Astound Broadband, Powered by RCN, Cable Service Review

As we mentioned above, Astound Broadband, powered by RCN, is only available in six cities in the US. There are only two TV plans for each city, and the pricing differs in all six areas.

Kind of confusing, we know.

Either way, the monthly price for your Astound Broadband cable bill will most likely be lower than any other cable TV provider in your area. So, why not take advantage? Save a few dollars for those Nike shoes you have your eye on.

With Astound Broadband, you have the choice between a plan around $30–$40 for 70 channels or a plan between $107–$123 for about 300 channels.

While Astound Broadband (formerly RCN) only has a couple of standalone packages per location for its TV customers, those packages can be custom-built with channel add-ons and international packages (more on that below).

And remember, you have to bundle with Astound Internet to get TV service. Everyone needs an internet plan, so this isn't a downside. The true upside is that you can tack on internet service for as low as $25. 

Astound Broadband's minimalist attitude also extends to its contracts: it has none.

None of the company’s plans require a contract. Its prices are guaranteed for 12–24 months, and you can cancel at any time without penalty.

Astound Broadband (formerly RCN) has a few fees like every other cable TV provider, but not as many as some. 

The activation fee is self-explanatory (and only $10). We also like that your internet modem rental is free for your first 12 months.

As for the equipment, the charges increase with each TV you'd like a set-top box for. You can choose between a "TV converter" or a "TV converter with Cloud DVR Enhanced Tier."These are Astound Broadband, powered by RCN's versions of set-top boxes.

Astound Broaband's cable box rental is $10–$20 per month for your first with 125–250 HD hours or DVR space. If you want an additional one for your bedroom and one for your living room downstairs, they will each cost $5.

Astound Broadband has an $80 installation fee, but when you order online, this cable service waives the fee. Use that $80 to treat yourself to something nice.

With some cable TV and internet providers, when you bundle, you save little to nothing—it's more about the convenience of paying one bill. 

With Astound Broadband, powered by RCN, you can save $10–$20 monthly by bundling your TV, phone, and internet service.

Astound Broadband's TV/internet/mobile plan combinations and prices vary widely by service area (check Astound Broadband, powered by RCN’s website, to see what it offers in your area), but here's an idea of what you'll find at checkout. 

You can mix and match download speeds of 300, 600, 940, or 1,500 Mbps, and you can choose from a combination of Basic TV,  Preferred TV, and Paramount+ with SHOWTIME® packages. Mobile plans range from $15–$50 per line, offering 1.5GB, 3GB, and unlimited data options.

Here's a glimpse of RCN's bundles in different locations.

Astound Broadband's Basic TV plan comes with all local channels and some network favorites, like The CW.

Basic + Preferred TV adds 180+ popular channels, like Disney Channel, History Channel, Hallmark, FX, and HGTV. 

You can see the full channel lineup on Astound Broadband, powered by RCN’s website, or get the sneak peek here. Basic TV includes the following channels in its lineup:

Basic + Preferred TV includes the following channels in its lineup:

Regarding premium channels, Astound Broadband, powered by RCN, prices are about the same as other major television companies besides CINEMAX and STARZ.

CINEMAX's and STARZ's price is slightly high with Astound Broadband/RCN, so we recommend ordering these premium channels through their standalone apps. 

But who doesn't want Paramount+ with SHOWTIME® and TMC for free for one year?

Premiere Sports includes channels like NFL Network, MLB Network, Tennis Channel, and NHL Network.

Premiere Entertainment will have your Starz Encore, BBC America, MTV2, and VH1 Classic.

Premiere News & Information is for the newsies who like their daily Bloomberg Television and Science Channel.

Perfect for families, Premiere Family & Kids has channels such as Nicktoons, Cooking Channel, DIY Network, and Destination America.

Lastly, the Premiere Total Pack includes all these channels, making it the most worthwhile option. You can try any of these add-ons for one month—if you don't like the channels it offers, cancel before your next billing cycle. 

Astound Broadband (formerly RCN) Cable has international channels in 13 different languages, each channel with its own price. This cable provider offers 1–8 channels for each language, ranging from $5 to $16 per month. 

The languages Astound Broadband/RCN has channels for are the following: 

Astound Broadband/RCN could up its game in the sports channel area. 

To get any sports channels with Astound Broadband/RCN, you'll have to get either the Basic + Preferred TV plan for $107+ or the Premiere Sports add-on with the Basic TV plan for a total of $60+ per month. 

Astound Broadband/RCN reveals only four channels you'll receive with the sports-channel add-on: NFL Network, MLB Network, Tennis Channel, and NHL Network.

The Basic + Preferred TV package includes the following sports channels:

This cable TV provider also has sports packages for diehard league fans. 

The NFL RedZone Channel is the best channel for NFL fans, but Astound Broadband/RCN charges the most for it among other TV providers. No other TV provider requires a one-time charge; instead, they let you pay about $11 monthly. 

Check out our NBA League Pass and NHL Center Ice reviews for more info on these services.

Watch your daughter’s game at school without missing the game on TV. 

How often have you said no to a dinner party so you could stay in and watch your team dominate (or not) in a home game? With a DVR system, you’ll never have to ditch on dinner again. (You can still use the game as an excuse—we won’t blow your cover).

The company has teamed up with TiVo, one of the best DVR services on the market, to offer DVR rental options. And heads up, the pricing for the DVRs will differ based on which area you live in.

How much storage space does Astound Broadband (formerly RCN) Cable's DVR have?

Astound Broadband Cable is for you if you live on the East Coast and want an inexpensive TV package with lots of channels and low-cost internet. It's also for you if you prefer to avoid committing to a contract.

• Boston: $29.69–$106.60/mo.*
• Chicago: $28.70–$109.32/mo.*
• DC Metro: $38.88–$109.60/mo.*
• Lehigh Valley: $32.78–$110.92/mo.*
• New York: $28.37–$122.75/mo.*
• Philadelphia: $28.49–$108.41/mo.*

Astound Broadband Cable is not for you if you want more TV packages to choose from, like 185+ channels for $70 per month. If this is you, check out our top cable TV providers. Or we suggest a live TV streaming service to avoid the headache of fees and equipment.

With 8+ years of experience reviewing telecommunication companies and hours of research, we base our cable TV reviews and ratings on the following aspects:

• Price 
• Channel count and variety
• Bundles
• Equipment and DVR storage space

First and foremost, we compare all cable TV providers on their dollar-to-channel ratio. And we notice the providers with the best value have limited availability across the US, like Astound Broadband/RCN. 

Most people need internet and mobile service, so its nice to have the simplicity of one bill when you bundle. 

Good equipment prevents stress in your life, so a well-performing set-top box and sufficient DVR space are a must.