Charter Spectrum says cable cost increases are due to programmers raising fees
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20230123
Charter Spectrum says cable cost increases are due to programmers raising fees
A survey of Worcester residents revealed some Charter Spectrum cable subscribers are considering canceling the service because of cost increases, but a spokesperson for the company said it’s not to blame for larger bills.
“Charter is committed to keeping costs as low as possible for our customers, but even as broadcast viewership is plummeting, programmers continually increase their fees,” a spokesperson for Charter Spectrum told MassLive.
The retransmission consent fees, fees that cable providers have to pay local TV stations for the right to retransmit their signal to customers, “are the single greatest factor in customer’s escalating cable TV prices,” the spokesperson said.
They cited a statistic from SNL Kagan, a branch of S&P Global Market Intelligence, that estimated retransmission fees have increased by more than 850% since 2010.
“It’s clear Worcester families are feeling this pain,” the spokesperson said.
In a survey conducted by ETC Institute, 77% of the cable provider’s customers that responded said they will cancel or change their subscription within the next two years.
A seven-page survey was mailed to random households in the city and 479 completed it, according to the survey summary.
Of the 77% of subscribers who said they would cancel or change their subscription, 18% said they were canceling the subscription to use an online streaming service, 27% said they were canceling because of cost increases, 28% said they were going to change the subscription to a cheaper package and 1% said they were canceling because they were moving.
The high cost is the reason the majority of survey respondents, 73%, who don’t currently subscribe to Charter-Spectrum Cable Television gave when asked why they don’t.
Two-thirds of the subscribers who responded to the survey said their average monthly costs for their cable television service is $151 or more. One-third pay more than $201 monthly for their cable service.
Additionally, 75% of subscribers are “very dissatisfied” or “dissatisfied” with the value they receive for what they pay for the services.
Charter Spectrum also provides internet service in Worcester, but is gaining competition in that sphere this year. Verizon announced in December it will launch high-speed internet service in Worcester.
During a public hearing in Nov. 2021 regarding the renewal of Spectrum’s contract, residents complained of exorbitant rates, constant outages and poor customer service associated with not just their cable service but internet and telephone service as well.
The city’s contract with Charter spectrum expires on Oct. 29.
“We have a track record of continuous investment in our customers’ broadband experience, delivering faster speeds and the best value in a competitive marketplace,” Charter’s spokesperson said.
Last year, the company launched Spectrum One which “offers customers unrivaled connectivity and value” by combining services like Spectrum Internet with Advanced WiFi via Charter’s Red Dot Design WIFi 6 router, Security Shield and customer controls, according to the spokesperson.
As for customer service, the spokesperson said they have over 200 customer service representatives and over 85 local field technicians serving Worcester.
The survey is part of the city’s “ascertainment period,” when it gathers information that will be used to negotiate the renewal license agreement, according to a spokesperson for the city.
The period will also involve a community needs assessment that will include public focus groups scheduled for April, a “deep dive” into the needs of access stations and a “hard look” at current license and business practices, the spokesperson said.
Owners Comment:Like I said before and Ill Say it Again
If you give Spectrum an Inch they take a yard what spectrum telling you is all lies there raising the fee because they wanna keep there stock up in the stock market they don't give one rats ass about you all they care about is your wallet and they take advantage of the people when they get a small increase in there pension so they can eat or get there prescription that how these bastards are.
“Charter is committed to keeping costs as low as possible for our customers, but even as broadcast viewership is plummeting, programmers continually increase their fees,” a spokesperson for Charter Spectrum told MassLive.
The retransmission consent fees, fees that cable providers have to pay local TV stations for the right to retransmit their signal to customers, “are the single greatest factor in customer’s escalating cable TV prices,” the spokesperson said.
They cited a statistic from SNL Kagan, a branch of S&P Global Market Intelligence, that estimated retransmission fees have increased by more than 850% since 2010.
“It’s clear Worcester families are feeling this pain,” the spokesperson said.
In a survey conducted by ETC Institute, 77% of the cable provider’s customers that responded said they will cancel or change their subscription within the next two years.
A seven-page survey was mailed to random households in the city and 479 completed it, according to the survey summary.
Of the 77% of subscribers who said they would cancel or change their subscription, 18% said they were canceling the subscription to use an online streaming service, 27% said they were canceling because of cost increases, 28% said they were going to change the subscription to a cheaper package and 1% said they were canceling because they were moving.
The high cost is the reason the majority of survey respondents, 73%, who don’t currently subscribe to Charter-Spectrum Cable Television gave when asked why they don’t.
Two-thirds of the subscribers who responded to the survey said their average monthly costs for their cable television service is $151 or more. One-third pay more than $201 monthly for their cable service.
Additionally, 75% of subscribers are “very dissatisfied” or “dissatisfied” with the value they receive for what they pay for the services.
Charter Spectrum also provides internet service in Worcester, but is gaining competition in that sphere this year. Verizon announced in December it will launch high-speed internet service in Worcester.
During a public hearing in Nov. 2021 regarding the renewal of Spectrum’s contract, residents complained of exorbitant rates, constant outages and poor customer service associated with not just their cable service but internet and telephone service as well.
The city’s contract with Charter spectrum expires on Oct. 29.
“We have a track record of continuous investment in our customers’ broadband experience, delivering faster speeds and the best value in a competitive marketplace,” Charter’s spokesperson said.
Last year, the company launched Spectrum One which “offers customers unrivaled connectivity and value” by combining services like Spectrum Internet with Advanced WiFi via Charter’s Red Dot Design WIFi 6 router, Security Shield and customer controls, according to the spokesperson.
As for customer service, the spokesperson said they have over 200 customer service representatives and over 85 local field technicians serving Worcester.
The survey is part of the city’s “ascertainment period,” when it gathers information that will be used to negotiate the renewal license agreement, according to a spokesperson for the city.
The period will also involve a community needs assessment that will include public focus groups scheduled for April, a “deep dive” into the needs of access stations and a “hard look” at current license and business practices, the spokesperson said.
Owners Comment:Like I said before and Ill Say it Again
If you give Spectrum an Inch they take a yard what spectrum telling you is all lies there raising the fee because they wanna keep there stock up in the stock market they don't give one rats ass about you all they care about is your wallet and they take advantage of the people when they get a small increase in there pension so they can eat or get there prescription that how these bastards are.
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