Every time we see a price increase from a streaming service, we see messages saying the prices are getting too high and asking if it could be time to go back to cable. What those messages aren’t considering is the extra fees and costs that come with a cable bill.
In this post, we’re comparing the costs of Comcast’s Xfinity Digital Starter package with what you’ll get for your money with Sling Blue and the Total TV deal.
Cost and Fees
Each of Sling TV’s base packages, Sling Orange and Sling Blue regularly cost $25 per month (they can also be combined for $40 per month.) With the Total TV deal, you can add 7 extra channel packages along with Cloud DVR storage for an additional $20 per month. That brings the total of Sling Blue + the Total TV deal to $45 per month. In some states, you’ll also pay tax on your subscription.
In total with the Sling TV Total TV deal, you will get 120 channels. This works out to be $0.37 per channel.
Comcast’s Digital Starter TV package starts at $49.99 for the first 12 months. Then, there’s the fine print where you’ll find the additional fees, including the Broadcast TV Fee at $10/month and the Regional Sports Fee at $8.25/month. Comcast also lists equipment, installation, taxes, fees, and other applicable charges that are subject to change during and after the term agreement. In total, these additional fees add up to around an extra $50 (according to bills sent in by readers as well as bills posted from Comcast customers online), depending on your location. You can find an explanation of the fees (15 in total), directly from Comcast here. That brings the total for the Digital Starter TV package to $118.24 per month.
These numbers are on par with the national average. According to Fortune, the average pay-TV customer pays $107 per month.
In total with this Comcast package, you get 86 channels. This works out to be $1.37 per channel.
This means when looking at the cost per channel Comcast’s charges 3.7 times more than what Sling TV charges.
Channel Comparison
Here’s what you’ll get for your money.
These are the channels you’ll get with Sling Blue + the Total TV Deal.
- A&E
- AMC
- AXS TV
- BBC America
- BET
- Bloomberg Television
- Bravo
- Cartoon Network
- Cheddar Business
- Cheddar News
- CNN
- Comedy Central
- Comet
- Discovery
- E!
- Epix Drive-In
- Food Network
- Fox (Select Markets)
- Fox Sports (Select Markets)
- FS1
- FS2
- Fuse
- FX
- FXX
- HGTV
- History Channel
- IFC
- Investigation Discovery
- Lifetime
- Local Now
- National Geographic
- Nat Geo Wild
- NBC (Select Markets)
- NBC Sports (Select Markets
- NBCSN
- Newsy
- NFL Network
- Nick Jr.
- Paramount Network
- Stadium
- SyFy
- TBS
- TLC
- TNT
- Travel Channel
- Tru TV
- USA
- Viceland
- Sports Add-On
- MLB Strikeout Zone
- MLB Network
- NFL Red Zone
- NBA TV
- NHL Network
- NBC Golf
- BeIn Sports
- Pac12 Network
- Stadium Plus
- Outside TV
- Olympic Channel
- Tennis Channel
- Kids Add-On
- Nick Toons
- Teen Nick
- Boomerang
- Baby TV
- Duck TV
- News Add-On
- MSNBC
- CNBC
- BBC World News
- The Blaze
- HLN
- W
- Euro News
- France 24
- News 18
- NDTV 24×7
- RT America
- CGTN
- Sci
- NewsMax TV
- FS TV
- Lifestyle Add-on
- VH1
- Oxygen
- Cooking Channel
- DIY Network
- FYI
- Hallmark Channel
- WE TV
- Lifetime Movies
- Hallmark Movies & Mysteries
- Hallmark Drama
- Z Living
- Heartland Add-On
- World Fishing Network
- Sportsman Channel
- Outdoor Channel
- Ride TV
- RFD TV
- Pixl
- Cowboy Channel
- American Heroes Channel
- Destination America
- Hollywood Add-On
- Reelz
- HDNet Movies
- Sundance TV
- Turner Classic Movies
- CineMoi
- Film Detective
- Comedy Add-On
- MTV
- MTV2
- CMT
- Logo
- Game Show Network
- TV Land
- Revolt
These are the channels you’ll get with Comcast’s Digital Starter package.
- A&E
- ABC
- Altitude Sports
- AMC
- Animal Planet
- BBC America
- BET
- Bloomberg TV
- Bravo
- BYU-TV
- BYU International
- Cartoon Network
- CBS
- CNBC
- CNN
- Comedy Central
- C-Span
- C-Span 2
- C-Span 3
- CW
- Daystar
- Discovery Channel
- Disney Channel
- E!
- ESPN
- ESPN 2
- Esquire Network
- EVINE Live
- EWTN
- Food Network
- FOX
- Fox Business Network
- Fox News Channel
- FOX Sports 1
- Freeform
- FX
- FXX
- Galavision
- Golf Channel
- Government Access
- GSN
- Hallmark Channel
- Hallmark Movies & Mysteries
- HGTV
- History
- HLN
- HSN
- HSN 2
- INSP
- Investigation Discovery
- Jewelry TV
- Lifetime
- Lifetime Movie Network
- MoviePlex
- MSNBC
- MTV
- MTV Live HD
- MyTV
- National Geographic
- NBC
- NBC Sports Network
- Nickelodeon
- OWN
- Oxygen
- Pac-12 Network
- PBS
- QVC
- Sprout
- SyFy
- TBN
- TBS
- The Impact Netwok
- The Weather Channel
- TLC
- TNT
- Travel Channel
- truTV
- TV land
- Universal HD
- UP
- USA Network
- Velocity HD
- VH1
- WE
- WGN America
- Xfinity Latino Entertainment Channel
Did you know we have a YouTube Channel? Every week we have a live Cord Cutting Q&A, and weekly Cord Cutting recap shows exclusively on our YouTube Channel!
Please follow us on Facebook and Twitter for more news, tips, and reviews. Need cord cutting tech support? Join our Cord Cutting Tech Support Facebook Group for help.