Broad Strokes: High-Speed Service Options Abound

Amid a slowing and competitive broadband service market, lifelong pricing schemes and a new BPL service are but a few of the options multichannel ops are using to retain and attract customers. Announced last summer but officially launched this week in Dallas is DirecTV‘s BPL offering, a jv with service provider Current. Now available to 65K area homes, the service offers 4 packages and touts equal upstream and downstream speeds. The slowest 1.5Mbps package runs $20/month for the 1st year and $30/month afterward. 8Mbps, the highest speed, is available for $35/month, then $45/month. DirecTV and Current expect expansion of the service to additional area homes and markets. Meanwhile, Comcast has introduced throughout western states such as AZ, CO and NM a “Price for Life” guarantee covering its HSD tier offering download speeds of up to 12Mbps. Comcast video customers can lock in a perpetual monthly bill of approx $43/month without a contract, although service and/or plan alterations of any kind and related to any service nullify the for-life price. New customers may opt in for a higher-price (approx $60/month) and are subject to the same restrictions. If Comcast boosts the speed of the qualifying tier, however, prices will not change. For example, a Coloradan who purchases the service but maintains phone and video providers other than Comcast—and who never opts to slow broadband speeds —may receive broadband service over 30 years for approx $22K. Speaking of long-term pricing, a NC consumer is willing to pay more than $30K to receive HSD service for life from Charter. The bid currently tops the MSO’s online auction for the service, which ends Wed. The winning bidder also receives a modem and free installation.