Spectrum lost thousands of internet customers in the months following the company’s price increases, according to Friday’s release of Spectrum’s parent company Charter Communications’ first quarter earnings report.

As of March 31, Charter revealed the loss of 72,000 total residential and small and medium business internet customers during the first quarter of 2024.

The company also dropped from almost 30 million residential customers in the first quarter of 2023 to under 29.8 million residential customers in the first quarter of 2024.

All of this comes after a cascade of customer concerns over Spectrum’s business practices, including recent cost increases and altered channel programming for Rochester-area residents, both announced in January, and September’s dispute with Disney.

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What to know about Spectrum’s first-quarter earnings report

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Despite the significant customer loss detailed in Charter’s first quarter earnings report, the company’s revenue grew by 0.2% year-over-year to $13.7 billion.

Charter’s internet revenue also grew — 1.9% year-over-year to $5.8 billion — and was driven by promotional rate step-ups and rate adjustments, the report stated.

However, Charter’s residential revenue of $10.8 billion is a 0.4% year-over-year decrease.

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Spectrum’s price increases

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Spectrum customers saw various cost increases ranging from $2 to $5 per month effective with billing cycles beginning Jan. 30. Among the changes, customers with Spectrum Internet Assist, the company’s affordable internet option for low-income households, saw their monthly bill increase by 25% and those with Advanced WiFi began paying $2 more per month.

Here are the increased costs for certain Spectrum services as of January:

¯ Spectrum’s mandatory broadcast TV surcharge will increase from $23.20 to $25.75 a month.

¯ The company’s affordable internet option for low-income households, Spectrum Internet Assist, will increase from $19.99 to $24.99 a month.

¯ Spectrum’s monthly HD Box rental fee will increase from $10.99 to $12.50, as reported by Syracuse.com.

¯ The company’s Advanced WiFi charge will increase from $5 to $7 a month.

¯ Spectrum TV Essentials, the company’s live streaming service that doesn’t require a cable box, will increase from $24.99 to $29.99 a month.

¯ Spectrum’s Entertainment View and Latino View packages will each increase from $12 to $15 a month.

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Spectrum customers impacted by dispute

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Increased pricing has not been the only issue Spectrum customers have faced in recent months.

In September, Spectrum customers suddenly lost access to Walt Disney Co.-owned content such as college football games and U.S. Open tennis matches due to a dispute between the two companies.

After resolving the conflict right before the Buffalo Bills took on the New York Jets during a Monday Night Football game, the company offered refunds to affected customers and offered Disney-plus and ESPN-plus packages to some Spectrum customers at no additional cost.

Rochester-area residents were also made aware of altered programming heading their way in late January and early February due to other affiliate networks being more suitable as “in-market networks” for some Spectrum customers outside Rochester and its inner ring suburbs.