Cox Communications is the latest MSO to introduce a low-cost video tier, rolling out a 20-channel package dubbed "TV Economy" in several markets for $34.99 per month.
With the introduction of TV Economy, Cox joins the ranks of Time Warner Cable, which introduced TV Essentials in September for $29.99 per month and Comcast's MyTV Choice, a $24.95 per month offering unveiled last year. Both of those packages do not include ESPN, although TV Essentials includes ESPN News and customers can add a sports package to My TV Choice, including ESPN and several other sports channels, for an additional $10 per month.
Although the exact lineup varies by region, TV Economy includes all the channels in Cox's basic package - broadcast networks and cable channels like C-SPAN and Animal Planet - and about 20-channels from its expanded basic package. Cox spokesman Todd Smith said the company began trialing the package in select markets late last year, but that it will be available across the footprint soon. According to FierceCable.com, which first reported the story Monday, TV Economy is available in parts of New England, Louisiana, Virginia and San Diego.
"Cox is now adding TV Economy as one of our standard service offerings as part of our continued effort to provide a variety of options that serve our customers' needs and suit their budgets," Smith said.
TV Economy's price point falls in the middle of other Cox offerings - its basis tier called TV Starter is at about $20 per month while its expanded basic package - dubbed TV Essentials - costs about $60 per month.
While it doesn't include the priciest network - ESPN gets an average of $4.76 per month per subscriber according to SNL Kagan - TV Economy does include networks such as the Discovery Network, AMC, Animal Planet, Disney Channel, Food Network and Nickelodeon.
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