COUNTYWIDE : Cablevision Plans 7.9% Rate Increase

A Ventura County cable television company has announced that it will raise subscriber rates countywide in May.

Ventura County Cablevision President Alexander Zwissler said the company plans a 7.9% increase for its standard cable package.

The increase would go into effect on May 1.

The company will mail notices to subscribers in Fillmore, Santa Paula, Camarillo, Moorpark, Thousand Oaks, Westlake Village and the Ojai Valley in March, Zwissler said.

The increase, which will bring rates for the basic subscription package and 15 extra satellite channels to $19.37 per month, reflects the increasing cost of programming, which has gone up 10% in the past year, Zwissler said.

“In the last five years, programming costs have gone up 500%, yet the thing we hear most from people is, ‘Give us more programming,’ ” Zwissler said.

A rate survey conducted by the company late last year showed that its prices were still lower than comparable services offered by other companies, Zwissler said.

For example, a standard cable package costs $22.75 at Jones Intercable of Oxnard, while an equivalent package costs $21.30 from Avenue Cable in Ventura.