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Comcast Raises Cable TV Bills Again -- Even If You're Under Contract (arstechnica.com)
An anonymous reader quotes a report from Ars Technica: Comcast is raising its controversial "Broadcast TV" and "Regional Sports Network" fees again on January 1, with the typical total price going from $14.50 to $18.25 a month. The newly raised broadcast TV fee will be $10 a month, and the sports fee will be $8.25 a month, Cord Cutters News reported last week. The new fee sizes are confirmed in a Comcast price list for the Atlanta market. The new price hikes will take effect in most of Comcast's regional markets across the U.S. on January 1, but some cities will get the increase later in 2019, a Comcast spokesperson told Ars. The fee sizes can vary by city based on which stations are available, so in some cases they could be less than $10 and $8.25, Comcast said.
The fees, which have become common in the industry, are controversial because they are not included in Comcast's advertised prices and because Comcast imposes fee increases even on customers who are under contract. The broadcast and sports fee increases will also be applied to customers who pay Comcast's promotional rates, which typically last one year, Comcast told Ars. Equipment rental fees are rising, too. Comcast last year raised its modem rental fee from $10 to $11 a month. The new price list for January 1 lists an "Internet/Voice Equipment Rental" fee as $13. Comcast confirmed to Ars that the modem rental fee is rising $2 a month. Customers can avoid that fee by purchasing their own modem.
The fees, which have become common in the industry, are controversial because they are not included in Comcast's advertised prices and because Comcast imposes fee increases even on customers who are under contract. The broadcast and sports fee increases will also be applied to customers who pay Comcast's promotional rates, which typically last one year, Comcast told Ars. Equipment rental fees are rising, too. Comcast last year raised its modem rental fee from $10 to $11 a month. The new price list for January 1 lists an "Internet/Voice Equipment Rental" fee as $13. Comcast confirmed to Ars that the modem rental fee is rising $2 a month. Customers can avoid that fee by purchasing their own modem.
I see an ad for TV+Internet for $35 and when all of the fees and taxes are added in it comes out to more like $80. Very deceptive advertising practices. In some cases, its hard to get out of them what the actual fees and taxes will be. Then, probably the make it so the first bill comes only after the 30 day gaurantee is up. There is nothing worth watching on TV anyway (and really even on NetFlix). Much is designed for the lowest common denominator, you can feel your IQ dropping just being exposed to it. Much of the news, especially CNN, is complete disinformation propoganda and lies to turn people into America hating nutjobs. I don't watch TV, and its great.
People will say there is no competition, but there is. They are competing for your time and your eyes.
Once you understand that, you will know there is a lot of it. Start doing that thing you never had time for.
Don't fight for your country, if your country does not fight for you.
It's as simple as that. As long as people keep paying, they will increase their prices.
Talk about nickle and diming.
Wanna buy a shirt?
https://www.redbubble.com/people/stealthfinger/shop?asc=u
It's however like stepping back about 20 to 25 years. The programming on the air wave channels are re-runs of 1990's and early 2000 movies.
Ed Sullivan shows, BuzzR tv is game shows. that's fun.
This is caused by multipathing bounce from Tau Ceti. Go up there and tweak your antenna over another arcsecond.
I'm not a Comcast fan, but this practice makes total sense and is the norm for the industry.
I think you can buy your own cable modem as well.
I have ComCast Business. Nope, you must rent it. Like a different comment says, I think it's for the business SLA -- in addition, they KNOW what's on the other end, how to access and configure it, and already have a warehouse full of 'em. If you've got your own modem, they don't know how to buy it or configure it, and you probably don't know know or have forgotten. But that's bad for their SLA, so I think modem rental is just a cost of doing business.
Curiousitystream for $20 a year is a better value for me.
I've been thinking about that (CS). Check out this. Not 100% sure it includes everything but I kinda think so. That'd be half-price and that even includes OTHER stuff as well.
And I got an email from Hulu -- apparently they're running a New Customer promotion for $1/month for 6 / 9 / 12? months.
If the universe is someone's simulation -- does that mean the stars are just stuck pixels?
Keep bending over for the cable companies people. DITCH THAT TV service. I'll save over $1,200 this year due to ditching mine last December.
While there may not be anything people can do about keeping their original contract prices, that failure to disclose substantially weakens their ability to hold people to remaining on that contract, and it wouldn't surprise me if they aren't able to actually enforce any early termination fees they might have decided should otherwise apply, particularly since the customer would have had no practical way to anticipate in advance that these changes were about to occur.
File under 'M' for 'Manic ranting'
If you are pretty far out from the transmission antenna, 30 or 40 miles, you'll need something more substantial than that. You can install an outdoor antenna, in the attic if necessary due to regulations. If your in an apartment building your SOL. Apartment buildings used to have Master Antenna Systems (MATV) to serve the complex for free with an antenna on the roof. But now many condo associations demand that you pay for cable TV as they get this bulk deal to signup the entire building. If your further out from a large city, such as 70 miles, or behind a mountain, your SOL.They originally created CATV to serve distant communities by putting an antenna up on a mountain and sending the signals down to the town and charging a nominal fee to maintain the antenna and cable. Some franchise authorities have a stipulation in their franchise agreement that they be required to seell you just local stations at a low monthly rate. You may want to look into that if you are in a rural area.
Another alternative that used to exist for rural areas was the big C band dish, which you could use to get a lot of programming for free. That has languished after the market was taken over by mini dish subscription services where you find yourself in a similar situation to cable tv services.
If you need Cable and you want to save money, some of the cable companies allow you to use your TVs built in Clear QAM tuner, some also provide a cheap "tuning adapter". Cable Cards never really seem to have caught on, instead of charging a one time fee they seem to want to charge a recurring fee for this which is quite above what the card costs.
You should tell your HOA that there is a federal law preventing them from restricting antenna installations unless they can show it doesn't put an unreasonable burden on you.
https://www.fcc.gov/media/over...
Yes it's an anecdote! Were you expecting original research in a Slashdot comment?
This. I've fought HOA's over this and won with a single page letter.
They can't argue with Federal law. Mount your dish wherever the heck you want to, and tell them to take a hike.
Side note: stuff like this is why I'll never move to an area with a HOA again. Too many unemployed, busybody, control freaks telling me what I can & can't do on my own property.