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The Best Cable TV Providers
When it’s time to shop around for your cable TV provider, you may not have a choice at all. The industry is made up of regional monopolies, which means the cable companies that service your specific address are often limited. But fear not: We’ve taken a close look at the nation’s largest cable companies and each of their features, so you can evaluate the most common options — and find the best cable TV company for you.
The 5 Best Cable TV Providers
- Spectrum
- XFINITY
- Cox
- Frontier
- Mediacom
The Best Cable TV Providers: Summed Up
What Makes a TV Provider Better
It’s difficult to get an apples-to-apples comparison between TV providers in any one area, whether you’re looking for a cheap TV provider or other factors regarding price. This is due to the variations in not just the number of channels offered in a given plan, but exactly which channels are offered as well.
But, among the considerations when comparing TV providers include the quality of customer service, flexibility in the plan offerings, whether they offer the channels you’re interested in watching, and whether they offer bundled packages. You don’t want to pay for more channels than you need, but you want to make sure you get the channels you like to watch. If you like a lot of premium channels, it may be better to get an all-inclusive higher priced plan than a less expensive plan where you have to add the premium channels in an a la carte model.
Pros
Bundled savings
Customer service
Cons
One TV-only plan
Why we chose it
Bundled savings
For more package options (and more channels) with Charter Spectrum, you’ll have to bundle with internet and phone service. Those bundles come at a fair price though, and include free installation (normally $50), WiFi set up (typically $40), and DVR service ($12 per month). That’s a potential savings of about $234 in one year. Spectrum also includes HD channels free of charge.
What’s more, if you’d like to switch to Spectrum but are currently signed with another provider, the company will help buyout your contract up to $500 when you sign up for the Triple Play bundle.
Customer service
Spectrum’s customer service fares well with consumers. The company received a 63 out of 100 rating from Consumer Reports and 61 from ACSI, coming in above the industry average. In the J.D. Power ISP satisfaction survey, Spectrum received average rankings for most regions of the country.
Points to consider
Three TV-only plans
After Charter Communications acquired Time Warner Cable and Bright House Networks in 2016, it rebranded as Spectrum and has worked to simplify its services. The company offers three TV-only plans, ranging in price from $45 to $95 a month and offering from 125+ to 200+ channels.
Why we chose it
The most channel packages
XFINITY also offers three cable TV plans without signing up for a bundled package. Its TV packages come with a wide range of channels, from 10 to over 200. The most well-rounded plan is its Extra plan, which has many popular channels, including ESPN and the Hallmark Channel. You’ll only be missing out on premium networks and specialty sports channels like the MLB Network and Starz.
Nationwide availability
XFINITY from Comcast is one of the most widely available cable providers, with service in 39 states and 10,540 zip codes — so there’s a good chance you’ll be comparing it to another one on our list. Its top serviced cities are Chicago, Dallas, Houston, New York, Philadelphia, Los Angeles, San Diego, and San Francisco.
Points to consider
Customer service reputation
XFINITY does not have the best reputation for customer service, but it has steadily improved its ratings year after year. Its ACSI score rose by 11 points in just one year, from 53 out of 100 to 64 in 2020. This is an indication that the company is making an effort to improve its reputation and will likely continue to progress.
Pros
Online resources
Customizable plans
Cons
DIY fee
Why we chose it
Online resources
If you prefer to self-install and troubleshoot your own technology, Cox Communications’ website makes that possible. Its vast resource library offers educational how-to videos on setting up, using, and troubleshooting your services. If you have a problem, just select your issue in the website’s search tool, and you’ll be directed to the right instruction manual or video.
Customizable plans
The Contour TV plan with 140+ channels will suit anyone looking to capture a lot of favorites. It has nearly every channel except premium networks and specialty sports. You can also choose its TV Starter or Contour Flex (usually around $25 per month), and get the basics like PBS, ABC, the CW. You can also choose the Contour TV Ultimate plan that offers 250+ channels, including premium channels like Cinemax, HBO, and Showtime. Cox offers supplemental sports, movies, and variety packages you can add to get just your favorite genre-specific channels..
Points to consider
DIY fee
Cox is one of the few providers that offer the option to self-install your service. The catch? It’ll cost you $20 — basically charging you to DIY. Your alternative is a $75 professional installation. This doesn’t seem to hurt its customer satisfaction though, as it scored 63 out 100 from Consumer Reports and 62 out of 100 from the ACSI — both scores above Frontier Communications and Mediacom.
Pros
Fiber-optic options
Promotional offers
Cons
Average customer service
Why we chose it
Fiber-optic options
With Frontier Communications, depending on your location, you may be able to choose between FiOS TV and Vantage TV. FiOS TV is serviced by fiber-optic cable, rather than traditional coaxial cable. If you choose to bundle, you’ll also get fiber-optic internet — which means faster speeds. For your TV service, it might mean a sharper image if you have an HD or Ultra HD television.
Promotional offers
Frontier boasts some tempting promotional offers, including free installation, a free router, and Amazon Prime for a year. These enticing discounts could lead to significant savings, especially because Frontier’s usual charge for installation is $80. This is one of the best cable deals we found.
Points to consider
Average customer service
Frontier scored lower than most of the other companies we reviewed. It received a rating of 58 out of 100 from the ACSI and 59 out of 100 from Consumer Reports. This can be attributed to the fact that you’ll likely have to call to get any information and access to more plan options. Those plans might include a Frontier Prime plan that has 60% of the most popular channels, but not HBO, Nick at Nite, or other premium networks.
Pros
Add-on channel packages
Flexible installation window
Cons
Poorly-rated customer service
Why we chose it
Add-on channel packages
Mediacom only offers its cable TV service paired with an internet plan, but that starting bundle comes at a fair rate. You can get high speed internet, 60 Mbps, with the Local TV plan that includes 50+ channels. It comes with basic networks like ABC, CBS, FOX, NBC, CW, and PBS, but not much beyond that. You can upgrade to the Essential TV plan for 125+ channels or the Variety TV play for 170+ channels.
Mediacom also offers add-on genre packages to supplement the Local plan, so you don’t get a ton of channels you’re not interested in. There’s one for sports, movies, and kids channels. This could be a great option for viewers who stick to just a few favorites.
Flexible installation window
When it comes time to install, Mediacom has the most flexible scheduling, offering installation during evenings or on the weekends, and within a 30-minute window. The downside is that installation costs $99.
Points to consider
Poorly-rated customer service
Where Mediacom really suffers is its customer service. It consistently ranks at the bottom, a worrisome practice in an industry with an already poor reputation. Consumer Reports readers gave it 58 out of 100, while ACSI gave it 60 out of 100. If you choose Mediacom as your cable provider, keep a keen eye on your billing statements and confirm any deals your promised.
How We Chose the Best Cable TV Providers
Availability
There’s a good chance you won’t have more than two options for your cable TV service. Providers have limited competition by avoiding regions with existing monopolies. We favored cable providers with widespread available that were the most likely to be available to you. Local and more regional providers (like WOW! or Cincinnati Bell), score great in customer service but offer service in fewer than 10 states. If you happen to live somewhere with a local provider, it’s still worth considering.
Plans, pricing, and packages
We also considered each company’s assortment of channel packages, their prices, and the variety of bundling plans. We took the 136 most watched channels and tallied each provider’s channel plan to compare the price it took to get the best value. We found that you can usually get the best value just by sticking to the simplest channel package. Our favorite providers also offer discounts when you bundle your internet service, and they limit fees for first-time customers.
Customer service
We looked closely at the ratings and scores by Consumer Reports, the American Customer Satisfaction Index (ACSI), and J.D. Power. Each of these groups rate cable companies on customer satisfaction, with some breakout categories like performance, value, communications, billing, and technical support. Companies that score well with these consumer resources are more likely to resolve issues, clearly communicate changes in billing, and consistently provide reliable television service.
Guide to Choosing a Cable TV Provider
Find your options
Unlike satellite TV (think DISH and DIRECTV), cable TV companies aren’t available nationwide. Most people have fewer than three options no matter where they live. Why? Building out cable TV infrastructure and wiring in new areas is an expensive endeavor — one that requires careful consideration.
One of those considerations is the competition. If a large provider is already dominating a regional market, it usually isn’t worth the investment for others to compete, which creates regional monopolies. If you’re not sure who the big players in your zip code are, you can use our tool above or enter your address directly into providers’ sites.
Consider your viewing habits
In 2016, the Nielsen company discovered that, of the average 200 channels customer were paying for, they were only watching about 19 channels. That’s less than 10 percent. To find the best provider for you, you’ll want one that can maximize your favorite channels in one package — so you aren’t paying for 180 excess channels.
The best cable TV company will make it easy to find your favorites for a fair price. We took 2017’s 50 most-watched channels and tallied them against providers packages to see which were offering the best plans for the best value. Popular channels like the Food Network hold more value and relevance for most viewers than channels that tally up in your package count, like the Gem Shopping Network or C-SPAN 4. But if you know your TV habits are a little more niche, keep track of the channels you frequent most and then compare the provider packages to see which offers the best price for minimal excess.
Best for sports
Spectrum, XFINITY, and Cox are similar in their sports offerings. However, with 20 channels, Spectrum offers the most sports channels in its middle tier. Both XFINITY and Cox offer access to 10 sports channels in their middle tiers. In addition to the standards, such as CBS Sports Network, ESPN, ESPN2, FS1, and FS2, Spectrum also offers the ACC Network, MLB Network, NBA TV, NFL Network, SEC Network, and the Tennis Channel in its middle tier. The company with the fewest sports channels was Mediacom, only providing 10 options in its top plan.
Watch for fees
It’s not just your extra channels that can rack up a cable bill. You’ll want to keep a keen eye on subtle fees, too. Installation, equipment, and a local broadcast station surcharge are common — but how much those fees cost can be vastly different between providers.
To help you compare costs, we’ve compiled the most common fees from the top cable companies. If you’re more cost-conscious, you may consider these more seriously. Keep in mind, promotional deals for new customers tend to waive a few fees too.
| Charter Spectrum | | | | |
| XFINITY from Comcast | | | | |
| Cox Communications | $75 professional | | | |
| Frontier | | | | |
| Mediacom | | | | |
Be prepared to bundle
Most providers heavily encourage bundling your telecommunication services; phone, internet, and sometimes home security. Some providers, like Comcast and Cox, give you a wide range of TV and internet options you can purchase independently. If you choose Mediacom, you won’t have an option at all, as all its TV plans require an internet bundle. On the plus side: By bundling, you’re likely to save an average of $20 to $30 for each service.
Streaming options
If you want to look beyond cable TV providers, you may want to consider some of the streaming TV services. Some services are better than others for streaming live TV. Among those, the field narrows even further when looking for the best service to stream live sports.
Cable TV FAQs
More TV/Internet Reviews
We’ve spent years researching and reviewing the telecommunications space. If you’re looking for other kinds of service, more tv options, or would like to dive deeper into a specific avenue, check out on of our other reviews:
- the best TV providers
- The Best Cheap TV Providers
- The Best Satellite TV Providers
- TV streaming review
- The Best Internet Providers
About the Authors
Danika Miller has been writing for Reviews.com for three years, where she specializes in streaming, internet, and TV topics. She holds a bachelor’s degree in creative and technical writing from Western Washington University.
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