even when the cable company put out a really light weight, pick your own channels (10) package at a lower price..... two hours on the phone getting it sorted out, my bill went down a whole five bucks a month. i never watched the channels i no longer got, so five bucks saved was five bucks.

the savings was completely negated (and then some) two months later by a rate hike in the 'below the line' bullshit fees and surcharges--which by themselves is now about double the final monthly cost of 'basic cable' 25 years ago (back then, the plain 'basic cable' did include a few actual and popular cable channels, too. those were pulled off that about 15 years ago).

i am no longer a cable tv subscriber. i no longer watch local tv channels, either. as they can't be received by antenna where i live.