Comcast DVR Pricing

[mike300]

I'm kind of confused about Comcast's DVR priving. Right now I have two Comcast DVR's as I'm waiting on the Series 3. The first DVR costs me $9.95, but the second DVR costs $9.95 plus there is a $4.95 fee for an "additional digital connection."

I called Comcast to ask if this was correct and they said it was. They told me because I have the Digital Silver Package that one $4.95 charge is included with this package. But any additional digital locations cost another $4.95. So in effect I'm paying $9.95 for the first DVR, but $14.90 for the second one. Is this really how it's supposed to be?

Also, I was curious if anyone knows how this would compare to the Series 3 cost per month. If the TiVo service is $12.95, how much would one (or maybe two) cablecards cost? And would they still charge the $4.95 additional digital connection fee if I had a second Series 3?

Since the second DVR is already costing me $14.90, then depending on what Comcast charges for cablecards, suddenly the cost of the Series 3 per month is not looking bad at all. Especially if the second Series 3 sub was only $6.95 per month because of MSD.

[lessd]

Remember you will lose In Demand with the S3 because it not two way. If you use PPV you will have to use your phone to get a movie. Comcast charges for cable cards are confusing, they told me the first one is free the 2nd $2.75/month because it is another outlet but if both are used in a S 3 then its not another outlet. Until the S3 comes out and I can compare my Comcast HD DVR to the S3 TiVo we are just guessing.

[jfh3]

I'm kind of confused about Comcast's DVR priving. Right now I have two Comcast DVR's as I'm waiting on the Series 3. The first DVR costs me $9.95, but the second DVR costs $9.95 plus there is a $4.95 fee for an "additional digital connection."

I called Comcast to ask if this was correct and they said it was. They told me because I have the Digital Silver Package that one $4.95 charge is included with this package. But any additional digital locations cost another $4.95. So in effect I'm paying $9.95 for the first DVR, but $14.90 for the second one. Is this really how it's supposed to be?

Also, I was curious if anyone knows how this would compare to the Series 3 cost per month. If the TiVo service is $12.95, how much would one (or maybe two) cablecards cost? And would they still charge the $4.95 additional digital connection fee if I had a second Series 3?

Since the second DVR is already costing me $14.90, then depending on what Comcast charges for cablecards, suddenly the cost of the Series 3 per month is not looking bad at all. Especially if the second Series 3 sub was only $6.95 per month because of MSD.

No one has suggested that the Tivo service price will increase from $12.95 when the Series 3 is released.

As for Comcast, that seems consistent with other Comcast areas. In your case, it sounds like you would pay $0 over your package to hook up a Series 3 (at least one cablecard). Some cablecos will consider a second cable card an additional outlet, so unless you get a multistream one, you'd likely pay $4.95x2

[mike300]

No one has suggested that the Tivo service price will increase from $12.95 when the Series 3 is released.

I didn't mean to imply that with my questions. I assume the TiVo service only will stay $12.95, but I guess no one really knows. I was talking more about the Comcast charges.

[rlc1]

Well, it seems that what they are doing is providing you with a separate cable connection, to hook up the second box. That's like having "cable times 2" in your house. I guess that is what they are charging you for, if it really is a second connection.

[btl-a4]

Those prices are right on the nose. I was going to get a second HD DVR for the bedroom, but after I thought about It I just decided to get a HD Tuner Box which costs me 9.95, the same as the DVR does in the other room because of the stupid extra outlet charge.

[MEngland]

As I have written previously, when I tested their "$10 DVR" TW ended up charging me $10 for the DVR, plus $8 because they considered the DVR to include an internal cable box, plus $3 because I was using an additional "digital outlet" (which, I would note, is not Cable x2, it's just a splitter on the existing cable). And $0.35 for monthly rental on the remote. Add taxes and such and their $10 DVR ended up costing me about $24/month.

And it was not a very good DVR.

I returned it after 2 months.

[Olde Fortran]

There was another thread a few weeks ago where someone said that the second cable card rented for a lot more than the first one. I think that was also Comcast.

Most cable companies have always charged extra for additional outlets, only with cable tuners in TVs and VCRs they had no way to enforce it and hardly anyone paid.