When it comes to watching television, there are plenty of options available. One of them is to go for cable TV services that offer more than what you pay for. A few years ago, you were limited to only a few cable TV providers in your area. Choosing the best one was not a big deal. However, with the passage of time, the number of cable TV providers increased, making it difficult for people to choose the best one.
Choosing the best cable TV provider has to go through proper screening and research. With so many details, costs, and hidden charges, some of you might have regretted your decision in the past. But now the time has come to make the right decision. In this post, we are going to walk you through factors you need to consider before subscribing to cable TV. Let’s have a look at it.
Make a List of Channels You Love to Watch
Before subscribing to any cable provider, the first thing is to do some sorting. Different cable TV providers offer channel lineups that are different from the competitors. List down some of the most popular channels you would love to watch and find which cable TV provider is offering maximum channels in your list.
For instance, if you love live sporting events, go through the list of channels offered by different providers. The list must include popular sports channels such as the NBA, ESPN, and the NFL. If you don’t have any specific requirements, you can simply check the channel lineup that suits your requirements. Don’t forget other members of your family as well.
You may want to check and compare the prices for bundle deals offering you internet and cable TV services at a much affordable price. For instance, Optimum TV packages include 220+ channels along with internet up to 200Mbps and a voice-activated remote. Other great options include Spectrum, Cox, Xfinity, or Mediacom. It all comes down to which provider offers services in your area.
Search Providers in Your Area
You might have come across a number of cable TV providers offering the best deals and packages. But some of them might not be offering services in your area. The best way to find the cable TV providers in your area is to enter your zip code on different websites allowing you to search for service providers.
After entering the zip code, you will be provided with the number of cable providers offering services in your area. Note down the list and start digging through their websites. Check for customer reviews and ask for recommendations from your associates, friends, and neighbors. Also get to know more about prices, plans, contracts, and the additional fee charged after a year or so.
You can also refer to the American Satisfaction Index telecommunication report to know how good bad it is.
What’s Your Budget?
Cable TV bills are skyrocketing with each passing day. People are moving from cable TV to streaming services due to price hike every year or so. If you live paycheck to paycheck, it might put a big hole, leaving you empty-handed. But don’t worry we will help you to stay within budget without sweating.
Firstly the most important thing is to consider the advertised price and the actual price you will pay. Advertised prices are normally within the reach of everyone’s budget. But with the passage of time, the prices may go sky high and your bank account may give a deserted look. You need to confirm the prices and plans before you subscribe. Call customer support and ask for tiny details from cancellation charges to price hikes and equipment charges to any hidden fee. Note down all of them separately and analyze what suits you the most.
Bundling with Internet and Telephone
The majority of cable TV providers offer internet and telephone service along with cable TV. It offers you the convenience to pay the bill for all three services simultaneously. But another good side of bundling is that you can get discounts from a cable provider and enjoy more in less.
The discounts and deals may differ from one provider to another. Keep in mind that most of the discounts and promotions are limited to specific areas. You can contact customer support to confirm whether the deal is available in your area or not.
Check for Online Review
Picking the right cable TV provider needs to go through several steps. You may have come across three to four cable providers in your area with plans that suit your budget. But without knowing the quality of services, you can’t make your final decision. Choosing the best cable provider requires the same efforts when you are shopping for the best laptop or smartphone. You won’t buy anything unless you haven’t read the reviews of the existing customers.
The same goes for any cable provider. You need to check the reviews online and see what customers are talking about. Whether they respond to customer queries or not. What is the response time and how do they deal with customers.
You can also visit the social networking sites to get an idea about their services and find whether they provide what they claim. Don’t forget to check about complaints made by customers. For instance, hidden fees and early termination charges can turn off the customers. So take a look at what’s being said about the hidden charges.
Contract or No Contract
The majority of cable providers want you to sign the contract for a specified period. In case you terminate the contract, you have to bear early termination charges. The amount is calculated for the remaining months and charged from $20-$30 per month.
For instance, if you have terminated the contract six months before the end of the contract, you need to pay $120-$180 depending on the penalty set by the provider. If you are a frequent mover, signing a contract is going to suck out your hard-earned money. Make sure to look for cable services without a contract. Otherwise, you can also look for streaming TV services to get a dose of entertainment.
