In February, Charter announced a $15/month, streaming-only package for Spectrum Internet customers in the live TV streaming market. The service launched as “Spectrum TV Essentials,” but Spectrum now indicates TV Essentials is no longer available for new subscriptions; existing customers may keep it (see Spectrum’s support page). For historical context, Cord Cutters News reported the initial rollout in select markets.
It’s available only to Spectrum Internet customers, and Spectrum no longer accepts new sign-ups for TV Essentials. Existing subscribers typically see pricing in-account (widely reported around $24.99/month), and the channel lineup can vary by market and change over time. Use Spectrum’s lineup lookup to verify what’s included for your address. Here’s how it stacks up conceptually to other skinny bundles.
Great if you don’t care about sports
The reason Spectrum TV Essentials and similar skinny bundles can cost less is that they omit local broadcast stations and regional sports networks — most national sports channels are excluded, and many major cable news networks aren’t included either — while focusing on entertainment and lifestyle networks. For eligibility and product details, see Spectrum’s official support page.
If these things aren’t crucial viewing to you, a skinny bundle is by far your best option. You can also supplement it with a TV antenna, which costs around $30, has no monthly fees, broadcasts in HD, and picks up your local ABC, CBS, Fox, and NBC channels. That way, you can still see the biggest games and events without paying a colossal monthly fee. (There are also a number of excellent free streaming services that can help fill that sports-filled hole in your TV schedule, and ad-supported viewing has grown significantly, per Comscore.)
How it compares to other skinny bundles
Spectrum TV Essentials’s closest current competitors by philosophy are Philo (entertainment-first, $28/month) and Frndly TV (lower-priced, family-focused). Sling TV offers modular mid-priced bundles that include sports and, in some markets, locals — a different scope than Essentials. TV Essentials historically carried 60+ entertainment/lifestyle channels, but lineups can change and vary by ZIP; confirm your exact list with Spectrum’s channel lineup tool.
When it comes to the channels people actually want, AT&T WatchTV no longer factors into the decision — it was discontinued in 2021 (details). Historical lists like TiVo’s 2017 Video Trends Report were once used to gauge demand, but today it’s more practical to compare entire channel families (A&E, AMC Networks, Warner Bros. Discovery lifestyle, Paramount’s entertainment/kids) and to verify your local Essentials lineup via Spectrum’s lineup tool. At a macro level, recent viewing data like Nielsen’s The Gauge shows YouTube and other major streamers (including FASTs) dominate TV time, shaping how low-cost bundles position themselves.
Here’s where the skinny bundles don’t line up (channel availability changes frequently; always verify on provider sites):
| Spectrum | WatchTV (discontinued) | Philo | Sling Orange | Sling Blue | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nick | ✔ | – | ✔ | – | – |
| Hallmark | ✔ | – | ✔ | – | – |
| Cartoon Network | – | – | – | ✔ | ✔ |
| CNN | – | – | – | ✔ | ✔ |
| Nat Geo | – | – | – | – | ✔ |
| Disney | – | – | – | ✔ | – |
| Animal Planet | ✔ | – | ✔ | – | – |
| Syfy | – | – | – | – | ✔ |
| ESPN | – | – | – | ✔ | – |
| USA | – | – | – | – | ✔ |
| TBS | – | – | – | ✔ | ✔ |
| TNT | – | – | – | ✔ | ✔ |
| FX | – | – | – | – | ✔ |
| NBC | – | – | – | – | ✔ |
| Fox | – | – | – | – | ✔ |
What’s more, AT&T’s WatchTV has been discontinued; if you’re not already on TV Essentials, the closest low-cost alternative available to anyone is Philo, while Frndly TV is even cheaper for Hallmark/A&E‑centric viewing. TV Essentials remains limited to Spectrum Internet customers and is not offered to new subscribers (details).
Compatible devices
Spectrum TV Essentials runs through the Spectrum TV app, so it works with all of the same devices and smart TVs. Supported platforms include Roku, Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV, Samsung Smart TVs, mobile apps, web (SpectrumTV.com), and Spectrum’s Xumo Stream Box; Spectrum does not list PlayStation or Xbox as supported, and there’s no broad native app for general Android TV/Google TV sets (use a supported streaming device instead). See the current list on Spectrum’s supported devices page. Here’s how it compares to the other skinny bundles:
| Spectrum | WatchTV (discontinued) | Philo | Sling | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PlayStation | – | – | – | – |
| Xbox | – | – | – | ✔ |
| Chromecast | ✔ | – | ✔ | ✔ |
| Apple TV | ✔ | – | ✔ | ✔ |
| Fire TV | ✔ | – | ✔ | ✔ |
| Roku | ✔ | – | ✔ | ✔ |
The Bottom Line
While Spectrum TV Essentials now appears to be limited to existing Spectrum Internet customers, it’s still a solid deal if you already have it and don’t need sports or local broadcast channels. Pricing for grandfathered subscribers is shown in-account (commonly reported around $24.99/month), and optional Cloud DVR via the Spectrum TV App is available for an added monthly fee (Cloud DVR details). If you’re starting from scratch, Philo offers a similar entertainment‑focused lineup at a low price, and Frndly TV can be even cheaper for Hallmark/A&E‑centric viewing; always confirm exact TV Essentials channels for your address using Spectrum’s channel lineup tool.
