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Hmm. I use mostly netflix and other streaming content almost exclusively. I wonder how many people like myself still pay for cable TV simply because the cost of

Hmm. I use mostly netflix and other streaming content almost exclusively. I wonder how many people like myself still pay for cable TV simply because the cost of internet by itself is more than the same internet plus cable TV. I can't remember the last time I actually watched television.

freehunter 11y ago
I've heard that for more than five years, and I've checked with Comcast, AT&T, and Charter in multiple cities in multiple states and I've never seen this be the case. I wish I could save money by bundling, but bundling for me always makes the Internet cheaper but the total cost is more than Internet without the discount. -edit: I reread this and it looks like I'm doubting you: I'm not. I just have never seen it personally, and it sounds like a great problem to have, from my standpoint :)
- Retra 11y ago
  It's not a good problem, it means they are over-charging you for internet, which feels very shady and exploitative.
  - Zelphyr 11y ago
    They are over-charging us for Internet. Comcast's margins on Internet alone are 90%[1]. [1] My brother-in-law works there. He also confirmed that they actually have the capacity to deliver several hundred megabit to most households. They just don't because they can get away with delivering 50 megabit for $70/month since their competitors are the telco's which have significantly more regulation than Comcast.
    - woobar 11y ago
      Good examples are Google Fiber cities. Once Google announced the _intention_ to come to our city, Time Warner promised to increase our speeds 5-10 times w/o price change within a few months.
  - freehunter 11y ago
    Yes, but if it's going to cost $50/mo no matter what, I'll take the package where it only costs me $45/mo. It's not like I have the ability to say "your Internet prices are too high, can you lower them?" So I'm stuck with whatever pricing they offer me, and lower is better no matter what.
- chestervonwinch 11y ago
  Maybe my first statement wasn't clear. With TV+internet my cost is ~$85 / mo. With just the same internet, my cost would be ~$90 / mo. So yes, with the bundle the internet alone is cheaper if you divide the costs. However, I don't see it this way because I don't use the other service (TV). I see this as Comcast saying they're going to take $100 / mo from me no matter what. Suppose you go to a taco truck. They tell you can purchase tacos together with a burrito full of hair for $8. On the other hand, you can purchase just the tacos for $10. Naturally, you buy just the tacos and toss the hair burrito in the trash. However, you can't help but wonder if the truck is only selling the hair burritos simply because they have so much invested in hair burrito production and infrastructure, not because of the public demand for hair burritos.
  - freehunter 11y ago
    Yeah I understood correctly. Internet+TV is cheaper than just Internet. I was just saying that the only way I've ever seen it offered to me is Internet is $50 alone or $40 with TV, and then TV is $40 on top of that. The only packages I've ever been offered, TV+Internet is always more expensive than just Internet alone. I would love to have a hair burrito if the tacos were cheaper, because I never have the option to go to another taco stand.
squeaky-clean 11y ago
Count me in as another one of those. I can't get the top tier AT&T offers my neighborhood (which is still only 12down/1.5up) without the cable package.
mlrtime 11y ago
cable companies will offer require a STB with an additional fee, that bundle will add up quickly. You can always ask for a cable card and not use it though.

freehunter 11y ago

I've heard that for more than five years, and I've checked with Comcast, AT&T, and Charter in multiple cities in multiple states and I've never seen this be the case. I wish I could save money by bundling, but bundling for me always makes the Internet cheaper but the total cost is more than Internet without the discount. -edit: I reread this and it looks like I'm doubting you: I'm not. I just have never seen it personally, and it sounds like a great problem to have, from my standpoint :)

Retra 11y ago
It's not a good problem, it means they are over-charging you for internet, which feels very shady and exploitative.
- Zelphyr 11y ago
  They are over-charging us for Internet. Comcast's margins on Internet alone are 90%[1]. [1] My brother-in-law works there. He also confirmed that they actually have the capacity to deliver several hundred megabit to most households. They just don't because they can get away with delivering 50 megabit for $70/month since their competitors are the telco's which have significantly more regulation than Comcast.
  - woobar 11y ago
    Good examples are Google Fiber cities. Once Google announced the _intention_ to come to our city, Time Warner promised to increase our speeds 5-10 times w/o price change within a few months.
- freehunter 11y ago
  Yes, but if it's going to cost $50/mo no matter what, I'll take the package where it only costs me $45/mo. It's not like I have the ability to say "your Internet prices are too high, can you lower them?" So I'm stuck with whatever pricing they offer me, and lower is better no matter what.
chestervonwinch 11y ago
Maybe my first statement wasn't clear. With TV+internet my cost is ~$85 / mo. With just the same internet, my cost would be ~$90 / mo. So yes, with the bundle the internet alone is cheaper if you divide the costs. However, I don't see it this way because I don't use the other service (TV). I see this as Comcast saying they're going to take $100 / mo from me no matter what. Suppose you go to a taco truck. They tell you can purchase tacos together with a burrito full of hair for $8. On the other hand, you can purchase just the tacos for $10. Naturally, you buy just the tacos and toss the hair burrito in the trash. However, you can't help but wonder if the truck is only selling the hair burritos simply because they have so much invested in hair burrito production and infrastructure, not because of the public demand for hair burritos.
- freehunter 11y ago
  Yeah I understood correctly. Internet+TV is cheaper than just Internet. I was just saying that the only way I've ever seen it offered to me is Internet is $50 alone or $40 with TV, and then TV is $40 on top of that. The only packages I've ever been offered, TV+Internet is always more expensive than just Internet alone. I would love to have a hair burrito if the tacos were cheaper, because I never have the option to go to another taco stand.

squeaky-clean 11y ago

Count me in as another one of those. I can't get the top tier AT&T offers my neighborhood (which is still only 12down/1.5up) without the cable package.

mlrtime 11y ago

cable companies will offer require a STB with an additional fee, that bundle will add up quickly. You can always ask for a cable card and not use it though.