Cable Prices Keep Rising, and Customers Keep Paying

New York Times ^ | May 24, 2008 | MATT RICHTEL

[mysterio]

Comcast just bought my local cable company. And raised rates.

And on a whim, I just checked my internet speed. It's a third of what it used to be.

I noticed movies had been downloading slowly. Thanks, Comcast.

[JoeGar]

Cable prices have risen 77 percent since 1996

The History Channel, Discovery Channel, Discovery Science, Military Channel, National Geographic Channel, HD channels, digital channels, and digital video recorders--all new since 1996--make cable worth the cost.

[acoulterfan]

“I remember back in 1972, when the cable company in my town raised the monthly fee from $5.00 to $7.50 a month for 12 channels.”

Cox Cable Limited Basic here in San Diego is Channels 4-18 and 20-27 for only $12.50/month but many are Spanish Speaking and the rest are pretty much Govt Access, Qvc, HSN, Cspan and all local network channels.

[politicalwit]

I’m over in NW Indiana. Switched from Verizon DSL to Comcast about 6 weeks ago. My Comcast speeds blows away Verizon DSL in this area. Tested speed about 5 minutes ago.
11997 kb/s down, 2103 kb/s up Ping 25/ms.
Comcast is 50% less than Verizon in pricing.

[TomGuy]

of the 118 channels available to them

'available to them' does not mean 'worth watching.'

I get 70 on my basic extended. I would gladly drop 40 crappers, just so I didn't have to pass through them to get to the 30 that may have watchable programming.

Having even 70 channels does not mean having '70 channels worth watching.'

If McCain would get cable-a-la-carte passed, I would support him for President. At least he would have finally done something worthwhile.

[pabianice]

In my town there is one cable provider and no satellite TV. I wonder why cable keeps raising its prices? /s

[dragnet2]

Cable, satellite etc is all a rip off.

I remember years ago when they first pushed "Pay TV" and "On TV" bull crap.

It was all billed as NO COMMERCIALS.

They lied....

Now all the suckers are PAYING TO WATCH COMMERCIALS.

[nyyankeefan]

try to imagine cable or satellite TV without all the shopping channels and infomercials...

300 channels down to about 6!!!!

[nyyankeefan]

no way....directv is way better than the wankers at comcast...better picture...less service problems and cheaper!!!!

it still is overpriced...but congress PROMISED TV reform years ago...and everyone knows that congress always looks out for the common citizen and will act will lightning speed to correct all issues....

actually...congress is outsourcing all problems to the world famous comcast service department!!!

[olivia3boys]

“This is one of the few areas in life that government could be doing a whole lot more.”

I completely disagree. TV is trash and it’s the last thing gov’t should be subsidizing for already dumbed-down Americans.

This nation needs less TV, not more.

I haven’t had any TV for a decade now (no channels, nothing). I do have a 42” plasma to watch Netflix on though!

[savedbygrace]

LOL.

No, this is Cable One, not Comcast.

[Publius6961]

BUMP!