If you were considering cutting the cord in 2020, then this news may help convince you. Cable TV prices are increasing in the new year, with Comcast and DirecTV planning to raise their rates.
According to Cord Cutters News, Comcast is raising broadcast television costs from $10 a month to $14.95 a month (this went into effective on Wednesday, Dec. 18). And basic television packages through Comcast will leap from $30 to $35 per month.
A Comcast spokesperson defended its decision to hike up costs in a statement.
“Rising programming costs — most notably for broadcast TV and sports — continue to be the biggest factors driving price increases for all content distributors and their customers,” explained the cable giant.
“Comcast is fighting as hard as we can to protect our customers from unrelenting demands for higher fees from programmers.”
It’s not only Comcast cable TV customers who will feel the impact of these rising costs. Internet costs are also increasing, with every Comcast internet plan except Gigabit Pro increasing by $3 a month.
AT&T customers will also be facing price hikes in 2020. According to Consumer Reports, price increases are coming across the board starting on Jan. 19, 2020. Depending on your plan and location, these increases will vary, but customers with Xtra and Unlimited plans through AT&T’s DirecTV will pay $7 more a month.
Those with U-family, U-family All In, and U100 through AT&T’s U-verse will pay $3 more a month, and those with U400, U450, U450 All In, U450 Latino and U450 Latino All In plans will shell out $7 more a month.
Find the full list of AT&T’s price increases on its website.
If you’re interested in changing your cable plan or cutting the cord entirely, check out these cost-saving alternatives to cable TV.
While these price increases are troubling, the good news is that there are so many streaming services, you can watch all of your favorite programs, even sports and local news, without a cable plan.
This story originally appeared on Don't Waste Your Money. Checkout Don't Waste Your Money for product reviews and other great ideas to save and make money.
