Online Streaming Services
The launch of online streaming services such as DIRECTV NOW®, Hulu, and Netflix has encouraged several customers to ditch their traditional TV service and enter into a partnership with these streaming service providers. It is true that subscribing to a streaming service will enable you to catch your favorite TV shows, blockbuster movies, sports events, and more. However, the catch is that you will need access to a high-speed internet connection to enjoy a fine streaming experience. Customers who do not enjoy such a luxury should continue to stick with the best satellite and cable TV providers in their area.
Even though they have access to a high-speed internet connection, several customers in the country prefer to subscribe to cable TV providers due to the attractive packages and deals offered by the providers. It is significant to note that most of the cable and satellite TV providers in the country do offer a number of hidden perks and other attractive deals to new TV customers.
Reports from several reliable sources indicate that the immense popularity of streaming services has affected traditional TV services. This is because some of the leading TV providers in the United States have lost thousands of customers. Due to this, most of the TV service providers in the country are trying to lure in more customers towards their offerings by offering the best cable deals in the market.
How to Choose the Best Cable TV Provider
Selecting a cable TV service provider used to be a simple task until a few years ago but that is not the case anymore. This is because there are plenty of cable TV providers out there in the market and most of them offer a wide variety of plans and packages to customers. So, customers who wish to catch the best cable deals in the market will have to thoroughly compare all the plans offered by the TV providers who are operating in their area. In addition to that, they must definitely consider these following factors too, as it will help them to make an informed buying decision.
Availability
The first and most important thing you need to do is to do your research and find out the best cable TV service providers who are offering their services in your region. In most parts of the country, two or more cable TV options are available to customers. If that is the case, then make sure to get in touch with respective companies to learn more about their plans, packages, policies, and more. You should also try to reach out to the existing subscribers of the TV providers because it will help you to know whether they offer reliable and good quality service to customers or not.
Another important thing you need to note is that regional and local TV service providers like Cincinnati Bell and WOW offer impressive service at cheap and affordable prices. However, the issue is that the service offered by these providers is available only in 10 states of the country. If any of these providers are operating in your area, then you should consider subscribing to their service, as it will help you capture the best cable deals in the market.
Plans and Pricing
It is significant to note that the number of channels, pricing patterns, bundling options, and contract agreements of one TV service provider will significantly vary when compared to another. So, you should initially decide what kind of TV channels you need access to and how many channels do you really need. In addition to that, you must ensure that the channels that you want are included in the chosen package before making a final decision.
A recent survey conducted by experts in the field of telecommunications revealed that the most customers usually watch 20-30 channels. In fact, even the customers who have subscribed to a TV plan with 250 plus channels just watch only twenty to thirty of these channels. So, check whether the channels you want are included in the basic package. If not, get in touch with your preferred TV service provider and ask him whether you will be able to add additional channels to the basic package. However, you could also look for a new plan with more channels. Either way, you must ensure that you and your family will be able to catch the programs from your favorite TV channels.
Customer Service
Choosing Best Providers
Customer service is another important factor that you will need to consider before subscribing to a certain TV service provider. If you are experiencing regular outages and other related issues with your existing TV service, then you surely need to switch to a new TV provider who offers reliable service and the best cable deals in the market. If you have already found a new TV provider, then you need to ask whether you will experience any sort of issues with the service or not. Even if you experience any such issues, technicians from your TV service provider must be there to help you at all time. So, go online and check the reviews of your preferred TV provider, as it will help you to determine whether they offer high quality and reliable service.
In addition to that, you should also get in touch with the customer service representatives of the TV service provider and ask them whether you are eligible for any deals or promotional offers. This will help you to save hundreds of dollars and acquire the best cable TV deals in the market with utmost ease.
Some of the cable TV providers in the country might ask you to sign a two or three-year agreement with them. If you are not ready to enter into a long-term partnership with any cable TV providers, then it is best to look for a TV provider who does not ask you to sign long-term agreements. The issue with long-term agreements is that customers who cancel the service before the contract period ends might be forced to pay a hidden fee.
Top Cable TV Providers in the United States
Customers who are new to the world of cable TV providers and plans will find it very hard to identify the best TV provider who meets all their needs. Three of the leading cable TV service providers who offer their services in most parts of the country are Frontier Communications®, Comcast XFINITY®, and Cox Communications®. So, if any of these TV providers are operating in your area, then you should definitely consider choosing them. However, if all three TV providers are active in your area, then you will need to compare their plans and pricing pattern to catch the best cable deals in the market.
Comcast XFINITY®
Most of the leading cable TV providers in the country will offer just a single non-bundled option or they provide bundled options where you can bundle your internet and TV service under a single bill. This is what makes XFINITY® different from other TV service providers. Customers who are signing up for the XFINITY® TV service can choose any one of their five TV packages without subscribing to the internet.
Another interesting thing to note is that almost all TV packages of XFINITY® give you access to a wide variety of popular channels. In fact, you will be able to watch the coverage of approximately 200 plus channels by choosing XFINITY® over other TV service providers. For instance, the starter plan of the provider contains 40 percent of most of the popular channels in the country including Hallmark Channel and ESPN. However, specialty sports channels and premium networks like MLB Network and Starz will not be included with the basic plan.
The cable TV service offered by Comcast XFINITY® is currently available in 39 states and around 8,444 zip codes, which implies that Comcast® is one of the widely available cable TV providers in the United States. Even though this leading cable TV provider earned a bad reputation for their unreliable customer service a few years ago, they have been put in extra efforts to dramatically improve their customer service to please subscribers.
Cox Communications®
If you are a person who prefers to troubleshoot and install modems and other devices on your own, then Cox® should be on top of your list. This is because this cable TV provider has an exceptional online resource library with how-to-do video guides that enable customers to set-up and troubleshoot their services with ease. If you encounter any issues with Cox® TV service, then all you need to do is to choose the issue in the search tool, which will automatically redirect you to the accurate instructional manual.
High Speed Internet
The best TV plan offered by Cox Communications® is the Contour TV plan. Customers who choose this TV plan will be able to gain access to more than 140 popular channels, including some of the favorite channels of average TV watchers. However, specialty sports and premium channels will not be included in the Contour TV plan. Cox® customers could also opt for the Contour Flex or starter plan to watch the programs in The CW, ABC, and PBS.
In addition, customers who are opting for the cable TV service of Cox® will be able to choose supplement TV packages and add their favorite sports, movie, or other genre-specific channels. You will only have to pay an additional amount of 10 dollars a month to add a new channel to your existing Cox® TV plan. Finally, Cox® also allows you to self-install the service, which means that you will be able to save hundreds of dollars on installation fees.
Frontier Communications®
If Frontier Communications® is offering their services near you, then you do enjoy the luxury of selecting either Vantage TV or FiOS TV. The most popular option among the two is certainly FiOS TV. The FiOS TV service of Frontier® uses fiber optic cables instead of traditional methods. Customers who bundle the internet and FiOS TV service of Frontier Communications® will be able to enjoy access to a high-speed internet connection and watch more than 100 popular channels.
Several users have recently started to subscribe to the FiOS TV service of Frontier® due to tempting promotional deals and offers the telecom company is offering. For instance, new subscribers of Frontier® will receive a router for free and the installation of the equipment will also be free. In addition to that, customers might also get access to Amazon Prime for 12 months after signing up for FIOS TV.
Customers who are on a tight budget and the ones who wish to bundle their TV service with a high-speed internet connection should definitely choose Frontier Communications® over Cox Communications® and Comcast XFINITY®. This will enable you to get access to the best cable deals in the market. However, the major downfall of Frontier® is that their customer service is just average.
Conclusion
If you are planning to choose cable TV service over satellite, then you need to realize the fact that cable TV providers are not currently operating in all parts of the country. As a result, most customers will have one or fewer than three cable TV options because installing the necessary infrastructure of cable TV service is quite costly and requires time. Still, cable TV providers are trying to expand their TV service to remaining parts of the country, which means that cable TV service will be available in more states in a short span of time.
Finally, customers who are shopping for cable TV services should also note that most of the leading telecom companies in the United States encourage customers to bundle either two or three of their telecommunication services. It is true that bundling TV and internet or TV, internet, and home phone services will help you to save money and gain access to a number of features. However, if you are a person who does not rely on home phone or internet services, then bundling might not be a good choice for you.
