I subscribe to DirecTV. I have HDTV, but am not currently subscribing to all HD channels (which, right now, include ESPN, ESPN2, Discover Theater in HD) because I’m waiting to the arrival of a whole slate of HD programming the provider will offer once new satellites lauch and bring greater bandwidth to make the carriage possible.

My DirecTV package includes locals, HD in locals, plus TNT, occasional FSN events, and HBO (the only premium channel to which I am currently subscribed). The standard definition channels to which I’m subscribed are comparable to digital cable offerings, including Biography Channel, Sleuth, Nicktoons, Boomerang, Fuse, Current, DIY, and SoapNet.

I use WOW! • Internet • Cable • Phone for high-spped Internet service.

For telephone, I don’t bother anymore with landline service and have been, for some time, cellular exclusive. I have Sprint PCS.

The best advice I can give is to continuously comparison shop if you’re not all that happy with current service.

Just found your blog and wanted to say as far as Comcast is concerned, many times the people answering the phones aren’t really aware of what’s going on with different plans and such. I don’t know if you are connected with the SE Michigan call center or the call center in Pennsylvania, but the SE MI call center has a lot of employee turnover. There are so many cable, internet, and phone plans floating around at any one time it’s difficult for the phone techs to keep up. They’re supposed to, but they are under a lot of pressure while working. I don’t work at the call center, but my husband is a field tech.
The employees put up with a lot of crap from customers because of bill increases, etc. The majority of the time the employees have no control over what happens.