Cable TV subscribers are often angry about favorite channels not being included in their subscription package, but Comcast’s recent move of Turner Classic Movies has a new batch of fans up in arms. Subscribers who had previously watched TCM in their packages, now see an onscreen note that says the channel “requires a subscription,” and can only be seen if the viewer upgrades.

What happened to TCM? It’s now part of Comcast’s Sports Entertainment Package. Which means subscribers who had already been paying for TCM and want to keep it, now have to sign up for a package that costs extra, and doesn’t seem to have much in common with movies starring Bette Davis, Clark Gable, and other Golden Age Hollywood classics that made up much of the TCM schedule.

Here’s what the Comcast information page says about the Sports Entertainment Package:

“The Xfinity TV Sports Entertainment Package – also known as More Sports & Entertainment in some regions – has movies, shows, and sports coverage from networks including NFL RedZone, CMT, CBS Sports Network, ESPN Goal Line & Bases Loaded, Military History Channel, Outdoor Channel, MLB Network, Turner Classic Movies, and more.”

Fans of TCM know that the channel provides a variety of programming, including B-movies, classics, musicals, comedies, dramas, Westerns, film noir, along with special themed tributes to overlooked films, stars of color, cult favorites and filmmakers and actors who have recently died.

In October, for example, TCM is airing Halloween-friendly horror films; Italian director Michelangelo Antonioni’s classics, “L’Avventura” (1960) and “L’Eclisse" (1962); F.W. Murnau’s 1926 silent film, “Faust”; and 1934′s “Manhattan Melodrama,” the crime story starring Clark Gable that gained notoriety as the movie John Dillinger saw just before he was apprehended by federal agents as the gangster left the theater.

It’s the kind of programming that reflects the eclectic history of movies, and there’s really nothing else like it. Now, it’s going to cost an extra $9.99 per month.

Comcast customer pages include more details about why the change happened. According to Comcast, TCM was moved to the Sports Entertainment Package on Oct. 10 at 12:01 EST. If you’ve recorded films from TCM, you can still watch them. But to continue watching TCM, you need to upgrade to the Sports Entertainment package. If you do upgrade, be aware that you’ll need to redo the scheduling of upcoming moves you want to record.

As to why Comcast made the change, the page says this:

“Every month, Comcast pays programmers like networks, local TV station owners and others, for the ability to bring their programming to you. We regularly review our programming and sometimes make changes to ensure we’re offering a wide variety of programming at the best value. We look at a variety of factors, including customer viewership and programming costs when making these decisions. Viewership of TCM is low, as over 90% of our customers watch less than two movies per month. Given this and contractual limitations on offering TCM a la carte, we decided to move TCM to the Sports Entertainment Package, which will help us manage programming costs that are passed on to our customers while continuing to make the channel available to those who want to watch it.”

In regards to another question, namely, why is Turner Classic Movies being added to a Sports Entertainment Package, Comcast says:

“While our Sports Entertainment Package includes some popular sports channels, like NFL Red Zone and some college sports networks, in most areas, it also offers several non-sports channels, like Military History, Crime & Investigation and CMT.”

Not surprisingly, the move has fans of TCM all riled up. Here’s a sample of what subscribers are saying on Twitter:

@Xfinity - I would just like to say how angry I am that you now want me to subscribe to a Premium Sports Package that I have ZERO interest in, so that I can watch Turner Classic Movies - IN OCTOBER!!! I am missing so many old horror movies RIGHT NOW. #BRINGBACKTCM — Bethy P. (@FiredupBethy) October 12, 2019

Here’s another example of an unhappy customer:

Comcast is removing TCM, Turner Classic Movies, from all current packages and moving it to the SPORTS ENTERTAINMENT PACKAGE!!!! What possible logic is there to that brilliant change? TCM is widely viewed by many Comcast subscribers on their regular packages @comcastcares — David Shepard (@shepdf) October 12, 2019

Here’s another example:

You now have to pay an addition $9.99 subscription fee for #TCM (#TurnerClassicMovies) on #Comcast #Xfinity. It is called the Sports Entertainment Package. . . ughhhhhh! pic.twitter.com/3CeZFyjeWy — Channing Thomson (@CHANNINGPOSTERS) October 12, 2019

Here’s a subscriber who’s ready to cut the cord:

Woke up this morning to Comcast moving TCM to another entertainment package they want me to pay more for to watch Turner Classic Movies, screw Comcast no customer loyalty , cutting the cord — John Lalonde (@wanuga) October 12, 2019

For a channel that supposedly suffers from low viewership, there are certainly several unhappy viewers sharing their thoughts about the TCM move:

Sad day: suddenly Turner Classic Movies disappeared from my Comcast cable lineup. 😢😭😤 — Elean🎃r Courtemanche (@ecourtem) October 12, 2019

@Xfinity Why on earth would #Xfinity put the #TCM channel as part of the Sports Package with NFL RedZone and MLB? As of October 10 you have to buy the Soorts package to get Turner Classic Movies. #forshame — marybeth (@books4mama) October 12, 2019

[First world problems twitter. But.]



Just catching up with this #TCM debacle @comcast @Xfinity has created. Want to watch Turner Classic Movies? You have to buy an add on SPORTs package. Uh, kids, that's not the same crowd. Makes me think your sports package is losing money. — JenProf (@JenProf) October 11, 2019

Shame on #COMCAST once again taking channels from customers. Since when should turner classic movies be part of a sports package. No wonder folks are fleeing to Hulu or Sling Tv #shameoncomcast #iwantTCMBACK and clearly #comcastdoesntcare — Silver Hipster (@silver_hipster) October 11, 2019

-- Kristi Turnquist

kturnquist@oregonian.com 503-221-8227 @Kristiturnquist

Visit subscription.oregonlive.com/newsletters to get Oregonian/OregonLive journalism delivered to your email inbox.