DIRECTV next month will raise prices on most programming packages for existing customers by $1 a month to $8 a month as well as hike the Regional Sports Channel fee in select markets, AT&T, which owns DIRECTV, has revealed in a notice posted at its web site.

U-verse, also owned by AT&T, will raise most programming plans by $3 a month to $7 a month, and raise its ‘Broadcast Surcharge Fee’ by $2 a month. 

DIRECTV has hiked prices on programming packages in January for several years in a row, blaming the rising cost of program acquisition. This year, AT&T again attributes the need to raise prices for U-verse and DIRECTV on increased carriage fees.

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“Because our programming costs went up, we have to raise our monthly prices for select packages starting January 20, 2019. You’ll see the new pricing on your bill,” the notice states.

Comcast and Charter have also announced price hikes for 2019.

DIRECTV’s 2017 price increase ranged from $2 a month to $6 a month while the the 2018 hike was $2 a month to $8 a month.

The DIRECTV rate increases coming in January 2019 will include the following plans:

* BASIC CHOICE — $1 a month increase
* SELECT — $3 a month increase
* MAS LATINO — $4 a month
* ENTERTAINMENT — $3 a month increase
* CHOICE — $5 a month
* TOTAL CHOICE — $5 a month
* CHOICE EXTRA CLASSIC — $6 a month increase
* TOTAL CHOICE LIMITED — $5 a month increase
* PREFERRED XTRA, EXTRA, ULTIMATE — $7 a month increase
* ULTIMATE PREMIER — $8 a month increase

DIRECTV says it will not increase the price of the Family plan

However, the satellite TV service says it will also raise the regional sports channel fee from $1 a month to $1.90 a month in most markets.

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U-verse is raising the price of the following plans starting January 20, 2019:

* U-FAMILY, U-100 — $3 a month
* U-200, U-300 — $5 a month
* U-400, U-450 — $7 a month

AT&T will not raise the price of the U-basic plan.

The AT&T notice says if you are on a current DIRECTV promotion, your discount will continue until it ends or expires. Once your promotional period ends, you will be charged at our new programming package prices.

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— Phillip Swann