Spectrum is once again cutting costs on its cable TV service by removing channels. Last year, Spectrum removed multiple cable networks owned by Disney, including FXX and Disney XD. Now Spectrum is cutting some locals in some areas to cut costs.
According to reports, Spectrum customers in the Rochester area of New York will lose access to some locals that Spectrum considered redundant. These channels include WSYR, WROC, and WBGT CD. According to a statement to the Democrat & Chronicle Spectrum is removing duplicate out-of-market network affilaites instead only offering in-market networks as marked by Nielsen. Some channels started to go dark yesterday and others will go dark next month.
This move would help Sepctrum reduce its costs by paying these locals less money by not offering them outside of their core markets. Cord Cutters News has reached out to Charter Spectrum’s parent company to find out if other markets will also be hit by these changes.
This comes as Spectrum has not only dropped channels over the last year but also increased the price of its TV service twice.
The cable company, owned by Charter Communications, sent a notification to some customers warning them of the increase. Noteworthy is another increase to the Spectrum Internet Assist, which is the company’s low-income affordable internet program. It will go up by 25% to $24.99 a month. The company confirmed the increases to Cord Cutters News, and said they would take effect on customer statements beginning January 30.
“We have taken a stand for a new, customer-focused model that provides more value and choice for video entertainment when negotiating all of our programming agreements,” said a Charter spokesman. “Despite these ongoing efforts, programmers continually raise fees for their content, which are passed through as increased fees to viewers and drive higher costs across the entire industry.”
The increase comes after 2023 saw a wave of price hikes across the board, with streaming services and cable TV companies alike charging more amid inflation. In July, Spectrum raised the price of its TV, internet and phone services, with phone and internet going up by $5 a month each. At the time, it also blamed programming costs for the increase.
Spectrum said the broadcast TV surcharge, which just went up by $1 in July, will increase from $23.20 to $25.75 a month. The fee to rent an HD Box will increase from $10.99 to $12.50 a month. The charge for Advanced WiFi will increase by $2 to $7 a month. Its Entertainment View and Latino View packages will each increase by $3 to $15 a month.
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