Cox cable raises rates

HAMPTON ROADS, Va. (WAVY) - Cox Communications customers will see a rise in their rates beginning August 16. Rates will go up six percent for Cox's standard cable package.

Customers rates will rise from $51.95 a month to $54.99.

According to Felicia Blow, a spokesperson for the company, rates are going up due to the ever increasing cost of programing. Sports programming is driving the rate up the most, Blow said. The company's costs rose 9.9 percent from 2009 to 2010.

Cox has tried to absorb the bulk of the costs, but have had to pass some of it along to the consumer.

Basic cable rates will also increase. Customers in Norfolk will see their bills jump from $9.31 to $11.50 per month. The rate for others in Hampton Roads will rise from $13.65 to $15 per month.

Meanwhile, Cox has lowered the price on two of its digital TV packages. The Advanced TV service and its Advanced TV Premier service have dropped by $.95.

Cox Communications Inc. serves more than 415,000 cable customers throughout Hampton Roads.