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Telefonica adds channels and raises Cable Magico cable prices in Peru

Living in Peru
Israel J. Ruiz

After telecommunications giant Telefonica announced last week that it was going to raise the price of its Cable Magico cable service in the country, it was reported that a congressional commission arranged to meet with Guillermo Thornberry, head of OSIPTEL, Peru's telecommunications regulating agency.

After meeting with the congressional commission for the protection of consumer rights, it was established that Telefonica's increase in the cost of cable in the Andean country was within permitted limits.

Furthermore, it was clarified that OSIPTEL did not regulate cable companies in Peru but only supervised their actions.

Telefonica representatives explained they were only required to inform OSIPTEL of the change in prices five days prior to their modification. Telefonica affirmed it had told OSIPTEL fifteen days in advance.

Once Thornberry assured OSIPTEL would not intervene in the matter, congressman Yonhy Lescano criticized the agency, stating the problem was not a change in prices but a change in contracts signed between the company and customers.

OSIPTEL is not obligated to approve these changes, said Thornberry, explaining the contract was not being modified but that only the price was being adjusted.

Beginning October 1, the basic Cable Magico cable package will increase 9 soles to 69 soles per month and will offer an additional 33 channels for a total of 70 channels.

The premium package will increase 12 soles to 132 soles and will offer an additional 20 channels for a total of 107 channels.

Local media has affirmed there are not options for customers that may not want more channels.

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# rachelinperu says :
24 September, 2008 [ 17:15 ]

Cable Magico has one of the worst cable services. I can't wait for Telmex to expand its coverage.

# Splaktar says :
25 September, 2008 [ 01:31 ]

Sound like reasonable deals to me.  If people don't want lots of channels, then they can use normal broadcast TV.

# Thomas says :
25 September, 2008 [ 08:37 ]

DirecTV with all channels not including movies is $38/month after all fees and taxes.  It has clear digital signal, on screen navigable menu, DVR available for extra cost, NFL Sunday Ticket, no fuzzy signals that are so common with Cable Magico and most of all, it's not subject to Telefonica's renowned atrocious customer service.

I can't wait for Telmex to expand to my building.  Rot in hell, Telefonica.

# Pamela says :
25 September, 2008 [ 14:32 ]

There is one more thing. People that have the "TRIO" package, i.e. phone, cable and internet, will see no change in their monthly bills. At least that is what I heard last night in Prensa Libre.

# Splaktar says :
25 September, 2008 [ 16:32 ]

Yes, but NFL Sunday Ticket doesn't have all of the games.  So half of the time the team you want to see isn't even on.  It stinks.  The first year they had all of the games and I enjoyed it.  But last year was terrible missing games.  This year I went with NFL Gamepass so I can get all the games online.  I'd love to get the DirecTV package if they only showed all of the games every Sunday.

As for prices, the full Cable Magico package is $44 or so, we pay around $75 a month for DirecTV and get a lot more channels.  I certainly wouldn't try to claim that DirecTV is cheaper, but it is a lot better.

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