Northern California - Comcast and Le Tour

Maybe it's just a NorCal issue, I don't know, so I'll start here.
Could be it's just me but is Comcast doing as bad a job broadcasting Versus (and the Tour de France) for you as it is for me?

I just can't believe it... the first couple of days they just randomly inserted local advertising.
Middle of commentary? Gone.
Middle of an interview? Gone.
The finish of the first major sprint? No one wants to see that. 178 riders. I saw 0 cross the finish line.

Now, starting on Saturday, we have non-stop digital hash... the audio and video are locking up, breaking up, jumping all around. Just in time for the Alps. Of course. And it's still going on, 36 hours later.

They "are aware of their ongoing problems with Versus" and are "investigating"

I've waited a year for this. I am broken hearted.

I havent had any problems and the HD feed is absolutely stunning.

Maybe it's just me, then... but why just that channel, I wonder.
Hm. Versus HD is not on channel 81. That might explain it.
I will say, though, that even on "normal" Versus (until yesterday) the picture quality has been amazing.
Oh well, Comcast says they're aware of it. Could be corporate BS (Rule #1: lie to the customer if you think it will make them happy) but all I can do is -heh- ride it out.

I have noticed that in some stages (I tivo the first broadcast of each stage) cut to a single commercial without warning, sometimes at tops of climbs and sprints. It is quite annoying, but it seems as though they have gotten better about it in the past couple days.

Yeah, I've noticed the random/annoying commercial that comes in out of nowhere. They also have an interesting line of commercials in their evening shows (if you follow my drift) mind you the evening wrap up show is so bad, I'm only watching or recording the live feed in the morning now.

I havent' experienced any problems. The Versus feed in HD is stunning. The helicopter shots of the castles, rivers, villas, mountains is awesome. Makes me really want to ride in Europe.

Yeah, I've noticed the random/annoying commercial that comes in out of nowhere. They also have an interesting line of commercials in their evening shows (if you follow my drift) mind you the evening wrap up show is so bad, I'm only watching or recording the live feed in the morning now.

+1 about recording the live feed in the AM. Depending on my work schedule, I sometimes am even able to catch the end before I have to leave for work. I just got cable last month too, just in time. It's too bad my wife thinks watching people ride bikes for three hours is boring.

Maybe it's just me, then...

Nope, not just you. When they decided to run a "Garlique" commercial just before the winner crossed the line (I forget which stage), I turned it off in disgust, vowing to cancel my Comcast and never watch Versus again. Of course, I did neither and have watched every stage:p.

The sheer amount of commercials on Versus is mind-boggling.

Well, to be fair, they seemed to have gotten that ransom commercial problem sorted out in a couple of days (now, why it *needed* to be sorted out in the first place is a different question entirely)

My complaint now is the digital signal has been all hashed up. The picture and audio has frozen, locked up, jumped, broken up.. if you've ever seen digital pixelation, then you know exactly what I'm talking about.

At least, when I last checked about 10 minutes ago, it looks like they got that taken care of now, too. At least now, when thry pick it up in the Alps tomorrow, I might be able to enjoy it.

I just don't know why they're having all these issues with Versus this year.
It's kind of hard to trust Comcast to deliver now.