Spectrum's Cord Cutting Options Are Saddled With Fees, Caveats Charter Spectrum is increasingly offering new options for cord cutters, but apparently can't help but saddle them with all manner of strange restrictions and caveats to ensure they're no too attractive to would be cord cutters. Users in our Charter Spectrum forum have been discussing ways to lower their cable bills, either by using Charter's streaming video app to replace the need for costly DVR and set top box rentals, or by signing up for the company's all-but-hidden standalone streaming service.

There are, as you might expect, some caveats with whatever option you choose. Users say that if they try to use Charter's streaming app to avoid having to pay for cable boxes, they're told they can't sign up for the option unless they cancel their existing TV service for 30 days. It's a bizarre restriction that appears designed to make the option as unattractive as possible to would be cord cutters. "During that period I would get Playstation Vue, Sling or Direct TV Now and might never come back to a Spectrum package," laments the user. "They explained that was the policy, you just cannot convert from cable to streaming only as an existing customer." Charter Spectrum also offers something called "Spectrum TV Choice," which provides streaming access to your local broadcast channels and ten additional channels for a listed price of $21.99 per month under a two-year promotional rate bundled with broadband. Users also have the option of adding premium channels for a $15 a month additional charge. The company has been offering similar options for a while, but they tend not to advertise them for fear of accelerating the cord cutting trend. Spectrum also has a nasty tendency to quickly and covertly jack up the advertised cost of the service with all manner of below the line hidden fees, a time-honored cable industry tradition. That often includes the addition of a $6 per month "Broadcast TV fee." Said fee is just a part of the cost of doing business (programming costs), buried below the line so Charter can falsely advertise a lower rate, something that also tends to plague traditional TV service. It's all just another example of how cable operators want to give the impression that they're adapting to customers who desperately want cheaper, more flexible options, but just can't help but sabotage their own efforts for fear of accelerating traditional cable losses. So while this is a step forward, fear of being too innovative winds up then making it a half step back. There's some additional conversation ongoing in our There's some additional conversation ongoing in our Charter Spectrum forum , and there's also some discussion about this over at Reddit for those interested.







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Most recommended from 28 comments

Roadkill

Premium Member

join:2008-06-17

united state 4 recommendations Roadkill Premium Member Fees and restrictions The CS offering comes replete with below the line fees and silly restrictions. Cable companies should not try to offer streaming solutions for its customers. As stated above CS simply cannot help themselves pulling cable company idiosyncrasies by tapping the cash cow multiple times. I am almost feeling insulted by Charter/Spectrum's idea (train wreck) version of saving money. I'm currently a Comcast cash cow preferring to be insulted and abused by them. CS is just another company representing how out of touch with reality the industry is. This is a nationwide problem; these companies just can't get a clue of what their actual customers want. The cable industry is so blinded by profit taking, nothing else can enter their tiny brains. I have no other decent words to use describing the cable industry. alexintexas

join:2003-01-11

San Antonio, TX Netgear CM500

TP-Link Archer C7

Obihai OBi200

1 edit 4 recommendations alexintexas Member *Note to all YOU are all WRONG on the "fees"



Charter is a rip fuk em



Service from 01/28/18 through 02/27/18

Spectrum TV™

Spectrum TV Stream $19.95

More Than 25 Popular Networks, Including Your Local

Channels



Stream Sports, News and More $12.00



Total $31.95



Other Charges



Taxes State and Local Sales Tax 4.08

Fees & Charges Franchise Fee 3.28

Regulatory Cost Recovery Fee 0.08

PEG Capital Fee 0.70

TWC State Cost Recovery Fee 0.29



Total $8.43



Other Charges

Broadcast TV Surcharge 8.85



Total $8.85



Grand Total for stream = $49.33



Tried the "free month" deal saw the bill called and CANCELLED! Charter is in NO realm of "competing" with other OTT period.



Used the service TWICE.



TWC app, NO support to view on the large screen with ease

CSR could not comprehend that the adults DO NOT watch TV on handhelds kherr

Premium Member

join:2000-09-04

Collinsville, IL 3 recommendations kherr Premium Member ANYTHING Charter is a ....



AT&T Fiber 1000/1000 ----- $70



OTA ------- FREE ... turd ... especially if you have other options ....AT&T Fiber 1000/1000 ----- $70OTA ------- FREE