Posted on 01/02/2018 7:40:32 AM PST by george76
from the we-don't-have-to-compete,-we're-the-cable-and-broadband-industry dept.
What do you do when you're faced by an existential, evolutionary shift that threatens your entire, overly-comfortable industry? Why you raise rates, of course! Comcast is one of six cable providers who have informed customers that they've raised the rates for the new year, despite the record-setting shift toward cord cutting during 2017. Everything Comcast offers is seeing price hikes .., ranging from increases in the company's traditional channel bundles, a price increase for Comcast's standalone streaming platform, and even the fee charged for renting a modem (which is now $11 per month).
Comcast's even jacking up the obnoxious fees it's currently facing several lawsuits over. That includes the "Broadcast TV fee," which is simply a part of the cost of doing business (paying for content) buried below the line, letting Comcast advertise one rate -- then sock consumers with another price entirely once the bill comes due. That fee, which Comcast has insisted is just its way of "being transparent," was just $1.50 when introduced in 2013 -- and will be bumped to $8 per month in the new year:
...
With cord cutting setting records, why doesn't Comcast feel the need to actually adapt to changing markets? It doesn't have to. The company is securing a bigger monopoly over broadband in a growing number of markets thanks to telcos that no longer think it's worth it to upgrade aging DSL lines.
That means there are more markets than ever where if you want a decent broadband connection that meets the FCC's 25 Mbps definition of broadband, Comcast is your only option. As a result, Comcast knows that it can simply jack up the cost of broadband as well to counter any TV revenue losses without being punished by the pesky nuisance of competition.
(Excerpt) Read more at techdirt.com ...
If Comcast has a true monopoly, telecom law generally requires providing it to any number of competitors at 25% off to remarket.
That happens in many locales now, including Indianapolis. That happened with the wired phone companies, too. Remember how you could get MCI or Sprint or hundreds of others for long distance?
Until the internet service providers quadruple or quintuple their charge for high speed internet access...
Hmmmmmm.
I wonder if co-op (membership) wireless high speed internet access is feasible; and if so for how long ?
Out here in the sticks “cord-cutting” is right there with the Easter Bunny for stuff I have heard about but never seen. :-)
I have an internet only contract with Comcast until April 2018. I know they will ream me out come April. How do I know? I signed up for 25mbs but via speed tests I can see Comcast is giving me 75mbs which I don’t need or care about.
I suppose due to the end of Net Neutrality? But common sense says as people dump ESPN, pro football, cable in general....That Comcast will try to rip off its internet users to make up for the losses.
Me too. Contract ends on the 8th
I went from $144+ from Time Warner/Spectrum to $42 internet + $25 for Sling TV which gives me more channels then cable. They keep adding more without the price increase.
$144 to $67 with more choices plus I use a Roku box and get all kinds of shows to watch along with Netflix and Amazon Prime shows. I use a over the air antenna for free tv. Go to http://www.tvguide.com then What’s on for channels in your area.
Actual network TV has improved since digitalization took place, so I’m cutting the cord on TV once my Commiecast contract expires. I might keep the Internet portion, however.
Commiecast: biggest crony capitalists around.
Yeah right. My bill went from 186 to 220 (Comcast) and I was already pissed about 186. The bill is due in 11 days and I am seriously thinking about telling them to cut the cord. Enough. If you think that there will be competition, you are sadly mistaken. I just need to find out if I “prepay the month or if the bill coming due to the next month”. I am sick of Comcast for sure even though the service itself is superior. It’s just too expensive.
When the television stations went to digital the television stations were given I believe five extra channels to broadcast with since they are now digital. In my area the stations do not used those five extra channels I think the government ought to take those back and hold them in a pool until someone comes along and can use them. This will provide us with a competitor to Comcast and the other giants. Just imagine getting all those extras with some true competition. I have no idea why no one does this maybe there is a technical reason.
Not much.
For everything else there is
https://123movieshub.to/123movies
“In a nutshell how does cutting the cord work? Any insight is appreciated.”
Digital antenna placed in my attic delivers 32 channels in high definition. Cost - $49.00. Installed myself. You can connect the cable from the antenna to your house cable wiring or use a device like Silicon Dust’s HD Homerun, available at Best Buy, to stream the over the air signal to smart TV’s and/or third party digital media player connected to your TV such as Apple TV, Roku, or Amazon Fire. These digital media players, if connected to high speed internet (cable or DSL) will allow you to purchase streaming internet content from providers such as Netflix, Amazon Prime, Hulu, Direct TV, YouTube. There is also plenty of no cost entertainment that can be streamed from the internet through digital media players.
I hear ya.
I read a while back that someone has the ability to put Wi Fi on all electric lines, that would put a kink in the Cable Company monopoly.
Hang on until they get all mellowed out. 😇
save
How much does the service to the phone cost?
How much does the service to the phone cost?
Ive read that what youre doing is the strategy that is going to anhilate the cable industry. But so far I dont have the guts to try it.
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