One reason people switch from cable to satellite is for the deal that new customers receive. But now that satellite TV has become a fairly mature market, turnabout is fair play and there are tons of cable TV deals for someone who is either a first time or returning customer. Is a cable deal the right move? What sort of questions should you ask before jumping ship and going to the local cable television company?
Cable TV companies have become as aggressive as satellite operators over the past few years. Cable advertisements bombard your television set, your mailbox, and billboards in communities across the United States, and with good reason. If the cable company has you tied into a triple play bundle of services at $150 a month, that represents $1,800 a year in revenue from just one subscriber. If that customer uses satellite TV service plus the local phone company for dialtone and internet, the cable company makes absolutely nothing from that household. So its in their interest to offer you a cable TV promotion up front in hopes you stay with them for years, paying thousands of dollars along the way.
One of the big limitations when it comes to getting a cable television deal is of course each area is served by one cable franchise. While you can always compare DIRECTV deals and Dish Network deals and pick from the two, you will only have one cable choice. The Cox cable deals out there right now only offer discounts for three months of service, while some of the Comcast deals offer discounts for two full years if you agree to a contract. That being said, there is always the possibility of negotiating something better than current advertisements by calling up the cable company directly and allowing them to earn your business.
Now when you are offered a cable deal, here are a few things to look at. Most deals include the triple play – meaning cable TV, high speed internet, and phone service. The price for these services is deeply discounted for a period of time. So the two things to evaluate are 1) How long does the deal last? and 2) What is the price once the deal is over?
The answer to the first question is usually found in the fine print. But finding out what the regular price is may require some extra legwork. After reviewing a few cable TV deals online, they aren’t always upfront as to what the real price is for the customer. In general, most cable companies charge anywhere from 40% to 60% more for the regular cable TV package, so obviously this is a huge jump in price.
Other factors to weigh when looking at these deals include checking into the channel lineups and the level of internet service. Most deals advertised include the lower tiers of cable, along with the slower internet speeds. That way they can make the price look more attractive to the consumer. If you are looking for all inclusive channel packages, or need faster internet speeds for work or gaming, you aren’t going to get the advertised price put out by the cable company.
Overall, the deals offered by cable companies can be the right choice depending on the services you need. Just be sure to compare the bottom line prices with alternatives like satellite TV or Verizon FiOS to be sure you are not overpaying.
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