Approximately 94 million people in the United States watch satellite and cable television, but they are now being forced to abandon cable TV owing to repeated price increases over time. According to government data, TV service rates have risen twice as quickly as inflation over the last ten years. Furthermore, another data provider organization has shown that the bills have increased by 53% since 2007, to $100.98 in 2017.
TV service providers, on the other hand, blame the prices they must pay to network corporations to transmit the channels. The rates that cable providers must pay to network firms have grown 2.5 times, putting an additional burden on service users, i.e. customers. Meanwhile, network corporations are facing rising costs as they are required to invest more money, particularly in sports, where they must pay big sums of money to sports leagues that create high viewership.
The reason for the price increase, in my opinion, is that we don’t simply get cable TV from our providers. Instead, we receive internet, phone, and television services bundled together, which can be pricey. There are few options in the United States as well. Depending on the location, we only have a few providers. They are Comcast, Xfinity, and Verizon, and all three companies provide similar packages at similar pricing.
Spectrum TV is also one of the most popular cables and internet service providers in over forty states across the United States. Why? Mostly due to some fantastic policies:, no-contract, buyout option, free installation, amazing internet speeds, and a slew of other benefits and you can enjoy these by that come with signing up with Spectrum TV and internet packages. In order to utilize the services, the user must first have Spectrum service available in their location.
All advantages go undetected and are meaningless if the service is poor, but that department is properly taken care of, and the provider is so confident that they didn’t bother trapping their clients in a contract with a hefty termination charge. Other cable companies have also created bundles that are user-friendly across many domains, taking into account the distinct needs of various age groups, socioeconomic influence, and budget constraints.
In this post, we will try to figure out why cable services are so expensive and why people have been putting up with them for so long. So, let us have a look at all of the likely explanations for the rise in cable service in the United States:
Cable Services Require High-End Content and Infrastructure
TV service representatives place all of the blame on the fees they must pay to obtain premium channels in order to give unique material to their clients who pay a premium for it. For those who are unaware, cable providers must pay premium networks to obtain their channels and exclusive content for their customers (for which they charge an additional fee on top of their regular bill) – this adds to the costs of constructing the underground infrastructure for delivering the service to the end-users.
During this time, cable service providers are also exposed to price increases, as they must put in more funds – particularly for sports channels, where they must pay a large sum to sports leagues.
Bundle deals vs. stand-alone services
When we consider the rising costs of cable TV services, cord cord-cutting may appear to be a solution to this problem, but it is not. Customers are often enticed to bundle their services by offering them discounted prices, which can save them up to $200-$300 each year. Because you are getting three services in one package, and if you choose the provider’s basic internet package, the standalone internet will be more expensive than the one included in the deal.
Similarly, if we make a compromise and choose packages with fewer data, the internet speed will be inadequate to use Netflix or other online services. Many people are working from home as a result of Covid-19, and having the fastest internet connection is a must to stay connected with the workforce and keep the momentum rolling – but not at a cost.
Wrapping up
In general, there is little competition between cable TV and the internet in the United States. Because there is less competition, they do not evolve, improvise, or develop. However, cable companies are pulling their socks up now, as the cord-cutting movement continues to grow – thanks to popular streaming services that do not bind their consumers to any contracts and do not require them to break their leg to access their services.
Cable services provide access to hundreds of channels that are not available through satellite or streaming alternatives. DVR, extra features, a single bill for numerous services, rapid customer assistance through different channels, and much more have been invested and constructed to delight customers and make their experience as fluid and as smooth as possible. Everything involves expenses, some of which are one-time but the majority of which are ongoing – all of which add up to the overall cable bill.
