How To Avoid Spectrum Broadcast TV Surcharge Fee

If you are wondering why your TV service bill keeps going up with each bill, then you should know that these companies charge extra bills on multiple services. Spectrum subscribers are not an exception.

What’s killing customers the most is the Spectrum Broadcast TV surcharge, among the many others that customers don’t exactly know about until they get their first bill. This, however, does not mean that Spectrum imposes charges on customers without their knowledge.

It means that customers don’t take their time to understand all the charges on their package until the shock of the high bill at the end of the month. Read on to find out more about broadcast TV surcharge.

What is Spectrum Broadcast TV Surcharge

Spectrum gets charged a certain amount of fee by your local broadcast station providers they are affiliated with to air their channels. This includes broadcast channels such as CBN and FOX.

But what does that have to do with you as the customer? Spectrum broadcast TV Surcharge could be just a way for them to recover some of the money they pay the broadcast providers.

Note: that the fee is not assessed by the law. That is why it is different for every company. So this can be viewed just as a clever way for cable companies to squeeze some more cash out of your pocket.

The worst part of all is that the fee keeps going up with each rising sun, causing your bill to also go up at the end of the month. Although Spectrum would always inform their customers of the rising charges, customers have never approved of it.

Spectrum Broadcast TV Surcharge

How To Avoid Spectrum Broadcast TV Surcharge Fee

So is there anything you can do to rid of broadcast tv fees? Simple answer; probably not. This charge is not only imposed on Spectrum customers and we have seen lawsuits against their counterparts, such as Comcast, which haven’t knocked them off, yet.

So it looks unlikely for the fees to be removed any time soon. And unless you cancel your plan for another one, there is no chance just for the one fee to be removed from your TV services package/ plan.

However, there are some ways you can try to get a better deal;

Contact third-party Service Providers

These are companies that intervene and spark a bargain for you. They act as your lawyer and negotiate on your behalf. You might be thinking that you can always negotiate for yourself and save some cash.

But the thing is, that is what they do all day, and they are experts and professionals in it. There is a higher chance that they may be able to get a discounted offer for you. The only downside is that, whatever happens, whether they succeed or not, you still must pay them.

Contact Cable TV Customer Service

If you don’t want to approach the third-party companies described above for help you can always do the work yourself. There are very slim chances that you will get any discounts or have the fee removed.

However, those who have been their loyal customers for a long time might just get credit. How you approach them is what will determine the outcome of your conversation. You could be mad and frustrated about the surcharge but avoid going there all worked up.

First, keep calm, cool, and composed. Reach out to their customer representative and let them know you want to cancel your services. Don’t be too direct when they ask why. You can tell them you have found a better deal.

If you complain about the Broadcast TV surcharge they will tell you there’s nothing they can do about it. But if you let them know you are not happy with your plan and have got a better deal, they will keep you on hold and try to get you a better solution for your needs.

Better still, you might be lucky to get a credit. If not, then you can expect your services to be canceled after that.

Things To Consider Switching To Another Cable Provider

If you want to keep the cable TV, there is probably nothing much you can do. Trying to put up a bargain might not be of great help. That being said, you can cancel your cable TV and keep the “internet only”. This assures you never get to see any broadcast TV again.

Lucky enough, you don’t have to be stuck paying the Spectrum Broadcast TV surcharge. You can always cancel your service and opt for another cheap cable plan. There are multiple companies in the market that you can shift to.

The most important thing is to determine what your needs are, what your budget is, and find something that suits both. Different companies are different and even if they all have their faults, they come with different prices, arrangements, and terms and conditions. Find one that best suits you.

Conclusion

This article should help you understand what Spectrum broadcast TV surcharge is. While this is a cost that is hard to get rid of, you still have options to work around it. You can either try to bargain for a lower price, completely cut your cable TV services, change your plans, or better yet, change companies.

Every decision you make has a consequence. If you decide to cut cable TV service then you can expect to never see a broadcast TV station. If you change your plan, you can expect some services to be withdrawn, and even if you change companies remember that most of them still have the broadcast TV surcharge, just with different prices.

The good thing is that there will always be something for every need in the market. You just need to find yours.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

What Is The Broadcast TV Fee?

Spectrum broadcast TV surcharge is a pass-through fee to Spectrum by the local broadcast TV providers. It is the prices assessed to cable tv providers (Spectrum) by the broadcast stations to carry their TV signals, which they pass to customers.

Can I Stream Spectrum Broadcast TV For Free?

According to Charter Communications, the TV signals were made available to them for free or at a low cost before. But now, the prices imposed on them have forced them to pass the costs to customers.

Are Other Companies Charging Broadcast TV Fees Or Is It Just Spectrum?

Yes! A majority of cable companies are charging a broadcast TV surcharge either wholly or partially. The only difference is that each company sets its own prices and arrangements. That is why you will find different companies charging different fees.

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