Comcast Sees VoIP, Broadband Gains, Video Losses The lure of the triple play grows, pulling market share from telcos Wednesday Oct 27 2010 10:25 EDT Tipped by caco Comcast released their third quarter earnings, which indicates the cable giant continues to see solid growth, adding 249,000 high-speed Internet customers and 228,000 voice customers during the quarter. Revenue climbed 7.3 percent to $9.49 billion, though third-quarter net income fell to $867 million from $944 million one year earlier. Comcast blamed the drop on costs associated with their pending acquisition of NBC Universal (massive lobbying armies and campaign contributions aren't cheap, you know.) Thanks to price hikes and multi-service bundles, the monthly average total revenue per Comcast video customer increased 10.4 percent. Still, the company lost a significant 275,000 video subscribers on the quarter, indicating that cord cutters are not the hallucination the cable industry would like them to be.Comcast took time to highlight that the company is making gains in overall market share as phone companies lose customers in unupgraded markets to faster cable speeds and the cable triple play: quote: We continue to improve our performance competitively by taking share even as the RBOCs have meaningfully increased their footprints. In the third quarter, Comcast gained 202,000 new customers (Video, HSI, Voice, from telcos) compared to a combined loss of 465,000 by AT&T and Verizon. Additionally, year-to-date, we added 875,000 new customers compared to the RBOCs’ combined loss of 1.5 million customers.
According to Comcast 32% of Comcast video customers now take the triple play of voice/broadband/TV, compared to 27% at the end of last year’s third quarter. |
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DFWComcast needs to buy back the Dallas/FW area because TWC sucks here.
First. | |
| | ChiyoSave Me Konata-Chan Premium Member join:2003-02-20 Salisbury, NC |
Chiyo
Premium Member
2010-Oct-27 10:05 am
Re: DFWWhy not get FIOS? my buddy lives in Irving and is rocking 25 / 25 I believe lucky bastard. | |
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Re: DFWI live in Las Colinas and Uverse is the only option for fiber and its avail everywhere but my apts. I do subscribe to TWC extreme and get 30/5. | |
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jaw2012 join:2008-08-01 King Of Prussia, PA |
These positive numbers must be in non-Fios/u-Verse areas.I don't know how someone could choose Comcast triple-play over FTTH or FTTN, even with Xfinity and beyond.
Anyone know where there are official numbers on this market scenario? | |
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Re: These positive numbers must be in non-Fios/u-Verse areas.There are large sections of the US, without Verizon FiOS or AT&T U-Verse.
For example, Ft. Wayne Indiana is the only Midwest metro with Verizon FiOS(sorry, now it's Frontier's baby). | |
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wonderwalla
Anon
2010-Oct-27 12:26 pm
Re: These positive numbers must be in non-Fios/u-Verse areas.No because i know people who had fios and switched back to CC because more reliable | |
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to Bob61571
No AT&T U-verse or FIOS here in southern New Mexico -- only Comcast. Qwest has some limited coverage for DSL but not in my neighborhood. I'd switch to FIOS in a minute if it were available. I don't know how any FTTH system could be less reliable than Comcast. | |
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| caco Premium Member join:2005-03-10 Whittier, AK 1 edit
1 recommendation |
to jaw2012
Easy in Uverse country since nothing Uverse offers is a game changer. The best Uverse can do is 24/3 and that is if you have a dslam in your driveway . The video product is esentially the same with minor differences and their phone service is still expensive. If the fight is Uverse vs cable , cable wins. In areas in which the fight is FIOS and cable, cable is holding their own by offering comparable speeds and promotions. Not hard to see why Comcast is doing well and will contiune to do so especially in areas that telcos have not upgraded. | |
| | | dnoyeBFerrous Phallus join:2000-10-09 Southfield, MI |
dnoyeB
Member
2010-Oct-27 10:58 am
Re: These positive numbers must be in non-Fios/u-Verse areas.I fail to see why the faster speed wins? Most users wont use anywhere near the speed of their pipe. So while you can attract fringe users with a few extra mbps, most users will not jump for that. Most users will jump for price.
Comcast price is bad. Whenever Uverse rolls out in my area, people immediately either jump to Uverse, or get new pricing from Comcast.
Beyond that, why the triple play? I have Comcast but they have given up selling that to me. They always offer some "deal" that does not come close to the price I have with Vonage. If thats your best deal, I would hate to pay your regular price. What a gouge. | |
| | | | Gbcue Premium Member join:2001-09-30 Santa Rosa, CA |
Gbcue
Premium Member
2010-Oct-27 12:50 pm
Re: These positive numbers must be in non-Fios/u-Verse areas.Yup, I agree, price & value above speed.
I have *only* 12/1 with U-verse, and would like it a bit faster, but the price point, $40/mo (for internet only) is good. Bundle that with TV w/ DVR & HD included, and it's the better price & value. | |
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to jaw2012
U-Verse is slower than Comcast D3. FiOS is not widely available. Example: Houston (UVerse mostly) and Denver (Qwest...som VDSL but mosty ADSL2+ and plain old ADSL). | |
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FFH5 Premium Member join:2002-03-03 Tavistock NJ 1 edit |
FFH5
Premium Member
2010-Oct-27 9:49 am
Some presentation materials from Wall St conference call11 page presentation: » files.shareholder.com/do ··· 6.10.pdf8 page press release with tables: » files.shareholder.com/do ··· 6.10.pdf4 pages of tables showing changes in numbers over last 3 years: » files.shareholder.com/do ··· 6.10.pdfThis last document shows how Comcast has been steadily losing video customers both in whole numbers and in % of homes passed. Revenue and income increases aside, this is bad news for Comcast and may explain why they are getting in to providing content with the NBCU merger. | |
| | gdm MVM join:2001-06-15 Mchenry, IL |
gdm
MVM
2010-Oct-27 10:14 am
Re: Some presentation materials from Wall St conference callHonestly it's because they charge way to much for the TV portion of their service. When I had Comcast I started out with HSI only then moved my Vonage line to Comcast Digital. I had DISH the entire time and finally they had a good deal for a year to bundle. Once my year was up, U-Verse came out and I dropped Comcast altogether. | |
| | | NightfallMy Goal Is To Deny Yours MVM join:2001-08-03 Grand Rapids, MI |
Re: Some presentation materials from Wall St conference callsaid by gdm:Honestly it's because they charge way to much for the TV portion of their service. When I had Comcast I started out with HSI only then moved my Vonage line to Comcast Digital. I had DISH the entire time and finally they had a good deal for a year to bundle. Once my year was up, U-Verse came out and I dropped Comcast altogether. Not everyone has the choice when it comes to Uverse or FIOS. If you want to go with dish or directv, then you will pay just as much for the video as you will through comcast. After shelling out $85 a month for Directv service for the last couple years, I am looking forward to getting a bundle price for my internet and video through comcast for $80 a month for 6 months. After that, I can do what my parents do who do have Comcast and have Uverse in their area. They call every 6 months to say that Uverse is offering them service with internet for $80 a month and Comcast matches it. They haven't paid full price for TV and internet in years and as long as they have options to move to another provider, they won't be paying full price. | |
| | | | baineschile2600 ways to live Premium Member join:2008-05-10 Sterling Heights, MI |
Re: Some presentation materials from Wall St conference callOf all posts, i think this is the best one. The threat of competition seems to have Comcast matching prices; before, they never had to, because the last 10 years the only real competition has been the dishes. Now, with Uverse (which covers most of the Comcast footprint here in MI), comcast will match prices and more often, keep their customers. | |
| | | | | NightfallMy Goal Is To Deny Yours MVM join:2001-08-03 Grand Rapids, MI |
Re: Some presentation materials from Wall St conference callsaid by baineschile:Of all posts, i think this is the best one. The threat of competition seems to have Comcast matching prices; before, they never had to, because the last 10 years the only real competition has been the dishes. Now, with Uverse (which covers most of the Comcast footprint here in MI), comcast will match prices and more often, keep their customers. This is why I will NOT be paying full price for TV/Internet again. Comcast will get my business, but only as long as they continue to match what other providers are offering. These introductory pricing is just to get your foot in the door. After a year is up, they price goes up. The video providers are counting on you to keep your service at that higher rate or get locked into a contract where you have no choice but to take the service at the higher rate. Being a smart consumer here all comes down to communication. If you call comcast or Uverse and tell them you want your service at a lower rate or you will go to a competitor, they will match that service almost every time (so long as you are not outlandish with your claims). I know many people who do this and it works well for them. The process is simple. 1. Check to see what the prices of Uverse, Dish, and directv are. 2. Call comcast and ask to match the price. 3. If they don't match, call back. 4. If they do match or lower their rates to a reasonable level, PROFIT! | |
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Re: Some presentation materials from Wall St conference callquote: Being a smart consumer here all comes down to communication. If you call comcast or Uverse and tell them you want your service at a lower rate or you will go to a competitor, they will match that service almost every time (so long as you are not outlandish with your claims). I know many people who do this and it works well for them. The process is simple.
1. Check to see what the prices of Uverse, Dish, and directv are. 2. Call comcast and ask to match the price. 3. If they don't match, call back. 4. If they do match or lower their rates to a reasonable level, PROFIT!
Speaking for all pay TV subscribers in the country, I would like to personally thank all those that take part in that horseshit in advance for next years rate increases. Congratulations guys! Give yourselves a round of applause for being so damn greedy! Do you really think Comcast or any other company is going to take a loss? I work in an industry that has nothing to do with what Comcast does, but we get calls from customers all the time wanting their rates reduced or theyll go to the competition. Fine well slash your prices, but raise other customers and find creative ways of making that up in the form of additional fees that everyone bares. So yeah good job! | |
| | | | | | | NightfallMy Goal Is To Deny Yours MVM join:2001-08-03 Grand Rapids, MI |
Re: Some presentation materials from Wall St conference callsaid by Happydude32:quote: Being a smart consumer here all comes down to communication. If you call comcast or Uverse and tell them you want your service at a lower rate or you will go to a competitor, they will match that service almost every time (so long as you are not outlandish with your claims). I know many people who do this and it works well for them. The process is simple.
1. Check to see what the prices of Uverse, Dish, and directv are. 2. Call comcast and ask to match the price. 3. If they don't match, call back. 4. If they do match or lower their rates to a reasonable level, PROFIT!
Speaking for all pay TV subscribers in the country, I would like to personally thank all those that take part in that horseshit in advance for next years rate increases. Congratulations guys! Give yourselves a round of applause for being so damn greedy! Do you really think Comcast or any other company is going to take a loss? I work in an industry that has nothing to do with what Comcast does, but we get calls from customers all the time wanting their rates reduced or theyll go to the competition. Fine well slash your prices, but raise other customers and find creative ways of making that up in the form of additional fees that everyone bares. So yeah good job! Its called competition. I can bounce between Uverse and Comcast every 6 months. Until one or the other has some kind of competitive advantage, its what I am going to do. Now, if comcast were to say "No caps", then that swings things in their favor a little more. These providers have been raising rates and it hasn't been because 1% of the population doesn't want to get screwed and asks to have their rates lowered, its because of greed. | |
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| | | gdm MVM join:2001-06-15 Mchenry, IL |
to Nightfall
I'm not even bringing FIOS or U-Verse into it. I'm just stating DISH and Direct are far cheaper overall then comcast for video. When you take the package and receivers into account Comcast is the most expensive out of everyone. Unless you get a deal then they are cheaper. After your deal is up they won't always offer a deal to you. Even if competition is in the area. | |
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| syslock Premium Member join:2007-02-03 La La Land |
to FFH5
Cable Co's want access to the content without having to pay for it! That's why your seeing... lets merge with Disney for free access to ESPN etc. Let merge with NBC so we can broadcast all their content for free.
Comcast needs to chill or people will switch to the lower cost alternatives or worse. How about all those MDU's Comcast where you have 1 paid subscriber and everyone else in the building tapped off of them?
There is a point where people say enough is enough already. And we are there! | |
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Hephaestus42 to FFH5
Anon
2010-Oct-28 11:04 am
to FFH5
"this is bad news for Comcast and may explain why they are getting in to providing content with the NBCU merger."
Actually the NBCU deal is alot like the AOL time warner deal. GE is selling because they see the future of the content industry. Where all content to consumers is free and sponsored by advertising. Looking at spain, south korea, etc as a prediction of the future, what occured to the record labels will begin happening to the studios in short order. GE after all is a very smart company. | |
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heat84DSLR Influencer join:2004-03-11 Delray Beach, FL
1 recommendation |
heat84
Member
2010-Oct-27 11:06 am
Rate Hike = Growth Rate?It looks like the growth rate is inching up like rate hikes. I bet if you put a graph of the rate hikes next to the growth rate graph it would be about the same. So maybe Comcast isn't actually growing. | |
| QLR join:2009-06-23 Tallahassee, FL |
QLR
Member
2010-Oct-27 12:30 pm
in my area, it's CenturyLink vs. Comcast... and Comcast wins. The Dishes are a video option, but there's nowhere to put a dish; Contracts are a no no for me when it comes to TV.
I would like to switch to CenturyLink DSL, but I am only offered 1.5Mbps DSL, despite their pretty slick Pure broadband promos up to 10M for $30... At that price, I may as well downgrade to Comcast Economy at the $25 price point when the $30 promo ends. | |
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Triple play.... Why pay 3x as much?I'll never subscribe to triple play. To me its as if Comcast has decided we will all pay "X" as the minimum. Bundle all 3 services and its "X" .... Only subscribe to 1 or 2 services and its still "X" (no savings either way). The argument is that with Triple Play, you get more for "X". But I look at the bottom dollar in the end I dislike "X" no matter what I could get for it.
For me I'll stick with my Internet (24.95 monthly), 50.00 for VoIp.ms for the year (about 25.00 every 6 months), and enjoy my FREE TV using normal HD Antenna (technically I could plug-in the cable wire & get the same channels via it) | |
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Number of Comcast CustomersYear to date Comcast has lost 622,000 basic video customers but they gained 1,041,000 digital video customers for a net gain of 419,000. It looks like they are doing pretty good to me. | |
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