in Uncategorized 417 Words

Ditch Comcast Unless they get the ACC Network

Pitt published a very measured and dispassionate message via Pat Narduzzi on Twitter today. It asked fans to demand that Comcast add the ACC network, and threaten to switch if they don’t.

I understand why Pitt struck this tone, and I respect it.

I, on the other hand, am not Pitt, and so I’ll try to put a little feeling into it, and I’ll give you three reasons to care.

1) You should care about it because you want to watch the games.

2) You should care about it because a deal with Comcast fills the ACC’s coffers.

3) You should care because the ACC Network supports intercollegiate Athletics, and Comcast supports only itself. And so no matter what, The ACCN has the moral high ground here, even if there are some entities that will profit from it.

So yeah Putt fans, you can choose to do one of two things. You can do what some Pitt fans do best: exercise your apathy. Or you can do what college football fans do best. Fire up the passion, grab the bull by the horns and do something.

Here are your options for switching:  

DirecTV, Charter/Spectrum and Verizon Fios, along with Hulu, Google Fiber, YouTube TV and PlayStation Vue.

Here is the script

  1. Call Comcast

  2. Ask for the customer retention department

  3. Tell them that unless they the ACC network in place by August 23rd you are going to drop them like a bad habit. Both cable and internet. (Internet is where they really make their money). Act angry or at very least annoyed. Now is not the time to be polite. Think of how you would feel if the game were suddenly blacked out in your area. Because that’s what Comcast is aiming to do.

  4. They will give you the standard bullshit lines. They may even offer you a discount. Do not fall for their tricks.

  5. Tell them one last time what you are going to do, then hang up. Felt good didn’t it?

  6. If they haven’t added ACCN by the 23rd, call back and drop ’em. (Make sure you have other backup service provider lined up.)

If enough fans do this across the ACC it may just hit them in the pocketbook.

And even if it doesn’t, at least you’ve got the personal satisfaction of standing up for something you believe in, at little cost to yourself.

So go ahead and give Comcast a call and tell ’em hail to Pitt. 1-800-934-6489

Hail to Pitt

Michaelangelo Monteleone

109 thoughts on “Ditch Comcast Unless they get the ACC Network”

    1. Virginia win and I see 7 and hope for 8. 9 would shock the world. Virginia loss and I think we are lucky to get 6 and ANOTHER BOWL LOSS.

      This isn’t the thread but I’m with Tex the optimist and going with 7 also!!!!!!!

      Just got 2 for the PSU game and as I’ve said before and will do here ONE MORE TIME….I’d take a 1 win season if it were THAT game and now especially that I will be there to witness it. 🙂

      Like

  6. Clemson had the same infomercials until Spectrum settle a contract with the the ACCN. Same as all the SEC and Big 10 schools did in the past. I’m confident that Comcast will come around eventually. Meanwhile I’ll bust my rear-end to just go to the games and watch in person.

    Great job Mike!

    Liked by 1 person

  10. Some Fight’n Pedternos were recently spotted carrying a banner the read…PITT… we will get you in the end!!!

    Like

  12. I have Direct TV. If you don’t seems like the easiest is to get HuLu. Comcast will do nothing unless they lose customers. If they give you a discount take it and get a HuLu type add as another option.

    Liked by 1 person

  13. Okay, I’ve mentioned this before. My son plays for Vanderbilt in the DC Capital Alumni Network softball league.

    The league has teams representing about every college in the country. My son’s team won three games in the tourney, before being eliminated by Michigan 14-12.

    Pitt won the championship in 2017 and repeated in 2018.
    Well I just heard from my son that Pitt just pulled off a three-peat!

    Pitt was the number one seed in the tournament. Pitt beat Ohio State, Georgia, Ohio U, Northwestern, and VA Tech (in the final) to win the title.

    Hail to Pitt!

    Liked by 5 people

  14. Comcast having problems. I watch CNN on line and it has been unavailable lately through Comcast. Others complaining as well. Maybe Comcast is renegotiating the rebroadcast fees of several channels. Who knows.

    Like

    2. I guess a more eloquent way to communicate my thoughts on this are “just one more reason to ditch em”

      Like

  16. What I have a problem comprehending with this article is ditching both comcast cable & “INTERNET”.I know I am technology challenged but I believe I only have access to one high speed internet provider – my cable company (Charter-Spectrum).

    You city folk have all the advantages but no turkey hens & chicks walking through your yard on a routine basis.

    Like

    1. Well clearly if you can’t ditch the internet you can’t ditch the internet. Despite what you may think many people don’t live in the sticks 🙂

      Like

  17. I don’t know a lot of how all these different ways to get viewing operate and they are technicalities… So from what I am reading from you guys, and thanks for posting, There will be NO ACC network on DIRECTV-correct?

    Like

    1. DirectTV WILL carry it. Per the post-gazette

      “It is expected to launch with at least 34 million subscribers, and distribution deals are in place with, among others, DirecTV, Charter/Spectrum and Verizon Fios, along with Hulu, Google Fiber, YouTube TV and PlayStation Vue.”

      Direct Tv is owned by AT&T, a direct competitor of Comcast

      Like

    1. 😂😂😂 ditch all news in general. You will be much happier!

      Like

      1. I have been living by the rule for years now and my life is much better!! I watch local news only .. and usually just the first 10 minutes

        Like

  19. Richard – Verizon Fios should be able to take care of both cable and internet. That will be my direction this week if a deal falls through with Comcast.

    I’m not a fan of Comcast anyways…

    I’ll cut this short as I must allow for time to log in – bye –

    Like

  21. Maybe more exposure for us will hep recruiting but the best antidote will to break and stay in the top 25 on a regular basis!

    Did we lose out on that OT who was announcing yesterday to Kentucky ?

    Like

      1. Where is he 4*? I see three on rivals / 5.6

        Kentucky won 10 games last year…

        Like

  22. OT, so looking at the picture for Pitt at the Trib online. Who picks a picture showing only the butts of the players like that? Must be a nitter doing the story. LOL

    HTP

    Liked by 1 person

  23. the 4-star OT from Michigan went to Kentucky…Bourbon chosen over Iron City again….What’s wrong with these guys…best athlete to ever come out of Kentucky was a horse named Secretariat ( Best athlete in my lifetime!!!)

    Like

    1. If you’re going to consider a horse … how are you not sure that a gazelle, cheetah or a peregrine falcon are not better. They are all faster … that’s for sure

      Like

      1. the best collection of athletes are not at the Olympics, Churchill Downs, the NFL combine or the NBA courts, they are at the Serengetti or in the oceans.

        Like

  24. The opener against the Hoos is gargantuanly humongous for Pitt.

    Besides the massive impact on the football program and FB recruiting, now I see where Coach Capel is going to have at least three highly-rated and highly-sought-after basketball recruits at the game…

    Kind of scares me because it’s been so rare and so long since we’ve measured up in one of these big moments…

    Fingers crossed! 🎅

    Go Pitt.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Let’s not forget 2016 – not too long ago – the Panther’s lead by HCPN knocked off psuX in front of a Pittsburgh city record crowd.

      That place was rocking. And when the nits went down in defeat, the stadium was swaying and the cheering was deafening.

      Not too long after that big victory, the Panthers shocked eventual National Champions, the Clemson Tigers on their home field in Death Valley.

      There were no crosses fingers, just two very great team & coaching efforts.

      H2P!

      Liked by 2 people

  25. wbb… I bet somewhere they have tried to race gazelles, cheetahs and falcons but they kept throwing their riders and won’t stay in the darn lane!

    Like

  26. MM.. biggest game of the year and for real. This should be a great game with plenty of emotion and focus on both teams.. they both know what is a stake.. expect early season mistakes but Narduzzi better ready to have’m play….

    Like

  27. and while I’m on my devil’s advocate soapbox …. the fact that the biggest cable provider in Allegheny County has yet to pick up ACCN is just another indication as to why the Pitt sports’ program suffer. I wonder what percentage of Pitt alums really don’t give a crap

    Having said that, I do expect Comcast to pick up the ACCN but it will be on Comcast’s terms

    Like

    1. All the more reason act. Channel the passion. Stick it to the Man!

      Like

    2. I have Armstrong cable and apparently they have been negotiating for ACCN for 1 year. Geez, what’s the problem- get it done!

      Like

    2. Thanks for that link, BigB. Great to hear that George “The Animal” is doing well.

      Broncs really lucked out in signing GA – especially now that their regular fullback is out for a while…

      I’m thinkin’ the regular fullback might be shocked – and not be too happy – watching George do his thing…

      Go Pitt.

      Like

  29. wwb, it’s not only PITT that Comcast serves that have ACC schools in their market.

    Here’s a thought for those that do not have a server provider with the ACCN connection yet. You wait until the 25th then sign up to Hulu and you get a 7 day free trial. Watch the UVA game then make sure you cancel your subscription. << That’s important as they then will start charging you.

    Second, for the Ohio game, you do the same thing but with YouTube TV. Get the 7 day free trial and cancel after the game.

    I’m fairly certain Comcast and the ACCN will have settled by then if not way beforehand.

    Like

      1. Sorry wwb, I apologize for any confusion but the link didn’t work the way I read it. There was a map of the states that were strictly what Comcast provides. Now I do realize they don’t cover the entire state in many circumstances.

        Like

  33. Let’s hope Mike and Susan Aston travel with the Broncs.. we still have Uncle Jake… Conner Bs the Animal in the AFC Championship… now wouldn’t that be a treat for us… and have AD waiting the winner in the Super Bowl…..

    Like

  35. Fran says we are up to 16 golfer and maybe 18… let’s get 2 more POVerts….Annie, how bout you and Kurt??? Anybody, we suck at golf but have a great time being together…Get up with Fran by today… Come and make a memory…(that’s a loaded statement at our age… gotta go back to the last hole and find my putter….” JeanieB do you have my wallet!”

    Liked by 1 person

      1. Big LLB fan and even been to their headquarters/store in Freeport ME. Been telling everyone for years … Tuesday night at 10 pm, sitting on my chair with catalog, credit card and phone. Friday, I come home from work and voila — my clothes shopping is done. All 5 minutes of it.

        Like

        1. Malls, funeral homes and hospitals, three places I try to avoid at all cost! Google and Amazon are the only way to go for me.

          Like

      2. I forgot about that Iek…Thank you from reminding me……It’s really bad when you forget that you forgot something !

        Like

    2. Bernie, I golfed Par 3 ONCE in my life. Kurt has golfed once or twice in the past 10-15 years. You don’t want us anywhere near the course! After we retire we’ll probably take it up.

      Like

  37. I called Comcast a month or so ago. Got my wife to call today.

    The person I talked to didn’t seem to have a clue about the ACC Network. The woman my wife talked to today looked it up, then said that a lot of people have been calling about this… I presume she meant nationally… She then said they are in negotiations about it…

    Go Pitt.

    Liked by 1 person

  38. Let’s review the sentence that Comcast and the ACCN are in “negotiations” I know a little bit about that word and what it means to me is that there is a mutual interest in coming to an agreement. The only question is, when do they agree? The fact that there is nothing gained by either party in not agreeing makes me feel that a deal is imminent. Once again, the consternation over this by we PITT fans shows just how committed we all are. It will get done..

    H2P!

    Like

    1. Ike, if it were only the Pitt fans we may never get the deal done. Comcast covers much of the ACC market thru their various locations. Thus its not only the Pitt fans they are concerned with but with many of the other ACC schools as well.

      Like

      1. I gotcha there jrn, so many look at the asking of PITT fans to reach out to Comcast or there provider as exclusive to Heather stooping low which is not true at all. I’m a lot more confident that a deal will be struck at the midnight hour than I am of a PITT win against UVA.

        Like

    2. Let’s not mince words. Comcast is busy trying to screw the acc out of as much money as possible

      Like

  39. TV worl is getting to be a lot of BS..I have Direct TV and we recently lost NBC due to contract negotiations…

    Like

      1. tried to cut/paste the article for you…”why did directtv lose NBC” to complicated and long winded to explain with my feeble mind…more stations could follow…all about money…no NBC =’s no golf on the week-end and no America’s Got Talent !

        Like

  40. Jake and Cindy Aston are traveling for Denver games also…limiting their Pitt games this year.

    Looking into a scramble format for Willowbrook…waiting to hear from everyone.
    16 for sure…hoping for 20.

    Liked by 1 person

  41. The rep at Dish didnt know what I was talking about either…didnt know what the ACC Network meant.

    Like

  42. ^^ Mike from above, Comcast is trying to stay in business as long as they can. Cable is headed towards dinosaur highway and they know it. Streaming with the internet is the way to go now and into the future. It’s what negotiations are all about. Get the most bang for your buck. I hardly blame them as we all have choices and are not forced to keep the cord and Comcast knows it. They are actually working to keep my Comcast bill down as low as possible. Which is already high as Wilt the Stilt was. Yes I’m lazy and would rather pay than to scramble for other options. Thanks for the word scramble Fran. Again yes I’m lazy and I plagiarize. 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Oh totally they are trying to get theirs.

      I just don’t like Comcast as a corporate entity. That’s a personal choice, and goes back farther than Pitt.

      Comcast actually lost cable subscribers last year and made more money because of their internet business. They know where the world is going.

      And that’s all the more reason to threaten them …

      Like

      1. Mike you remind me of my 40 year old son. He refuses to shop at Walmart because he was taught in college that they are the devil. Which I do not deny they are. It called progress. It took years for people in my small town to realize they were paying three times the amount at the mom and pop pharmacy to keep them open when they could have went to a Walmart or Right-Aid and saved. Ain’t it funny how times slip away?

        Like

  43. https://triblive.com/sports/how-much-will-pitt-freshman-running-back-vincent-davis-play-this-season-pat-narduzzi-isnt-saying-for-sure/

    There is no doubt that 4-stars are the goal in recruiting, but once again, a freshman 2 or 3-star RB appear to be outdoing 4-stars RBs. This happened in 2009 (Lewis v Graham), 2016 (Moss v Hall/Davis) and now (V Davis v A Davis / Salahuddin). And had Shell stayed, Conner may have likely surpassed him in 2013.

    And this of course is not the only position where this has occurred through the years. If you look at all the commitment classes, you will notice a large handful of 4 stars taking a backseat to 3 and occasionally 2 stars at various positions. Just another reminder that 3 stars shouldn’t be automatically frowned at

    Liked by 2 people

    1. If you watch his high school film it is easy to see why he will play as a FR. Fast with moves. Whipple is going to play kids that can make bog plays.

      Like

      1. Hopefully this is a sign that Pitt will not be as stubborn with the RB position. The current coaches idea of a good RB recruit is someone who runs hard and has some speed. Shiftiness or elusiveness are not characteristics that are on their radar, IMHO.

        So we have some very good 4-star talent who, seems to me, are clones of one another.

        I know I was spoiled by Shady, Dion and Ray. I’d love to see the freshman be in the mold of Dion or Ray…

        Go Pitt.

        Like

    2. Hes a 5.7 rated back with 18 offers and several P-5. Not the typical low rated 3 star that Narduzzi recruits with offers from Elon and Holy Cross

      Like

          1. I’m not so sure a freshman will start over upper class-men Tx although that would be just great by me if Vincent does. Narduzzi is very loyal to the older players.

            Like

  44. ^^ Mike, I’m keeping him as far away from you as possible you rabble rouser! jus kidding Mike. He has season club seats as well but he’s been tied down at home with three youngin’s but you may run into him one day.

    Like

  45. Just watched Narduzzi s pre-practice media session from
    today. He IS getting more comfortable with the press folks……or maybe he just hit my weak spot with his talk of chocolate chip cookies?!

    Liked by 1 person

  46. Check your porch!

    No, that’s not the new slogan for this season. I just found my season-ticket package on my porch!

    Go Pitt.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. John, you didn’t have to sign for the tickets John? My email said the first attempt will be sometimes this week. So I’m sticking around the house, which isn’t hard for me to do. 🙂 I guess I’ll have to put off weed whacking until they get here.

      Like

      2. ike — came home and found the package on my porch. Simple as that.

        And the envelop says “Pitt” on it pretty prominently- so watch out for poachers…😊

        Go Pitt.

        Liked by 1 person

  47. Well, I dutifully followed Mike’s lead and called Comcast to make my demands, letting them know I’d be evaluating other options since they don’t have an answer. I probably didn’t do a great job of it, but I gave it a try. I do have a question though: Can the channel be watched streaming thru ESPN3? I watched the ACC network thru ESPN I believe last season at times (FB & BB). Anybody more technically savvy then me have any thoughts?

    Like

  48. 1618, I believe the answer is NO. It’s a convoluted mess but you will be able to watch the UVA game by the end of all this. Posturing with negotiations.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Ike, thanks for your reply. If you mean that you think a deal will get done, I’ll keep my fingers crossed; I, like you, would prefer to take the lazy route and not switch for now. That said, it has opened my mind to other long term options…

      Liked by 1 person

  49. I dumped Comcast (they are the cable provider in Savannah area) before football season last year, and went with Roku – Playstation Vue. I lucked out, as they were one of the early ones to announce ACCN.

    The only issue I have is that sometimes the internet gets slow, and I have to shut down and call X Finity and complain about slow internet (sometimes down to 10MBPS). They check it and speed it up while I’m on the phone. Although, I must admit, it hasn’t happened in several weeks.

    They are probably waiting till a Pitt game to slow down again – just to tick me off.

    Bernie – I too don’t have NBC in my package. I bought an attic antenna, hooked it up to my TV, and put it atop my bookcase near the living room outside wall. I pick up the Savannah NBC station, and 8-10 more channels, as well. Now I can watch golf. Does NBC do Beach Volley Ball???

    Like

  50. BTW, I hope the Denver RBs enjoy having a top notch BLOCKING FULLBACK opening holes for them.

    Could be a rather expensive injury the former starting fullback suffered!! He may be the backup the rest of his career!!

    Liked by 3 people

  53. Bernie – I didn’t know there was a men’s beach volleyball! Tell me what you’ve seen while watching it.

    Like

  54. Great to hear Coach Duzz give a shout-out to BigB’s guy Haba!

    Coach said Haba is making progress and we should see him getting playing-time this season…

    At one of the games last season, might have been the incredible win against Duke, I just happened to catch Haba on the sidelines and the memory stuck with me. . At a point in the game where the crowd was expressing some displeasure at Pitt’s performance, Haba turned around to face the crowd and lifted his shoulders with hands palms-up by his side — as if to say “Come on, Man. These guys are workin’ hard here. Give them a break…”

    Looking forward to rooting for Haba!

    Go Pitt!

    Liked by 1 person

  55. Frosh RB Vincent Davis is listed as 5’8” and 170 pounds. He was rated as the 32nd RB in the country.

    Interestingly, the other Florida freshman RB, Daniel Carter, was rated the 19th best RB in the country. He’s listed as 5-10 and 220.

    On the possibility of Vincent Davis starting or playing a lot this season, I remember something Walt used to say. Walt said a freshman RB can play if they do two things — one, learn the playbook; and two, not fumble!

    Go Pitt.

    Liked by 1 person

Comments are closed.