Cost of Cable and Streaming Services Increasing in the New Year

Happy New Year, everyone! As we kick off 2025, it looks like the cost of watching our favorite cable and streaming services is on the rise. Spectrum cable customers, listen up – your monthly bill is about to get a little bit more expensive. Starting on January 15, the price of every Spectrum cable package will increase by about $5 a month. Here’s a quick breakdown of the new pricing:

– TV Select Plus: from $120.74 to $125
– TV Select: from $115.74 to $120
– TV Select Signature: from $110.74 to $115
– TV Choice: from $75.75 to $80
– Spectrum Basic: from $35.74 to $40

But hold on, cable isn’t the only thing getting pricier. Some of our favorite streaming services are also upping their costs. YouTubeTV, for example, will be increasing from $72.99 to $82.99 a month. And Hulu Live TV customers will now be shelling out $95.99 a month for their bundle, which includes Disney+ and ESPN+ without ads.

Even Netflix users saw a rise in prices last October, with premium plans going from $19.99 to $22.99 a month. To shed some light on what’s behind these price increases, I reached out to Dan Rayburn, a principal analyst in streaming media. According to Rayburn, content is the biggest cost for these services, which is why prices keep going up every year.

So, how can you save some money while still enjoying your favorite shows and movies? Rayburn offered some tips to consider:
– Think about what content is most important to you and your family
– Decide if you prefer streaming or on-demand viewing
– Set a budget and stick to it
– Check if any services you’re already using offer free access to other platforms

It’s good to keep in mind that these price increases are probably here to stay. Rayburn doesn’t see any relief coming our way anytime soon. So, be smart about how you choose your services and find the best ways to get the content you love without breaking the bank. Let’s make 2025 a year of smart streaming choices!