The average household now pays more for cable package than utility bills combined

[Shawn Knight]

The big picture: Of particular interest was the realization of how relatively expensive a cable bill is compared to a household’s size. For example, utility bills are going to be much more expensive in a large home with 10 family members versus a single living in a one-bedroom apartment but the cable bill won’t vary all that much.

The average household now pays more for their cable package than they do for most of their household utilities combined. According to a new report out today from DecisionData.org, the average household cable package is $217.42 per month. By comparison, the average household pays just $205.50 per month for electricity, gas, sewer, water and garbage collection services combined.

The report doesn’t mention it explicitly, but seems to suggest that the cost of Internet service is also factored into the “cable package” it speaks of.

Those looking to lower their monthly cable bill have a few options worth exploring.

First and foremost, make sure you are on a promotional rate. Anytime my promo rate for my Internet connection expires, I hop on the phone and ask to speak to a customer retention specialist. I’ve never been turned down when asking for a new promo rate here.

It may also be a good idea to shop different providers, especially if you aren’t 100 percent happy with your current service. This isn’t an option for everyone but if you have multiple providers vying for your dollars, see who can offer you the best deal.

Last but certainly not least, reevaluate your needs / wants. Do you really watch all of those channels you get access to? Perhaps a cheaper bundle could be the answer, or maybe it’s time to ditch cable entirely and try a streaming service or two?

Masthead credit: Bill shock by Tyshchenko Photography.

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https://www.techspot.com/news/84342-average-household-now-pays-more-cable-package-than.html

 

[ShagnWagn]

"Anytime my promo rate for my Internet connection expires, I hop on the phone"

This shouldn't need to happen. It's a complete waste of time and resources. The whole concept of needing to call and say "please don't rip me off" is terrible. Not only do they have to pay for more phone support reps, but you have angry customers, too. They also don't tell you the "promotional" rate expired until a month or two after the increased bill comes in. In the case of AT&T, they just stop sending you bills so you forget about it and they try to slam you with huge late fees. All for their love of money.

I feel sorry for anyone still being taken advantage of like this.

 

[bviktor]

I simply don't get the concept of cable TV. The only time I paid for it was when my ex insisted on how awesome VH1 and cable news were... She watched it like 30 minutes a week, money well spent. At one point in my life (uni), when they set up my new Internet connection in my parents' flat, the cable guy even insisted on installing TV illegally for free, because he "won't tell", and it was almost impossible to explain that free or not, I simply don't need it.

I'd like to say I only watch Netflix/Hulu/Prime/whatever, but the reality of it is, all of those are crippled at best, especially in my country. If you want to watch anything not so mainstream/recent, you're out of luck, not gonna happen.

In any case, cable/net are definitely ridiculously overpriced in the US. Here I pay around $8 (before taxes) for my 1000/300 Mbps connection. Without a data cap. Without any contract, I can cancel anytime without fees. No, I'm not kidding.

 

[CharmsD]

...reevaluate your needs / wants. Do you really watch all of those channels you get access to? Perhaps a cheaper bundle could be the answer, or maybe it’s time to ditch cable entirely and try a streaming service or two?

What is a streaming service anyway? A subscription account with somethunk likea NetFick or SpottedFly, is that right?

I can get 99 channels with the fastest internet included and pay one bill. Y'all can sign up for 99999 STREAMERS and still have to pay the internet bill.

 

[CharmsD]

I pay around $8 (before taxes) for my 1000/300 Mbps connection. Without a data cap.Without any contract, I can cancel anytime without fees. No, I'm not kidding.

The US doesn't have 'free' for $8 monthly internet service providers.

 

[TomSEA]

I was going to call b.s. on the cable tv is more than utilities claim until I got thinking about it. Average-wise annually, my combined utilities are probably a little less than my cable bill. But during the winter, they're definitely higher.

I laugh at people who claim that they're saving brazillions of dollars by "cutting the cord." Once you pay for the Internet package, and then sign up for 2-3 different services to get everything you want to see - sports, Game of Thrones, etc, you're paying the same damn amount as a cable service. Only difference is, I have one bill to pay while cord cutters have 4 or 5. In the end, we're all getting the same thing.

 

[psycros]

Americans have been the most exploited consumers on Earth for over forty years now, partly because we're one of the few nations that doesn't artificially devalue its currency but also because our elected leaders are allowed to have large interests in the same industries they create policy for. With a few exceptions they can even be involved in managing those those companies while in office. Its known as the revolving door of the ruling class.

 

[psycros]

I laugh at people who claim that they're saving brazillions of dollars by "cutting the cord." Once you pay for the Internet package, and then sign up for 2-3 different services to get everything you want to see - sports, Game of Thrones, etc, you're paying the same damn amount as a cable service. Only difference is, I have one bill to pay while cord cutters have 4 or 5. In the end, we're all getting the same thing.

That's not quite the case yet but we're getting there. I personally know several people who are saving about 40-50 a month on Internet + streaming versus regular cable. The problem is that almost every company will charge whatever the market will bear and with the unfettered consolidation of the entertainment industry the greed just grows unchecked.

 

[mctommy]

[Seattle suburb] I pay $80/month flat for 200mb/down through Comcast. No DSL competitor (can't match the speed) so I have zero leverage to negotiate lower pricing. I don't "pay" for any tv services - my netflix is free through t-mobile (I do get charged $2 for the family upgrade) and I have amazon prime video from having prime.

I also have 2 antennas for OTA channels.

 

[plplplpl]

What's cable?

Oh right, it was pretty cool in the '70s when we only had OTA rabbit ears and dial phones. I used to pay through the nose for that back in the day.

Now for less I've got more thanks to unlimited internet and... OTA.

 

[CharmsD]

[QUOTE="TomSEA, post: 1804725, member: 208423] ...people who claim that they're saving brazillions of dollars by "cutting the cord." Once you pay for the Internet package, and then sign up for 2-3 different services to get everything you want to see - sports, Game of Thrones, etc, you're paying the same damn amount as a cable service. Only difference is, I have one bill to pay while cord cutters have 4 or 5. In the end, we're all getting the same thing. [/QUOTE]

Sports, drag racing, NASCAR, movies will eat a hole in the bank account. Once the suckers get a $50 /month plan there are 1000 more waiting to sign them up. Buying tv service and claiming it's "cheap" is like a drug for some people.

 

[Str8Shot]

Americans have been the most exploited consumers on Earth for over forty years now, partly because we're one of the few nations that doesn't artificially devalue its currency but also because our elected leaders are allowed to have large interests in the same industries they create policy for. With a few exceptions they can even be involved in managing those those companies while in office. Its known as the revolving door of the ruling class.

Very well said.

 

[VitalyT]

Cable TV? What cable TV? It's like from another planet to me. My monthly utility bills are about 150 euro. And I don't know anybody here who would be paying much money for TV channels. It all makes no sense.

 

[bviktor]

The US doesn't have 'free' for $8 monthly internet service providers.

I'm sorry but I don't understand.

 

[bviktor]

I was going to call b.s. on the cable tv is more than utilities claim until I got thinking about it. Average-wise annually, my combined utilities are probably a little less than my cable bill. But during the winter, they're definitely higher.

I laugh at people who claim that they're saving brazillions of dollars by "cutting the cord." Once you pay for the Internet package, and then sign up for 2-3 different services to get everything you want to see - sports, Game of Thrones, etc, you're paying the same damn amount as a cable service. Only difference is, I have one bill to pay while cord cutters have 4 or 5. In the end, we're all getting the same thing.

It's not the same thing, you watch whatever you want, whenever you want. Also, more importantly, no brainwashing commercials. Streaming services (like most other online stuff) usually charge your card automatically, but even if not, I don't think clicking on that "Pay" button is that hard, even if 4 or 5 times.

 

[BigBoomBoom]

I was going to call b.s. on the cable tv is more than utilities claim until I got thinking about it. Average-wise annually, my combined utilities are probably a little less than my cable bill. But during the winter, they're definitely higher.

I laugh at people who claim that they're saving brazillions of dollars by "cutting the cord." Once you pay for the Internet package, and then sign up for 2-3 different services to get everything you want to see - sports, Game of Thrones, etc, you're paying the same damn amount as a cable service. Only difference is, I have one bill to pay while cord cutters have 4 or 5. In the end, we're all getting the same thing.

Depends, if you use VPN it's fairly easy to get much cheaper price for stream services like Netflix. I think I pay $6/m for Netflix 4K tier, and around $2.5/m for Youtube Premium (well it's so cheap).

 

[hk2000]

I never paid for cable TV more than my utilities combined- not even half. Not sure how people actually accept it. My cable TV and internet combined is around $95, and that's the highest it's ever been. My utilities on average are around $250. If I only paid for Comcast broadband, and subscribed to all the streaming options necessary to have all the channel I now get with Comcast, it would add up to over $150. As far as I'm concerned , there is no alternative to cable if you want live TV, except of course Antenna, but only for local broadcast.

 

[Hardware Geek]

We pay less than $100 for Netflix, Hulu, Disney+, and Internet combined. Still more than I'd like to be paying but it is still less expensive than the basic internet & cable package with far more programming that we actually watch so overall it's a better experience for us. I'd drop Hulu but my wife prefers it and she could live without Netflix but I use that more. Disney is better than I expected it to be and we didn't plan on keeping it but it has become one of the household favorites with great content that we can watch with the kids.

 

[CharmsD]

I'm sorry but I don't understand.

Not at all suprising.

 

[Aries Lyon]

That's ridiculously expensive for entertainment, when compared to a $60 game that nets you hundred of hours of entertainment, or spotify, or even youtube which is free. Over here I pay about $30 for 1Gbps up/down and that's pretty much all I need

 

[wiyosaya]

I’ve never been turned down when asking for a new promo rate here.

You must not have Spectrum.

We pay less than $100 for Netflix, Hulu, Disney+, and Internet combined. Still more than I'd like to be paying but it is still less expensive than the basic internet & cable package with far more programming that we actually watch so overall it's a better experience for us. I'd drop Hulu but my wife prefers it and she could live without Netflix but I use that more. Disney is better than I expected it to be and we didn't plan on keeping it but it has become one of the household favorites with great content that we can watch with the kids.

Same here except without Disney+. We pay $65/mo - including internet. In the not too distant future, we will have fiber - at $5 more per month than our current promo rate through Spectrum.

@Shawn Knight IMO, all articles like this should suggest OTA as an alternative - even if people need to buy an antenna.

 

[wiyosaya]

I never paid for cable TV more than my utilities combined- not even half. Not sure how people actually accept it. My cable TV and internet combined is around $95, and that's the highest it's ever been. My utilities on average are around $250. If I only paid for Comcast broadband, and subscribed to all the streaming options necessary to have all the channel I now get with Comcast, it would add up to over $150. As far as I'm concerned , there is no alternative to cable if you want live TV, except of course Antenna, but only for local broadcast.

Well, there's Hulu with a 24-hour delay for the things they do carry. That leaves sports for those that require sports. Personally, I don't.

 

[wiyosaya]

I'm sorry but I don't understand.

Average Internet Bill May Surprise You

The average household pays around $67 per month for internet in their home and between $35-$60 per month for mobile internet. Read on to learn more facts about the cost of using the internet.

www.creditdonkey.com

It comes down to four words in the US - greed, money, and no competition.

 

[wiyosaya]

I was going to call b.s. on the cable tv is more than utilities claim until I got thinking about it. Average-wise annually, my combined utilities are probably a little less than my cable bill. But during the winter, they're definitely higher.

I laugh at people who claim that they're saving brazillions of dollars by "cutting the cord." Once you pay for the Internet package, and then sign up for 2-3 different services to get everything you want to see - sports, Game of Thrones, etc, you're paying the same damn amount as a cable service. Only difference is, I have one bill to pay while cord cutters have 4 or 5. In the end, we're all getting the same thing.

Well, keep laughing. My wife and I simply delay gratification, and get those "must have" shows when content providers, in their unending quest for more money to siphon out of their customers, release their content on disk. Our public library system is like Netflix's disk subscription and Redbox combined, but often free and only $0.50 per disc (for a hold if our branch library does not have it on shelf) that can be renewed many times at no extra cost. We are currently working through the entire series "The Americans" that way.

 

[Gotit4cheap16]

People actually still use cable? Streaming is where its at.