Comcast Confirms It Will Charge Users a Fee to Watch TV on Roku Earlier this week we noted how Comcast has launched a beta that lets users watch Comcast cable service on Roku devices. While an innovative evolution on its surface, Comcast apparently couldn't help saddling the service with a number of caveats, including the fact that only users that subscribe to both Comcast TV and internet service can utilize the service. The company's FAQ also seems to indicate that the company will actually charge users a fee to use the Roku in this fashion, making the idea less appealing to cord cutters.

"All other fees associated with a customer's service will apply, except that, during the Beta trial, additional outlet charges for services to outlets connected to Roku devices are being waived," notes the Comcast FAQ. "On conclusion of the trial, you will be informed of the charges that will apply for connecting this device with your Xfinity TV service and will have the opportunity to opt in," the company notes. Just what this fee will be isn't yet clear. Variety quote: Comcast responded to us and confirmed that Roku devices will be treated similarly to CableCard devices in terms of pricing. Customers who use a Roku as a "primary outlet" after the beta is over will get a $2.50 credit on their bill; the "primary outlet" isn't an itemized fee but is included as part of paying for a TV subscription. Using a Roku as an "additional outlet" will cost $9.95, but the $2.50 credit will lower the price to $7.45. Xfinity TV app access on phones and tablets does not cost extra.) Just what this outlet fee actually pays for (above and beyond Comcast's already notably high prices) isn't explained. Comcast customers: would an extra fee -- or Comcast's other caveats -- keep you from using your Roku as an effective replacement for your traditional cable box? Just what this fee will be isn't yet clear. Variety notes that Comcast charges a $9.95 per month additional outlet service fee per set-top box, though customers using their own cable box hardware, like TiVo, receive a $2.50 credit (meaning a net charge of $7.45 a month just to use hardware you purchased and own). Ars Technica then confirmed that's likely the route Comcast will follow Just what this outlet fee actually pays for (above and beyond Comcast's already notably high prices) isn't explained. Comcast customers: would an extra fee -- or Comcast's other caveats -- keep you from using your Roku as an effective replacement for your traditional cable box?







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Most recommended from 79 comments



pclover

join:2008-08-02

Santa Cruz, CA 34 recommendations pclover Member Why even bother? Seriously? Why did Comcast even bother with this.



This seriously has no purpose at all. turnerbrewer

join:2011-11-22 30 recommendations turnerbrewer Member Comcast - you stink! Comcast, you are a dinosaur and you suck!

PSVUE with DVR and five streams for $30.

hamburglar

join:2002-04-29

united state 21 recommendations hamburglar Member Nice Way to stay Comcastic!

Zenit

The system is the solution

Premium Member

join:2012-05-07

Purcellville, VA 18 recommendations Zenit Premium Member Leave it to Comcast to discover new ways to fee







Will they start charging a "Cable peed Internet" fee, beyond the service fee? Perhaps that can go with the roku fee. We can't forget adding a tax fee and a fee on the fees.

Mass disconnection of service will be the only thing Comcast understands. And even then they are probably too dense to lower prices.



It's a shame because Comcast's engineering organization is quite good and their internet service is solid. The bean counters are destroying what would otherwise be absolutely acceptable to a majority of people by piling on fees and caps. Comcast really started ramping up the fees in the past 4 years, my service rate increased 40% mostly due to fees. I got tired of it and went back to s l o w ADSL2+ from VZ. At least it's reliable and has a rarely enforced soft cap of 2TB (Comcast does not have caps in my area yet). I can barely manage to use 500GB/month going streaming only with the DSL due to limited bandwidth. 720p over 1080p is chosen to keep some of that 7Mbps usable for web surfing.



Comcast just destroyed what would otherwise be a moderately popular product by tacking on fees to it. Comcast offers the best in-home "We Fee" - as in they will fee you to death.

tshirt

Premium Member

join:2004-07-11

Snohomish, WA 9 recommendations tshirt Premium Member Of all the things Comcast does.... this is among those that make little sense.

I could understand and install fee if tech time was required to rebalance or to actually install or repair a botched self install.

but a monthly fee for using your own equipment???

I hope they don't spend too much time and money on the beta, because this one element seems like a way to unsell the very audience/consumer they are aiming to keep.

Anone2820

@2602:100.x 5 recommendations Anone2820 Anon Oh silly Comcast seriously. Ok I get why you charge for a box you paid for it you are recouping the cost( and then some in most cases ). You're not making the Roku no cost other than maintaining an app. Ok fine charge $2.50. You still make money, you no longer have to buy boxes and deal with all the stuff that comes with that. And you'd have an advantage over your competition namely DirecTv and Dish Network that charge more than $2.50 per box. This old fashioned thinking will doom you within a few years.

Anon113fc

@verizon.net 5 recommendations Anon113fc Anon Will this set a precedent for other bs? I wonder... Could this set a precedent for other things? Like could Nintendo get away with forcing you to buy a proprietary controller to play its games on a not very locked down operating system if it exits the console business? Can Roku not put a foot down and say "we don't tolerate such extortative charges in our app ecosystem". Like PlayStation said games cannot charge for an online pass since the ps4 because they made PlayStation plus a paid subscription, so I feel like if Roku has an app store where they vet apps they could say no to this. But maybe they don't want to because it's a chance to increase usage of their box by offering legit cable? And also, this being a non IP ott service proves the set top box arguement was bs. Lol just zero-rated instead Comcast everybodys doing it. You set out to prove you're good with net neutrality, but you put yourself in another pickle proving that it is possible to do what the government told you to do. Lol you just can't win. And finally, if it's so easy to do IPTV on rokus, why can't Comcast upgrade it's Xfinity boxes to IPTV? Is it cus there's too many out there in the wild that only work with the old architecture? Cus I read IPTV is cheaper and frees up space for faster internet. And they put in the infrastructure for this new service so why can't it also be used for Xfinity boxes? So many questions lol... IdivideBy0 (banned)

join:2014-12-22 5 recommendations IdivideBy0 (banned) Member What fee? Chinese MXIII android box + KODI + TVADDONS + VPN = FUCK YOU COMCAST! firedrakes

join:2009-01-29

Arcadia, FL 3 recommendations firedrakes Member at some point they will charge you a few to fuke you... really i getting fuke by them and they charge me a fee? you know their thinking about that all the time Bryantf1982

join:2016-08-18

Kent, WA 2 recommendations Bryantf1982 Member I knew it was to good to be true There not giving it up but, charging a monthly fee for you to use your own equipment as if it is there cable box . Then again maybe there charging this fee make up for the cost of billions upon billions there having to pay out each year in retransmission fees. The first thought that came to my mind was why would Comcast give up it's TV cable box monthly rental cash cow and let you use your own equipment for free. They will loose a lot of money by going this rout. Well now I know it was to good be true.There not giving it up but, charging a monthly fee for you to use your own equipment as if it is there cable box. Then again maybe there charging this fee make up for the cost of billions upon billions there having to pay out each year in retransmission fees.