Cox Communications has begun notifying customers that it will institute across-the-board price increases starting Jan. 7.
A Cox customer shared a billing message in a DSLReports forum. The increases range from $1 for the now-$41-a-month Flex Watch skinny bundle to $5 a month for Contour TV packages. Virtually the only package Cox sells that isn’t going up in price is Playboy, which will be reduced from $19.99 a month to $15.99.
Notably, Cox’s broadcast TV surcharge is rising from $4 a month to $7.50.
Internet and phone packages are also increasing in price. The 10 Mbps “Starter” tier is rising from $34.99 to $36.99 a month, for example, while the 100 Mbps “Preferred” product is spiking to $76.99 a month from $72.99.
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The price increases don’t impact customers under promotional price guarantees until after the contract expires, of course.
“The rising cost of programming content continues to be the main reason why our video prices increase," said Cox spokesman Todd Smith in an email this morning to Fierce. "Cox also continually adds new features and functions to services, enhancing the value for customers. For example, via the new Contour video services we’ve added voice remote, better search and TV Everywhere capabilities. We’ve consistently increased internet speeds more than 1,000% over the last 17 years and we’re investing an unprecedented $10 billion in our infrastructure in the next five years. Part of that investment includes the nationwide deployment of DOCSIS 3.1, which builds on the strength of Cox’s fiber-based network and gives us the ability to roll out gigabit internet speeds throughout more neighborhoods at a faster pace."
Cox typically increases prices around $1 to $5 a month at the beginning of each year.
Cox reps didn’t immediately respond to FierceCable’s request for comment.