TV viewers have many options to choose from
Cable customers, on the whole, are not a happy lot.
For years, consumer satisfaction with subscription television has wallowed in last place among 43 industries tracked by the American Customer Satisfaction Index.
As a result, some are cutting the cord and finding other ways to access video information and entertainment.
Some have switched to competing cable services, others have tried satellite services Dish or DirecTV, and others have pulled the plug entirely and hooked up their televisions to antennas to watch free over-the-air television.
The big TV tsunami, though, is in video streaming services over the internet. Once almost entirely the domain of Netflix, today the landscape is virtually glutted with such services.
Every alternative choice has its pluses and minuses.
Going with a competing cable service, for example, can simply be a case of exchanging one set of problems for another.
Satellite services have their own issues — including reliability during inclement weather and sun spots.
Video streaming also comes with a couple of caveats: 1) You still have to pay for high-speed internet to use it, and 2) If you don’t have a smart TV, you will need something to download the internet to your set — such as a digital media player like Roku or PlayStation. Even so, streaming can be a lot cheaper than cable or satellite because you can pick and pay for only those services you actually watch. For example, one recent survey found that the average savings were $115.33 per month after cutting the cable cord.
Which service to choose if you decide to drop Spectrum? Here are some of the many choices:
Amazon Prime Video: Offers television shows and films for rent or purchase, a selection of original content and more than 100 channels. Cost: $99 annual or $10.99 monthly for an Amazon Prime account, or $8.99 for video service only. HBO, Showtime, Cinemax and Starz are available at an additional cost.
AT&T U-Verse: The various packages range from 200 channels for $35 per month to more than 500 channels for $110 per month. As a product of a major telecom, the TV package is often bundled with internet and phone services.
CBS All Access: Features original programming such as “Star Trek: Discovery” and “The Good Fight,” a spinoff of “The Good Wife,” as well as past and current episodes of CBS programs and live programming streams of local CBS affiliates including WBNS-TV (Channel 10). Cost: $5.99 per month with limited commercials; $9.99 per month commercial-free
DirecTV: The offerings begin at $35 per month for 150 channels, with increased channels tied to increased charges, all the way up to more than 300 channels for $110 per month. The company is now part of AT&T, which means that the telecom also offers various other services at a discount. One of those is a video streaming service, DirecTV Now (see below).
DirecTV Now: Featured channels include A&E, AMC, Animal Planet, BBC America, BET, Cartoon Network, CNN, Comedy Central, Discovery, Disney Channel, ESPN, Fox News Channel, HGTV, Lifetime, Nickelodeon, TBS, TCM, TNT and USA, among others. Cost: $35 per month, with additional channels such as HBO and Showtime available for additional cost.
Dish Network: While its offerings are similar to other satellite and cable companies, Dish has been ranked highly for customer service. The range of service bundles starts at $59.99 per month, with additional channels at additional cost. Dish is also the owner of video streaming service Sling TV (see below).
Frontier Communications: The offerings are similar to other cable and satellite systems, with high speed internet, television and phone service. Prices start at $75.99 per month for 315 channels. Not available in all areas of central Ohio.
FuboTV: Live sports, including NFL, MLB, NBA, MLS and international soccer. Cost: $44.99 per month
Hulu: Includes dozens of channels such as AMC, Animal Planet, Cartoon Network, CNBC, Comedy Central, Disney Channel, Nickelodeon, TNT. Cost: $7.99 per month, with limited commercials; $11.99 commercial-free. Also, Hulu With Live TV for $39.99 per month offers more news, sports and entertainment channels with local stations, depending on location.
Netflix: The pioneer streaming service began with movies, then branched out into original series, most notably “House of Cards,” “Orange Is the New Black” and “Stranger Things.” Cost: $7.99 per month with one HD stream; $10.99 per month for two HD streams, $13.99 per month for four streams.
Sony PlayStation Vue: Offers dozens of TV channels including AMC, Animal Planet, BBC America, Bravo, Cartoon Network, CNBC, CNN, Discovery, Disney Channel, ESPN, Food Network, MSNBC, National Geographic Channel, TNT, Travel Channel and USA Network, among others, as well as on-demand video of TV shows, movies, and sports. Cost: $39.99 per month
SlingTV: Includes such channels as A&E, AMC, AXS TV, BBC America, Bloomberg, Cartoon Network, CNN, Comedy Central, Food Network, Galavisión, HGTV, History, Lifetime, TBS, TNT, Travel Channel. Cost: $20 per month for basic package, $25 per month for more channels.
WOW!: The television plans are small, medium and large, meaning fairly basic offerings (local channels) all the way up to multiple premium cable channels. But the offerings are always bundled with either internet or internet and phone. Prices start at $59.999 per month. Not available in all areas of central Ohio.
YouTube TV: Offers programs from the five major broadcast networks — ABC, CBS, Fox, NBC, The CW — and other channels including AMC, BBC America, Big Ten Network, Bravo, CBS Sports Network, Cartoon Network, Disney Channel, ESPN, National Geographic Channel, Syfy, TBS and TNT, among others. Cost: $40 per month. YouTube Red original content is available for an additional fee.