Choosing a cable package shouldn't be difficult, but it is. Provider websites are complicated. Services are grouped, then grouped again. Promotional prices expire without notice.
It's enough to make you bury your head in the sofa cushions but don't.
Instead, take a deep breath and follow these five steps to help you choose a cable provider and package that meets your needs and your budget.
- Research your options
First, find out what cable providers are available in your area. This is quite simple. Websites like AllConnect and Digital Landing narrow down the choices by address. (Investmentmatome is not affiliated with these sites and they can earn money by clicking on their recommendations.)
Once you know your options, do a little digging. Ask your friends and neighbors which provider they have and what their experience has been. Does your service go away? How often? How fast is it typically restored? How would you rate your provider's customer service?
You can also see how providers fared in the US Customer Satisfaction Index telecommunications report. The annual survey ranks some of the largest TV providers based on the happiness of their subscribers. According to 2016 reports, Verizon FiOS and AT&T U-Verse customers reported the highest satisfaction. Cox Communications, Mediacom, and Time Warner Cable, which is 2016 merged with Charter Communications, now called Spectrum, had the lowest satisfaction scores among qualified providers. You may also be interested in "Cable TV network" here Tv por Assinatura
2. Decide which channels are essential.
On average, American adults get about 205 channels, but they only watch about 20, according to a September 2016 Nielsen report. That means they are paying for a ton of channels that they never watch. Don't be one of those people.
Instead, write a list of must-have channels. Follow it up with a list of nice channels. Next, see which supplier can give you your must-haves, without too much excess. Bonus points if you can get some channels from your second list.
Be realistic about how often you'll actually watch those enjoyable channels before paying an extra $ 10 per month for a package that includes them. After all, is Spike TV really worth $ 120 a year?
You can also consider whether you want to use a cable provider. You can decide to watch the free TV streaming only or combine the free TV with a streaming service like Netflix or Hulu.
- Do the math in packages
If you are among the 13% of Americans who do not use the Internet, you can skip this part. Otherwise, stay around.
"Combining is a smart choice because it often results in getting more services at the same price than just getting an individual service," says Alice Williams, Communications Specialist at Frontier Communications.
A good Internet and TV package can save you more than $ 1,000 in two years, depending on where you live and what you need. But it does add another layer of complexity.
You will need to find out what internet speed you need and what kind of broadband service you can get: DSL, cable, or fiber optic. That can help narrow your options if, for example, you want cable Internet and one of the providers on your list offers the only DSL in your area.
However, not all packages are good. Check the price of each service separately and compare it with the price of the package.
- Ask for offers
Cable companies roll out the red carpet for new customers. They often take $ 20 or more off the monthly price for the first year.
"Compare promotions between cable providers," Williams says, emphasizing the need to pay attention to detail. "Don't be lazy; always read the fine print."
An important detail to keep in mind: when the promotion expires. Mark that date on your calendar so you won't be surprised by a higher-than-normal bill, and use it as a reminder to re-evaluate your cable package.
- Negotiate
Haggling may not be in our blood, but it should be. You could cut your cable costs or get additional services by negotiating with your cable provider. To do this effectively, you need to know what you can get elsewhere (see step four).
Charter Spectrum and Verizon are both good internet options and choosing between them can be tough when both are available in the area.
That is because both offer similar speed levels and have their fan base.To make this choice easier, we have done some research against both service providers, what they offer, how they differ from each other, and the cost that customers would have to pay.
That will take out the guesswork and offers you in-depth insights into what you’re looking at.Verizon Fios VS Charter SpectrumTo compare both of these service providers, we will be looking at the connection type, monthly costs, plans and options, one-time charges, and plan perks and benefits.Type of ConnectionIn this comparison, the first thing we are going to look at is the connection type for both service providers.
Cable connection is the second-best option available after fiber optics because it can offer higher download speeds but the upload speeds are generally slower than fiber.AvailabilityIf we look at both service providers from the aspect of availability, Charter Spectrum is the winner here.
That is because the fiber optics connection is still in the expansion phase and is not available nationwide.
Different service providers are offering services through Fios but are limited to a few states.Verizon Fios services are also currently available but are limited to 9 states along with the District of Columbia.
