Comcast is ringing in the new year with another round of price hikes.
As reported by ArsTechnica, as of Jan. 1, a $2 increase to the company's Broadcast TV and Regional Sports Network fees will raise customer costs from $5 to $7 and $3 to $5 per month, respectively.
The controversial charges—added on top of your core TV or bundle price—amount to an extra $48 per year, per customer.
Comcast claims the fees are a way for it to recoup costs associated with network contracts. But programming charges are already passed on to consumers in their cable TV bills, so these rates are viewed as just a sneaky means of squeezing more money out of customers.
In the case of Comcast's Regional Sports Fee, for instance, folks are charged if their channel package includes any sports channel—which most do—regardless of whether they watch those channels.
Such deceptive fees form the basis of a recent class-action lawsuit claiming the company falsely advertises lower-than-actual prices, then raises costs by tacking on additional rates—which Comcast alleges are required by the government.
According to the filing, Comcast in October raised its Broadcast TV and Regional Sports Network fees to $6.50 and $4.50, respectively, in various markets. The latest $7 and $5 charges, however, were recently detailed to customers in Central New Jersey; Lake Township, Mich.; and Montgomery County, Md.
The cable operator has also introduced $5-per-month hikes in the base fees for many Xfinity and Double Play Internet and TV packages, based on customer notices posted online.
Related
- Comcast Fined $2.3M for Overcharging CustomersComcast Fined $2.3M for Overcharging Customers
Comcast did not immediately respond to PCMag's request for comment.
A company spokesman, however, told TVPredictions that "we continue to make investments in our network and technology to give customers more for their money."
"Unfortunately, the costs we are charged to carry popular networks continue to increase significantly, especially broadcast television and sports programming, which are the largest drivers of increases in price adjustments," the statement said.