View Full Version : AP: Sat now cheaper than cable
From the AP wire service today:
Study: Satellite TV Costs Trailing Cable
By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Filed at 2:43 p.m. ET
NEW YORK (AP) -- The average price of a satellite TV subscription this year fell below that of cable TV for the first time ever, according to a new study by J.D. Power & Associates.
The report, released Tuesday, shows that the difference between average prices for cable and satellite TV ``narrowed significantly'' over the last five years.
Since 1998, the average monthly cost of satellite TV service is up 8 percent to $48.93 a month.
During the same period, the monthly cost of cable surged 41 percent to $49.62.
Much of that increase comes from the cost of upgrading networks and additional services such as digital TV, video-on-demand and high definition TV.
Yet despite the added services, satellite subscription is steadily growing, taking customers away from cable.
``Digital cable hasn't turned out to be the solution the cable industry needed to stem the tide of migration to satellite providers,'' said Steve Kirkeby, senior director of telecommunications research at J.D. Power and Associates.
Instead, cable companies should focus on improving customer service, the study suggests.
Both satellite broadcasters, DirecTV and Dish Network, received far better customer service ratings than cable operators.
The push to bundle services, or putting multiple services onto a single bill, could also help cable.
The study showed that 38 percent of cable customers want to combine their cable TV service with some other product.
The 2003 Residential Cable/Satellite TV Customer Satisfaction Study is based on responses from 7,340 U.S. households that evaluated their satellite or cable TV providers.
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This is what Charlie is looking at...
Could this be trying to say the average amount people spend with cable vs dbs? From my own experience and from reading the many posts here and other places, when is cable programming ever cheaper than DBS if you do not count some of the limited time incentives cable gives? I know both Charter in CT and TWC in Florida are higher in costs.
Perhaps those with DBS choose to spend more with more programming. That I would believe.
dbronstein
08-19-03, 04:15 PM
From my own experience and from reading the many posts here and other places, when is cable programming ever cheaper than DBS if you do not count some of the limited time incentives cable gives?
I receive Comcast expanded basic cable or whatever it's called (about 30 channels plus locals) for $13.50 a month. Show me and Dish or DirecTV package that is even close to that cheap. And I don't need to buy any receivers and I can put it on as many TVs as I want for the same price.
Since I'm sure you're wondering, I get it because I have a cable modem and I get $10 off internet access if I get a TV package, so it's really only costing me $3.50 a month to put it on the TVs that I don't have Dish on.
Dennis
rowdymon
08-19-03, 04:42 PM
I receive Comcast expanded basic cable or whatever it's called (about 30 channels plus locals) for $13.50 a month. Show me and Dish or DirecTV package that is even close to that cheap. And I don't need to buy any receivers and I can put it on as many TVs as I want for the same price.
Since I'm sure you're wondering, I get it because I have a cable modem and I get $10 off internet access if I get a TV package, so it's really only costing me $3.50 a month to put it on the TVs that I don't have Dish on.
Dennis
I think you're talking about lifeline cable instead of basic cable. Basic cable includes channels like CNN and ESPN, but lifeline is just your local channels and some Public Service channels. And yes you can get all of those public service channels for free from Dish and you don't even have to sub to Dish. The locals can be had for $5.99 + $5 access fee for a total of $10.99.
p.s.: I already get basic cable (yes, that's basic cable) for free because it's on my cable internet line.
dbronstein
08-19-03, 07:50 PM
I think you're talking about lifeline cable instead of basic cable. Basic cable includes channels like CNN and ESPN, but lifeline is just your local channels and some Public Service channels. And yes you can get all of those public service channels for free from Dish and you don't even have to sub to Dish. The locals can be had for $5.99 + $5 access fee for a total of $10.99.
p.s.: I already get basic cable (yes, that's basic cable) for free because it's on my cable internet line.
No, I'm talking about basic cable. I get ESPN, CNN, MTV, etc. Before I subscribed to the TV portion, they filtered it out. I checked.
The cheapest deal I can find on Dish's site is the AT50 with locals for $30. Plus you have to buy the equipment and add $5 for each additional TV. The cheapest deal I can find on DirecTV's site is total choice with locals for $39.
So at least in my area, basic cable is still much cheaper than basic satellite. I have no idea how the premium packages compare since I don't get any.
Dennis
Chris Freeland
08-19-03, 08:15 PM
No, I'm talking about basic cable. I get ESPN, CNN, MTV, etc. Before I subscribed to the TV portion, they filtered it out. I checked.
The cheapest deal I can find on Dish's site is the AT50 with locals for $30. Plus you have to buy the equipment and add $5 for each additional TV. The cheapest deal I can find on DirecTV's site is total choice with locals for $39.
So at least in my area, basic cable is still much cheaper than basic satellite. I have no idea how the premium packages compare since I don't get any.
Dennis
I do not know where you live but here in Chattanooga, Comcast Preferred basic, their most popular package, which includes Limited basic (8 locals, HNN, TBS, WGN, and the Government and Education channel) the Value Pak, Expanded Basic for a total of about 65 channels goes for $40.99. AT50 is only $24.99 and once locals are available here (by the end of the year if all goes as planned) for another $5, this package will be very comparable to Preferred basic in both number and quality of channels and all for only $29.99, and even if a 2nd receiver is added it is still only $34.98, a full $7 cheaper then Comcast Preferred Basic here.
I receive Comcast expanded basic cable or whatever it's called (about 30 channels plus locals) for $13.50 a month. Show me and Dish or DirecTV package that is even close to that cheap. And I don't need to buy any receivers and I can put it on as many TVs as I want for the same price.I saw this offer on TV this evening ... the $13.50 is for three months. You've got a good deal now, but what will the cost be when the promotion expires? Probably closer to $40/mo.
dbronstein
08-19-03, 09:23 PM
I saw this offer on TV this evening ... the $13.50 is for three months. You've got a good deal now, but what will the cost be when the promotion expires? Probably closer to $40/mo.
Actually, the deal I have now is $10 a month for 6 months then it goes up to $13.50. I just said $13.50 to begin with to avoid the special promotion argument.
My point is simply that Tampa8 said cable is never cheaper than DBS, yet according to my cable bill, you can get a decent package for a lot less.
I'm sure someone will ask why I even have Dish if cable is so cheap. I used to have AT&T cable, and the customer service completely sucked. When I moved, I got Dish because I didn't want to deal with AT&T anymore. Also, I needed to get digital cable to get some of the channels I watch, and there isn't much of a price difference when you get to that tier. AT&T was my only option for broadband, so I got the internet service. Then they were bought by Comcast and I got this offer. So it's worth it to hook up 2 TVs that I don't use much.
Dennis
Actually, the deal I have now is $10 a month for 6 months then it goes up to $13.50. I just said $13.50 to begin with to avoid the special promotion argument.
Can you tell us what area comcast serves with this price? (Web site ..) I certainly believe this is what you pay. But I have to think this is still a limited time offer and/or not available to everyone. Charter has similar (though not as low) specials, but for 6 months or so, then the regular price kicks in. If you are not aware, that price is grossly lower than most anywhere else - not including promotions for limited amounts of time. And I have to stand by what I first posted. There can be exceptions, but the vast amount of cable subscribers pay more for less.
Since I'm sure you're wondering, I get it because I have a cable modem and I get $10 off internet access if I get a TV package, so it's really only costing me $3.50 a month to put it on the TVs that I don't have Dish on.
With fees, it costs me about $1.25 (11.25-10.00 bundle discount, tampa8) for basic. Basic here means the locals, Discovery Channel, four PEG stations, the loveable Comcast channel and TV Guide channel to show you all the things you aren't getting. Can't forget the three or four shopping channels down low!
If you want the standard stuff (CNN, ESPN, MTV, VH1 etc.) you have to drop a little over $40/month. To be offered any premiums or PPV, you must drop at least $53/month on digital. Extra boxes are $9.95 per unit. DVR is $19.90/month (9.95+9.95). This is the world of those who live on the North side of the building.
Since I don't feel the need to invest in the fast changing technology, I went for the Dish Digital Home Plan w/DVR. If I want to change after a year, I'm sure Comcast or DirecTV will be interested in offering me something (even if I don't have a Dish dish to surrender).
With fees, it costs me about $1.25 (11.25-10.00 bundle discount, tampa8) for basic. Basic here means the locals, Discovery Channel, four PEG stations, the loveable Comcast channel and TV Guide channel to show you all the things you aren't getting. Can't forget the three or four shopping channels down low!
If you want the standard stuff (CNN, ESPN, MTV, VH1 etc.) you have to drop a little over $40/month. To be offered any premiums or PPV, you must drop at least $53/month on digital. Extra boxes are $9.95 per unit. DVR is $19.90/month (9.95+9.95). This is the world of those who live on the North side of the building.
Since I don't feel the need to invest in the fast changing technology, I went for the Dish Digital Home Plan w/DVR. If I want to change after a year, I'm sure Comcast or DirecTV will be interested in offering me something (even if I don't have a Dish dish to surrender).
Harsh, that pretty much mirrors the way it works with Charter and TWC that I have seen. What is decribed above for $13.50 is not the going rate, if it were, Dish and Dirctv probably would have never made it. We can get the locals and public interest plus maybe a Discovery channel also for about $5.00 if you get cable internet. But anything more and it starts around $32 with the internet discount. Again to be clear I believe it happens I don't question the poster's honesty. I just think it must be a limited time and or a very unusual situation.
Also, with DSL being so much less than Cable internet (at least with SBC DSL in Connnecticut) you may no longer be getting such a great deal with cable internet and reduced progamming costs.
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