grundle

Comcast has a new tier of service called "Digital Economy." It's $40 a month, and includes a lot of great channels like Discovery, Animal Planet, Cartoon Network, Disney, USA, and Spike, but doesn't have MTV, Nickelodeon, ESPN, on demand, pay per view, and a few other things.

The Bus

It's not a new tier. It's the new price for the $20 tier.

Chew

So, they double the current price and call it "Economy"?

grundle

I don't think the $20 tier has all those channels.

Jimmy James

It sounds like the $20 tier for the digital era.

fujishig

Geez, 40 bucks is now considered the economy package, before you even factor in taxes and equipment rentals?

On a side note, I hate how the cable companies like to hide the fact that you can get a minimum tier of cable service from them... they never advertise it, but they are forced to have it by the government.

Fielding Mellish

Comcast is exploiting the digital changeover, by jacking rates across the board.

Utterly shameless.

marty888

I'm sure there's going to be a lot or pricing "adjustments" in the next few months. Fortunately, Time-Warner of NYC had a special program that did a 2-year price lock at slightly less than their current prices. (If you quit them before the two years, I think you are billed for the difference.)

Ranger

That offer is an insult.

ANDREMIKE

I hate comcast,,, their evil... yet I still have them.. I wish their were other alternatives other the Satelite..

al_bundy

i doubt they are being nice

FIOS is already in large parts of NYC and TWC is trying to lock customers in. Once FIOS gets to my building i'm dumping TWC

fujishig

For years, wasn't one of the main "benefits" that cable touted that you weren't locked into a contract like satellite?

Of course, one of their other benefits was that you don't need a separate box for every tv, but now that they're moving everything to digital tiers, that's not true now either, right?

The Bus

It did, because I used to have it. Then they changed it to a $70+ tier but kept me at $40 until I could "acclimate myself" to the higher price.

Also, there's no $40 tier:

The Bus

The alternative is no TV.

Red Dog

I assume this is their answer to calls for a la carte. I can see some opting for this kind of package if they don't care for sports.

GoldenJCJ

I've never really had a problem with Comcast. Sure I'd like my bill to be about $30 lower a month but I have HD, DVR, on demand, and Internet included in my service so I'm getting a good amount for my money.

Additionally, something I just found out the other day is that with Comcast Internet you get McAfee Security ($120+ value) for free. Kinda cool.

TheMovieman

Actually, Qwest Internet offers the same thing...

calhoun07

I can't say I disagree, but I can't say I don't see the same from Time Warner or AT&T, at least in my area, and just gaging from people I know who use those other two services.

In my area, it's either Comcast or a dish type service.

calhoun07

Ahem...



The main reason I don't cut the Comcast cord cold turkey is because I LOVE my broadband connection. I may think it's a tad over priced, but I just cannot bear to think of returning to DSL. If I was forced to due to economic reasons, I would, but for now I am sticking with broadband.

For TV, all I get from Comcast is just the local channels. I thought about getting the digital conversion box, but if I dumped the local channels then the price of my broadband by itself would go up to the same price I am paying for broadband and the local channels.

Red Dog

Do you actually subscribe to the barebone local service or does it automatically come through your outlets with your broadband subscription? Do you get the local HDs too?

What is your cost?

calhoun07

I guess it just automatically comes. I don't have an HD TV so I don't really pay attention/know a whole lot about that aspect of it. It's about $60.00 a month...maybe a little less. My last bill with taxes and fees was $61.00.