Comcast Xfinity customers can now get the Choice TV plan, which includes local channels like ABC, NBC, CBS, and Fox, for $60.40 a month, according to Philip Swann, The TV Answer Man. The Choice TV plan also includes The CW as well as antenna channels like PBS, Univision, Telemundo, TBN, QVC, and C-SPAN.
Comcast’s Choice TV plan originally cost $30 a month when it launched in 2019, but now the provider tacks on a monthly $25.50 Broadcast fee — this can vary based on your market — and $35 a month for channels, services, and equipment. If you use autopay, you can save $10, according to Swann.
This comes as local TV stations are demanding more money from cable TV providers amid a soft ad market. As a result, those providers have to hike prices, like Comcast did with its Choice TV plan. Last week, the cable TV provider also announced customers in some markets would incur price increases on TV packages, broadcast TV fees, regional sports feeds, and premium channel bundles.
The demands, along with the continued rise of cord cutting, has caused a growing number of cable companies to shut down.
For example, this past weekend, DUO Broadband said it would shutter its traditional cable TV and streaming TV services soon. The company cited “extreme price increases from programmers.”
If the local plan seems too costly, it’s worth noting that many local channels are available for free with the purchase of a TV antenna.
Swann pointed out that Comcast’s plan has some competition with YouTube TV. The live streamer offers 100 channels — plus the four major networks — for $72.99 a month. For first three months, users can get the service at a discounted rate of $50.99 a month.