Xfinity (Comcast) rate/lineup changes

[andy_horton]

Maybe nationwide (Mom & Dad live in Big South region,) Comcast is increasing rates on broadcast tv fees, ($10.50 now $14.75,) gateway rentals, ($11 now $13 monthly,) return payment fee, ($10 now $30) effective Dec 2019. FS1 is now included in all but Limited Basic package..(Yes, sports fee will apply.) Music Choice is moving tiers as well. Cinemax replaced with an alternate premium channel, Epix is now a la carte, $6 monthly, and Starz Networks are being removed completely Dec 31, 2019. WE TV, UP TV, WGN is no longer available to new subs. Existing subs will lose these 'soon.' I can confirm this in the 'Big South region.' Please check your Nov-Dec statements. Among several explanations given was to bring in line pricing to other regions. --Andy

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[Skytrooper]

I am into 1 and a half years on my 2 year package deal. They promised no rate increases. Will see if true on my next bill.

 

[andy_horton]

I am into 1 and a half years on my 2 year package deal. They promised no rate increases. Will see if true on my next bill.

Rate increases normally occur on taxes, fees and equipment rental..(gateways, X1 and DVR, etc.) I believe you'd see the increase on your January statement, printed in December since bills are 1 month in advance. Usually on the last page. If you have ecobill, please check it out online. Hope this helps you out. --Andy

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[harshness]

Even if the package rates don't increase, I'd be watching what the "fees" and "charges" do very closely -- not that you can do anything about them.

Skinemax isn't going anywhere. Starz! will be replaced by Epix in the bundles starting this coming Tuesday in my market.

They'll be jacking my Performance Plus Internet by $3 to $69.95 after years of being stuck at $66.95. I'm thinking "Flex TV" isn't really free after all.

My new rates go into effect on January first and there's no mention on my November or December PDF billings. There is this somewhat non-specific warning:

There will be some changes to the Other charges, Service fees, and Taxes section of your bill to reflect current rates and tax adjustments.

Because I only subscribe to Internet service, I don't currently have any charges, fees or taxes (where they get their pound of flesh when you bundle).

 

[andy_horton]

Even if the package rates don't increase, I'd be watching what the "fees" and "charges" do very closely -- not that you can do anything about them.

Skinemax isn't going anywhere. Starz! will be replaced by Epix in the bundles starting this coming Tuesday in my market.

They'll be jacking my Performance Plus Internet by $3 to $69.95 after years of being stuck at $66.95. I'm thinking "Flex TV" isn't really free after all.

My new rates go into effect on January first and there's no mention on my November or December PDF billings. There is this somewhat non-specific warning:Because I only subscribe to Internet service, I don't currently have any charges, fees or taxes (where they get their pound of flesh when you bundle).

Harshness, in the ATL and certain TN and GA markets Cinemax has been replaced with a service called "Hits." I'm not aware of other regions on this channel. They definitely love to jack up prices on used equipment. My dad said, "Oh, they increased my internet speed...at no extra cost." My response was watch your gateway fee or other fees increase. I'll say he's not too happy right now. I believe in NW GA 60mbps down increased to 100mpbs down, no change in 5mbps up and is going up $3 per month. There's no effective competition per se in this very rural area... yet. I wonder about the upcoming satellite 5G or other avenues?Toast.net isn't available as Windstream gobbled this area up.

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[Skytrooper]

My bundle. Gig internet, phone, Netflix, all Premium Movie Channels and 3 boxes. Had to rent their modem because of the phone. $218 a month total. Wife bitches about the bill.

 

[harshness]

My bundle. Gig internet, phone, Netflix, all Premium Movie Channels and 3 boxes. Had to rent their modem because of the phone. $218 a month total. Wife bitches about the bill.

I'd recommend opting out of the phone part of the quad deal. Comcast is charging land-line rates and they pile on quite a load of fees unique to phone service. As you've observed, this may also get you out from under the Comcast gateway lease.

If you want a house phone, there are many VOIP providers that offer similar service for much less money. There's also Ooma.

 

[Skytrooper]

Before I had the bundle, I had Dish, Vonage, Comcast Internet and my own modem and had a separate bill for Netflix. It took 2 weeks for Comcast to port my phone over from Vonage. They kept blaming each other for the problems. Finally I had to get a little nasty and the phone began to work.

 

[harshness]

Harshness, in the ATL and certain TN and GA markets Cinemax has been replaced with a service called "Hits."

While Hitz has replaced Cinemax in the bundles, my market still offers Cinemax as a standalone $12.99. It is in the pricing schedule under "Xfinity TV Services".

More diligent research shows that Starz! is currently involved in a carriage dispute with Comcast so it may or may not be available in the New Year. I would imagine that any agreement reached would include Starz! returning to the bundles.

 

[harshness]

Before I had the bundle, I had Dish, Vonage, Comcast Internet and my own modem and had a separate bill for Netflix. It took 2 weeks for Comcast to port my phone over from Vonage. They kept blaming each other for the problems. Finally I had to get a little nasty and the phone began to work.

I'll bet that Comcast was the hold-up in that scenario. Most of the time ports fail because the new provider hasn't provided accurate information (account number, account name, address, zip) to the old provider. Obviously if you gave the wrong information (and I'm not saying that you did), that's not Comcast's fault. It is in everyone's best interest to make these ports work as the customer may come back in the future.

My own transition from a wireline carrier (Qworst) to a VOIP carrier (Viatalk) took less than an evening.

I pay about what you pay a month for three months of 500 minute VOIP service so there could be some noticeable cost savings.

 

[NashGuy]

While Hitz has replaced Cinemax in the bundles, my market still offers Cinemax as a standalone $12.99. It is in the pricing schedule under "Xfinity TV Services".

More diligent research shows that Starz! is currently involved in a carriage dispute with Comcast so it may or may not be available in the New Year. I would imagine that any agreement reached would include Starz! returning to the bundles.

Yeah, I'm pretty sure that Cinemax is still available a la carte from Comcast nationwide. (I live in the Central Division/Big South Region and it's still here.) But Comcast isn't doing much to market it now. And I'd say it's gone forever from those bundled packages (like the old Digital Premier package they used to sell here) after Comcast replaced it with their own crappy Hitz service this summer. I still think that WarnerMedia will completely pull the plug on Cinemax nationwide next year after the launch of HBO Max and just shift the small library of Cinemax Originals over to it. We'll see.

Just as swapping Cinemax for Hitz was a Comcast play to reduce content costs on certain package bundles, so is the move to replace Starz with the cheaper Epix. It's certainly possible that a chastened Starz strikes a deal with Comcast to resume a la carte sales in 2020 -- right now Comcast is on course to completely cease all Starz distribution at year-end -- but I really don't look for Starz to find its way back into any of those packages like Digital Premier where it's getting replaced with Epix. Because I'm sure Comcast has inked a new deal with Epix, so they won't be able to just yank Epix out and put Starz back in just a few weeks or months after making the initial swap in December. And Comcast isn't going to pay for both Epix *and* Starz in those packages.

Actually, the way Comcast is now heading with their new channel package system that debuted in the Central Region back in March is to only sell premium services a la carte. There are three base packages of basic cable channels (Basic, Extra and Preferred), plus an optional package of channels called More Sports & Entertainment (stuff like NFL RedZone and TCM) that can be added to Extra or Preferred. And then there are a la carte premium and on-demand services (HBO, Showtime, CuriosityStream, Acorn TV, etc.) that can be added to any base package. Wonder if they'll add Disney+ to that list soon. Peacock will of course be included at no extra charge come next spring. I expect that they'll also replace HBO with HBO Max.

 

[Skytrooper]

I'll bet that Comcast was the hold-up in that scenario. Most of the time ports fail because the new provider hasn't provided accurate information (account number, account name, address, zip) to the old provider. Obviously if you gave the wrong information (and I'm not saying that you did), that's not Comcast's fault. It is in everyone's best interest to make these ports work as the customer may come back in the future.

My own transition from a wireline carrier (Qworst) to a VOIP carrier (Viatalk) took less than an evening.

I pay about what you pay a month for three months of 500 minute VOIP service so there could be some noticeable cost savings.

I don't understand what you mean about your VOIP.

Anyhow, I just looked at a breakdown on my bill. The phone is not listed on the bills breakdown. Wonder why.

 

[DishDave]

I have Frontier Fios 100mb was paying $40.00 New rate $65.00 Best I could do with them is go back down to 50mb for $45.00 I also have Sling. I almost opted for Xfinity Cyber special which is for $70.00 You get 200mb with 125ch pack X1 service for $70.00 2 year lock $5.00 per box ... But when I see the fees of Broadcast of $14.95 RSN of $9.62 Local tax of $8.62 I was like wow no thanks. I will stick with my $45.00 50/50 Frontier no data cap and Sling. I am thinking of going to Philo but I would miss TBS

 

[Bruce]

I would be willing to get Comcast’s TV Service again if they gave me the option of not getting the local channels and sports and avoiding the extra fees, have a Tablo for locals and never watch sports.


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[Juan]

Cable tv without local channels...kinda defeats the original purpose of cable tv

I would be willing to get Comcast’s TV Service again if they gave me the option of not getting the local channels and sports and avoiding the extra fees, have a Tablo for locals and never watch sports.


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[dare2be]

I thought the original purpose of cable tv was commercial-free channels and late night soft porn premiums.

 

[harshness]

Cable tv without local channels...kinda defeats the original purpose of cable tv

It would if cable TV carried all the local channels and the new model of piecemeal streaming offered everything but local channels.

 

[EarDemon]

Cable tv without local channels...kinda defeats the original purpose of cable tv

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Not really

I have over 70 series combined set to records on Showtime, HBO, Cinemax, Starz, Epix, FX, USA, TNT, Paramount, History, Destination America, Science, AHC, Travel, Food and others. I have two series set to record on all of local channel combined. If I could drop my useless locals and save $15/month, it would take me two months to break even on buying my two network shows on DVD. I have no use for local channels and I do not want them.

 

[Skytrooper]

My bundle. Gig internet, phone, Netflix, all Premium Movie Channels and 3 boxes. Had to rent their modem because of the phone. $218 a month total. Wife bitches about the bill.

Well, I guess Comcast lied. Got my new bill. Up 4$. Said that wouldn't happen over my 2 year bundle. So do I call them up and talk to someone I can't understand or just deal with it ?

 

[DishDave]

Well, I guess Comcast lied. Got my new bill. Up 4$. Said that wouldn't happen over my 2 year bundle. So do I call them up and talk to someone I can't understand or just deal with it ?

You signed contract for the Service Fees are not protected so you have to pay or switch