Got my rate increase notice today.
I currently pay ~$96 for services, inclusive of all taxes and fees. I promised myself that once it crosses $100 per month, I will cut the cord once and for all. In fact, I even purchased two base Tivo Roamio devices a couple of months back specifically because they're the only model that supports OTA HD. Where I live, I have 23 OTA HD channels with just a $20 indoor antenna from BestBuy.
Notice received about being valued customer. Yadda yadda. At first the package increase seemed reasonable. But then I get to the next paragraph with the new $3.98 "Broadcast TV" surcharge. Yup.... officially done. When I call they can offer me six months at half price and I won't even accept. Just not worth it these days.
You know, I am not even sad. I was practically begging for an excuse to dump cable television once and for all and I finally got it today delivered to me in the mail. Plan is to ditch RCN internet and just get a Comcast 12-month non-contract promo for half the price. Probably switch back to RCN for internet only in early 2015 when that's up.
PLEASE READ: On a separate note, I love RCN. I love the support here. I love their customer service in general. I love their technology as it was always reliable for me. I've always recommended them to my local friends vs. Comcast or FIOS in my area. I always feel like I am dealing with a much smaller company who cares (they are and they do!) and their rates are far below Comcast/Verizon in my area. I have not one bad thing to say about RCN... AT ALL!
It's simply that the price of cable television, in general, across all providers and channels, is so far out there that it's simply not worth it in 2014 with all of the other available options. The entertainment/broadcast/cable industry will either die a slow death or be forced to change... one or the other... because the status quo is quite simply unsustainable, and C-level exes from the content producers to the content distributors to the content delivery systems are so blinded to that it's almost silly. It's really quite sad actually. But just as music survived after its own revolution in the late-90's/early-2000's, so will television. But it's going to be painful. I don't envy these companies because guess what: Joe Consumer (me) isn't the one who'll be bearing the brunt of the pain. ;)
It's been fun guys! Peace.
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When judgment day comes, I'm confident I will end up in a place that's quite comfortable, very well deserved, and truly reflects how I strive to live my life. It's amusing certain groups feel the need to tell me their place will be better than mine.
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