Jump to content

No more major television stations


jabberjaw070596
 Share

Recommended Posts

Carnival didn't specifically decide to drop certain stations. They've switched to a different satellite TV system, and the package chosen unfortunately does not include certain networks (probably based on price). I would imagine Carnival looked at it as a way to reduce some overhead and maintain a profit margin that would keep their shareholders happy. Meanwhile, many customers will undoubtedly complain and just see it as "another cutback".

 

I am a shareholder and have received many of thousands of dollars of OBC. But it is a still a cutback, no other way to view it. You could see network programming in the past, now you cannot.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Is this new cut back just for the TV's in the cabins? We booked the Liberty next month just to watch the SuperBowl on the Lido deck big screen. What about the year round sports in the sports bars. If no SuperBowl, THATS A BIG PROBLEM!!!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Is this new cut back just for the TV's in the cabins? We booked the Liberty next month just to watch the SuperBowl on the Lido deck big screen. What about the year round sports in the sports bars. If no SuperBowl, THATS A BIG PROBLEM!!!

 

They will pickup the Superbowl and show on the Pool big screen. ESPN will still be in the sports bar. When we cruised on Vista over Thanksgiving...ESPN was not part of the cabin TV channels but was on at the Sports bar and Casino

Link to comment
Share on other sites

We're thinking about sailing Superbowl weekend, and while our team is completely out of the running, my SO wouldn't be happy if they didn't show it. I can't actually imagine them not showing it on a big screen as well as in the sports bar, I'm not terribly worried.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

In another big move, Carnival is cutting the cord on showing the ABC, CBS, NBC, and FOX networks on in-stateroom TVs. The TVs will still show channels like CNN, TBS, TNT, and the Discovery channel in addition to the ship channels like the lido deck camera and cruise tracking. However, the overall size of the TV guide will be significantly reduced

 

Ugh. Yet another cutback. Carnival won't be happy until they become Dolphin Cruise line.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

This is nothing more than another Carnival cutback. Anyone who believes that Carnival did not have the option of including local channels in their new providers package is delusional.
Of course they had the option, however I believe your accusation doesn't factor in the fact that there are two sides to the equation: Carnival cannot include the broadcast networks without paying those networks a retransmission fee, and retransmission fees for the broadcast networks have been skyrocketing. (And yes, the television service aboard cruise ships is subject to similar fees to those described in the article.)

 

The real question is whether the higher retransmission fees that the broadcast networks have been demanding are warranted given the demand aboard ship. Carnival has decided that passengers would not reward them enough for incurring that cost.

 

In essence, we passengers are at fault for spending so much time in the casino, in the restaurants, at the pool and walking the decks. :)

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Though it's not a deal-breaker for me, it was nice to take a break after dinner and watch a prime time show that we normally watch at home - it also kept me out of the casino for an hour or so. We always DVR anything we really don't want to miss so that's not an issue.

 

The one nice thing is, I won't have to listen as my sister channel surfs when I'm trying to fall asleep (lol). Now unlike me, she is really going to miss losing those channels.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

One other relevant data point: It was a big deal when television screens were added to seat backs aboard aircraft. For years there there were discussions about when it would extend beyond first class, and then every-seat entertainment systems were the aim. Now, what we're seeing are airlines deciding to, when next rehabbing aircraft interiors, leaving out seat-back entertainment systems. The reality is that so many travelers these days are carrying their own personal entertainment systems. My spouse and I carry aboard four separate devices that could, if we chose to use them that way, present downloaded video entertainment. While it doesn't address the need to watch a broadcast network news broadcast, or a live sporting event on a broadcast network, the fact that so many people are relying on their personal entertainment systems reduces the need for video entertainment provided by the cruise ship/airline to just those live presentations, and that's a lot less of a demand as compared to when many people didn't carry with them their own personal entertainment systems.

 

As the linked article indicates, some airlines are going in one direction, removing the systems from their aircraft, while others are seeking to capitalize (and remember the root of the word "capitalize" is "capital" which is synonymous with "money" - so read: "monetize") their seat-back entertainment systems. The question is how will you as a passenger motivate (again, when you see "motivate" read "give money to") the airline in response to their offering seat-back entertainment as they have been in the past, now that there isn't enough motivation coming from just being there for you? And reflexively, what would it take to have Carnival offer broadcast networks again? Clearly, again, there would have to be some kind of movitivation (i.e., "money") rather than just expectation.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

it also kept me out of the casino for an hour or so.

 

Since CCL wants to get you to spend as much time in the casino as possible that's probably not a good argument to make in order to make them pay for the channels that are being cut.;)

 

I cruise to get away from the real world for awhile so I won't miss the channels at all.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

In essence, we passengers are at fault for spending so much time in the casino, in the restaurants, at the pool and walking the decks. :)

 

To follow your train of thought, do you think Carnival evaluated this measure and is thinking that perhaps it will drive folks from their cabins back into the public areas where they will spend money?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

To follow your train of thought, do you think Carnival evaluated this measure and is thinking that perhaps it will drive folks from their cabins back into the public areas where they will spend money?

 

That’s what I’m thinking. The same reason they don’t have espn in the cabins. They want you watching the game at a bar.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

To follow your train of thought, do you think Carnival evaluated this measure and is thinking that perhaps it will drive folks from their cabins back into the public areas where they will spend money?
At first blush, that seems like a stretch. I do the kind of work on which such decisions are made. The first level of consideration would be, as you would expect, a straight-up cost/benefit analysis: How much does retransmission cost, versus how much passenger revenue is likely affected by offering that retransmission? Now, think about it: If a survey for a cruise line asked respondents to put ten offerings in order of importance to them, including dining, pools, bars, casino, kids clubs, spa, etc., and in-cabin broadcast television, how many surveys would have in-cabin broadcast television in the top half? Probably very few.

 

Having said that, it is possible that what you're suggesting was a factor: A goal was set to increase passenger engagement in bars, casinos, etc. There are two ways to do that: Increase the attractiveness of passenger engagement opportunities (which represents additional cost), or decrease the attractiveness of what passengers do instead of engaging with public offerings (which, in this case, actually represents decreased cost - a double advantage). Of course, there's a risk there (that eliminating the broadcast networks could adversely affect bookings overall), but does anyone really think that that would have a high probability and a high severity?

 

And that's one of the insidious aspects of optimization: Often the "right thing" to do for the business is something that is both a bad thing for consumers and something for which we consumers really cannot defend a claim that that "right thing" shouldn't be done. It is the kind of thing that results in us ending up shoe-horned into 17" wide seats on aircraft and using small towels in economy motels. On the other hand, it is also what fosters layers of luxury options higher than the optimized option. In the case of Carnival, it fosters Princess and Holland America. And if they ever do the same, that would foster Cunard and Seabourn.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

At first blush, that seems like a stretch. I do the kind of work on which such decisions are made. The first level of consideration would be, as you would expect, a straight-up cost/benefit analysis: How much does retransmission cost, versus how much passenger revenue is likely affected by offering that retransmission? Now, think about it: If a survey for a cruise line asked respondents to put ten offerings in order of importance to them, including dining, pools, bars, casino, kids clubs, spa, etc., and in-cabin broadcast television, how many surveys would have in-cabin broadcast television in the top half? Probably very few.

 

Having said that, it is possible that what you're suggesting was a factor: A goal was set to increase passenger engagement in bars, casinos, etc. There are two ways to do that: Increase the attractiveness of passenger engagement opportunities (which represents additional cost), or decrease the attractiveness of what passengers do instead of engaging with public offerings (which, in this case, actually represents decreased cost - a double advantage). Of course, there's a risk there (that eliminating the broadcast networks could adversely affect bookings overall), but does anyone really think that that would have a high probability and a high severity?

 

And that's one of the insidious aspects of optimization: Often the "right thing" to do for the business is something that is both a bad thing for consumers and something for which we consumers really cannot defend a claim that that "right thing" shouldn't be done. It is the kind of thing that results in us ending up shoe-horned into 17" wide seats on aircraft and using small towels in economy motels. On the other hand, it is also what fosters layers of luxury options higher than the optimized option. In the case of Carnival, it fosters Princess and Holland America. And if they ever do the same, that would foster Cunard and Seabourn.

 

Rather than surveys they maybe used real time data from the ships if their system is set up to capture such data (i.e. how many times cabin TVs were tuned to those channels). I'm not technologically savvy enough to say their equipment would capture that info, but I know enough to realize that it is at least a strong possibility.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Smart move for Carnival to lower their operating costs by not giving in to never ending retransmission fee hikes. As a cord cutter I am happy to see companies standing up to these media companies. But I wonder if Carnival forgot to consider the age group of many long term cruisers since older generations are used to watching the "tube" and may not like the idea of going without these channels. Lets see how this plays out

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Well, I'm one of the people it affects.....at least to a small degree. I enjoy watching a football game from my balcony: chair facing the repositioned TV, bucket of beer between my feet, sounds of the sea washing up against the ship, and my own personal bathroom mere steps away.

 

I do enjoy sitting at the Sky Box bar too. It was just nice to have the option.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I can remember watching Prince William and Kate get married while aboard the freedom. I think it was very early in the morning if I remember correctly. That's probably the only time I've watched tv in the stateroom...besides the ship channel or a quick glance at the weather.

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Since CCL wants to get you to spend as much time in the casino as possible that's probably not a good argument to make in order to make them pay for the channels that are being cut.;)

 

I cruise to get away from the real world for awhile so I won't miss the channels at all.

 

 

Believe me, I spend way too much time in the casino as is. I've cruised using their casino offers for the last 3-4 years (and yes I know I'm not getting anything for "free"). But, I spend the same amount in the casino as I did when I was paying full fare, so for me it's a "win."

 

In reference to them paying for channels, I don't blame CCL at all. They do keep going up in price and I applaud companies that refuse to keep paying.

 

Heck, I'm old enough to remember cruising (and working on the ships) when you had no idea what was going on in the outside world. Funny story - when Ronald Reagan was shot, the Captain (who was Italian of course) made an announcement from the bridge - he said something about having bad news that the president had been shot & he would keep everyone advised of his condition. I was working in the Gift Shop at the time, and a passenger asked me "does he mean his president or ours?" It was so funny!! Cruising then meant truly getting away from it all.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Please sign in to comment

You will be able to leave a comment after signing in



Sign In Now
 Share

  • Forum Jump
    • Categories
      • Welcome to Cruise Critic
      • New Cruisers
      • Cruise Lines “A – O”
      • Cruise Lines “P – Z”
      • River Cruising
      • ROLL CALLS
      • Digital Photography & Cruise Technology
      • Special Interest Cruising
      • Cruise Discussion Topics
      • UK Cruising
      • Australia & New Zealand Cruisers
      • Canadian Cruisers
      • North American Homeports
      • Ports of Call
      • Cruise Conversations
×
×
  • Create New...