This past weekend I went ahead and did it myself. I know it's been a trend that has been growing and I have been considering doing it for awhile now once my contract was up with Xfinity (Comcast). I just went with Hulu Live and am loving it.
For those who have cut the cord share your experiences here. If you are looking to cut the cord and have question ask them here.
I had my last straw with the extortionist known as Comcast.
Back when I moved into my apartment in December of 2015 they had new customer deals for their Triple Play. $99 a month for a package that included 210+ channels, free HBO, Cinemax, Starz and Showtime, 200mbps internet, and voice phone service. I never used the voice, but had to have it on my bundle to get the free premium networks and a cheaper rate. I did have a $14 rental fee for the cable modem since they would not let me use my own one I had previous used with COX saying because I have voice, I need a modem that has phone lines built into it as federal regulations require them to provide 911 access. I had voice with COX as well for the lower bundle rate but did not use it. They had no issues activating my modem. Comcast would not budge. Also, since I owned a TiVo box, which is consumer owned equipment I needed a cable card. The FCC requires cable companies to give consumers cable cards and to support them. The first cable card should be free per comcast site. But because I only had one tv and no box rented from them Comcast's billing system wouldn't allow the cable card to be activated without charging me for it. It was rent one Comcast box and the cable card would be free. Or pay the fee or additional cable cards to comcast so resolve their billing system issues. They tried hard on selling me on their DVR and DVR service fees which I passed on. The TiVo boxes have much better features and I don't have to pay DVR fees to Comcast.
A year later my bill went up to $139.99 a month, 40 more. I called and was explained it's part of the 3 their new member promotion. There were no better offers available.
When my third year started my bill went up yet another $40. I called again. The same was true. No better rates were available.
When my 4th year started my bill went up yet another $50 now landing at $220 a month. Which in reality was higher, because that does not include the $14 modem rental and the $6 for my cable card which should be free. I was ready to cancel and cut the cord right then and there. But this time they had an offer form. The same plan Im currently getting, but double the internet speed and free DVR box included. I didn't need the DVR, but took it.
This year when that year ended last month, my February bill shot up to $259.99. When I called this time I could get a promo again that would be $209.99 a month. I refused it knowing that the new member offers still start out at $99 a month and said as much. And of course, I'm told those are only the new member specials and their rates will go up to the regular rate when the promo expires. Also that costs go up. I should not expect to pay the same rate or less every year.
I then told them I want internet only. They kept trying to give me other bundles. I asked them, what if I wanted just basic cable and internet. I was told that would actually be $211 a month because it's not bundled. But we can get you 210+ channels with internet for $149 a month. No premium networks.
I said now again and asked for just internet rates. I was quoted $90 a month plus equipment rental for the same internet I currently have. I said sign me up for it. There is no DSL or FiOS available at my location in Salem. Comcast is the only internet choice. I then get told they can't make the change for me, I have to be transferred from the billing to the cancellations department because I was canceling phone and cable. When talk to the cancelation department they tell me they can't find the rate I was quoted. Cheapest they can find starts at $110 a month for a promo, and goes up to $140 after the first year for internet service. They sign me up and schedule a call back for the next day to try to get me the rate I was quoted. When they called me back I'm informed that they can't get me the rate I was quoted. It was a new member offer and I'm not a new member. To qualify I would have to cancel service and wait the mandatory waiting period of 90 days before signing up again. They apologised and said they have recorded that reps name and will be taking disciplinary action against him.
I'm still trying to fight to get that quote and get it by going through social media channels. I'm also fighting a $50 fee for them activating me activating a new modem... Now that I don't have voice I'm using my own modem again to save the $14 a month. And of course they charge me to activate it. Got to love them.
Hulu live can get me pretty much every channel I watch. And the quality is far better than through Comcast. Comcast was down ressing everything to 720p and heavily compressing it. I'm getting 1080p with Hulu Live. Hulu comes with a cloud DVR, so I can record anything from live TV and watch it back at a later time. It also has full On Demand access and my locals are all available for free as well.
Happy with the Hulu Live Service. Just need to work on getting the internet price down. As where I stand right now, I'm paying the same as Comcast quote for 210+ channels and the same internet.
For those who have cut the cord share your experiences here. If you are looking to cut the cord and have question ask them here.
I had my last straw with the extortionist known as Comcast.
Back when I moved into my apartment in December of 2015 they had new customer deals for their Triple Play. $99 a month for a package that included 210+ channels, free HBO, Cinemax, Starz and Showtime, 200mbps internet, and voice phone service. I never used the voice, but had to have it on my bundle to get the free premium networks and a cheaper rate. I did have a $14 rental fee for the cable modem since they would not let me use my own one I had previous used with COX saying because I have voice, I need a modem that has phone lines built into it as federal regulations require them to provide 911 access. I had voice with COX as well for the lower bundle rate but did not use it. They had no issues activating my modem. Comcast would not budge. Also, since I owned a TiVo box, which is consumer owned equipment I needed a cable card. The FCC requires cable companies to give consumers cable cards and to support them. The first cable card should be free per comcast site. But because I only had one tv and no box rented from them Comcast's billing system wouldn't allow the cable card to be activated without charging me for it. It was rent one Comcast box and the cable card would be free. Or pay the fee or additional cable cards to comcast so resolve their billing system issues. They tried hard on selling me on their DVR and DVR service fees which I passed on. The TiVo boxes have much better features and I don't have to pay DVR fees to Comcast.
A year later my bill went up to $139.99 a month, 40 more. I called and was explained it's part of the 3 their new member promotion. There were no better offers available.
When my third year started my bill went up yet another $40. I called again. The same was true. No better rates were available.
When my 4th year started my bill went up yet another $50 now landing at $220 a month. Which in reality was higher, because that does not include the $14 modem rental and the $6 for my cable card which should be free. I was ready to cancel and cut the cord right then and there. But this time they had an offer form. The same plan Im currently getting, but double the internet speed and free DVR box included. I didn't need the DVR, but took it.
This year when that year ended last month, my February bill shot up to $259.99. When I called this time I could get a promo again that would be $209.99 a month. I refused it knowing that the new member offers still start out at $99 a month and said as much. And of course, I'm told those are only the new member specials and their rates will go up to the regular rate when the promo expires. Also that costs go up. I should not expect to pay the same rate or less every year.
I then told them I want internet only. They kept trying to give me other bundles. I asked them, what if I wanted just basic cable and internet. I was told that would actually be $211 a month because it's not bundled. But we can get you 210+ channels with internet for $149 a month. No premium networks.
I said now again and asked for just internet rates. I was quoted $90 a month plus equipment rental for the same internet I currently have. I said sign me up for it. There is no DSL or FiOS available at my location in Salem. Comcast is the only internet choice. I then get told they can't make the change for me, I have to be transferred from the billing to the cancellations department because I was canceling phone and cable. When talk to the cancelation department they tell me they can't find the rate I was quoted. Cheapest they can find starts at $110 a month for a promo, and goes up to $140 after the first year for internet service. They sign me up and schedule a call back for the next day to try to get me the rate I was quoted. When they called me back I'm informed that they can't get me the rate I was quoted. It was a new member offer and I'm not a new member. To qualify I would have to cancel service and wait the mandatory waiting period of 90 days before signing up again. They apologised and said they have recorded that reps name and will be taking disciplinary action against him.
I'm still trying to fight to get that quote and get it by going through social media channels. I'm also fighting a $50 fee for them activating me activating a new modem... Now that I don't have voice I'm using my own modem again to save the $14 a month. And of course they charge me to activate it. Got to love them.
Hulu live can get me pretty much every channel I watch. And the quality is far better than through Comcast. Comcast was down ressing everything to 720p and heavily compressing it. I'm getting 1080p with Hulu Live. Hulu comes with a cloud DVR, so I can record anything from live TV and watch it back at a later time. It also has full On Demand access and my locals are all available for free as well.
Happy with the Hulu Live Service. Just need to work on getting the internet price down. As where I stand right now, I'm paying the same as Comcast quote for 210+ channels and the same internet.
