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Comcast repositions Spike, Pop and CMT

Comcast Corp. has repositioned three low-rated channels - CMT, Spike and Pop - to more expensive cable packages. Consumers have complained about cable-bill costs and say they don't watch many cable channels even though they pay for them.

Comcast Corp. has repositioned three low-rated channels - CMT, Spike and Pop - to more expensive cable packages.

Consumers have complained about cable-bill costs and say they don't watch many cable channels even though they pay for them.

Comcast and Verizon have been trimming channels to offer so-called skinnier bundles.

Effective Jan. 14, CMT was available on a sports-entertainment package on the Comcast cable system in the Philadelphia area.

Previously, CMT - a country music channel - had been distributed to Comcast customers who subscribed to the digital preferred package. Now those customers will have to purchase Comcast's sports-entainment package, an additional $9.95 a month, to watch CMT.

Spike and Pop - formerly the TV Guide Channel - are now available on the digital preferred tier, which costs $87.90 a month. Spike had been available on the $69.95-a-month digital starter tier. Pop had been available on digital economy tier at $39.95.

Comcast said in a statement that it realized that some customers would be disappointed but it was "looking at our contractual rights to move channels as a way to help us reduce [programming] costs while continuing to make those channels available to customers who want to watch them."

bfernandez@phillynews.com

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@bobfernandez1