Time Warner Cable

Satellite TV Prices

For many people, watching TV is going to get costlier – cable and satellite TV companies are set to raise their rates this month. The big names like Time Warner Cable, DIRECTV, and Dish Network are dealing with a huge number of consumers who would rather go with cheaper online alternatives. Also, the programming costs are higher when they are carrying broadcast and sports networks.

Time Warner Cable will hike their programming fee from $2.75 to $3.75 per month, while the sports programming fee will go up by $2.25 to $5 per month. Subscribers have had a letter mailed to them about the upcoming change. The telecom company will also be raising the monthly rates for other television and equipment services.

Equipment pricing will go up too, for television packages and service fees on cable modems, digital adapters and remote control. Here is a list:

  • Starter TV goes up from $14.99 to $18
  • Variety Pass was at $7 and is set to go up to $10
  • Sports Pass climbs from $8.99 to $10
  • Movie Pass will be raised from $7.99 to $10
  • Internet modem lease will cost $10, not $8
  • Digital adapter and remote will cost a dollar extra, at $3.75
  • The price for Digital HD, DVR or HD/DVR box and remote will go up from $6.98 to $8.50

Company spokesperson Scott Pryzwansky at Time Warner Cable said in the email that went out to subscribers that this is part of an investment in company networks and equipment. Apparently, this owes to the “rapidly rising costs of programming, especially local broadcast channels and cable sports networks. Many of these changes will not affect customers who are currently receiving promotional pricing until their promotional period ends; others will take effect with January’s bills.”

Customers of the world’s second-largest cable company aren’t strangers to fee surges. For example, back in 2012, internet cable modem subscribers saw a newly implemented monthly fee to cover the rising cost of repair services. This was initially $3.95, but rose to $5.99 in 2013, $8 in 2015, and is aiming to hit $10 this year. Still, you can avoid having to pay if you bought and installed your own modem.

Cable TV and internet rates came up by an average of 6.4 percent in 2014. Another pricing included this year is the sports programming fee to help cover the charges from the sports programmers TWC deals with.