I Want My CMT
Now I know what heroin addicts feel like. When you want something so so bad but just cannot get your hands on enough to satiate you. I turned on my TV yesterday and CMT was gone. Vanished without a trace. So I turned on another TV. Gone. Where was my beloved channel 70? In an apathetic tone, as though I was concerned about something heinous like soft rock, my Chicagoland Comcast rep told me CMT is no longer part of basic cable. What the … ? That’s like taking away ABC. Can they do this? Is it even legal? Apparently, yes and yes.
The regular CMT has now been upgraded to a digital channel. I can get it in my family room where I have a cable box. But my other four TVs? No such luck. To get it, I’ll have to pay $6 a month for each TV. I’ve run the numbers and that’s almost $300 a year. The official folks at Comcast told me that “the shift of CMT to Comcast Digital Cable is part of our effort to make Comcast offerings more consistent throughout the region.” Whatever. I’m not saying it’s not worth every penny, it’s just that it seems like a dirty trick.
Sadly, this is the future of cable. Comcast is going all digital. Taking away my country videos is their way of telling me that analog CMT is so 2007. I’m all for progress but I guess a little warning would’ve been nice. Not just for me personally but for Chicago’s country fans. I will undoubtedly find the incremental money somewhere. And I’ll get past this. In the meantime though, I have no idea what to watch. When I was making breakfast for the kids (OK, Pop-Tarts), I loved waking up with old stuff like Keith Anderson’s “Pickin’ Wildflowers” or Dierks Bentley’s new “Free and Easy Down the Road I Go.” Or seeing Lance Smith count down the videos while I folded laundry. Or catching on all the CMT Insider news as I talked on the phone. I guess all this means in the short term is that I‘ll be a more attentive cook / laundress / friend. But when I get my CMT back, I’ll be a more attentive country fan. Who knows? Maybe once it doesn’t come free, I’ll appreciate the channel that much more.
©2008 Country Music Television, Inc., a Viacom company. A division of
tiffany says:
I am so glad i found this out–i thought i was doing something wrong on my TV. Thought my tv was broke, LOL :) I’m going to call them now and say that i want my cmt, and maybe they’ll do it for no charge!! hehe…
Linda says:
You’re lucky you had it this long. CMT’s been part of Time-Warner’s digital tier for some time now. Not only do you have to pay extra for CMT, if you want that “other country channel” also, that’s another tier.
Mandy says:
Its just CMT. Its no big deal. Country music is better withtout the videos anyway. And shows like “Trick My Truck” are really stupid and not worth watching. Seriously, all of our lives would be better if we spent a bit less time watching CMT and a bit more time doing something more worthwhile.
Jill says:
So that’s what happened??? Thanks for solving the mystery for me. Can’t live without my CMT–guess it’s time to move beyond basic cable. Thanks for the article!
kathy says:
My sis just lost her CMT and omg, she was mad. I still have it but don’t watch as often because of the turn to play more shows and less music :( Looks like they took a lesson from the MTV school of “MUSIC TELEVISION” excuse me but “I WANT MY MTV(music) and now “I WANT MY CMT”(music)
kathy says:
see ya in the zone:)mrskitty1
Larry Killam says:
CMT seems to be going the same way as the Nashville Network anyway.I liked it better when it was only videos.Why don’t they put on Hee Haw or something music related than some of them dumb shows they have on there now.What I missed about the Nashville Network was Shotgun Red.Why do they wreck a good thing.I hate the countdown that repeats what they said 3 minutes ago why not just show the whole countdown instead.Bores me to pieces.
Vampire says:
They did they same thing to the Sci-Fi channel! Bastards!
LPLINK says:
I am concerned that the guys on Trick My Truck do not wear protective eye wear during many procedures that may be hazardous. These talented people need to protect themselves from accidental injury.
Thanks,
Larry Link
gayle n. says:
I don’t live near chicago but i can simpathize because I think i would die without CMT. I don’t watch the movies but I like the relaity shows and love the videos so much. I think you should make a petition to get your CMT back. I would do that for sure.
peter n says:
take if from an old hockey fan ….(who is no longer a fan — after not being able to watch the blackhawks anymore for free on TV since the mid-70’s — i could care less about hockey now) i’m not alone, the stadium is near empty most nights
the country music industry should make it a point to keep it’s product accessible (free)
the downslide is coming
(accelerated by the “over-pop” current sound & generally lousy songs)
channel surfing did win a few kids and kept many an old folk interested …..otherwise; i think others and i will stick with the same old great songs from the past; using the product we already own and not waste any more money
gas prices — well, i have to drive ;
cable prices — i don’t have to listen to country music
Joyce says:
So you want more money. I want CMT!!!!!
Ashling says:
quite honestly I was just impressed to hear there are fellow country fans in Chicago? Where are you guys hiding?!?
Doris & Elmer says:
We are very disappointed with CMT. You claim to be PURE country, but this morning we were enjoying CMT until Cowboy Troy came on with his new debut. That is the nearest nothing we have ever seen. That is no where near country. Now everything after that was PURE Country. I think you need to think about what country really is. Since country has become the No. 1 music there are performers that want to use country to promote their music and call it country. If this is the kind of music you promote I think you will loose a lot of viewers, including us.
Ed says:
I HATE Comcast. They constantly think up new ways to charge us more money. I LOVE CMT, but if those fleecers think they’re getting another dime out of me they are wrong. I have basic cable and I could care less about digital. My neighbors are all switching to the dish. Our cable goes out every time the wind blows. I don’t think a dish would be all that bad. When comcast comes into your neighborhood, RUN!!!
Paul Causey says:
Analog TV goes away February 19, 2009. Recent TV sets will pick up digital cable broadcasts without a converter box.
Danielle says:
Hey guys I don’t know if they have this in Chicago(I’m pretty sure they do) but directv is a better alternative to cable and the majority of the channels are digital. And the best thing is that were I’m at its cheaper than cable and has more channels. Hope this helps and by the way the receivers or boxes are free all you have to do is call them and they will install it for free also.
canadian_country_guy says:
I feel the same way, but my concern is with the Internet. I woke one day back in Jan/07 to find I can no longer watch music vidoes on cmt’s website. I thought for sure they would get fixed one day soon, well it’s now Sept/07 and I decided to read the cmt policy and discovered that if you are under 13yrs old, or do not live in the USA you can no longer watch vidoes. That’s crappy!!!!! It would be worth it to me to beable to pay a membership but even that isn’t an option.
Frank says:
I’m with you all. I am discusted with comcast right now! I havnt had CMT for a few days so i thought it was something wrong with my TV. I called comcast today and thats when they told me that CMT is no longer part of basic cable! I was so dissapointed. Why don’t they remove that stupid MTV or VH1 instead? This is rediculas. If I want CMT, I’ll need to get a box and pay an extra $6.00 a month! They ALWAYS find ways of getting more and more money out of people.
mike says:
the only thing i wach on cmt is the reality shows i dont like country very much like all you rednecks out there
Legend says:
not a fan of country, i just wanna watch hulk hogans celebrity championship wrestling since im a WWE fan
beth says:
We just received an updated list of stations on COMCAST and effective 2/1/09 there is no more CMT only CMT Pure Country which you have to pay lots more for. I have already called an complained. Maybe lots of other people can do the same. Hopefully they will put it back on.
beth says:
Made a mistake it is 2/1/10that CMT will no longer be on Comcast. Please everyone protest! I already did but have had no reply from Comcast - Big Surprise!
karenb says:
I wanted to let CMT channel know that i really enjoy watching the old sid com “Dallas”. i loved the marathon that was held shortly. and i really could get into it more if it was a daily show…. Something for you to think about.
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