Cox Goes International in Northern Virginia
Cable Operator Launches Digital Tier, Simply Worldwide Calling Plan
By Linda Haugsted -- Multichannel News, 4/23/2007 11:03:00 AM MT
Cox Communications is reaching out to international consumers in its northern Virginia market, offering a free digital tier of international channels, as well as a new international telephone-calling plan that it said offers per-minute rates lower than the competition's international access.
The programming tier will be available this summer to consumers who already subscribe to a digital sports and information, variety or movie tier. Programming will include Korean programmer tvK, WKTV and Korea 1; panAsian programmer ImaginAsian; Chinese channel CCTV-4; and networks with Dutch, Russian and French programming. Cox will make the tier available to 250,000 customers.
The company noted that similar programming is available from direct-broadcast satellite provider DirecTV, but on a tier costing $25 per month.
The operator will also launch Simply Worldwide, an international-calling plan. For a $1.99 monthly fee, Cox digital phone customers can dial to 70 countries -- including Mexico, the United Kingdom, Korea and China -- for per-minute fees ranging from 5-12 cents.
By comparison, Verizon Communications’ International Choice calling plan charges a $4 monthly fee and higher per-minute rates than those planned by Cox.
