Cable TV service is the most popular option on the market, but your area might have satellite providers available, depending on where you are located. Consumers who live in rural areas are able to shop satellite TV, which service areas that other providers don’t. Streaming TV is also an option that gets more popular every year. Check below some pros and cons of each type of TV connection service.

Most people refer to “cable” as TV services in general, but actually cable TV is a specific type of connection with coaxial cables. Since these are as common as phone lines, this service is available in most areas.

• Availability – Covers roughly 89% of U.S. residents.
• Convenient bundling – Most companies also offer internet, home phone and home security services.
• Reliability – Cable TV is less likely to suffer interruptions due to extreme weather conditions.

• Cost – single TV packages may cost more than satellite TV with similar channel options
• Less specific channel options – cable TV usually doesn’t have as many regional sports networks, international channels or add-on options as satellite TV, for example.

These services offer basic channel plans for your household, including local channels and major networks. Enter your zip code above to check availability or call us and talk to one of our experts!

• Cox TV Starter – Starting at $25/mo. for 75+ channels
• Spectrum TV Select – Starting at $44.99/mo. for 125+ channels
• Verizon Your Fios TV – Starting at $56/mo. for 125+ channels
• Xfinity Basic – Starting at $20/mo. for 10+ channels

• Cost – single TV packages may cost more than satellite TV with similar channel options
• Less specific channel options – cable TV usually doesn’t have as many regional sports networks, international channels or add-on options as satellite TV, for example.

The most popular alternative for cable TV is readily available throughout all 50 states. With its signal being provided by communication satellites in the sky, a clear view of it and a place to install a satellite dish are necessary to receive service.

• Availability – Available nearly everywhere, it is an ideal option for suburban and rural areas.
• Package options – Satellite TV has a number of package options with add-ons for sports, premium channel, children’s networks and more.
• Picture quality – This service supports higher bandwidth, so you’re likely to get HD and 4k images on your TV

• Signal interference – extreme weather conditions, such as snow and heavy cloud cover can result in signal loss.
• Contract obligations – Satellite TV often starts with a two-year service agreement, which is longer than cable TV, for example.

DIRECTV and DISH are widely available in the US, covering nearly 100% of the country.

• DIRECTV – Starting at $64.99/mo. for 160-330+ channels
• DISH - Starting at $64.99/mo. for 190-290+ channels

Choosing your new satellite TV plan will depend on what you’re looking for. If you want a broader channel selection, including sports coverage, DIRECTV has more channels suited for you. But if you prefer to save money, DISH is a better option, although with less channels, that locks your price for two years, whereas DIRECTV raises it on year two of your contract.

To enjoy all the channels you want and watch your favorite movies and TV shows anytime and anywhere, combining a traditional TV service plus a streaming provider is worth considering. With approximately 12 options to choose from, streaming TV can be a great entertainment source for your household.

• Availability – Available on every device
• Price – Starting at $9/mo., depending on the provider.
• Flexibility – Share your plan with other users switching between multiple profiles.

• Reduced sports coverage – Sports fans have fewer live options available
• Internet – Streaming TV demands a good internet connection with plenty of data.

• YouTube TV - $64,99/mo. Hulu +
• Live TV – $64,99–$70,99/mo.
• Philo – $25,00/mo. Sling
• TV – 35,00–$50,00/mo.
• AT&T TV – $69,99–$139,99/mo.

If you’re not looking for live TV, on demand services like Netflix, Hulu and Amazon Prime feature movies, hit series and original shows that you can watch wherever you are.

Now, if you want to watch just a few movies or TV series, and are not interest in live programming, devices such as Roku and Amazon Fire TV Stick let you stream content on your TV from numerous sources.

Take a look at some of our providers channel lineup.

• Cox TV – Cox Ultimate TV plan with free premium channels include HBO®, SHOWTIME®, STARZ®, CINEMAX® and EPIX®.
• DIRECTV – DIRECTV Ultimate TV plan with free premium channels include The Movie Channel and STARZ ENCORE®.
• DISH – America’s Top 250 TV plan with free premium channels include STARZ®, STARZ ENCORE® and The Movie Channel. Frontier – Frontier’s Premier TV plan i with free premium channels include Cinemax, EPIX®, HBO®, SHOWTIME® and The Movie Channel.
• Mediacom – No free premium channels included but you can add the premium channels of your choice for an additional monthly fee.
• Optimum – Optimum’s Premier TV plan with free premium channels include HBO® networks, SHOWTIME® networks, STARZ® and STARZ Encore®.
• Spectrum – Spectrum’s Silver TV plan with free premium channels include HBO® and SHOWTIME®.
• Verizon – Verizon’s The Most Fios TV plan with free premium channels include SHOWTIME®, STARZ®, STARZ Encore® and The Movie Channel.

Making the final choice on your TV provider depends on what you’re looking for. Take a look at some of our tips.

• Compare your options: make sure you do some research on the providers available in your area before choosing a deal. Bundling plans: bundling all your household services (TV, internet and phone) saves you time and money and simplifies your monthly bills.
• Watch out for additional fees: consider if you’ll need to pay extra for equipments, how many TVs you will need receivers for, if you want DVR service and other add-ons. These will increase your plan’s monthly fee.
• Look up the provider’s channel lineup: to get your money’s worth, instead of relying on the number of channels, make sure you’re getting all the content you want to watch.

If you have any doubts about purchasing these services, we are here to help. Contact us on the number on top of the page to get the best deal for you.

Making the final choice on your TV provider depends on what you’re looking for. Take a look at some of our tips.

• Termination fees When cancelling your TV plan prior to the end period of your contract, you receive what is called an early termination fee. Usually, providers charge around $ 15 for every month you have left in the contract.
• Price increase Some providers have price changes a year after the contract was signed. This is likely to happen with most services, unless specifically announced that the cost is locked-in, in case of a two-year contract. To avoid unexpected spending, ask before subscribing to your TV plan.
• Hidden fees Most TV providers have additional fees on their services, such as activation fees, broadcast TV fees, regional sport fees, and more. It is important to get the full picture before signing your contract. You can count on CleverPing® to help you with that!

Why does CleverPing® need my zip code before I can see the available providers?

We use your zip code to provide the best information on services around your area. It is the easiest way to get customized information on what you’re looking for.

What is the difference between cable and satellite TV?

Cable TV uses a coaxial cable connection and a cable box to receive signal. This type of provider is mostly available in urban areas and metropolitan areas, while the latter use satellites that have been sent out of the Earth’s atmosphere to provide signal to each household via an installed satellite dish. This type of service is available nationwide, including rural and suburban areas.

What is 4K TV?

Also called Ultra HD TV, this type of image has a resolution of 3840 x 2160 pixels, about four times the 1920 x 1080 usually received from HD TV. That means a sharper, improved image for your TV. Satellite TV supports this type of picture resolution, as long as you have a 4K TV to enjoy this feature.

Will my TV plan be cheaper if I get a bundle service?

As a result of a major competition between providers nowadays, most companies offer discounts when you bundle TV, internet and phone services together, instead of hiring different services for each.