Network programming is the single, largest cost on your cable bill, but why is that?
During our annual negotiations, networks ask for huge increases in their fees, and Service Electric must negotiate to keep these costs under control. ABC, CBS, NBC and FOX are free if you use an antenna, so why do they charge outrageous fees to carry their content on cable TV? It all goes back to “Retransmission Fee” legislation from decades ago!
From 2000 to 2023 the cost of TV Sports rights has increased from $3.4 Billion to $15.4 Billion – And Climbing!
Service Electric is on your side. We do our best to control annual price increases that Networks demand for EVERY channel we offer! We encourage you to contact your representatives to help us fight these increases.
While we strive to keep our rates as low as possible for our customers, we do need to periodically adjust our rates because of increases incurred through programming and business costs. The TV networks continue to increase their costs at an alarming rate. We will continue to negotiate to keep our rates as low as possible. Learn More About Costs →
Your bill is broken into sections, depending on which services you have through Service Electric. You can get an explanation of your entire bill here.
All cable providers are facing the same challenges. At Service Electric we are doing everything we can to keep our prices reasonable and keep your money in your pocket.
The Service Electric channel lineups are created based on a variety of factors. Unfortunately, the network broadcasters intentionally ‘bundle’ less popular channels with popular ones, forcing us to offer them as a package, as opposed to ‘a la carte’ selections.
If you are signed up for a promotion, it will appear as a credit on your bill each month through the end of the promotional period. You are welcome to check with us at any time regarding current promotions to see if you qualify.
Although broadcast TV stations are free over antenna, the government allows them to charge cable and satellite companies for their “free” signal. If Service Electric refuses to pay, the network will black out the stations. Learn More →
A variety of college and professional sports teams are increasing rates faster than Service Electric can keep up. The networks intermix these sports channels with others in a bundle. As a result, cable TV viewers with our Full Basic lineup pay for this service, even if you don’t use it. Learn More →
Unfortunately, the networks have intentionally made it impossible to have ‘a la carte’ channel selection. Service Electric must carry all channels from certain networks, even if only a few channels are desirable. We are forced to carry ‘tiers’ as part of our agreement, driving your costs higher. We typically absorb some or all of the rate increase, but sometimes have to pass a portion on to you. This way, the network owners have an opportunity to get even more advertising revenue through lower viewed channels. Learn More →
There are several ways for you to make your voice heard. Learn How to Contact Legislators. If you would like to speak with a Service Electric customer service representative, you can call 610-865-9100 in the Lehigh Valley and New Jersey, or 570-825-8508 in Wilkes-Barre.