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GBH tutorial: Canceling your cable provider

You've got 10 days before the SEC Network launches, which gives you 10 days to change to a cable/satellite provider that carries it unless you want to keep hope alive.

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The SEC Network launches on Thursday, Aug. 14 - and more importantly - will carry Texas A&M's season-opening game in South Carolina on Thursday, Aug. 28. Will your provider carry it? If you have DirecTV, Verizon Fios or Charter, the answer is currently "no." Read below for information on how to cancel that service and find a new provider that will carry the only channel you'll be watching for the next four months.

UPDATE: DirecTV is now on board, and Mr. McConaughey has promptly changed into his Verizon Fios hat.

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DirecTV

There is not an option to cancel your service online. If you would like to suspend or disconnect your account, call 1-800-531-5000 between 8 a.m. and 10 p.m. However, be aware that  if you cancel before your contract ends, you will be charged a deactivation fee of $15 plus a prorated early cancellation fee of up to $20 a month.

Verizon Fios

If you wish to cancel your Verizon service, call 1-800-VERIZON (1-800-837-4966) from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Friday. Once again, if you cancel service before your contract ends, you are subject to early termination fees ($119 for the Fios Double Play, $179 for the Fios Triple Play). Rude.

Charter

We're most hopeful about Charter picking up SEC Network, but we're waiting on a press release. To cancel your service, call 1-877-906-9121. And, not surprisingly, you may be charged an early termination fee of up to $150 if you cancel service before your contract ends (the amount of the early termination fee will decrease monthly over the term of your agreement).

Signing up for new service

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So you've gotten out from under the thumb of those non-SEC-Network-carrying heathens. Now what? Who should I switch to? AT&T Uverse and Dish Network are the two major players, but if you're one of those anti-establishment types, there are more than 60 smaller providers that will carry the network (Check this page and drill down under the question "How can I get the SEC Network in time for the August 2014 launch?").

Happy hunting!