Cox unveils LV rate changes

Kevin Rademacher

Thursday, April 29, 2004 | 10:36 a.m.

Las Vegas-area customers receiving Cox Communications' preferred basic cable service will soon see prices go up $2.49 a month.

It will, Cox executives promised, be the last increase in programming charges those customers see until 2006. In addition, basic cable rates that were cut twice over the past two years -- from $11.42 in 2002 to $8.91 last year -- will not change.

Other rate changes for Cox customers include an increase in analog or digital cable box rental charges from $3.95 to $4.20, an increase in the digital cable and digital video recorder installation from $30 to $39.95, and a decrease in high definition cable installation from $49.95 to $39.95.

The new rates will go into effect on June 1.

Cox typically institutes rate changes in March, but the company announced in January that it would hold off on the increase as long as possible. Steve Schorr, a spokesman for the local cable service, said the company is now promising to leave the new preferred basic rates in effect for 18 months.

"Our (satellite) competitors have raised rates by 5 percent twice in the past year," he said, adding that the presence of new service providers prompted both the delay and the rate freeze. "We are in a competitive marketplace today."

Effective April 22, Cox also added three new digital stations requested by local educators, Schorr said. Those include National Geographic on channel 334, History Channel International on channel 335 and The Biography Channel on channel 336.

Cox also added Starz! Kids, a movie station on digital channel 265, and two high-definition stations, Cinemax and Starz!, on channels 711 and 721, respectively.

Cox also has launched a community programming station on channel 96, Schorr said. The Cox Community Channel is seeking programming from local schools and community organizations, including police and fire departments and nonprofit groups.

The Greenspun family, owner of the Las Vegas Sun, is a minority investor in the Cox system in Las Vegas.