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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Comcast raising rates for video

Spokane customers using Comcast Corp.’s video service will see an average rate increase of 4.7 percent starting Nov. 15, the company announced.

That comes roughly two months sooner than the traditional January date the company has used in the past.

Comcast’s rates are being announced now as the cable company prepares to add new programs and a customer discount option, said company spokesman Walter Neary.

Neary said Comcast managers are not obligated to raise prices at just one time of the year.

“It makes sense to do it now,” added Neary, noting the company in November will also announce adding five high-definition TV channels later this year. One of those will broadcast NFL games.

No rate increases are planned for Comcast digital phone service or cable Internet customers, said Neary. New customers looking to buy the “triple play” option of voice, Internet and digital cable services will still pay $99 per month.

In January 2007 the average Comcast Spokane video customer saw a 6 percent increase. The company said its 2006 increase was roughly 5.5 percent for video customers.

Comcast has about 100,000 customers in the Spokane area.

The exact price change will vary with each customer’s video package. For instance those ordering the Digital Preferred Plus plan, offering more than 140 channels, will see a 4.5 percent increase to $55.94 per month.

But customers who also use a digital video recorder will also see a $2 a month raise. For Digital Preferred customers, that extra $2 raises the actual monthly increase to 7 percent, based on Comcast figures.

Customers ordering the no-frills limited basic lineup will also not see any rate increases, said Neary. That $16.49 per month plan features local TV channels and several national news and information channels.

Premium channels will also be increased in November. Channels such as HBO now priced at $15.99 per month will increase 12 percent to $17.99.

Starting later this year Comcast will introduce long-term subscriber discounts, said Neary.

Eligible customers who receive three cable services (phone, video and Internet) could qualify for a $30 monthly discount, said Neary. Those who have two services would see a discount of $20; those with one, a $10 discount. To be eligible, customers need to have subscribed to those services at least one year, said Neary.

Those discounts came from requests by long-term customers who asked to be given consideration similar to the deep discounts new subscribers get, Neary said.

Customers will get mailed notices in November explaining their discount options, Neary noted.