You have many decisions to make when moving into a new house. Most of the decisions are easy, like choosing a room for your PlayStation or other gaming consoles and what room your dog’s bed is going to while others are not that easy to make. For example, what home security and automation system you will install in your house and picking an optimal cable service provider for your needs.
Finding a TV provider is a hectic task because of the options available in the market. The availability and prices vary from area to area and it is not always possible to carry over your previous TV boxes to another address.
There are many things to consider and that is the reason why we made a comprehensive guide on all the things to consider when choosing a TV provider.
No matter whether you sign up for Spectrum, Mediacom, or Cox Cable Packages, here’s what you need to consider:
Research all the options available
Right after moving to this new address, you need to start digging up all the service providers in the area. This is quite simple and websites like LocalCableDeals will narrow down the options for you. Once you are well acquainted with these options, ask your friends and family to share their experiences with the providers. Are they satisfied with the service? Do they face any connection issues? If yes, how long does it take to get all of these sorted?
Once you have taken all the reviews, you will be left with 2-3 providers. This will leave you enough room to research each of them individually.
Find out about their connection type
It is important to understand the connection type before you make any decision. For TV services, there are different kinds of connection namely cable and satellite. The cable TV uses a network of coaxial cables to get you connected while satellite uses a wireless network directly linked to satellites in outer space. With both of these channels, you get a vast array of channels. You can tailor a package according to your requirements. Satellite service offers more in terms of national news and sports channels while a cable will get you a variety of local channels. Out of these, Cable TV is more reliable as it is not affected by weather conditions.
Decide channels according to your household requirements
This is the most important thing to consider. You don’t need a package that has more than 200 channels but you hardly watch 20-30 regular ones. Be realistic about how often you watch those fancy channels before forking over an additional $20 for a plan that has them.
Understand your household’s requirements. Do you have basic usage and watch just the local news and sports channel? Or, are you looking for a premium plan including all the fancy channels like HBO, Showtime, Hallmark, and Bravo?
Pricing
The thing that sways the decision of any household while adding any amenities is whether it fits the budget. To be honest, cable has become a necessity. Everyone wants cable to watch their favorite teams compete in the NFL. However, there are a number of things to consider other than the price of a package. Remember, the prices that are quoted to you do not contain any taxes, fees, or surcharges. So if anyone tells you about a package that will cost you just $69.99 a month, do not fall for the trap. Ask about all the additional charges that will be on top of this $69.99. Moreover, there are charges for installation as well. After you are done getting the final pricing after the addition of all the other charges, only then you can compare and decide.
Look for Bundles
Opting for a bundle is a smart move. You don’t want to get separate bills for the Internet and Cable and most importantly, you can end up getting more services and better packages at the same price as opposed to standalone cable packages. If your decision is boiled down to two providers, look up for the provider that gets you a better deal. Who knows, you might save on the installation.
Final Verdict
By following these simple steps, you will be able to land a great deal for yourself.
