Spectrum TV Service Review

Spectrum TV’s packages are reasonably priced, all three channel lineups have most of your favorite popular channels, premium channels are available to add to any package, and (to put the cherry on top) it’s a contract-free service.

Spectrum is available in select cities in 41 different states, which makes it one of the most widely available cable TV providers in the US.

Without further adieu, let’s get into the details to find out if Spectrum TV is your next cable service.

Spectrum TV won’t break your bank, and you’ll get a solid channel lineup with all three packages. You just have to decide which channels are most important to you (scroll down for the magnificence).

We should warn you: these advertised prices are only good for the first 12 months of your service. After your first year, Spectrum isn’t clear as to what your monthly bill price will be.

You can bundle with Spectrum internet, so you only have one hassle-free bill for both services. Expect to pay an extra $50 per month for download speeds of 300 Mbps for your home.

This is an ideal speed if you have multiple people in your household who work from home, download content, and stream simultaneously.

Spectrum’s internet is our second favorite cable internet provider because it gives you unlimited data caps without a contract.

One of the beauties to Spectrum TV: there’s no contract. So you can cancel whenever you’d like.

Whether you move, need to save money, or choose to try a live TV streaming service, you can cancel without paying any cancellation fees.

It’s common for a cable TV provider to charge monthly for the TV receiver and DVR service, and Spectrum’s cost is fair.

We recommend getting the DVR service package if you plan to put a TV receiver in your living room, your bedroom, and your kid’s bedroom.

The broadcast fee for Spectrum is higher than we usually like it to be. It’s just a dollar more than Xfinity’s broadcast fee ($20), but cable TV providers, like Verizon Fios TV and Optimum TV, don’t charge this fee.

At least Spectrum doesn’t charge a regional sports fee like some cable providers do.

Keep in mind, Spectrum’s fine print says “installation and activation fees are extra”, but Spectrum doesn’t specify how much they are.

All of Spectrum’s channels are in HD, and there’s no other cable TV service that offers more HD channels than Spectrum does. And you’re most likely going to find your favorite channels with Spectrum.

Spectrum's TV Select package comes with over 125 popular channels. You can then choose from Spectrum's add-on channel packages or add premium channels a la carte to customize your channel lineup. 

Spectrum’s TV® Select package includes the following channels:

Yes. Like we said earlier, after subscribing to TV Select, you can choose from Spectrum's premium add-on channel packages or pick specific premium channels to add individually.

The Sports View add-on package is going to be the best choice for sports-lovers. It includes 28 sports channels, while TV Select only includes nine. 

If you’re a golf fan, this is the best provider for you because the Sports View package has the Golf Channel, which is rare, like the double eagle.

Spectrum’s TV Select package includes the following sports channels:

Spectrum’s Sports View package includes the following sports channels:

To put it bluntly, Spectrum’s DVR is certainly not one of the best in the industry.

Let’s open with the downsides and end with the upsides, starting with the most important feature of a DVR: the storage hours.

Spectrum’s DVR only holds 35 HD hours or 80 SD hours.

That’s not a lot when, over time, you want to record more than just eight movies, five NCIS episodes, three NBA games, and five episodes of Paw Patrol.

The other downside for you and the fam is the fact that you can only record two shows at once. This might be easier to get around than sharing 35 hours of DVR storage.

According to Spectrum, a DVR that records 150 hours and can record six shows at once is available. But we were dubious as we couldn’t find this option at checkout.

So if you choose Charter Spectrum TV as your next provider, we’d suggest calling and asking to get the enhanced DVR.

The Spectrum TV app allows you to watch live TV on the go when you’re waiting for your son’s baseball practice to finish or on your lunch break.

You can even use the Spectrum TV app as a TV remote and browse through channels, set up recordings, and access parental controls.

Spectrum TV is compatible with the following streaming devices:

• iPhones, iPads
• Android smartphones and tablets
• Roku devices (second generation and higher)
• Apple TV
• Fire TV
• Amazon (Kindle) Fire 6 and higher
• Xbox One
• Samsung Smart TVs
• Vizio Smart TVs

Now, for the upsides!

Spectrum’s DVR might be subpar when compared to other DVRs in the cable TV industry, but with that, you get lower fees. We kinda like that compromise.

Let’s say you need two cable boxes in your home and you want DVR service, how does Spectrum compare to other cable TV companies?

With Xfinity, you’d have to pay $15 for two set-top boxes, a $10 HD fee, and a $10 Cloud DVR fee, making your total $35. Suddenlink (now Optimum) charges $17 for each set-top box and DVR service, so you’re looking at a bill of $34.

With Spectrum, your monthly price would be $28.

Spectrum TV may not provide as many DVR storage hours as its competitors, but at least its fees are low compared to other cable TV providers.

The part we like the most about Spectrum TV: you get access to about 30 sports channels for just $6 more per month. That’s like the price of one ticket to a game!

Spectrum also rarely changes its channel lineup on you (which is common in the cable TV world), and you don’t have to worry about a contract.

If you want a decent number of channels for a fantastic price and you live in one of these cities of the 41 states it’s offered, you might have found your next cable TV service.

If Spectrum TV isn’t available in your area or you need more DVR storage space, check out our top cable TV providers for other options.

Do you have Spectrum TV? What’s your experience with it been? Or do you like a different provider better?