I just got off the phone with Comcast, my cable TV and internet provider.
For the last several years, we have been playing the “call every six months” game. You know the one: get a decent price that lasts for just six months, and then call again when it shoots up. It’s a painful business model for consumers, but a great one for Comcast. Basically, make people happy for a few months, but then enjoy much higher profits (for zero increase in value) until the consumer remembers to call again.
Well, I’m paying $155, all in, currently. (Update: This includes cable and Internet. Subtract $40 per month for cable, and I’m paying over $100 for TV programming.)
I called to see what could be done for a promotion.
After about 15 minutes, the agent in the retention department told me that the best available rate lowers my bill to $145.
In the past, this promotion price went below $100 for TV and Internet.
So, basically, as people are cutting the cord, as Web-based TV options skyrocket, Comcast has increased prices.
I understand why people are cutting this expensive cord.
With Netflix, Hulu, and iTunes, it’s easy to watch a lot of TV a la carte, and save at least 50 percent off of this “reduced” rate. Our shows aren’t keeping us with Comcast. We can watch shows like Breaking Bad with a season pass on iTunes, for example.
Frankly, the only thing keeping us “connected” is sports. I must watch football. I must watch basketball.
But frankly, I’m getting close to deciding that an HD antenna for the broadcast network games on Sundays might do the job.
It’s not that I can’t afford it. Like a lot of people, I’m happy to pay for value.
But with all of the alternatives, and Comcast somehow raising prices without increasing value, I’m thinking the cord is about to get itself cut.
Now then, where are my scissors?
What do you think here? Have you cut the cord? (How has it worked out?) Are you thinking about it?
Good post, lots of people I know have ditched their cable bill. We cut the cord long ago with our Roku. Haven’t had a cable bill (other than ethernet) in 2-3 years now. Its just a little $79 black box that provides a medium for all the services you described, Netflix, Amazon, HBO Go, and hundreds of other indy startup tv stations (mormon channel, classic cartoons, cult movies, you name it). Yesterdays NBC, Fox, Weather, regular stations too. Can’t say enough but there are some sacrifices….live sports isn’t up and running yet which is a deal breaker for many. We have digital bunny ears for local stuff.
Anyway, your post definitely rings true…I can’t imagine a $150 cable bill, nor even $100. $40 for internet is just fine. The value just isnt there anymore for me and our family. And I won’t even get into the philosophical part about getting out side with less TV is better either..but as new parents, we are certainly glad to unplug for other reasons as well…
Thanks, David. Good stuff. Can you get HBO Go on the Roku without an HBO subscription through cable? I thought HBO was fighting that?
Congratulations! I just recently posted about this – we cut the cord a few years ago and haven’t looked back. Admittedly, I’m not a sports guy, so there’s no loss there, but otherwise, it’s been awesome.
I *do* wish we could use an HD antenna – they’re pretty cheap, especially compared to cable, but unfortunately they don’t work in my neighborhood. I tried several, and confirmed with neighbors.
The Roku makes the whole thing *REALLY* easy, but if you need sports, I’d recommend looking into an Xbox 360, as well. They’ve got a few solutions for different sports (haven’t checked them out, but I see it).
As you mentioned – it’s not cause you can’t afford it. It’s a value proposition. I’ve also noticed that by not having the option to channel surf, my family spends less time watching TV and more time together – we watch a handful of specific shows, but we don’t find ourselves mindlessly flipping channels like we used to.
Ahh … the “call every six months game.” I played it again with my cable provider last week, fully intending to cut the cord if they didn’t make a good offer to keep me. They did — at least for now — by dropping my bill $30/month, and that’ll go up to $40 if we turn in the receiver for the 2nd TV that we use about once a month.
Still, I can’t help feeling that they have one over on me by keeping me on the “bundle” package. If I cancel cable but keep Internet (which I definitely need) and my landline (which I *think* I still need), I’d only save an additional $10. And if I don’t call when this current promotion expires (and many people don’t, or forget), they’ll jack my rates right back up.
So as of today, I’m still a paying cable subscriber. But don’t hold me to it!
Cut the cord last December. We weren’t watching TV, so why pay DirecTV $80-plus per month? Hulu Plus + Netflix = $16 per month. And I don’t have time to watch hours of sports. Problem solved.
Alex, I am right there with you. I cut my comcast cable 18 months ago and it felt great. I went with a Roku box on every TV + Netflix, Hulu Plus and Amazon Instant Video. I loved watching it all on demonad, no DVR to worry about and no advertisements (until Hulu started plugging more and more in). Life was good….until I went through ESPN withdrawls…and then the regoinal sports withdrawls, missing out on a lot of college football and basketball…it was a painful year but I stuck with it. Then just this past week I caved and called up comcast to reconnect. I hated it, but I had to. the only channels I will watch are ESPN, Root sports (northwest regional sports) and the Pac 12 network yet I had to subscribe to the entire bundle. My plan is to stick with it for 6 months and then cancel again after football and college basketball season end. Could become an annual ritual until somone solves the live sports problem.
When my roommate moved out, the Comcast bundle went with him as I wasn’t going to pay our outrageous $180 bill on my own. As Steve, I use Hulu Plus and I also download movie torrents. My only problem is I don’t have access to the HBO programs I am now addicted to. Does anyone know if what Dave said about HBO Go on the Roku is true? If so, all of my television needs are met.
@ Alex: I believe that HBO Go only works if you confirm your cable subscription to HBO first with a user name and password. That has been my experience with HBO Go. Also, Game of Thrones fans were practically begging HBO to let them pay for HBO Go a la carte, but the network, understandably from a business perspective, refused.
Thanks Jon. There are a la carte solutions to some sports at this point — MLB, NBA and NHL, I believe, have programs where you can watch all the games streaming over the Internet. Problem is, the NFL does not.