Cable TV packages have evolved quite a bit over the last 10 years. Before the year 2000, you pretty much just had to pick from either a basic cable package or a digital cable package. Now there are literally dozens of choices when it comes to your cable package, as they offer multiple levels of service, and also high speed internet connectivity along with voice service. What are some of the important things to consider when shopping for a cable TV package? Are cable packages competitive with the alternatives, satellite and telco TV?
One of the important things to realize if you are served by one of the big cable companies like Comcast or Time Warner is that they want you to subscribe to multiple services. The cable TV network is already there, so for the company to make a greater return on their investment they need their subscribers to order and pay for multiple services. Thus, cable TV packages are designed to give you greater discounts based on the number of services you order.
Most people in America today have some sort of cable or satellite TV. More and more are ordering high speed internet service as computers make their way into almost every home. Telephone service in the home is on the decline though, as cell phones have taken over as a more convenient way to keep in touch. Thus, the cable TV packages you can get primarily focus on video and internet service. At minimum, you should be able to get a cable double play deal that gives you a nice discount on video and internet service. Oftentimes, the cable deal you get will last for six months or one year. Lately though, some offers have extended discounts for as long as two years, but you may have to sign a contract to get a discounted rate for that period of time. Offers like the Comcast triple play can be enticing, especially when they are throwing in a $200 Visa card with certain cable packages. Make sure you get full details on the cable TV package you are interested in, especially any contractual information.
Another consideration with cable TV packages is the price they charge you for DVR service. If you order a satellite TV package, you can expect to pay around $6 or $7 a month for satellite DVR service with Dish Network or DIRECTV. This fee applies for each TV you have connected to a DVR with DIRECTV. Dish Network offers DuoDVR devices which can connect two TV sets. Some cable companies have hike their DVR prices up to $15 a month or more. That can be quite an expense, especially if you want more than one DVR with your cable TV bundle.
The main advantage of a cable television package when compared to satellite is that you can deal with one company for all of your communication services. DIRECTV and DISH Network only offer video, so they have to partner with local telecom companies like Qwest, Verizon and AT&T to offer phone service and DSL. Cable TV packages usually cost a more overall than satellite and telecom providers, but most cable operators also offer On-demand programming for free, which gives you a lot of flexibility in watching TV on your own time schedule.
