Photo: WBZ NewsRadio
QUINCY, Mass. (WBZ NewsRadio) — Bay Staters can expect to see new charges on their cable bill in the near future.
Massachusetts Department of Revenue Commissioner Geoffrey E. Snyder recently signed a directive that adds a 6.25% sales tax on all modern cable boxes. According to Directive 25-1, the tax will be added if devices can do more than connect a cable system to a TV broadcast receiver and allow for parental controls. Subscribers see the decision as another way to cut into their funds.
"It's just going to be more money out of our pockets," says one local resident.
The U.S. has seen pay TV subscriptions drop drastically in the last 10 years. Data from Statista shows that 5 million consumers cut the cord between 2014 and 2023 due to rising costs and the flexibility of streaming.
Research from Nielsen's monthly report showed streaming surpassed broadcast and streaming for the first time in May, with 44.8% of total usage in the U.S. That's compared to 20% for broadcast viewership and 24% for cable TV. While streaming costs continue to increase, residents like Christina of Quincy thinks you can save more money by cutting the cord.
"It's still going to be cheaper than paying for DirectTV or something like that."
WBZ NewsRadio’s Jim MacKay (@JimMacKayOnAir) reports.