HOT: The new monthly rate of NIS 195 will affect only 3% of subscribers.
Merged cable companies’ superbrand HOT has raised the price for its basic digital package by 4.5% from NIS 186.50 per month to NIS 195, which will come into effect on February 1. HOT said the rate hike affected only 3% of its subscribers, even though it has 600,000 digital subscribers.
HOT claimed that the reason so few subscribers were affected was its switch to the price package method in 2005, with the result that most subscribers would not be affected by the rate hike. The new price for the basic digital package does not apply to subscribers with special rates or with packages for specific periods of up to one year, which HOT claims accounts for the majority of its subscribers.
HOT said it had decided not to raise the price for the analog package. 35% of HOT’s subscribers have analog service.
HOT last raised its rates in February 2005.
The Antitrust Authority recently accepted consumers’ complaints about HOT and YES satellite broadcaster’s actions concerning prices and collection. The Antitrust Authority is now investigating the multi-channel television market.
Published by Globes [online], Israel business news - www.globes.co.il - on January 25, 2006