Latest Rate Increases: Dish vs. Cable

[jdmart]

Dish's latest rate increase averaged less than the inflation rate while Cable's more than doubled again. The FCC commented today:

Cable Rates Rose 5.1 Pct in Latest Year-FCC
Wed Jan 28, 4:26 PM ET
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - "Prices for cable television in the United States rose 5.1 percent in the year ended June 30, 2003, more than twice the rate of inflation, the Federal Communications Commission (news - web sites) said on Wednesday.

The annual report, required by Congress, also showed satellite television services adding customers faster than cable operators.

The jump in cable prices was more than two-and-a-half times the general inflation rate, which rose 2.1 percent over the same period. In the prior 12 months, cable rates had skyrocketed 6.3 percent while inflation rose 1.1 percent.

Satellite television providers like EchoStar Communications Corp. and DirecTV saw a 12.1 percent increase in subscribers, to 20.4 million up from 18.2 million, while cable companies added about 1.7 million customers, according to the FCC (news - web sites). The report does not examine satellite television prices."

[Dave]

Dish's latest rate increase averaged less than the inflation rate while Cable's more than doubled again. The FCC commented today:

Cable Rates Rose 5.1 Pct in Latest Year-FCC
Wed Jan 28, 4:26 PM ET
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - "Prices for cable television in the United States rose 5.1 percent in the year ended June 30, 2003, more than twice the rate of inflation, the Federal Communications Commission (news - web sites) said on Wednesday.

The annual report, required by Congress, also showed satellite television services adding customers faster than cable operators.

The jump in cable prices was more than two-and-a-half times the general inflation rate, which rose 2.1 percent over the same period. In the prior 12 months, cable rates had skyrocketed 6.3 percent while inflation rose 1.1 percent.

Satellite television providers like EchoStar Communications Corp. and DirecTV saw a 12.1 percent increase in subscribers, to 20.4 million up from 18.2 million, while cable companies added about 1.7 million customers, according to the FCC (news - web sites). The report does not examine satellite television prices."


It doesn't say anything about satellite price increases. In reality Dish's price for the At-150 with all the Movie channels went up about 3%. Which is more than the inflation rate. You could say closer to 4% because the all in one pack went up $ 3.00. :nono2:

[jdmart]

I agree. I'm sure Charlie was multiplying the large number of customers with just AT50/locals (no increase) and AT100 with locals (1-cent increase) and averaging it in with fewer people who have the AEP (up $3) and other packages.

[ypsiguy]

Cable can raise their rates all they want, the exodus will continue. I went to Dish to obtain a better channel selection and package variety. I get quite a few more channels on Dish that Comcrap doesnt offer in their basic digital and pay about the same price as I would for their barebone digital basic. Picture quality is generally better on Dish as well.

[DarrellP]

And don't forget the "VOD" fee if you lucky people bought a new "DVR".

[DS0816]

Cable rates have been more rapid and unreasonably paced. Prices go nowhere but up. And cable also has the tacked-on franchise fees and miscellaneous telecommunications charges (which I consider more layered-upon-layered add-ons). And cable even charges for remote controls for rental boxes. Cable has the strength of broadband but is still terrible at meeting customer's modern-day programming demands -- like ownership rather than their archaic policy of rental-only of their converter boxes -- and they have a long way to go. People are conditioned to have cable moreso than satellite, but in this day and age I derive great pleasure seeing the cable companies worrying over their monopolies -- and their cozy contracts of exclusivity within various regions of this country. Ah, yes, having choice is excellent.