That Cable Bill went up again !!

[Midpack]

We have 3 TVs and still have AT&T UVerse. We went into an Xfinity store to see what they offer, no one had heard of UVerse. Paying $250/month. Our thing is we get all the side channels without having to figure out how to puzzle them together. Big 10 Network, Tennis channel, golf channel, all the ESPN channels, local news. We can switch back and forth easily to add ons like Netflix, Prime, etc without a thought. I don't think we'll cut the cable. When we calculated all the add on channels + YouTube or Sling, we can't seem to get the channels important to us for a cheaper cost. We can go to YouTube and sit through 4 seconds of a commercial and see blips of comedy or news. If we drop UVerse, we'll never have a chance to go back. They no longer offer it.

We get 95 channels including "Big 10 Network, Tennis channel, golf channel, all the ESPN channels, local news" plus Disney+, ESPN+ and a lot more for $137/mo - all in a well integrated package, no "puzzling" to put them together. The interface looks just like a cable TV user guide. We have unlimited (cloud) DVR, on 4 TV's with Rokus though the basic package only allows use on 2 TV's at a time. We also get Netflix free thru T-Mobile, but that starts at $6.99 if you have to pay for it. Our $137/mo is $82/mo for Hulu+Live and $55/mo for AT&T Fiber 300mbps. Rokus are a small one time expense. no ongoing costs.

We've been all streaming since 2018, and it's easier than cable or satellite...

I assume your $250/mo includes internet access.

 

[Texas Proud]

We dropped cable years ago. Our current set up is Spectrum internet for $19.99/month including tax for 300mbps plus YouTubeTV for $82.40/month including tax. You can go online to YouTubeTV to see their channel lineup. We use a ROKU TV so we don't need the separate box.

We occasionally buy some other streaming channel when they run a special. We then watch what we want, then cancel and move on to another when they have something we want to see.

Wish I could get internet that cheap... I am over $100... like $110...

 

[Midpack]

Wish I could get internet that cheap... I am over $100... like $110...

Back when I lived up north, Comcast had no competitor in my area, so they charged WAY more than where we live now. Competition is a really good thing...

 

[motley]

I gave up cable many years ago, don't really miss it. Between the lack of quality shows, the cost, and how the ads get more and more pervasive/obnoxious...when they started flitting little "ads" across the bottom of the screen while the show is going on I said no more. I got rabbit ears and that gives me several dozen channels (most of which I've "hidden" from the remote) including major networks and it's more than enough. I have Roku but not much there really interested me.

 

[Texas Proud]

Back when I lived up north, Comcast had no competitor in my area, so they charged WAY more than where we live now. Competition is a really good thing...

But we have competition where I live now...

Comcast cable, AT&T fiber and now Ezee fiber...

The cheapest is still around $60... not $20...

 

[aja8888]

But we have competition where I live now...

Comcast cable, AT&T fiber and now Ezee fiber...

The cheapest is still around $60... not $20...

Same here. We have Comcast, Fidium fiber, EZEE Fiber, and another one and the cheapest is $60/month for fiber internet. Where does one live to only pay $20month?

 

[Tom52]

Same here. We have Comcast, Fidium fiber, EZEE Fiber, and another one and the cheapest is $60/month for fiber internet. Where does one live to only pay $20month?

Zip code 32163, Spectrum $19.99 per month including tax, price fixed for 2 years, 300 mbps. I am in the second year of this deal so it my not still be available. We also have Quantum fiber and Xfinity competing for business plus I think there is also some phone company maybe Mobil Link or something like that. When my two years are up I will jump to someone else to get the best possible rate.

 

[FiveDriver]

Zip code 32163, Spectrum $19.99 per month including tax, price fixed for 2 years, 300 mbps. I am in the second year of this deal so it my not still be available. We also have Quantum fiber and Xfinity competing for business plus I think there is also some phone company maybe Mobil Link or something like that. When my two years are up I will jump to someone else to get the best possible rate.

Are you located in The Villages in FL ? That $19 price might be subsidized for your community. Does that $19 include the Rebroadcast Fees ?

I just googled Spectrum Cable Fees in FL. Generally, the Customers get up to 40 channels for $29.99 per month, BUT there is also a broadcast surcharge for local channels that can drive the cost up by $23.20 per month.

There are all kinds of Cable Packages, all seemingly designed to confuse the Consumer. Your Villages HOA may have laid down the law to any provider who wishes to do business within that community.

 

[Tom52]

Are you located in The Villages in FL ? That $19 price might be subsidized for your community. Does that $19 include the Rebroadcast Fees ?

I just googled Spectrum Cable Fees in FL. Generally, the Customers get up to 40 channels for $29.99 per month, BUT there is also a broadcast surcharge for local channels that can drive the cost up by $23.20 per month.

There are all kinds of Cable Packages, all seemingly designed to confuse the Consumer. Your Villages HOA may have laid down the law to any provider who wishes to do business within that community.

FiveDriver, the $19.99 is for internet only. As I said in my original post we have the Spectrum internet and stream YouTube TV. No cable for us. And yes we live in The Villages. But no, there is no HOA here. The Villages does nothing to subsidize internet or cable for the 160,000 that live here. I wish the would/could.

 

[Texas Proud]

FiveDriver, the $19.99 is for internet only. As I said in my original post we have the Spectrum internet and stream YouTube TV. No cable for us. And yes we live in The Villages. But no, there is no HOA here. The Villages does nothing to subsidize internet or cable for the 160,000 that live here. I wish the would/could.

My $110 is for internet and phone... but phone I think is about $10...

I have Dish for TV and it has gone way up also to IIRC $115...

I might have to read up on see what I can do... it sounds like some of the streaming services are more of a bargain, if I can get all the channels I want... or at least the majority...

 

[CaptTom]

The other day I saw a Fidium Fiber truck stringing cable. Sure enough, a couple of days later a guy showed up selling their service.

I'm thrilled to finally see some competition. Time Warner, then Spectrum, has always had a monopoly here. Let's just say I've been less than satisfied with their prices, service and attitude.

I signed up for Fidium. I was going to do it on line anyway, but the guy seemed nice and I figured he's probably working on commission. I'm only saving $5 a month for now, but that's only because I've spent inordinate amounts of time on the phone with Spectrum every time they raised the rates. If I keep them on the phone long enough, eventually they "find" a deal which they could have told me about any time in the past year or two, which will save me $20 or $30 a month. How nice of them.

 

[MarieIG]

DH was commenting that our Optimum cable bill went up $30, so he made an appointment to switch to Verizon. They were supposed to provide a list of stations with the new package but as of last night DH had not received it.

 

[isisdave]

Same here. We have Comcast, Fidium fiber, EZEE Fiber, and another one and the cheapest is $60/month for fiber internet. Where does one live to only pay $20month?

Evansville IN. We got Spectrum 2 years ago for $20; that just went up to $35. For $49 new subscribers can get 300 Mbps for $50 with a year of free cell phone. Astound continues to offer $20 for 300 Mbps or $30 for 500 Mbps, AT&T wants $60 and I guess people buy that too.

And pretty much everywhere you can get T-mobile of $60 or less (I have it at my business in CA), and I think Verizon offers it. So have you tried those? There's a free trial and no contract.

 

[aja8888]

Evansville IN. We got Spectrum 2 years ago for $20; that just went up to $35. For $49 new subscribers can get 300 Mbps for $50 with a year of free cell phone. Astound continues to offer $20 for 300 Mbps or $30 for 500 Mbps, AT&T wants $60 and I guess people buy that too.

And pretty much everywhere you can get T-mobile of $60 or less (I have it at my business in CA), and I think Verizon offers it. So have you tried those? There's a free trial and no contract.

For my $60 or so, I get 1,000 MB (1 Gig) for pure, fast, fiber service with EZEE Fiber. Wicked fast!

 

[MarieIG]

DH was commenting that our Optimum cable bill went up $30, so he made an appointment to switch to Verizon. They were supposed to provide a list of stations with the new package but as of last night DH had not received it.

Update: DH did not receive a list of channels so canceled today's installation. He is supposed to hear from a Verizon rep on Monday so this remains a work in progress.

 

[Livefree]

We pay $94 for Comcast and includes a land line. We also pay $72 for Youtube TV.
We get Neflix free with ads with our T-Mobile senior cell phone plan.

 

[Car-Guy]

Never thought I'd live to see it but I just got a $30 refund from DirecTV because of their current disputes with ESPN and a few other channels. (Happens all the time but it's the first time I recall them offering a refund of any sort). Anyway, I just logged on to my account, found the refund request box, checked it and "boom", I got a $30 credit.

 

[Midpack]

Our Hulu+Live sub just went from $76.99 to $82.99/mo. Not wonderful but still way cheaper than comparable cable or satellite for our setup.

 

[MBSC]

Spectrum has increased speeds on the 300 internet plan to 400 and upped the current 500 plan to 600. You may need to reboot the modem to see the increase.

They have introduced a new 500Mbps plan at $30/mo guaranteed for 3yrs when bundled with 2 unlimited mobile lines at $60 additional cost.

Press release: Spectrum Announces New Bundled Pricing

They say their TV pricing now includes the local broadcast fee. When I check my location, the Select TV promo rate is $95/mo for the first year. Select TV Plus, which includes RSN and ESPN+, is $105/mo the first year.

For giggles, I started an order for 500Mbps internet and the $105 TV plan. It was $135 guaranteed for 2yrs. There was an option for $13.50/mo non-DVR set top box but I selected their Xumo streaming box. The first box is free the first 2 years then either $5/mo or pay $60 to buy. Cloud DVR is $10. I added $10 Sports View but not $15 Entertainment View. The total was $155 ($30+$105+$10+$10) plus $16.54 tax or $171.54 for one streaming box.

 

[FiveDriver]

MB --
We will look into this new Spectrum bundle before we return all their hardware.

The speed is never an issue here, 300M is plenty fast. Their 'shell game' with pricing is annoying -- How did it go from $95 to $135 ??

I may get the cloud DVR which is handy. I'm really not interested in ESPN in any form.....they broadcast junk these days.

 

[Rianne]

We get 95 channels including "Big 10 Network, Tennis channel, golf channel, all the ESPN channels, local news" plus Disney+, ESPN+ and a lot more for $137/mo - all in a well integrated package, no "puzzling" to put them together. The interface looks just like a cable TV user guide. We have unlimited (cloud) DVR, on 4 TV's with Rokus though the basic package only allows use on 2 TV's at a time. We also get Netflix free thru T-Mobile, but that starts at $6.99 if you have to pay for it. Our $137/mo is $82/mo for Hulu+Live and $55/mo for AT&T Fiber 300mbps. Rokus are a small one time expense. no ongoing costs.

We've been all streaming since 2018, and it's easier than cable or satellite...

I assume your $250/mo includes internet access.View attachment 52261

Yes, that includes internet. We need to buy 2 more smart TVs. I failed to mention that. They're pretty cheap now. We have one huge smart TV and the other two are mounted on the wall and difficult to get the Amazon or Roku jacks behind the TVs. We're in the dark ages regarding stuff like this. We have a Best Buy account with the Geek Squad and could get it done for free. We'd be ahead if we bought 2 smart TVs, had Geek Squad set them up and switch to streaming. I know, we're lazy. We'd save $1356/year.

 

[CaptTom]

Just got off the phone with a very pleasant, and persuasive, lady at Spectrum. She did mention new pricing and higher speeds. It took a long time to convince her to just cancel my account. She insisted I explain all the reasons why. Most have been posted here already. Funny how they sing a different tune when the company is no longer a monopoly and customers finally have a choice.

She mentioned the upgrade from 300 to 400 Mbps. She was taken aback when I laughed. 300? On a good day I might get 75 Mbps. She said she had a screen full of "special" prices custom tailored just for me. It was hard to be polite when I explained that I was tired of playing that game (wish I'd thought of using the term "shell game" at that point.)

So, the adventure starts. I've got Spectrum until the end of the month, but Fidium is due here Thursday to set me up with fiber.

 

[Jerry1]

Some company ran a fiber optic line through my property but it’s been over a year and still, no one offers fiber to my address. I can’t wait to get fiber and I really can’t wait until I can get off Spectrum. The only other option I have is WOW and most reviews I see WOW isn’t any better or cheaper that Spectrum.

 

[athena53]

I'm only saving $5 a month for now, but that's only because I've spent inordinate amounts of time on the phone with Spectrum every time they raised the rates. If I keep them on the phone long enough, eventually they "find" a deal which they could have told me about any time in the past year or two, which will save me $20 or $30 a month. How nice of them.

Yep. DH was willing to play that game when he was alive but I’m done. Even the ones that promise to keep your rate fixed for 2 years restrict that promise only to the basic rate. Comcast passed on a pod fly increase for some part of the package and that was the end. Very happy with Google Finer and Netflix even though the ad-free version has gone up a lot.

 

[Dawg52]

We pay $94 for Comcast and includes a land line. We also pay $72 for Youtube TV.
We get Neflix free with ads with our T-Mobile senior cell phone plan.

Speaking of YTTV just yesterday I started the process of canceling my subscription and up pops a promo offering it for $64/mo for 5 months. So I took as it will get me through football season and most of Winter. Anyway….might be something for YT subscribers to try. If you don’t get the offer you can stop the cancellation process.