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Cablevision Rate Hikes
On video programming only
Just following the rejection of a deal to privatize Cablevision, the company has announced that they’ll be raising their rates. Video package customers can expect to see an increase of nearly five percent in 2008. This rate increase applies only to the video package, not to Cablevision’s high speed internet or digital phone service. The company says the rate hike is due specifically to the programming fees charged by networks. The general opinion in our forums is that this annual rate hike might be more warranted if the company was providing better channels and upgrades to go with it.
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siouxmoux
join:2007-09-25

siouxmoux

Member

I am glad to see Comcast is not the Only One Rasing Rates

I am glad to see Comcast is not the Only One Raising Rates for this season annual rate hike.

FFH5
Premium Member
join:2002-03-03
Tavistock NJ

1 recommendation

FFH5

Premium Member

Re: I am glad to see Comcast is not the Only One Rasing Rates

said by siouxmoux:

I am glad to see Comcast is not the Only One Raising Rates for this season annual rate hike.
They all raise rates because the content providers in Hollywood keep charging more every year.

Robert
Premium Member
join:2001-08-25
Miami, FL

Robert

Premium Member

Re: I am glad to see Comcast is not the Only One Rasing Rates

said by FFH5:

said by siouxmoux:

I am glad to see Comcast is not the Only One Raising Rates for this season annual rate hike.
They all raise rates because the content providers in Hollywood keep charging more every year.
And because they can.
whocares0
Premium Member
join:2003-07-26
..

whocares0

Premium Member

Re: I am glad to see Comcast is not the Only One Rasing Rates

said by Robert:

said by FFH5:

said by siouxmoux:

I am glad to see Comcast is not the Only One Raising Rates for this season annual rate hike.
They all raise rates because the content providers in Hollywood keep charging more every year.
And because they can.
Oct. 29, 2007, 7:38AM
FCC rule may cut cable cost
Agency plans to strike down many exclusive contracts used by large cable providers

WASHINGTON — The Federal Communications Commission,hoping to reduce the spiraling costs of cable television, is preparing to strike down thousands of contracts this week that shut out competitors by giving individual cable companies exclusive rights to provide service to ======

»www.chron.com/disp/story ··· 050.html

Robert
Premium Member
join:2001-08-25
Miami, FL

1 recommendation

Robert

Premium Member

Re: I am glad to see Comcast is not the Only One Rasing Rates

said by whocares0:

Oct. 29, 2007, 7:38AM
FCC rule may cut cable cost
Agency plans to strike down many exclusive contracts used by large cable providers

WASHINGTON — The Federal Communications Commission,hoping to reduce the spiraling costs of cable television, is preparing to strike down thousands of contracts this week that shut out competitors by giving individual cable companies exclusive rights to provide service to ======

»www.chron.com/disp/story ··· 050.html
You can slice it and dice it every way you want, but Comcast has for the past few years continued to post record quarterly profits. Poor Comcast.. must be struggling paying the high prices to content providers.

MxxCon
join:1999-11-19
Brooklyn, NY

1 recommendation

MxxCon to FFH5

Member

to FFH5
i highly doubt Hollywood makes them pay more for cableboxes and cablecards that they buy.
»/r0/do ··· 1025.pdf

tc1uscg
join:2005-03-09
Gulfport, MS

tc1uscg

Member

Re: I am glad to see Comcast is not the Only One Rasing Rates

said by MxxCon:

i highly doubt Hollywood makes them pay more for cableboxes and cablecards that they buy.
»/r0/do ··· 1025.pdf
Perfect point.

hopeflicker
Capitalism breeds greed
Premium Member
join:2003-04-03
Long Beach, CA

hopeflicker to FFH5

Premium Member

to FFH5
said by FFH5:
said by siouxmoux:

I am glad to see Comcast is not the Only One Raising Rates for this season annual rate hike.
They all raise rates because the content providers in Hollywood keep charging more every year.
If you believe that.

CableTool
Poorly Representing MYSELF.
Premium Member
join:2004-11-12

1 recommendation

CableTool

Premium Member

Re: I am glad to see Comcast is not the Only One Rasing Rates

said by hopeflicker:
said by FFH5:
said by siouxmoux:

I am glad to see Comcast is not the Only One Raising Rates for this season annual rate hike.
They all raise rates because the content providers in Hollywood keep charging more every year.
If you believe that.
When a content provider raises their rate 23% do you REALLY expect that cost to be eaten? Every single year?
So freaking niave.

hopeflicker
Capitalism breeds greed
Premium Member
join:2003-04-03
Long Beach, CA

hopeflicker

Premium Member

Re: I am glad to see Comcast is not the Only One Rasing Rates

said by CableTool:

When a content provider raises their rate 23% do you REALLY expect that cost to be eaten? Every single year?
So freaking niave.
Where is the proof that the rates are increased because the content providers?

I guess my DVR that went from $12 to $15 is because the content providers increased the rates

or that the cable cards are also getting a rate increase

hummm
MRCUR
join:2007-03-09
Lancaster, PA

MRCUR

Member

Re: I am glad to see Comcast is not the Only One Rasing Rates

You can blame the government for the rate increases on STBs.

CableTool
Poorly Representing MYSELF.
Premium Member
join:2004-11-12

CableTool to hopeflicker

Premium Member

to hopeflicker
said by hopeflicker:
said by CableTool:

When a content provider raises their rate 23% do you REALLY expect that cost to be eaten? Every single year?
So freaking niave.
Where is the proof that the rates are increased because the content providers?

I guess my DVR that went from $12 to $15 is because the content providers increased the rates

or that the cable cards are also getting a rate increase

hummm
Where is the proof? The Fact that ESPN increases their price by 23% each and every year and most other content providers with any weight do the same. A 5% increase passed on is pretty decent.

The CableCompanies were forced by the FCC to one up the current generation by using OCAP boxes.
hummm.....

Idjk
@sprintlink.net

Idjk

Anon

Re: I am glad to see Comcast is not the Only One Rasing Rates

How about saying no to the content providers, take your show x and hit the road- hell we already get 20 min an hour of crap ads-- I thought "pay tv" was to be ad free(was for a short while).

NYDude25
join:2007-08-23
Massapequa, NY

NYDude25 to hopeflicker

Member

to hopeflicker
The fee for a box from Cablevision is only going up by $.25, although the CableCaRD fee is going up by $.75.

I do not understand why ESPN needs to raise their rate by 23% in one year. That sounds like a lot for what they offer.
siouxmoux
join:2007-09-25

siouxmoux to CableTool

Member

to CableTool
Comcast of San Jose, Ca. raised Their Rates Not Once, Not Twice but Three times this year. I am already paying $6 Dollar extra from last year. And no they Did not Upgrade their Cable Plant. We Already at 860mhz
moonpuppy (banned)
join:2000-08-21
Glen Burnie, MD

moonpuppy (banned) to CableTool

Member

to CableTool
said by CableTool:

When a content provider raises their rate 23% do you REALLY expect that cost to be eaten? Every single year?
So freaking niave.
Then why don't the cable companies say so? Put out commercials explaining the rate hike is because Hollywood wants more money and you might have a sympathetic ear from your customers.

CableTool
Poorly Representing MYSELF.
Premium Member
join:2004-11-12

CableTool

Premium Member

Re: I am glad to see Comcast is not the Only One Rasing Rates

said by moonpuppy:
said by CableTool:

When a content provider raises their rate 23% do you REALLY expect that cost to be eaten? Every single year?
So freaking niave.
Then why don't the cable companies say so? Put out commercials explaining the rate hike is because Hollywood wants more money and you might have a sympathetic ear from your customers.
Because then ESPN would say OK! And the cable cos would loose customers by the millions to dish or another provider that still carries ESPN.
Everyone thinks this shit is so simple. "Then just do this..."
Hilarious.
moonpuppy (banned)
join:2000-08-21
Glen Burnie, MD

moonpuppy (banned)

Member

Re: I am glad to see Comcast is not the Only One Rasing Rates

said by CableTool:

said by moonpuppy:
said by CableTool:

When a content provider raises their rate 23% do you REALLY expect that cost to be eaten? Every single year?
So freaking niave.
Then why don't the cable companies say so? Put out commercials explaining the rate hike is because Hollywood wants more money and you might have a sympathetic ear from your customers.
Because then ESPN would say OK! And the cable cos would loose customers by the millions to dish or another provider that still carries ESPN.
Everyone thinks this shit is so simple. "Then just do this..."
Hilarious.
The cable companies have done it before. I know of at least 2 times locally Comcast cut off the local ABC channel because of nasty negotiations. And both times, it was 2 days before they came back on the air. Cable did mention (sort of low key) that they thought the rates and multiple need to carry channels were unfair.

Give the public a little more credit. Not everyone wants ESPN and Disney and I doubt ABC will want to lose that many viewers.

CableTool
Poorly Representing MYSELF.
Premium Member
join:2004-11-12

1 recommendation

CableTool

Premium Member

Re: I am glad to see Comcast is not the Only One Rasing Rates

said by moonpuppy:

Give the public a little more credit. Not everyone wants ESPN and Disney and I doubt ABC will want to lose that many viewers.
I dont know. Im not sure that is a bet Im willing to make when millions are on the line.
I think it is glaringly apparent the lenghts Comcast would go however to get out of those raising costs. Remember the bid on Disney? Why do you think that was? Year by year it is most likely cheaper to buy the freaking company then pay its increases each year. In the long run at least.

And again, CDV and HSI do not go up. Its only the video services. If Comcast could get ESPN to agree to move to the digital sports tier where they want to put BTN then they could simply increase that tiers cost and hopefully be able to adjust the increase THEY get compared to the number of sports tier subscriptions.

And this is only one channel we are talking about. People just really do not comprehend what goes on behind the scenes. This business has so many different layers that connect back to everything. Its never a simple black and white issue.
moonpuppy (banned)
join:2000-08-21
Glen Burnie, MD

moonpuppy (banned)

Member

Re: I am glad to see Comcast is not the Only One Rasing Rates

Most have heard the "must carry" rules that networks push on cable companies. If the cable companies want sympathy, then they need to educate the public. Otherwise, you will have a public blaming you anyway.

I am sure they can buy a grass roots organization to carry that message.

CableTool
Poorly Representing MYSELF.
Premium Member
join:2004-11-12

CableTool

Premium Member

Re: I am glad to see Comcast is not the Only One Rasing Rates

Meh, its not good policy to point your customers to one of your providers as the cause of all their woes.
I dont think the cable companys want sympathy.
I think everyone just needs to realize that things arent as simple as one might think as they sit in their LazyBoy watching Family Guy.

Mactron
el Camino Real
Premium Member
join:2001-12-16
PRK

Mactron to FFH5

Premium Member

to FFH5
said by FFH5:
said by siouxmoux:

I am glad to see Comcast is not the Only One Raising Rates for this season annual rate hike.
They all raise rates because the content providers in Hollywood keep charging more every year.
The annual rate hikes is why I left Comcast years ago.
One or two small rate hikes with DTV since. Still with DTV and at this rate, I will be for some time to come.

pike
Premium Member
join:2001-02-01
Washington, DC

1 edit

pike to siouxmoux

Premium Member

to siouxmoux
I just got my letter from Time Warner about rate hikes as well. Everyone is going up, but oh wait: they're knocking a dollar off the cost of the HD package

-Mike
jammmin
join:2000-12-14
Upper Marlboro, MD

jammmin

Member

hd

Hey at least they have 40 HD channels versus 25 on FIOS TV

Jmartz0
join:2000-07-20
Tenafly, NJ

Jmartz0

Member

Re: hd

Cablevision is operating under PROFIT. Yes, they can raise rates, that's fine, but they haven't added a single DECENT SD channel to their lineup in years. They added a bunch of the digital sub channels that are on the air around here.. and they added a bunch of new spanish and french channels to those packages, but nothing has been added to their digital package in a long, long time. The VOOM channels are owned by Cablevision, so it's not costing them anything to carry those.

IPingUPing
N4BFR
Premium Member
join:2002-08-30
Atlanta, GA

IPingUPing

Premium Member

Re: hd

said by Jmartz0:

The VOOM channels are owned by Cablevision, so it's not costing them anything to carry those.
Yea, because acquiring programming, running the networks, master control, electricity, satellite time... all those are free?
majortom1029
join:2006-10-19
Medford, NY

majortom1029 to Jmartz0

Member

to Jmartz0
They have been adding hd channels though. People wanted to see the world series in hd so they added tbs hd. a little bit ago people wanted discovery hd so they added it.
tmc8080
join:2004-04-24
Brooklyn, NY

tmc8080

Member

resubscribers?

How does this affect many who get triple play
@ 29.95 each?

This makes the video portion a 50-60% off deal?
The gulf between regular subscription rates and the bundling deal gets wider and wider... Cablevision experimented with higher rates for VIDEO when bundling.. it didn't go over well with customers to say the least.. it only made getting customers to buy video LESS likely to do so..

Besides, they're gonna have to do something next year about the FIOS 20/20 on the broadband side sooner or later. Especially if Verizon makes that the default FIOS for metro NY area at the lower price ($40-50 depending on bundle & or contract pricing). Taking a page from Apple's book.. it's always good to get customers to pay a higher price for as long as you can, until you lower it... just not too soon. Sometime early in 2008 is okay..

MxxCon
join:1999-11-19
Brooklyn, NY

1 recommendation

MxxCon

Member

Re: resubscribers?

Current specials and discounted rates will continue through the end of their promotional periods.
tmc8080
join:2004-04-24
Brooklyn, NY

tmc8080

Member

Re: resubscribers?

said by MxxCon:

Current specials and discounted rates will continue through the end of their promotional periods.
Isn't it a relatively safe bet that if your NOT getting any sort of promotional, discounted rate.. your either getting "ONE" service such as broadband or phone only, or your simply not a customer...? Because you'd be paying too much. Hence the title resubscribers.. as many of cablevision's subscriber base churn on a fairly regular basis when subscription discounts "expire" (sooner if customers have a bad service experience...) Keep in mind if you ported your phone number to cablevision, you need to begin the porting of the number to another provider 2 months in advance for it to happen within a reasonable time frame upon expiration of a discounted contract. The same can be said about Verizon's service / promotions.. if your not getting some kind of "good deal" your not subscribing to service.

Thank you for an answer that couldn't have come better if you were sitting in a cablevision customer service cubicle.

MxxCon
join:1999-11-19
Brooklyn, NY
ARRIS TM822
Actiontec MI424WR Rev. I

MxxCon

Member

what the hell are you talking about?

said by tmc8080:
said by MxxCon:

Current specials and discounted rates will continue through the end of their promotional periods.
Isn't it a relatively safe bet that if your NOT getting any sort of promotional, discounted rate.. your either getting "ONE" service such as broadband or phone only, or your simply not a customer...?
it is impossible to have just OV. that service requires OOL.
as many of cablevision's subscriber base churn on a fairly regular basis when subscription discounts "expire"
and where exactly do you get that info? your personal experience means jacksquat comparing to over 2million other CV customers.
Keep in mind if you ported your phone number to cablevision, you need to begin the porting of the number to another provider 2 months in advance for it to happen within a reasonable time frame upon expiration of a discounted contract.
plain old bullshit or better yet FUD. number portability law requires that a carrier release a number in a speed manner. worst case scenario would be a week.
The same can be said about Verizon's service / promotions.. if your not getting some kind of "good deal" your not subscribing to service.
HUH?
Thank you for an answer that couldn't have come better if you were sitting in a cablevision customer service cubicle.
what i pasted above is exactly what we will be receiving in the next bill.
go read »/r0/do ··· 1025.pdf

•••

koam
Pink Pecker
Premium Member
join:2000-08-16
East Puddle

koam

Premium Member

editing

How does "the company" go from singular "has announced," to plural "they'll be raising their," to singular "says," "was" in one short item? (And "was" should be "were" in any case.)

••••

godsmack
join:2003-06-08

godsmack

Member

bullies

One more reason for ala cart!

Why should people pay for channels they never watch, like the Spanish ones if you don't speak Spanish.

IM1811
join:2001-08-20
Haverstraw, NY

3 edits

IM1811

Member

Re: bullies

A little competion always does good.

Spatch
Stugots
Premium Member
join:2001-06-29
Savannah, GA

Spatch

Premium Member

This is why I left Comcast!

I switched to directv/at&t just for this reason. Seemed that every 3 months we were getting a letter form comcrap saying they were raising rates and dropping content. I got fed up. My tv/dsl and home phone are the same price as what comcrap was charging for tv/internet plus $400 cash for the switch. Not to mention that I get everything available from directv and had one movie channel with comcast. Plus I like directv much better than cable. There are channels on directv that I have never even heard of. Just recently read that comcast's profits fell 54% from this time last year. I don't really give a crap what they charge now that I am not a customer. But their current business model has them pricing themselves out of business. I doubt I will ever subscribe to comcast again unless they change their ways.

tnroroc
Let's Rock
join:2001-04-25
New Jersey

tnroroc

Member

What if we...

.... gave them back all the Voom channels, could we keep our rates?
russotto
join:2000-10-05
West Orange, NJ

1 recommendation

russotto

Member

Dog Bites Man!

Cable Company Raises Rates!
Sun Rises in East!
Rain Forecast in Oregon!
New Violence in the Middle East!
tishtash
join:2001-01-06
Merrick, NY

1 recommendation

tishtash

Member

An unmentioned reason

An unmentioned reason is that Cablevision has to somehow make up the $10-11 million a jury just awarded a victim of sexual harrassment at the hands of employee Isaiah Thomas, head coach of the Knicks. The jury placed the burden of paying the award not on Thomas, but on Jim "I can't wear a freaking suit to a deposition and also can't check the wiseacre sarcasm at the door" Dolan, chairman of Cablevision.

Somehow, you and I, Optimum customers, will be funding this award, believe me.

Attack Gypsy
join:2007-05-10
Milford, CT

Attack Gypsy

Member

Re: An unmentioned reason

Oh please...

If you look at ALL of Cablevisions income streams, you'd see that this settlement cost Cablevison -MAYBE- 10 cents a customer.

And that's a one time hit. Not a monthly thing.

This is the annual rate hike, like every year. Nothing new here.

cork1958
Cork
Premium Member
join:2000-02-26

1 edit

cork1958

Premium Member

Have yet to see it

I have yet to see, where after they (any cable company) raise the rates, you get "better channels and upgrades to go with it."

All they ever do here is switch channels around!
mrbun
join:2004-10-13
USA

mrbun

Member

No Worries in Dreamland

I just asked my boss if he would cover this increase in my cable rates and he said no problem. And he added not to worry about any increases in the price of fuel to heat my house or the price of food to feed my family, any raise I get next year will more than cover it. Wow, maybe I can trade in my 12 year old Subaru now for something with "bling".

What's that noise? Oh, the dang alarm clock. Got to go to work to make the rich richer.
IanR
join:2001-03-22
Fort Mill, SC

IanR

Member

Economic with the truth?

So we are getting to pay more for Cable TV because content is costing more?
How come then we have more minutes of advertizing per broadcast hour?

Which is to pay for increased content fees and which goes directly into future proits?

And still no BBCAmerica....(personal gripe).