TKJunkMail
Enjoy the sun
Premium
join:2002-03-03
Avalon, NJ
 ·Sprint Mobile Broa..
 ·Comcast
| reply to ddurant
Re: All part of moving to all digital; no stopping it
said by ddurant  :said by TKJunkMail :...they also want people to move off of basic cable where they don't make any money... LOL.. That's pretty funny.. Not making money.. Heh.. They don't make money if the customer only has basic. The basic only rates are regulated in most of Comcast's footprint and average about $10/customer. No company with the infrastructure costs that cable has can make a profit on a $10/mo customer.
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ctceo
Premium
join:2001-04-26
South Bend, IN
clubs: | Basic costs $29-39 in this area. |
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TKJunkMail
Enjoy the sun
Premium
join:2002-03-03
Avalon, NJ
·Sprint Mobile Broa..
·Comcast
3 edits | said by ctceo :Basic costs $29-39 in this area. That is high. It is $9.38/mo in my area for these channels:
2 Local/Community Access
3 KYW 3 (CBS, Phila.)*
4 WNJS 23 (PBS)
5 WTXF 29 (FOX, Phila.)
6 WPVI 6 (ABC, Phila)*
7 WPHL 17 (WB, Phila.)*
8 CN8
9 WYBE 35
10 WCAU-10 (NBC, Phila.)*
11 QVC
12 WHYY 12 (PBS, Phila.)*
13 Local/Community Access
15 WMCN TV
16 WUVP 65 (Univision)
18 WGTW 48
19 C-SPAN 2
20 WPPX 61 (PAX)
21 INSP
22 C-SPAN
23 WPSG 57 (UPN, Phila.)*
24 WWSI 62 (Telemundo)
27 Animal Planet
78 Leased Access
95 EWTN
98 WTVE 51
245 WPVI-DT News Plus**
246 WPVI-DT Weather**
P.S> If you want to get the channels with 2 ** and the six additional not shown above free network HDTV channels(networks are marked with 1 *), you need a digital converter for about $5/mo. That would make it $14.38 all together.
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ctceo
Premium
join:2001-04-26
South Bend, IN
clubs:
 ·magicjack.com
 ·AT&T U-Verse
·Comcast
 ·AT&T Midwest
 ·HughesNet Satellit..
| Yeah, I know. It's been like that for a few years now, if you want expanded basic you have to get the digital box, and that instantly jumps your bill from the $29-39 up to like $59, If you want the full digital package they have that's like another $30 for a total of $89, and if you get Broadband in your area yet another $49 for a total of $138 a month, and that's for 1 box, not including setup fees, installer charges, and taxes...
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Titus Pullo
I came, I saw, I slept
join:2004-06-26
·Embarq
| reply to TKJunkMail
Re: All part of moving to all digital; no stopping
I'm not sure everyone is on the same page here re the service levels. There's Basic and then there's the minimum service that cable companies have to provide but never advertise. I'm sure the most basic of basic differs from company to company, but you will not get discounted Internet service with this 'secret' tier, and the two channels that Comcast dropped are never part of the bare bones basic I'm talking about (usually less than a dozen channels).
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fiberguy
My views are my own.
Premium
join:2005-05-20
| reply to ctceo
Re: All part of moving to all digital; no stopping it
said by ctceo :Yeah, I know. It's been like that for a few years now, if you want expanded basic you have to get the digital box, and that instantly jumps your bill from the $29-39 up to like $59, If you want the full digital package they have that's like another $30 for a total of $89, and if you get Broadband in your area yet another $49 for a total of $138 a month, and that's for 1 box, not including setup fees, installer charges, and taxes... If you are going to whine about prices, then at least get it correct. Digital classic is $9.99 above your basic rates and digital plus is $5.00 more for a total of $14.99 and that's pretty much a nationwide price point.
Let's break down YOUR area shall we?
Basic Tier: $13.50
Standard Tier: $31.49
Total Analog : 44.99
Digital Classic: $9.99
Digital Plus: $5.00
Total Full Digit: $14.99
Full Basic + Full Digital: $59.98
Highspeed Internet w/cable: $42.95 a month
Optional modem rental: $3.00
*Even get a special for $19.99 for 6 months with free install.. see below on fees.
Box rental + remote fee for extra tv: $4.95
HDTV Box rental: $5.00 includes all HDTV channels in the tier you subscribe to. Box alone includes HTDV locals, music, guide, and PPV access.
DVR: $9.99
Just threw in the extra prices for reference in case you wanted to make incorrect gripes about them too.
Most of the times, they don't charge you any fees as they offer you a special intro to start service. The intro package is usually along the same costs of basic cable and gives you several pay channels and includes a no install fee. But again, sounds better when you say "setup fees and installer fees"... you're just stretching things here a bit.
Taxes? Can't blame the company, blame Uncle Sam so we'll move right along.
Bottom line? Digital Plus + 6MB CHSI = $102.93 + tax. That's a far spread from your take.
You can get this alot less if you want.. buy less service. I am about to take an unpopular stance here but no one in life said that the cost had to be affordable to everyone. We live in a country where some people can afford more service than others. It's a hard fact of life. However our governemnt makes sure that people can afford TV and at $13.50 I think they suceeded and there is always dial up. So if the high costs are getting to you, you do have options.
Again, if you are going to make a point, please do your homework first. You also live in the Midwest system and the rates here are pretty nice and they are to the point as compared to, say, the east coast systems.
Flame away.  |
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reub2000
Premium
join:2001-12-28
Evanston, IL | Re: All part of moving to all digital; no stopping
A lot of what looks like taxes are actually what's known as "unfees" around here. |
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netmasta
join:2004-06-06
Randolph, MA
| reply to fiberguy
said by fiberguy :said by ctceo :Let's break down YOUR area shall we? Basic Tier: $13.50 Standard Tier: $31.49 Total Analog : 44.99 Digital Classic: $9.99 Digital Plus: $5.00 Total Full Digit: $14.99 Full Basic + Full Digital: $59.98 Are you serious about those digital cable prices? MA prices: Digital Platinum 5 ON DEMAND, Onscreen Guide $100.82 Digital Gold with HBO - Special Offer 2 ON DEMAND, Onscreen Guide $88.82 Digital Silver with HBO - Special Offer 1 ON DEMAND, Onscreen Guide $78.82 Digital Plus - 1st Month Free! N/A ON DEMAND, Onscreen Guide $64.82 Digital Classic N/A ON DEMAND, Onscreen Guide $59.82 Digital Cable Dish Win-Back N/A ON DEMAND, Onscreen Guide $64.82 Basic Package(s) Premium Channels Other Features Monthly Price Standard Cable N/A Popular Cable Channels $48.82 Basic Cable N/A Great Local Channels $8.25 Add 6Mb HSI would be about $200 per month! |
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en102
Canadian, eh?
join:2001-01-26
Valencia, CA
·RoadRunner Cable
·DSL EXTREME
| reply to TKJunkMail
You guys have it cheap.
'Basic' Commiecast cable here in California doesn't exist anymore 
On the website they list 'standard' cable. I called about 'Basic' cable, and its not offered here. This is the main reason I went satellite.
Standard Cable N/A Converter, Remote, PPV $50.45 |
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Ender_W
Does Microsoft Mean Small And Squishy?
join:2002-09-14
Saint Louis, MO | reply to netmasta
So you complaining that your cable is more expensive in MA than it is in MN? Your argument is kinda stupid concidering EVERYTHING is more expensive on the coasts... |
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ehurtley
join:2001-11-24
Portland, OR
| reply to ctceo
Re: All part of moving to all digital; no stopping it
Wow, mine is $13.28/mo incl. all fees. I get:
2-KATU (Local ABC affiliate)
3-KWBP (Local WB affiliate)
4-TV Guide (Why, oh why, do they insist on showing what's on all the digital channels, when digital subscribers get their own interactive TV Guide channel?)
5-KPXG (Local Pax affiliate)
6-KOIN (Local CBS affiliate)
7-Discovery (From the sound of this main post, I may lose this soon.)
8-KGW (Local NBC affiliate)
9-WGN
10-KOPB (Local PBS station)
12-KPTV (Local Fox affiliate)
13-KPDX (Local UPN affiliate)
18-Hallmark
70-E!
71-AMC
11, 14-17, 19-33, and 98-99 are 'local/community/cable access', shopping, Spanish-language, and the Golf Channel. I have them turned off. |
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ehurtley
join:2001-11-24
Portland, OR
| reply to en102
Re: All part of moving to all digital; no stopping
Yes, it does. 'Basic' cable at around $10/month is mandated by the federal government. Looking in the 'Santa Clarita/Valencia' listing in Comcast's home page, I find 'Limited Basic'. (You have to REALLY search for it.)
But, of course, their website doesn't say how MUCH it is. Calling, however, and asking for 'Limited Basic' pricing, they tell me $9/mo to $13/mo, depending on exactly where you live. (Local taxes make it vary.)
I found when trying to get 'basic' cable up here in Portland that I had to talk to two different salespeople to get one that was willing to admit that the service exists. The salespeople just aren't even told that it's an option. They're told about 'Digital Basic', and 'Standard' cable as the low-end options. But if you make them search, they will find 'Limited Basic' at around $10/month in their system. (I live in a small valley where with a high quality roof antenna I can only get 2 out of the about 10 local over-the-air channels viewably. Even then, it's not a GOOD signal. So I got ultra-cheap cable so I could watch the maybe 10 hours of TV a week my whole family watches.) |
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fiberguy
My views are my own.
Premium
join:2005-05-20
| reply to Ender_W
said by Ender_W :So you complaining that your cable is more expensive in MA than it is in MN? Your argument is kinda stupid concidering EVERYTHING is more expensive on the coasts... Thanks for doing my dirty work!
I don't understand where that message could have come from. I made it clear that he was lucky to be in the Midwest system where things were pretty straight forward and priced good, unlike systems on the east coast! But I guess in the heat of passion or the rush to click reply and not read the whole post  I see how that was easily missed.  |
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fiberguy
My views are my own.
Premium
join:2005-05-20
| reply to netmasta
Your price on Digital classic and plus is $5 more than in the midwest on par. However, your digital Platinum, gold, and silver are pretty much the same. A few factors that make the prices different are the cost in the area to service, local taxes to the business operating expenses, labor rates, gas prices, etc. There isn't a big difference.
I still don't know where you come up with $200 a month. Are you aware that basic tier 1 and 2 are included in the price of digital classic and plus as stated? You don't buy basic for 48.82 then digital plus for $64.00 on top of basic.
There is NOTHING on your price list that would make your cable bill, including HSI, $200 a month or even close. $265.00? Maybe including all taxes but not $200. I will leave my post as is. I know exactly how a response will be made to my post in advance at it will be wrong too. |
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netmasta
join:2004-06-06
Randolph, MA
| said by fiberguy :Your price on Digital classic and plus is $5 more than in the midwest on par. However, your digital Platinum, gold, and silver are pretty much the same. A few factors that make the prices different are the cost in the area to service, local taxes to the business operating expenses, labor rates, gas prices, etc. There isn't a big difference. I still don't know where you come up with $200 a month. Are you aware that basic tier 1 and 2 are included in the price of digital classic and plus as stated? You don't buy basic for 48.82 then digital plus for $64.00 on top of basic. There is NOTHING on your price list that would make your cable bill, including HSI, $200 a month or even close. $265.00? Maybe including all taxes but not $200. I will leave my post as is. I know exactly how a response will be made to my post in advance at it will be wrong too. Maybe I misread wrong, but I could have sworn that you have to have Basic service to get digital. |
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fiberguy
My views are my own.
Premium
join:2005-05-20
| Actually, not true. There is something in current laws that is called "anti-buy through" and it grants operators to only require the most basic level of service, in most cases the tier1 basic, in order to purcahse any additional video services. In other words, before the 1996 law, you could be forced to purchase full basic cable to buy PPV or HBO. NOW, you only have to purcahse tier 1 at minimum.
SCRATCH ANYTHING YOUR CSR HAS TOLD YOU - it's not true. There ARE many times that if you call in for tier 1 basic and digital classic, they will tell you you must purchase the hwole package. Mention Anti-buy through laws and or a supervisor and you WILL get a different story. It's afederal law they will have GRAVE reprocusions of they dont' follow. In some areas where they do not offer a tier1 limited basic then you must purchase full baseic as it is their tier 1.
Want another little secret? DirecTV can NOT require you to purchase ANY video in order to purcahse the Sunday NFL direct ticket. They hate that fact since it's one of their biggest hooks into their customer base, but the fact remains they must. |
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