Comcast offering 25Mbps Internet, local channels and HBO Go for $40

[Jos]

HBO isn’t ready to upset their lucrative distribution deals with cable providers by offering HBO Go as a standalone, online-only service. But Comcast may just have the next best thing. As reported by GigaOM, the company has begun selling a $40 ‘Internet Plus’ package comprising a 25 Mbps internet connection, a selection of 45 local channels, Comcast's streaming video service Streampix, and a subscription to HBO and HBO Go.

The service is only available in certain markets and requires no long-term contract so you can cancel anytime. There are some caveats, though. The offer is available only to new customers who sign up before January 31st, and the $40 pricing is only available for the first 12 months -- after that it will jump to $70 a month.

HBO executives have been hinting at the possibility of tying HBO Go to broadband services for months and this appears to be what they had in mind. Pricing is more or less in line with what the network’s chief executive Richard Plepler said back in March, suggesting customers could pay $50 a month for their Internet and an extra $10 or $15 for HBO to be packaged in with the service, adding that they “would have to make the math work.”

Although technically this isn’t cord cutting as you’re still getting regular HBO through a cable subscription, it certainly beats spending $100 a month or more on a full service package that bundles countless channels you don’t really care about just to gain access to a select few you routinely watch.

People have been campaigning for a la carte television programming for years -- and those living in Canada are already seeing some progress here. But while US providers may be reluctant to follow, cheaper and more flexible packages are at least a step forward. We’ll see if others follow suit.

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https://www.techspot.com/news/54463-comcast-offering-25mbps-internet-local-channels-and-hbo-go-for-40.html

 

[TomSEA]

You know what's missing in these packages? Sports programming. Without that, will be interesting to see how many of these they sell.

 

[howzz1854]

I was interested in this all the way up until "the $40 pricing is only available for the first 12 months -- after that it will jump to $70 a month."

how is that different from paying $70 for a mid tier cable package.

no thanks

 

[Guest]

"You know what's missing in these packages? Sports programming. Without that, will be interesting to see how many of these they sell"

I see it exactly the opposite way, imo most people don't want those sport channels.

 

[howzz1854]

I agree.. most of the population don't want those sports channels. most of the high cable fees are there to subsidize the expensive sports channel fees imposed by the sports networks. I think there was a in depth 20/20 coverage on that few months back.

this would be a good deal if Comcast keeps it at $40. consider that's an average internet cost for most people, but with the added incentive of HBO GO they would get a whole TON of subscribers. but now they're back at the old bate and switch model of discounted rate for 6 months, and the real full amount of fees later.

 

[TomSEA]

"You know what's missing in these packages? Sports programming. Without that, will be interesting to see how many of these they sell"

I see it exactly the opposite way, imo most people don't want those sport channels.

Sports are the most watched events on TV - by far. Especially soccer and American football. Nothing even comes close to sporting viewership and that's why the sporting cable companies can charge what they do.

I'm sure there's an audience for a non-sports package, but it's going to be in the minority for sure.

 

[howzz1854]

"You know what's missing in these packages? Sports programming. Without that, will be interesting to see how many of these they sell"

I see it exactly the opposite way, imo most people don't want those sport channels.

Sports are the most watched events on TV - by far. Especially soccer and American football. Nothing even comes close to sporting viewership and that's why the sporting cable companies can charge what they do.

I'm sure there's an audience for a non-sports package, but it's going to be in the minority for sure.

I disagree. while major sports events are generally the highest rating and most watched like Superbowl and World Series, NBA Final. sports package in general is a small percentage of general population. I wish I could find that coverage that was done a few months back by 20/20 or something. they basically broken it down. most people don't watch sports, and the real few who do, and demand for sports are getting subsidized by the rest of the population. the conclusion was that if they were to separate the sports fans who want sports package from the rest who don't want sports. the sports fans would end up paying some ridiculous amount of fees every month just to maintain the same profit that sports network is raking in. basically all the money that goes to sports channels can be traced back to the millions paid in salary to the sports players.

 

[Guest]

I see it exactly the opposite way, imo most people don't want those sport channels.

You must be living under a rock. It's common knowledge that sports commands the most viewerships than any other category. Even non-sports can easily recognize it.

 

[howzz1854]

Here are some interesting reads.

http://www.couponcabin.com/blog/cable-costs-survey/

roughly 43% of subscribers can't live without sports and won't cut cord due to sports, while 14 percent will if there's an alternative. the rest are in between. given 43% isn't exactly minority. you can't deny the fact that the rest of 57% are pretty much subsidizing for the can't live without group.

this article "sports bubble" talks about the breakdowns of how much goes into your cable bills. bottom line is Sports is a cash cow, and they're shoving down our throats, all so that you can pay for athletes ridiculous salary.

http://www.sportsonearth.com/article/53498716/

 

[amstech]

I get 2.5MBps (25Mbps) through TimeWarner, its what they like to call "Turbo". Me and the GF love to stream movies/shows all the time and its just enough, 50Mbps would be nice....or in TimeWarner language, "extreme".

all so that you can pay for athletes ridiculous salary.
http://www.sportsonearth.com/article/53498716/

Ummm put down the crack pipe. Have you seen how much they make at stadiums/games and how much apparel cost (to name a few). Plus, sports are the ****, its the only real reality television. I wish I could just choose the 50 or so channels I wanted.
If you think athlete's make too much money there is a simple solution, just go out there and do what they do better then them. Nothing to it.

 

[howzz1854]

I get 2.5MBps (25Mbps) through TimeWarner, its what they like to call "Turbo". Me and the GF love to stream movies/shows all the time and its just enough, 50Mbps would be nice....or in TimeWarner language, "extreme".

all so that you can pay for athletes ridiculous salary.
http://www.sportsonearth.com/article/53498716/

Ummm put down the crack pipe. Have you seen how much they make at stadiums/games and how much apparel cost (to name a few). Plus, sports are the ****, its the only real reality television. I wish I could just choose the 50 or so channels I wanted.
If you think athlete's make too much money there is a simple solution, just go out there and do what they do better then them. Nothing to it.

if you think star athletes salaries aren't ridiculous, I am seriously worried about your logic. tell that to the paramedics who save people's lives everyday, or the teachers who barely scrape by and having to pay out of pocket for school supplies so they can teach our next generation on how to live responsibly. there's a difference between being welled off vs ridiculous salaries. you can be the best at your job, and still won't even come close to what some of these star atheletes make. you do have one thing right... it has A LOT to do with the merchandises. go on, gobble it all up.

 

[mctommy]

I get 2.5MBps (25Mbps) through TimeWarner, its what they like to call "Turbo". Me and the GF love to stream movies/shows all the time and its just enough, 50Mbps would be nice....or in TimeWarner language, "extreme".

all so that you can pay for athletes ridiculous salary.
http://www.sportsonearth.com/article/53498716/

Ummm put down the crack pipe. Have you seen how much they make at stadiums/games and how much apparel cost (to name a few). Plus, sports are the ****, its the only real reality television. I wish I could just choose the 50 or so channels I wanted.
If you think athlete's make too much money there is a simple solution, just go out there and do what they do better then them. Nothing to it.

if you think star athletes salaries aren't ridiculous, I am seriously worried about your logic. tell that to the paramedics who save people's lives everyday, or the teachers who barely scrape by and having to pay out of pocket for school supplies so they can teach our next generation on how to live responsibly. there's a difference between being welled off vs ridiculous salaries. you can be the best at your job, and still won't even come close to what some of these star atheletes make. you do have one thing right... it has A LOT to do with the merchandises. go on, gobble it all up.

I think many CEO's are paid much more than they are actually worth... and some instances still receive money for negative performance. At least in sport, after repeated negative performance, you get the boot. CEOs on the other hand can still be rewarded by the BOD.

 

[howzz1854]

That's true too. but that's another can of worms.

 

[amstech]

aren't ridiculous, I am seriously worried about your logic. tell that to the paramedics who save people's lives everyday, or the teachers who barely scrape by and having to pay out of pocket for school supplies so they can teach our next generation on how to live responsibly. there's a difference between being welled off vs ridiculous salaries. you can be the best at your job, and still won't even come close to what some of these star atheletes make. you do have one thing right... it has A LOT to do with the merchandises. go on, gobble it all up.

Your point is valid but your guns are faced in the wrong direction. Fans and only fans pay for athletes salaries. Same goes for actors/actresses. We choose what they make based on views and popularity. And not all athletes are stinky rich either, some players in various sports don't make as much as you would think.
Your absolutely correct about other people not making what they should, but that has NOTHING to do with athletes or sports. Your attention needs to be on the corrupt system, governing bodies and corporate america, which is largely corrupt and squeezes as much juice from the middle class as they can. I gross $2500 every 2 weeks but only take home $1800, plus I pay taxes on everything I buy, plus I pay out $3000 in school/land taxes, + others. There is someone out there taking all my god damn money but it ain't athletes... and it all goes to fakers on disability, welfare and other corrupt, greedy institutions. We work for the rich and give our money to the poor.
But again, my quarrel is certainly not with overpaid athletes, unfortunately the real issues are much worse then that.

 

[howzz1854]

You made a good point.

 

[tipstir]

Comcast omitted the fees charged so in most cases our looking at $5 more on top of these prices. I could live without sport packages as the just ran up the cost of cable networks. Most of the sports on ABC, NBC, CBS, and FOX on free 1080i (720p for ABC) HDTV with 5.1 Dolby Digital Surround.

When HBO first started all you needed and dome ANT on the roof and pay less than $10 a month for the service. Didn't have all these courageous pricing for CATV packages. Service wasn't that great. Bad and use defective CATV STB with our without DVR features. Running several in the house made the electric company happier.

Sports is a huge business everyone gets their piece of the action such a racket I can do without.

 

[Trillionsin]

You know what's missing in these packages? Sports programming. Without that, will be interesting to see how many of these they sell.

..couldnt care less about sports, I'm sure there are several like myself out there.

On the other hand, I have no idea whats available on HBO and so also dont seem to be able to think of a reason to get it.

 

[Saintnsinner]

I would rather watch paint dry then watch sports on TV. Every six months I call Direct Tv and I yell at them for being too expensive and they give me a whole bunch of discounts for another six months. It's a game we play. HBO better be on notice. Netflix subscriber numbers just surpassed HBO subscriber numbers. On demand tv is the wave of the future. Get on board or get left behind HBO.

 

[Saintnsinner]

Oh and I can't help but make one more comment. If you can find people to pay you huge sums of money because you run a company or kick a ball better then anyone else then more power to you. That is free market capitalism and it's one of the reasons we are the wealthiest nation on earth. I apologize for the socialist *****s who think wealth is finite and are mad because they didn't win life's lottery. Sadly they think that fortune and opportunity are awarded to the lucky instead of hard work and sacrifice.