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Time Warner To Test Cheap Cable Package

DToTheJ

DToTheJ

Time Warner Cable will be offering a new consumer-friendly package starting next month. Dubbed "TV Essentials," the package will cost between $29.95 and $39.95 per month.

More info:
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/ar...er_Cable_to_Test_Lower_Cost_Cable_Package.php

Here is a list of channels that will be included in this package. ESPN, the most expensive cable network, is not included, but ESPNews is. Also, CNN is in the package, as well as sister cable news network HLN, but not Fox News Channel or MSNBC. Plus three music channels, MTV, VH1 and Great American Country (GAC) - okay, one music channel (note CMT is not included)... There's also a handful of family-oriented channels, including Disney Channel, Hallmark Channel, and three Nickelodeon networks - but ironically, no sign of ABC Family (I wonder if Pat Robertson is demanding a high carriage fee for the network being part of this consumer-friendly option ;D )... And yes, a whopping four shopping channels are also available in this new package. In fact, here is the entire list of channels (per the above link) that may be available in the new package:

A&E
AMC
Animal Planet
BET
Biography Channel
Boomerang
Bravo
CNN
Cartoon Network
Centric
Cooking Channel
Discovery Channel
Disney Channel
ESPNews
FX
FitTV
G4
Great American Country
GSN
Gospel Music Channel
HGTV
HLN
HSN
Hallmark Channel
History
I-Life (Halogen)
Inspiration Channel
Jewelry TV
Lifetime
MTV
Military Channel
Nickelodeon
Nick Jr
QVC
Shop NBC
TBS
TV Guide Channel
TV One
Teen Nick
USA
VH1

Not necessarily a la carte - but not the basic broadcast package, either. (This package will include all of the local broadcast channels, too.) I wonder if there will be a high demand for it, high enough for other cable companies to take note.
 
Comcast has been offering something similar for over a year now, called "Digital Economy". I believe price and lineup are pretty close.
 
Not a fan of that list. Some surprises I see Cooking Channel instead of Food Network (both are owned by Scripps I know) Also some channels you only see digital are oftered Teen Nick, Military Channel, Nick Jr, Boomerang.
 
Several general entertainment channels, so you'll still get original shows, [edited] movies, and broadcast re-runs. Two (well, one and a half) for news--no huge complaints, as one might still get the coverage they want online. Some channels for the kids, too. I understand why this package is light on sports, but could they have tried to sneak in ESPNU or CBS College Sports?

If you just want some basic variety other than the broadcast networks, this isn't a bad package. My question is, will Time Warner be able to keep these prices down?
 
That's a pretty extensive package. I'd rather see a company like Time Warner test a package that includes the local broadcast channels plus a small selection of maybe 12 popular cable channels including regional networks like MSG.
 
These are about the same number of channels I received for about the same price I paid nearly 15 years ago, when I first subscribed to cable and before Cox expanded its lineup to about 70 channels. However, to me, these are mostly junk channels, compared to what I had then. ESPN is the big MIA channel in this package; it's the only reason I'd even consider cable.

I have a feeling there are many others who share that opinion (most with a "Y" chromosome).
 
How much does ESPN cost? Has to be one of the highest cost then 2nd being ESPN2, could be wrong. Not sure whats after ESPN's networks. Disney Channel?
 
It is the most expensive channel. IIRC, it costs something like $4/month per subscriber.
 
dhett said:
It is the most expensive channel. IIRC, it costs something like $4/month per subscriber.
Click to expand...

Is that combined for both ESPN and ESPN2 or only ESPN ?

I heard that one regional sports network costs $2 a month a believe (could be wrong) that network is YES which is owned by the Yanks.
 
DToTheJ said:
Time Warner Cable will be offering a new consumer-friendly package starting next month. Dubbed "TV Essentials," the package will cost between $29.95 and $39.95 per month.
Click to expand...

This is only the 12-month introductory price. The actual price is probably going to be $10/month higher. That's no bargain.
 
Ken said:
dhett said:
It is the most expensive channel. IIRC, it costs something like $4/month per subscriber.
Click to expand...

Is that combined for both ESPN and ESPN2 or only ESPN ?

I heard that one regional sports network costs $2 a month a believe (could be wrong) that network is YES which is owned by the Yanks.
Click to expand...

It's $4.08 as of 2009 and it's just ESPN/ESPN HD. Fox Sports Networks adds another $2.37.

Here's a link to a rate card: http://mediamemo.allthingsd.com/20100308/hate-paying-for-cable-heres-the-reason-why/

Scroll down and click on the image to enlarge it to a readable level. Or copy it onto your desktop.
 
OK - so let's price this puppy a la carte. Prices are wholesale, not retail:

A&E - $0.25
AMC - $0.23
Animal Planet - $0.07
BET - $0.16
Biography Channel - $0.11
Boomerang - $0.08
Bravo - $0.19
CNN - $0.51
Cartoon Network - $0.17
Centric - $0.07
Cooking Channel - $0.08*
Discovery Channel - $0.25
Disney Channel - $0.88
ESPNews - $0.17
FX - $0.42
FitTV - $0.06
G4 - $0.08
Great American Country - $0.02
GSN - $0.12
Gospel Music Channel - $0.06**
HGTV - $0.14
HLN - $0.00 ***
HSN - $0.00 ****
Hallmark Channel - $0.06
History - $0.22
I-Life (Halogen) - $0.06**
Inspiration Channel - $0.06**
Jewelry TV - $0.00****
Lifetime - $0.28
MTV - $0.33
Military Channel - $0.07
Nickelodeon - $0.44
Nick Jr - $0.17
QVC - $0.00****
Shop NBC - $0.00****
TBS - $0.49
TV Guide Channel - $0.02
TV One - $0.06
Teen Nick - $0.09
USA - $0.55
VH1 - $0.15

Notes:
*-Channel didn't exist in 2009; pricing based on similar sister channel
**-Channel not on rate card; using price of similar channel
***-CNN/HLN priced as single unit
****-Channel not on rate card; shopping channel - may be barter?

Total cost of channels: $7.17

Naturally, there is some overhead cost, but TW is making a pretty profit. It's their right to do so, but I wouldn't be buying.
 
Yes, you don't see ESPN/2/U/etc. or Fox Sports because they are some of the biggest cost drivers pushing your "expanded basic" bill up to the stratosphere. The odd lineup is entirely a function of cost.

TWC is test marketing this in two areas - NYC, and right here in Northeast Ohio. Interestingly, the promotional price is $39 in NYC, and $29 here.
 
OhioMediaWatch said:
Yes, you don't see ESPN/2/U/etc. or Fox Sports because they are some of the biggest cost drivers pushing your "expanded basic" bill up to the stratosphere. The odd lineup is entirely a function of cost.

TWC is test marketing this in two areas - NYC, and right here in Northeast Ohio. Interestingly, the promotional price is $39 in NYC, and $29 here.
Click to expand...

RD Heldenfels of the Akron Beacon Journal had an article on this the other day. Not bad for $29.95 but I wouldnt pay much more for it, especially since there's no TNT (My wife would miss that) Fox Sports or Sportstime Ohio..
 
Other that the ones already mentioned, three biggest omissions I see are TNT, Spike and SyFy
 
dhett said:
Ken said:
dhett said:
It is the most expensive channel. IIRC, it costs something like $4/month per subscriber.
Click to expand...

Is that combined for both ESPN and ESPN2 or only ESPN ?

I heard that one regional sports network costs $2 a month a believe (could be wrong) that network is YES which is owned by the Yanks.
Click to expand...

It's $4.08 as of 2009 and it's just ESPN/ESPN HD. Fox Sports Networks adds another $2.37.

Here's a link to a rate card: http://mediamemo.allthingsd.com/20100308/hate-paying-for-cable-heres-the-reason-why/

Scroll down and click on the image to enlarge it to a readable level. Or copy it onto your desktop.
Click to expand...

ESPN costing $4.08 and ESPN2 costing $0.54 big difference in price.

FOX Sports Net is not worth $2.37 some markets don't have a FSN as they already have a regionial sports network such as NESN, Comcast Sports Net, YES, MSG, etc.

Last FOX News is high, why so much for them?
 
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