Spectrum is gradually transitioning subscribers from its traditional cable TV service to its newer streaming offering via the Xumo Box.
Spectrum is now attempting to accelerate the process of transitioning customers from its legacy cable TV service to its new streaming service by hiking the monthly price of cable TV boxes while keeping the price of its cheaper Xumo streaming player the same.
The Xumo streaming player is Spectrum’s new default cable TV box. The main difference between this box and the earlier cable TV box is that it only functions via the internet. You cannot connect a coaxial wire to the back of it for regular cable TV service. This means that any client who owns the Xumo player box will use Spectrum’s streaming TV service rather than traditional cable TV.
To help with this, Spectrum is hiking the monthly cost of its HD cable TV sets from $10.99 to $12.50. The Xumo box, its streaming player, costs $5 per month or $60 upfront. (TV users can receive the first box for free for 12 months. After that, the $5 monthly price begins.)
If you want to pay $5 per month for the box rather than $60, you must request that payment be discontinued after 12 months. And If you do not contact Spectrum and request that they cease billing you $5 per month, Spectrum will continue to charge you $5 per month indefinitely. If you pay $5 per month and your box is damaged, Spectrum will replace it for free. If you buy it and damage your box, you will have to purchase a new one.
Spectrum just stated that the broadcast TV surcharge, which was increased by $1 in July, will rise from $23.20 to $25.75 per month. Advanced WiFi will cost an additional $2 to $7 per month. Its Entertainment View and Latino View packages would each rise by $3 to $15 per month. Spectrum TV Essentials, a live streaming option that works with Roku and other devices, will cost $5 more per month, up to $29.99.
This comes as Spectrum recently announced the second wave of price increases for its subscribers in the last 12 months. This increase follows a wave of price increases across the board in 2023, with streaming services and cable TV companies both charging more due to inflation. Spectrum upped the prices of its TV, internet, and phone services in July, with phone and internet each increasing by $5 per month. At the time, it attributed the rise to higher programming costs.
Customers who move to the Xumo box will continue to receive the same changes as those who use the cable TV box, at the same costs. The only difference is that you can watch them online with the Xumo box, which is slightly less expensive but more cumbersome to rent.
Moving subscribers to streaming one day could allow Spectrum to discontinue its traditional TV service.
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