How Much for What?!
If you subscribe to cable TV, you’ve likely been surprised at least once by how expensive it can be. It’s not that it’s just expensive—it’s that it’s shockingly expensive when compared to how much you were originally told it would cost. How can that be?
It’s because of all the extra fees that get added to the total.
A 2019 study from Consumer Reports indicates that company-imposed fees add as much as 24% to your bill over the advertised price. Furthermore, the study makes clear that the cable industry exacts nearly $450 each year per customer from these company-imposed fees.
Where does the money go?
Here’s a brief list of some of the extra fees you might expect to see added onto your cable bill:
- Local franchise fees to support the Universal Service Fund
- E-911 support
- Local public, education and government channels (mandated by the 1992 Cable Act)
- Broadcast TV fee that cable companies charge in order to deliver local ABC, CBS, Fox and NBC channels
- Regional sports fee cable companies charge to bring you sports programming
- Rental fees for using cable boxes
Some claim that many of these fees are desperate attempts to revive a dying industry as customers increasingly choose to cut the cord. In fact, these extra fees may be a good argument for making the switch today.
How much can you save by cutting the cord?
If you’re currently paying $100 or more per month for satellite or cable TV service, it means you’re spending at least $1200 per year on the things you love to watch. You might be surprised at how much you can get for a fraction of that amount by subscribing to the most popular streaming services. For instance, it would cost you less than $300 (at today’s rates) to subscribe to Amazon, Netflix, and Hulu for a year—that’s a savings of $900 annually! Throw in a few of your favorite sports and entertainment options and you’d still be saving a bundle.
Even better, you’d be able to watch what you want when you want and where you want on your mobile phone, tablet, PC, laptop, or Smart TV. It doesn’t get better than that!
Is cutting the cord right for you?
At Horizon, we’d be happy to discuss whether cutting the cord is the best option for you.
Contact the friendly, hometown staff at contact us with your questions. We’d love to hear from you.