Submission + - Comcast decrees "You will watch our TV or pay!
PortHaven writes: "Just received a notice from Comcast regarding future rate hikes. Essentially, Comcast is trying to force all it's broadband subscribers to use their TV service.
The rates were as follows:
$39.95 internet+TV
$49.95 internet only ($39.95+$10 additional fee)
The new rates for 2007 are as follows:
$42.95 internet+TV
$59.95 internet only
There is nearly a 40% cost difference if you decide not to subscribe to Comcast's TV. Yes, it is common to offer discounts for bundled services but Comcast has gone way beyond a mere bundle discount. The new pricing scheme is akin to McDonald's announcing that you can no longer buy a hamburger unless you also buy a coke and fries. Everyone understands the concept of the value meal. Buy a #1 and save 70 cents on your big mac, fries and coke. But what Comcast is doing is charging $7 for a #1 value meal. And if you just want to buy a big mac charging you the same $7.
Essentially, this pricing is designed to prevent customer from moving to alternatives. Now any difference in savings you'd gain by using satellite TV + cable internet is lost because there is now a $20 surchage. Presently, my household does not own a TV or subscribe to TV service instead we utilize Netflix and iTunes. The only real alternative to cable broadband is DSL. However, the telephone companies require you to have a landline (approx. $20). I, like many others in the younger generations have found no need for a landline (our cell phones do quite nicely) nor for TV service.
It appears I have no choice but to choose one or the other if I want broadband internet access. It's Monopoly! Do you choose to land on Boardwalk or Park Place?"
The rates were as follows:
$39.95 internet+TV
$49.95 internet only ($39.95+$10 additional fee)
The new rates for 2007 are as follows:
$42.95 internet+TV
$59.95 internet only
There is nearly a 40% cost difference if you decide not to subscribe to Comcast's TV. Yes, it is common to offer discounts for bundled services but Comcast has gone way beyond a mere bundle discount. The new pricing scheme is akin to McDonald's announcing that you can no longer buy a hamburger unless you also buy a coke and fries. Everyone understands the concept of the value meal. Buy a #1 and save 70 cents on your big mac, fries and coke. But what Comcast is doing is charging $7 for a #1 value meal. And if you just want to buy a big mac charging you the same $7.
Essentially, this pricing is designed to prevent customer from moving to alternatives. Now any difference in savings you'd gain by using satellite TV + cable internet is lost because there is now a $20 surchage. Presently, my household does not own a TV or subscribe to TV service instead we utilize Netflix and iTunes. The only real alternative to cable broadband is DSL. However, the telephone companies require you to have a landline (approx. $20). I, like many others in the younger generations have found no need for a landline (our cell phones do quite nicely) nor for TV service.
It appears I have no choice but to choose one or the other if I want broadband internet access. It's Monopoly! Do you choose to land on Boardwalk or Park Place?"
