...

I'm not so sure. Otherwise if it was based on "availability" than it
would be near-100%. Even homes that have no cable, but the lines pass
by outside, would be considered a possible customer by Sci-fi.

I believe they only count those homes that actually pay the subscriber
fees for SFC. Anyone know for certain?

John Duncan Yoyo...

Perhaps it is NBC's turn to follow FOX and ABC's lead and withhold
local rebroadcast rights until they get better deals from cable
operators. Of course it stinks for the week or so it takes local
cable companies to fold under the pressure of no local affiliate.

videonovels...

On the other hand, Turner(?) Cable's refusal to carry CW and MyNetwork
stations is biting CBS and FOX in the ass. They tried to strongarm the
cable companies, and now the cable companies are responding by either
(a) refusing to carry the new nets or (b) putting them in expensive $80
a month digital tiers which few viewers have.

And people wonder why I don't subscribe to cable.

If they don't have the channel I want (sci-fi), then there's really no
point. All the other channels are basically just reruns of old network
shows I've already seen (or in the case of star trek/buffy/angel, stuff
I already have on dvd).

I look forward to Cable Choice.
Not counting the free tv, I'd pick about 5 stations, and that's it.
Cut my costs to ~$15 a month.