From: tweek@netcom.com (Michael D. Maxfield)
Subject: Some useless compiled data regarding cable rates
Organization: Netcom Online Communications Services (408-241-9760 login: guest)
Date: Mon, 14 Dec 1992 20:00:31 GMT

Thought this might make some interesting info for those whose cable companies
are threatening/invoking rate increases.

Statistical graphic of East/North Bay cable rates.

From :  Contra Costa Times  Tuesday, Dec. 8, 1992
        reprinted without permission
        Article titled : Bay Area cable TV rates climb
                         
**************************************************************************
 CLIMBING CABLE RATES
**************************************************************************
Some cable rates in Contra Costa, Alameda, and Solano counties are
slated to rise over the next several months.  A comparison of rates and
services:

VIACOM  (Pleasanton, San Ramon, Livermore, Dublin, Castro Valley)

     Subscribers : 68,000
New monthly rate : $21.70
  Effective date : Nov 1
        Increase : $0.98
Percent increase : 4.7%
        Channels : 22
         Factors : General costs

VIACOM  (Pinole)

     Subscribers : 15,000
New monthly rate : $20.00
  Effective date : Dec 1
        Increase : $0.90
Percent increase : 4.7%
        Channels : 23
         Factors : General costs

VIACOM  (Pittsburg, Antioch)

     Subscribers : 38,000
New monthly rate : $21.05
  Effective date : 
        Increase : $0.90
Percent increase : 4.7%
        Channels : 26
         Factors : General costs

TCI OF CONTRA COSTA COUNTY (Lafayette, Orinda, Moraga, Pleasant Hill, Martinez)

     Subscribers : 80,000
    Current rate : $24.81
  Effective date : No rate increase planned before July 1993
        Increase :
Percent increase :
        Channels : 37
         Factors :

BAY CABLEVISION (Richmond)

     Subscribers : 45,000
New monthly rate : $21.95
  Effective date : Feb 1
        Increase : $2.00
Percent increase : 10%
        Channels : 49
         Factors : Not disclosed

CONCORD CABLE TV (Concord, Clayton)

     Subscribers : 41,500
New monthly rate : $21.67
  Effective date : Jan.
        Increase : $1.42
Percent increase : 7%
        Channels : 35
         Factors : County imposed higher property taxes on company

DONREY CABLEVISION (Vallejo)

     Subscribers : 26,000
New monthly rate : $19.85
  Effective date : Jan 1
        Increase : $1.00
Percent increase : 5.3%
        Channels : 53
         Factors : Added new channels, general costs

CENTURY CABLE (San Pablo, Kensington, Albany, Richmond Heights)

Factors :  The company is not raising rates, but is re-packaging its 
most popular service into one.  Rates would rise for some subscribers
but drop for others.

******** Sources : Cable Companies ***************************************
                                                              Times

And since the numbers are there, I have done a cost per channel breakdown
for the above mentioned systems.

SYSTEM          RATE     CHANNELS     PER CHANNEL     *BARGAIN RATING
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Viacom1         21.70        22          0.99               7
Viacom2         20.00        23          0.87               5
Viacom3         21.05        26          0.96               6
TCI of CCC      24.81        37          0.67               4
Bay Cable       21.95        49          0.45               2
Concord         21.67        35          0.62               3
Donrey          19.85        53          0.37               1

*Bargain Rating : Who knows what this can mean.  If 40 of the 53 channels
 of the #1 company were Shopping channels, I would not call it a bargain.
 Also, It is unknown whether Premium channels are included in the total
 channel count or not.  TCI does mention that their rate for 37 channels
 including the SATELLITE TIER is the fiqure of 24.81.  TCI's total channel
 capacity is around 43 channels although they claim to have 49 or so
 channels due to their channel sharing of some channels.  I really do not
 consider this data all to valid for rate comparisons since it is not stated
 what the rate covers vs. channel capacity.

       tweek@netcom.com  tweek@tweekco.uucp  WWIVNet 5@5058  4@5056 
          I'd rather get my cable service from the phone company,
                than my phone service from the cable company.