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Spectrum cable television customers with Silver or Gold tiers will find two premium channels have disappeared from channel lineups, with no corresponding decrease in rates.
This hidden rate increase took effect Feb. 15 after Spectrum dropped Cinemax from its Silver and Gold packages and EPIX from its Gold package, with little explanation. Customers have been notified they can acquire these channels a-la-carte, for an additional $9.99/mo for Cinemax and $5.99/mo for EPIX.
The premium network cutbacks were originally planned to be significantly worse, however, after Charter Communications notified some customers it was also planning to delete Starz and Encore from its Gold tier, potentially making the $40 add-on not worth the price. Just days before the changes were to take effect, Charter changed its mind about Starz and Encore, allowing those channels will continue to be available as part of the Gold package.
Some customers are upset about the changes.
“It’s a hidden rate hike,” complained Lois Blumenthal. “We are still paying the same price for Silver or Gold, only getting fewer channels for it.”
Spectrum customer service appeared to be sensitive to customer complaints and threats to downgrade cable TV service, which would only increase the impact of cord-cutting. So the company is offering a hidden deal to current customers who subscribed to Silver or Gold TV tiers before Feb. 15 and who call 1-855-70-SPECTRUM to share their displeasure about the changes:
- Silver Plan customers qualify for one year of Cinemax at no charge, after which the network will cost $9.99/month.
- Gold Plan customers qualify for one year of Cinemax -and- one year of EPIX at no charge, after which Cinemax will cost $9.99/mo and EPIX will cost $5.99/mo.
Customers can ask about these promotions when they call. While no expiration date was available on these offers, it makes sense to call sooner rather than later in case they disappear.
It could have been worse. Spectrum notified many of its subscribers the premium network cutbacks originally envisioned also included Starz and Encore. Charter changed its mind, but it was too late to stop notifying some subscribers about the channel deletions.
Spectrum has adjusted its advertising:
Spectrum Silver (includes TV Select — add $20 a month)
- 175+ cable channels with FREE HD
- Includes HBO, SHOWTIME & NFL Network
- On-the-go with HBO GO, SHOWTIME ANYTIME
- Enjoy thousands of On Demand choices to watch when & where you want
- Watch on your Apple TV, Samsung Smart TV, Roku, Xbox One, tablet, smartphone or visit SpectrumTV.com
- Download 80+ network apps and take on-the-go
Spectrum Gold (includes TV Select and TV Silver — add $40 a month)
- 200+ cable channels with FREE HD
- Includes HBO, SHOWTIME, STARZ, TMC, ENCORE, NFL Network & NFL Redzone
- Enjoy thousands of On Demand choices to watch when & where you want
- Watch on your Apple TV, Samsung Smart TV, Roku, Xbox One, tablet, smartphone or visit SpectrumTV.com
- Download 80+ network apps and take on-the-go
For all Spectrum customers, the cost of adding most premium add-on channels a-la-carte (without a promotion) decreased effective Feb. 15:
- HBO remains unchanged at $15/mo
- Showtime remains unchanged at $15/mo
- Starz was $15, decreasing to $9.99
- Encore was $15, decreasing to $5.99
- Cinemax was $15, decreasing to $9.99
- TMC was $15, decreasing to $9.99
- EPIX was $15, decreasing to $5.99
Crooks!!!!
Spectrum is not like time Warner cable. Spectrum does not work with consumers at all. If you ask for help to lower bill. They said we can take a tier away. When Time Warner was around they work with consumers. By lowing the price not cut out tiers. Spectrum is a ripped off to consumers. We need another cable company. They take way channel. They should lower the price. Not make rates go higher.
Spectrum has for ever been increasing it’s monthly payments. Service is of a poor quality. They sold intelligent home security equipment, knowing full well equipment was of a poor quality, and that the service was preplanned to terminate. It will in February 2020. The channels offered are repeated two to three times to make channel choices appear to be many. Manfacturing the fake image of many channels for your buck.
We are paying over $200. A month and downgraded us with no discount!
Another crooked company greedy with very little value these days. they give you 20 plus channels of music Spanish etc that you do not need or use but refuse to give you what you want for your money
Who is more likely to eventually make it to heaven, a low level Nazi or a Spectrum executive? My money’s on the Nazi, his sins are in the past while the execs are still mounting.
All of a sudden we no longer have the channels we were paying for with Spectrum. They just hung up when we asked about NBC Sports Gold cycling? They are becoming expensive and I will probably be canceling the service as I have access to television with Amazon Prime.