Comcast adds “Broadcast TV Fee”

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Comcast-logoComcast has joined a few other MVPDs who are charging consumers an added “Broadcast TV Fee.” The fee is being blamed on broadcaster retransmission hikes, but as DSLreports.com notes, Comcast, like the others is double dipping by tacking this new fee on below the line (to falsely keep advertised rates the same). A notice being sent to users states the $1.50 (or greater) fee should start showing up on user bills 1/22.


RBR-TVBR observation: Just another bizarre line item on your bill that really ends up increasing the overall monthly fee by some 15% or so beyond the package you signed up for. In a way it’s good to know how much of your bill is going to local broadcast retransmission fees, but why try to keep it separate from advertised packages? Are they going to add another line item that charges for retransmission fees from cable networks too? Can you say, “false advertising?”

4 COMMENTS

  1. Sorry, but broadcasting is NOT “free over the air” for customers of cable and satellite. Those companies are required to pay monthly Retransmission Fees to many broadcasters – so they’re just passing those costs on to the consumers. It does seem wrong for those companies to not include those charges in their advertised rates, though.

  2. Yes indeed, Over-The-Air broadcasting is free tv to anyone who has an antenna. Rabbit ears, roof-top, attic mount…all can pull in nearly all stations in a market. No one requires people to buy cable or satellite.

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