Astound Broadband, Powered by RCN, Cable Service Review 2022

Most cable providers try to lock you into a long contract by promising sweet deals upfront. But not Astound Broadband, powered by RCN. All of its plans are month-to-month, and the prices are actually on the lower end of the spectrum.

But Astound Broadband (formerly RCN) isn’t for everyone. It’s only available in six different areas on the East Coast: Boston, Chicago, DC Metro, Lehigh Valley, New York, and Philadelphia. RCN also makes it simple with just one TV plan and one bundle option.

If you live in one of these areas, let’s get into the details to see if this is the right cable TV provider for you and your family.

As we mentioned above, Astound Broadband, powered by RCN is only available in six cities in the US. Yes, there is only one TV plan for each city, but the pricing is different 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.

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

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-months, and you can cancel any time without penalty.

Astound Broadband's (formerly RCN) fine print warns that there may be additional fees “for taxes, surcharges, equipment, activation and installation that are not included as part of the package and are subject to increases.”1

While that ambiguous statement may sound ominous, we'll help clear up some fee prices.

The activation fee is self-explanatory (and also not too bad of a price), and if you need a TV outlet installed in your home, Astound kindly does the service for you for $35 each outlet (which isn't too bad, as well).

As for the equipment, the charges increase with each TV you add on to your plan. You can choose between an HD converter or a digital converter, Astound Broadband, powered by RCN's versions of set-top boxes.

So if you need an HD converter in your living room, your bedroom, and your daughter's bedroom, expect to add $43 to your monthly bill (yikes).

We don't like that price, but if you want to enjoy high definition ... budget accordingly.

When you check out, Astound Broadband will want you to add on a $50 installation fee to your bill. But don’t do it: you can get free installation.

The company gives out free installation coupons like they grow on trees. Just Google“ Astound Broadband (formerly RCN) installation coupon” and you'll find a coupon code. Use that $50 to treat you to something nice.

If you decide to bundle with Astound Broadband, you’ll have a few packages to choose from. In fact, you can get a wider variety of TV plans by bundling than by buying a standalone TV plan.

Astound Broadband's TV/internet/phone 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 are some of its most widely available bundles to give you an idea.

As you may have noticed, it’s not too much more for internet or phone service on top of your TV service. And the best thing about it is you only have to worry about one bill. We can all use a little more simplicity in our lives.

You also have the option to keep your bill lower if you’re just fine with 60 channels, but also want the internet for streaming and unlimited nationwide calling.

Game of Thrones is over—you gotta move on. But what comes next? Well, that largely depends on what cable channels you’ve got (or, of course, streaming services).

If you sign up for Astound Broadband's Digital TV package, then you’ll have lots of popular channels that will give you plenty of new shows to obsess over. (And 77 high-definition channels to enjoy).

You can get the full channel lineup on Astound Broadband, powered by RCN’s website, or get the sneak peak right here:

Digital Basic TV includes the following channels in its lineup:

When it comes to premium channels, Astound Broadband, powered by RCN’s prices are about the same as other major television companies, besides HBO Max. We've never seen HBO Max for this high of a price with any other TV service, so we recommend subscribing for HBO Max through the app itself.

Keep in mind, the HBO price will stay the same for 12 months, but your year is up, the pricing will go up to $14.99/month (the original price).

Premiere Sports includes channels like NFL Network, NBA TV, MLB Network, and NHL Network.

Premiere Entertainment will have your Starz Encore, MTV2, Nat Geo Wild, and VH1 Classic.

Premiere News & Information is for the newsies who like their daily CNN International, Bloomberg Television, and Smithsonian Channel.

Perfect for families, Premiere Family & Kids has channels such as Nick Jr., Cooking Channel, and Discover Family.

And lastly, Premiere Total Pack includes all of these channels, with select channels from the Premiere Sports add-on.

How many times 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.

If you live on the East Coast and you want an inexpensive standalone TV package or an affordable bundle, Astound Broadband Cable is for you. It’s also for you if you don’t like committing to a contract.

• DC Metro: $91.52/mo.*
• Boston: $94.07/mo.*
• Chicago: $94.90/mo.*
• Lehigh Valley: $84.59/mo.*
• New York: $96.31/mo.*
• Philadelphia: $83.80/mo.*

Astound Broadband Cable is not for you if you want more TV packages to choose from. 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.

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