True Cost of Cable Card

Channels DVR Server
#1

I am thinking about switching off of DirecTV Now and move to just Channels DVR with Prime and OTA. But I want understand the true cost. I hear the Comcast adds all of these extra fees like broadcast fee, regional sports fee, multi-room fee. If you add those up plus the cost of Cable Card, plus the cost of the cable package it seems you might be better off with a streaming option.

I expect to pay for a cable package.
I expect to pay for a cable card fee.
But that is it nothing more, right?

I am looking for more flexibility right now. I tend to binge watch most of my shows. So having a DVR that is not restricted is a fit for me. DirecTV Now gives restrictive space and time limits. You have to watch the show within 30 days. or it gets erased. And only 20hrs of space is not a lot when you binge watch.

Can people share their experiences?

#2

I personally have FIOS. And I do everything listed in your list and nothing more. I don't mind paying for cable, especially when I don't have to pay any extra hardware fees.

I get a TON of channels and all my stuff can be recorded through our DVR. And I have 4 TVs around the house ready to roll, all living on a single input. It's great. Just drop an Apple TV somewhere and boom.

I can't speak for Comcast, but I don't pay any weird multiform fees.

#3

Fees vary by region, but here's what it was like for me when I lived in a Comcast area.

First CableCARD was free, and I got a $2.50/mo credit for "customer owned equipment".

For a long time I was on the "Blast! Plus" plan for fast internet, but it actually included the "Digital Economy" package with a handful of cable channels (CC, CN, etc):

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Once we started using Channels DVR more and more, I upgraded to a bundle package which added more cable channels (TBS, TNT, ESPN, etc) so we could record all our shows. Since sports channels were included now, the regional sports fee got added and the fees doubled. But my overall bill actually went down because of the bundle discount:

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Notice that the broadcast fee also increased over time, from $7 to $8.

Overall I was very happy using Comcast with Channels DVR, and I thought I got pretty good value from them for under $100/mo. I wish I still lived in a Comcast area because it's an awesome experience with the PRIME and Channels.

1 Like
#4

Comcast cable card + HDHomeRun Prime + Channels DVR + Synology + Apple TV 4K clients = nirvana

I had DirecTV Now for a while, and eventually switched to Cable Card and haven't looked back.
The Channels DVR is great, commercial skipping works well, remote access (outside your house) works great, you can add as many TV clients as you want - no extra charges from Comcast. Keep in mind that you are restricted to 3 tuners (watching live and/or recording), and the premium channels are encrypted - but streaming via HBO GO is better than recording locally anyway.

Here is my bill. I committed to 24 months for a discount. There is an extra $10 on there for a sports package.
image

#5

IIRC I had to call/chat and yell at them to add this after I heard about it on the SD forums. It's something they offer when you don't rent a cablebox.

#6

I had dumped Comcast for DirecTV Now when I was in Maryland because I got all the local channels except CW on DTVN, and then I just used Channels and my Antenna to get CW. When I moved to GA I lost all the local channels on DTVN, so the cost just wasn't worth the other issues with DTVN and no local channels. I pay more than double for Comcast, but using it with Channels is a much better experience than DTVN and it's worth it.

The fees are the main thing Comcast gets you with. I get a broadcast fee of $8 and a regional sports fee of $6.75. Since I'm using 2 CableCards, my first one is free and the second one costs me $10. That's dependent on where you live; when I had Comcast in MD I got the first for free, with a $2.50 'customer owned equipment' credit, and the second one was $10 with the same $2.50 credit. When I moved to GA they apparently don't do that here, but I need to call again and try and get it. I also get a franchise fee of $6.98 (forgot that when I sent you the PM), and then a little bit of FCC and sales taxes that combine for $0.45.

If you don't use something like Channels with Comcast, each additional Comcast box is an extra $10. So for me, I have 4 main rooms I watch TV in, plus an addition 2 for when I have guests/family/or the kids want to use that room. That's at least an extra $40 a month, but with Channels I don't have to pay it since they all have Apple TV's already. They used to also charge me an "HD fee" when I used their equipment for $10, but I'm not sure if they still do that or not. I've saved a LOT of money when I switched from Comcast boxes to Channels, and I did it early in the Channels development when they still used the HDHomeRun DVR.

#7

This is promising information. I live in the Atlanta, GA area. Can you tell me what channels where DRMed? I am assuming it was the premium like HBO, Showtime and Starz? But where there other ones like Disney or Nickelodeon or USA. That would be a bummer.

#8

I don’t see a charge or credit for the cable card. So, it looks like it is free? Did you signup online, over the phone or in person?

I already have internet with them. Looking to add TV only.

#9

First cablecard is free. Only HBO/Showtime/etc have DRM. I switched plans online and then went to my local store to pick up a cablecard.

#10

Fwiw, Comcast has a special cablecard support line and they are incredibly helpful, should you happen to need tech support.

#11

Correct, no charge for the first Cable Card. Also, as others said above, I'm getting a $2.50 credit/month for customer owned equipment. That credit doesn't show in my screen shot above.

#12

FWIW, I have Verizon Fios and two SD Primes. Fios charges $5/per card... I'm absolutely waiting to jump on SD's new 6-tuner Prime (if it ever comes out) so I can drop one of those CableCARDs and save more after the initial expense of the Prime.

#13

this is a very interesting thread - i remember hearing back when cablecard support for TiVo first appeared that it was a real pain in the butt to get going - truck rolls and everything - and that support was terrible. so i had assumed these had fallen by the wayside but it sounds like you can still get them.

i only have internet thru comcast and whenever i have to fight with them about pricing, they try to put me in some bundle with television - they claim that it's cheaper to bundle the internet with TV but they don't tell you about these miscellaneous fees. i suppose if you want actually want TV service from them then the fees are "reasonable" but for me they've always been nuisances, and luckily i avoided them by steadfastly refusing their bundles.

so - nowadays is cablecard the kind of thing that they just mail out to you now? and if using a CC-compatible SD box, how many tuners can use the one free cablecard? sounds like only one cablecard is needed per N-tuner SD device?

thanks

#14

I picked up my cable cards at the local Xfinity store. I just walked in and requested them and they looked up my account and added them. Activation was simple.

My fees are a little different, but similar. I have a $5 credit for customer owned equipment, for example.

#15

Are you still able to authenticate HBO app with your Comcast credentials? It no longer works for Showtime or STARZ on Apple TV.