Using Comedy Central to squeeze another $1 out of people

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@JaxFLCustomer5 wrote:

We just received the 'subscription required' notice for Comedy Central.  Yes...Comedy Central.  The on screen pop up states "Required Limited Basic Xfinity TV service and Box."...and that it would cost me another $1 per month.  We already have service ABOVE the on screen stated requirement.  When I called support to get this fixed...it was then called something else entirely...some form of 'additional channel pack'.  The talking points the rep was given is that this move includes CMT...which isn't true because that channel was moved to a separate sports package several months to a year ago.



We were already considering leaving Xfinity and going all in on streaming.  This move is the final straw in our decision.  I was told this is a Jacksonville market move at least for now, and I'm not sure if other markets are affected.  Comedy Central is one of our most watched channels as I'm sure it is for others.  Either it gets restored into our already OVERPRICED service or we're done.  You will not get my $1...or any of my other dollars if this isn't fixed.

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use the xfinity my account app. select the TV tab and at the top is a link to view your channel lineup. does that channel show up on the list? after answer will be able to determine next step.

Losing the "Basic" Comedy Central channel is ridiculous!!!  I can't believe this.  I may be bailing as well.

Thanks for trying to help, and I don't want to be rude since it says you're not a Comcast employee, but I think you're missing the problem.  Comedy Central is no longer included in my 'Preferred' package without me coughing up an additional $1.  I will absolutely not be downloading an app and giving Comcast any of my phone access.  The online streaming on my computer gives the same message as my TV does: "Give us $1 or take a hike".

To be clear...I went to bed with my purchased channel Comedy Central intact.  I woke up and my purchased channel had been taken from me.  When I called I was explicitly told that the Jacksonville FL market is being extorted for an additional $1 ransom to get my channel back.  It's also notable that Comedy Central is the ONLY channel in their 6 tier comparison that is only included with the 2nd lowest package and then removed from the higher priced packages...just so they can scam the higher tiered customers out of another dollar.

This is a deliberately nefarious move.  By making it $1 they believe most people will just hand it over because it's 'just $1'.  They also know that many lemmings out there will see people like myself - who are rightfully angry - as petty complainers who should just pay the dollar.  No.  Absolutely not.  Under no circumstance will they get my additional $1.  They take enough every year by jacking up the price.  It's principle and it's the final straw.

sometimes the information we receive is not correct from others. if the channel shows upin the channel lineup there is no additional charge to fix the missing channel. this may not be the case in your situation and the only way to tell is to look.

This must be on the new packages?  I still have the channel on the Signature Triple Play.  New packages have not hit this area yet.  Wish they would!!  One reason being the charge for additonal TVs are half what they are now.

This is the third channel that has been removed from the Preferred package in the last few months.  I lost CMT first, then TCM, and now Comedy Central, all without any notification or reduction in rate.  I was already looking to move to a different provider and this has moved it to the top of my priority list.  

Yea, so found this out today.

Easy solution Comcast.

I watch about 10 total channels, one of which is comedy central.
You want me to pay $1 for comedy central fine.  I will pay you $10, $1 for each of the channels that I watch and you cut the 130+ channels I don't watch at a rate of $1 a channel.

Problem solved.

Have been conteplating leaving for streaming services for a while, this might just do it.

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Easy solution Comcast.

I watch about 10 total channels, one of which is comedy central.
You want me to pay $1 for comedy central fine.  I will pay you $10, $1 for each of the channels that I watch and you cut the 130+ channels I don't watch at a rate of $1 a channel.

Problem solved

Except that it works both ways. Suppose 95% of the Xfinity customers don't watch Comedy Central. In order for Comedy Central to make as much money as it was when it was part of a package, it would have to raise its rate from $1/month per subscriber to $20/month per person that actually wanted it. This is probably the main reason you can't "pick and choose" channels like that.

Of course, no one would pay $20/month for Comedy Central; the channel would have to try to find the "sweet spot" where the number of viewers multiplied by the amount is maximized. However, if that is still less than what it needs to stay in business, then it goes out of business, or goes into a "strictly streaming" solution - and quite a few channels in the same situation would follow it.

i have no problem them pricing the channels and creating bit more options for selecting packages this way. what i DO have a problem with is its part of channel lineup and clearly part of their advertised bundles that we get this channel. 

i explictly asked about this and handful of other channels when selecting the right package and ended with needing the preferred 220+ channels bundle.  

now this is not enough and its actually likely i could had picked a lesser package and added the +1 dollar fee for comedy central and get what i wanted. 

what makes me upset is these lineup changes that voids anything you can get via conversation with an agent or via the line up descriptions when setting up a 2y contracts (as i did).

feels like bait and switch.

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@angrycustomer24 wrote:

i have no problem them pricing the channels and creating bit more options for selecting packages this way. what i DO have a problem with is its part of channel lineup and clearly part of their advertised bundles that we get this channel. 

 

i explictly asked about this and handful of other channels when selecting the right package and ended with needing the preferred 220+ channels bundle.  

 

now this is not enough and its actually likely i could had picked a lesser package and added the +1 dollar fee for comedy central and get what i wanted. 

 

what makes me upset is these lineup changes that voids anything you can get via conversation with an agent or via the line up descriptions when setting up a 2y contracts (as i did).

 

feels like bait and switch.

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Like customer contracts that expire so do contracts Comcast holds with stations and networks, most requiring negotiations for carriage licenses.  While it always feels as though Comcast is trying to bilk more money out of customers in all actuality Comcast tries to hold down costs to customers when in negotiations.  If they feel that a network or station is asking too much or that the offer isn't reasonable, negotiations sometimes will fall through and that particular station or network is dropped from the lineup.  It's not bait and switch.  Contracts come up monthly for various networks and stations and premiums and Comcast works in good faith to retain them.  In all honesty, though, prices go up and have to be passed along at some point.

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@Again wrote:

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@angrycustomer24 wrote:

i have no problem them pricing the channels and creating bit more options for selecting packages this way. what i DO have a problem with is its part of channel lineup and clearly part of their advertised bundles that we get this channel. 

 

i explictly asked about this and handful of other channels when selecting the right package and ended with needing the preferred 220+ channels bundle.  

 

now this is not enough and its actually likely i could had picked a lesser package and added the +1 dollar fee for comedy central and get what i wanted. 

 

what makes me upset is these lineup changes that voids anything you can get via conversation with an agent or via the line up descriptions when setting up a 2y contracts (as i did).

 

feels like bait and switch.

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Like customer contracts that expire so do contracts Comcast holds with stations and networks, most requiring negotiations for carriage licenses.  While it always feels as though Comcast is trying to bilk more money out of customers in all actuality Comcast tries to hold down costs to customers when in negotiations.  If they feel that a network or station is asking too much or that the offer isn't reasonable, negotiations sometimes will fall through and that particular station or network is dropped from the lineup.  It's not bait and switch.  Contracts come up monthly for various networks and stations and premiums and Comcast works in good faith to retain them.  In all honesty, though, prices go up and have to be passed along at some point.

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That's all fine and dandy but when you remove channels without prior notice to the customer and don't offer a viable solution/replacement or discount, it's bad business practice. FireStick is looking very good right now. I've been fleeced by this shady company long enough.

hi

prices change. i do get that but it didnt happen overnight and likely also not just in jacksonville this is the case. this would be a global contract  with viacom and affect all markets and all bundles.

however they just yanked it from the higher tier packages and only in the jacksonville area so far.

makes NO sense how this was done and (not) communicated up front. i seen no notice on bills or information push about this was planned to happen as we seen with other channel changes (starz/cinemax,...)

EDIT *trying to show screenshot of lineup but seems to not display, least for me*

TOTALLY UNSATISFACTORY Comcast! Bad move... You can not just remove programs that we have already paid for in our premium package. Restore the channels you have unilaterally removed with no notice and no reduction in price. I thought I would never see the day, but  it is time to start looking at, god help me, ATT...