Comcast is one of the largest corporations in America today, with a market capitalization of nearly $60 billion dollars.   Additionally, they have nearly 25 million subscribers when counting video and internet customers.  Size does have some benefit, as they can offer hundreds of channels and lightning fast internet service through their Xfinity TV brand, but it also comes at a high monthly cost.  If you are tired of the high prices on your monthly cable bill, you should check into the alternatives to Comcast.  Whether you live in a large city or a small neighborhood served by Comcast/Xfinity, there are always alternatives to consider.  Lets consider a few of them.

1.) Satellite TV – Most are aware of the competitive offers from both DISH Network and DIRECTV.  Both companies offer hundreds of channels in their satellite TV packages, and also quite a bit of HD channel content.  The problem for many is that they either live in an apartment, and don’t have the ability to set up a satellite dish, or they do not want to commit to the two year contract required by DISH and DIRECTV.  But if you can commit to a contract, and do have a place for the satellite dish, satellite TV is usually your best bet in saving money over Comcast cable.

2.) AT&T Uverse/Verizon FiOS/Centurylink Prism TV – Several years back, telephone companies began to realize that they were losing out on billions by not offering cable TV service.  Even worse, millions were disconnecting their landlines and moving them over to the cable company, or just relying on their cell phone.  Because of this, phone companies took the plunge and invested billions in network upgrades, resulting in a new alternative to Comcast and other cable providers.  AT&T Uverse is concentrated in the midwest and south, while Verizon FiOS is now in major markets like Philadelphia, New York city, and parts of Boston.  CenturyLink is the newcomer to this game, offering Prism TV in just a handful of markets.  Expect CenturyLink to compete with Comcast in the years ahead in markets like Colorado and Washington state, where they have inherited millions of former Qwest customers.

3.) Netflix/Qwikster/Blockbuster/Hulu – All pay television providers will have to react quickly in the next few years, as Americans are once again changing the way they watch TV.  Many who have no need to watch live TV have already dumped Comcast and switched to an all-streaming entertainment lifestyle.  This works well for non-sports fans, and also those who just don’t watch a lot of TV.  A Netflix subscription is just $8 a month for streaming capabilities, and the soon to be launched Qwikster (the new name for the Netflix DVD-by-mail service) is also $8 a month for the one at a time DVD plan.  DISH Network subsidiary Blockbuster is getting into the streaming game as well, and also offers DVD exchanges in-store with certain plans.  Customers who enjoy a limited number of TV shows can buy them off of Hulu.   All of these options offer an alternative to high priced cable services like Comcast.

So if you’ve had it with Comcast cable, there is no need to go without some sort of entertainment package.  Some will cut your bill significantly, others will provide you a comparable entertainment experience at a slightly lower monthly cost.

With high monthly bills and lackluster customer service, it is no wonder that people are looking for alternatives to cable TV.  If you live in your own home, there are definitely options when it comes to cable.  Those who live in a condo or apartment may not be as lucky, as cable TV companies are often the only choice when it comes to your entertainment needs.  Lets take a look at three alternatives to cable TV, and consider the pros and cons of each.

1. Satellite TV – This is the first thing many consumers look at when looking to drop their cable television service.  DISH Network and DIRECTV are the dominant satelllite providers in the United States today, with more than 30 million subscribers as of the end of 2010.  Both offer free installation, free equipment like an HD DVR, and discounts for new subscribers. Additionally, you will generally pay less with satellite compared to cable when looking at just the price for a video only package. On the downside, both DISH and DIRECTV require a two year contract from new subscribers for the freebies, with significant penalties for those who cannot honor the commitment.  Customers also still have to use another provider for their internet and/or home phone line, as satellite TV providers cannot offer these services and have to partner with outside companies for these services.

2. Fiber TV – Both AT&T and Verizon got into the cable TV game in 2005 by deploying new technology,  Verizon FiOS is carried with fiber to the home (FTTH) technology offering amazing internet speeds to the customer along with hundreds of cable channels and your home phone line. AT&T U-verse uses fiber to the node (FTTN) technology which then jumps to the existing copper network to also deliver cable channels to the customer.  CenturyLink TV is also in this game in limited markets, offering Prism TV and internet service.

These alternatives to cable TV offer true triple play packages, one company for all three services.  Verizon and AT&T even offer quad-play bundles, which allow customers to roll in their cell phone service as well.  Negatives with fiber TV?  There aren’t many, but since the technology is newer there can be bumps along the way as they try to get everything running smoothly.  Also, U-verse doesn’t offer some of the premium sports packages like MLB Extra Innings at this time.  Customers can also get these services without signing a contract, though some discounts on service can be had if you do agree to keep service for a year or two depending on the promotion.

3. Netflix/Streaming – A final cable TV alternative is to cut the cord altogether and go with Netflix streaming and some sort of option like Hulu in addition.  This kind of drastic action will certainly save you some money every month, allowing you to upgrade your internet to a higher speed that will support streaming through Netflix.  If you don’t watch much TV and can get by with just movies this might work for you.

So you don’t have to be tied to your cable TV provider anymore.  Of course cable TV companies recognize this as well, and if you are a good negotiator you might just want to call them and let them know you are considering one of the alternatives.  Some have been able to negotiate discounts on their current cable bill by simply making a 10 minute phone call.

If you live in an area served by a cable television company, they may be the best option for a triple play package of voice, video, and high speed internet access.  While DIRECTV and DISH Network can usually give you the most when it comes to stand alone video service, cable television companies like Cable One offer better deals for those who want an all inclusive package.  In this Cable One review, we will take a look at what is offered in their bundled package.

Cable One Packages

One of the top reasons for Cable One being able to compete with satellite providers is their package options.  It is easier to deal with one provider if you want high speed internet, home phone service, and cable TV all on one bill and all from the same company. Unfortunately, there is a downside in that going with cable triple play bundles usually cost more, especially after any promotional deals run out.  How does Cable One compare in this area?

Right now, the company is advertising their “best deal ever” promotion which offers a Cable One package where you pay $25 a month for each service.  This Elite package will get you into a bundle of Cable One internet, voice service, and cable television service for $75 a month with a two-year agreement.  The deal is one of the best in the country when you look at what other cable TV companies charge for the first year, usually about $100 a month.  In addition, you also get a discounted rate during the second year, with each service priced at $35 a month, or $105 total for the Cable One bundle.

Pricing is certainly aggressive for Cable One subscribers, who not only have the option of satellite TV in most areas, but also competition from telco providers.  AT&T U-verse service is available in many Cable One areas, as is Verizon FiOS in many others.  In addition, CenturyLink TV packages which bundle DIRECTV are an option in some neighborhoods serviced by Cable One.  Undoubtedly, the company is using aggressive pricing to bring in subscribers in hopes that they will stay and pay regular prices once the two year deal runs out.  The smart thing to do is compare Cable One vs the competition before jumping in to any sort of long term commitment.

If you go with a Cable One package like this, keep in mind the additional charges that come with the deal.  If you want to receive HD channels through Cable One, you will need to either upgrade to a high definition cable box, or a HD DVR.   The HD receiver through Cable One is $5 a month, which the HD DVR is $10 per TV.  If you have multiple HDTV sets in your home, these months charges can add up quite a bit.

In addition, you will pay extra for sports packages with Cable One, and premium movie packages.  This is true of pretty much any cable or satellite TV company, so your Cable One package is not unique in this area.

With their recent acquisition of Qwest Communications, CenturyLink is now the third largest telecommunications company in the United States when looking at the number of landlines.  But with cell phones continuing to be a high priority for most Americans, people no longer hesitate to disconnect their landline if they aren’t using them.  This means the triple play packages offered by phone companies will be a high priority in the years ahead.  CenturyLink TV packages will be an important part of their bundled offers, with two different options available to customers.

The first option for most CenturyLink customers will continue to be satellite television service.  Because traditional phone networks need to be upgraded before cable TV can be offered,  deals have been struck between telephone and satellite companies to fill the need in the meantime.  CenturyLink is no different, as they have been offering Dish Network satellite service for years in their original service area which included the Embarq telephone territory.  That changed in late 2010 though as CenturyLink partnered with DIRECTV going forward.  So if you are in an Embarq/CenturyLink/Qwest area, you will have the option of bundling any DIRECTV package along with your CenturyLink internet and home phone service.

Now if you live in select areas, a new service called Prism TV may be available to you already.  This CenturyLink TV package is offered directly through their existing network, and is similar to the Uverse TV product being offered by AT&T.  CenturyLink  packages start as low as $32.99 for TV service, though bundling multiple services will usually be the best way to go.  With this product, CenturyLink must first do a network upgrade in each neighborhood where TV service is to be offered. Once that is completed you can order everything through one provider thus offering true competition with the cable triple play packages offered by companies like Cox and Time Warner.  Right now, Prism TV is offered in Las Vegas, Raleigh NC, Orlando FL and a few other markets.  Prime targets for Prism TV in the future could be highly populated areas in former Qwest regions like Minneapolis/St Paul and the Phoenix, Arizona market.

Overall, this is good news for consumers living in the areas serviced by CenturyLink.  With more competition to both cable TV and satellite companies, prices should remain low, and deals will be out there for customers to take advantage of if they are looking for a new provider.  The best source to check pricing and availability on CenturyLink TV packages is their official website, where you can read up on current promotional offers.

If you live in an area served by Suddenlink cable, then you may have wondered how much their high speed internet service costs and how it stacks up against the competition.   While cable companies like Suddenlink held a speed advantage for years over the phone company, the gap has narrowed in recent years.  Many areas served by Verizon and AT&T now offer newer internet technologies, meaning Suddenlink internet may not be the fastest choice.   In this article, we will review the options available if you live in an area served by Suddenlink and are looking for fast internet speeds.

The main high speed internet service offered by Suddenlink offers customers 10 Mbps download speeds and 756k uploads.  The cable operator offers a promotional deal on this internet package, with a price of $45.00 a month for one year.  Up to 10 megs of webspace is offered, as are up to 10 Suddenlink e-mail accounts per subscription.  After one year the price will go up, and can vary somewhat depending on your area so it is a good idea to call Suddenlink customer service so you have an idea on what the exact rate will be.  With this speed, you will be able to surf the web, download music, and streaming video without much difficulty.

If you need additional speed from your Sudden Link internet subscription, then the top package will give you just that.  Currently the fastest internet package will provide you with speeds up to 20 Mbps,  with free webspace and e-mail accounts as well.  This speed level is priced at $60.00 a month for the first year of service.  Both Suddenlink internet packages also come with Free McAfee Anti virus protection as well.

The Suddenlink website promises faster internet service than DSL, but then goes on to mention that they are comparing their high speed internet product against standard 1.5 Mbps DSL service.  It is fairly obvious that the Suddenlink high speed products described are going to be faster than a 1.5 Mbps DSL connection from your local phone company, but in most areas that is the minimum speed offered by a DSL provider.  For example, CenturyLink internet service offers several tiers, with their 1.5 Mpbs connection offered at $29.95 a month, or just $19.95 a month when bundled with your home phone line, much cheaper than Suddenlink.  Their top speed 10 Mbps is $39.95 a month without phone service, beating the Suddenlink promotional rate by $5 a month.  Other options like Verizon FiOS and AT&T Uverse may provide you even faster speeds at fair prices when compared to Suddenlink products.

However, what you should consider is the overall bundle with your communications provider.  Several Suddenlink packages are out there, offering multiple services for $105 a month for one year.  In most cases, bundling multiple services together with one provider will offer you overall savings compared to buying services separately.  This continues to be one area where cable operators have a built in advantage over satellite TV companies like DISH Network.

If you have ever shopped for a special on cable television service, then you probably already know how the deals usually work.  As a new customer, you can usually get a reduced price on either digital cable or a triple play package for a year or so.  But lately cable TV companies have been offering long term specials for those who sign a two year contract, like the Charter cable deals currently being offered.  What kind of deals can you currently get with Charter?

The best Charter deals are built around their triple play package of services.  With these cable bundles, you get Charter digital cable service along with high speed internet access and your home phone.  If you don’t want or need a home phone line, you do have the option of leaving that off and getting a double play package instead.  Different levels of internet access are available, with speeds approaching 25 Mbps for the Charter Internet Max level of service.  Internet access speeds like this are great for those who telecommute and for online gamers.

Charter deals can be customized to give you exactly what you want when it comes to the various services offered.   For example, if you just want a very basic channel lineup but need a higher tier internet package, then the Charter can get you the TV basic level along with the Internet Max package.   So the best thing to do going in is to evaluate how much TV your family watches along with how many users are on the internet at any given time.

One you know what you want, you can head over to the charter.com website to build your bundle.  The main reason you want to order online is because that is where the best Charter deals are offered.  Cable and telephone companies would rather have you order in this way as it saves them labor costs with a customer service representative sitting behind a desk taking calls.  As an incentive to get you to order online, the current Charter promotion offers you a gift card if you order service online and complete the rebate form.  The amount of the cash back card depends on the package you order and your willingness to commit to a two year contract.

Charter cable and internet deals will net you a $100 cash card, as will the cable and phone combo package.  Both of these offers are priced at $74.98 for six months before moving to the regular price.  Better deals though are found with the Charter triple play packages.

There are three different Charter cable deals that lock in your price for one year, and that also offer a $200 cash back card.  The HD digital bundle is $99.97 a month, the Premium bundle is $104.97, and the HD and Lite Internet bundle is $89.97.  Each deal offers a reduced price for 12 months before you have to start paying the regular price.  The Premier Movie bundle is a little bit more, with a monthly price of $118.97 and your choice of HBO or Showtime, but this price lock is extended for two years and you also get the $200 rebate card.  One final package is an all inclusive deal, offering you all of the movie channels for $149.97 and a $400 rebate card.  One thing to remember is that if you want to add the Charter DVR, then you will pay an additional $10 a month.

The current crop of Charter cable deals are fairly competitive with the alternatives.  Not only have satellite television providers put pressure on Charter, but new players like AT&T Uverse have also come on the scene in recent years to compete against the cable company, insuring that the customer wins when shopping for service.

DIRECTV has grown over the past fifteen years to become the largest satellite TV company operating in the United Sates today.  It is easy to see why, especially for sports fans as they offer the NFL Sunday Ticket package which has just started up again, along with dozens of additional options when it comes to sporting events.  What is frustrating though with DIRECTV, especially for rural customers is the fact that there is not DIRECTV internet or phone service.  Because satellite technology generally is a one way transmission, you can’t get these other services from the satellite provider.  But you can still construct your own DIRECTV triple play by relying on the other companies that DIRECTV has partnered with to offer these other services.

The first thing to do when constructing your own DIRECTV triple play package is to figure out which TV package you want from the satellite portion of the bundle.  The Family package is an very low priced option, but you don’t get many channels or any new customer discounts.   Most look to one of the mid-tier packages like the Choice, Choice Xtra, or Choice Ultimate packages.  All of these are eligible for the new customer discount which right now is $29 a month for the first year, or about $350 in savings off of your DIRECTV package.

If you want movie channels, you can either add them on as a la carte options or go for the gusto with the DIRECTV Premier package which has more than 260 channels total.  The best part about this package is that you get nearly 35 movie channels without any commercial interruptions.  This package is also  tied in with the current Sunday Ticket deal which usually runs from mid-summer until mid October as an enticement for NFL fans to try out DIRECTV.

Once you have selected the right DIRECTV bundle, then you need to determine which local partner serves your area for home phone and internet service.  DIRECTV has partnership agreements in place with all three of the major telephone companies in the United State today – Verizon, AT&T, and Qwest. In addition, the fourth largest telephone company CenturyLink has recently partnered with DIRECTV as they are in the process of merging with Qwest Communications and opted to go with them over Dish Network.

For most in the Eastern United States, Verizon communications is the dominant player.  You can order DSL and voice service from them to round out your DIRECTV triple play.  Many areas served by Verizon have been upgraded with FiOS TV service, but if you are set on the Sunday Ticket package you have to get DIRECTV to access this product, as it will be exclusive to DIRECTV through the 2014 football season.

You will find a similar situation when you get a DIRECTV triple play deal along with AT&T.  They of course have regular phone service and DSL lines in most areas.  In addition, they offer their own video service called U-verse TV, but you won’t get all of the features that DIRECTV offers so you have to weigh the pros and cons of the U-verse triple play in comparison.

Finally, Qwest and CenturyLink are primarily phone and DSL providers, so they are more than willing to combine their services to round out a triple play along with DIRECTV.  While CenturyLink does have a small IPTV project called Prism TV, it is much smaller in scope than either U-verse or FiOS from Verizon.

So getting your DIRECTV triple play bundle isn’t all that difficult.  Just be sure to check into the latest deals and promotions being offered by both DIRECTV and your local telephone provider to save some money compared to your cable TV provider.

Setting up cable or satellite service can be a bit of a hassle. Just selecting a provider and figuring out which deal is best for your situation can take many hours, then you have to sit at home and hope the installer shows up when promised. With a provider like Cox cable, you can also bundle internet and home phone service along with the cable TV, so researching the offer is especially important as you will likely be spending more than $100 each month for a bundled package. Lets take a closer look at the Cox cable deals available and review the prices and services included.

Cox cable deals can vary depending on the service area you live in. For example, currently in the Mesa, Arizona market there aren’t any discounts for new customers on the package prices, at least according to the Cox website. The Standard bundle is priced at $92.99 a month, which includes Cox advanced TV preferred, Cox High speed internet essential, and the Starter Digital phone offer. This reflects a standard bundle discount of just under $11 a month for combining all three services into a Cox cable package.  These triple play offers can save you money compared to paying for services separately.

Looking a different market, the Cox deal in San Diego, California reflects a different story. The same Cox Standard bundle is normally priced at $115.99 a month, but is discounted down to $83.99 a month for new customers. You do get a faster internet speed here, with the Cox Internet Preferred which has download speeds up to 15 Mbps. The Cox deal here reflects a promotional discount of $22 a month off of internet service, and another $22 a month off of Advanced TV service. So why the difference in the Cox cable deals?

Its hard to put your finger on an exact reason, but competition probably has something to do with it. Cox communications is facing more competition in San Diego as AT&T continues to deploy and sell U-verse to residents in that market. With U-verse packages offering services comparable to cable TV packages, you can get a better Cox cable deal in this area compared to others.

In the Phoenix market, Qwest is the dominant telecom company. They do not yet have their own video product, and rely instead on reselling DIRECTV satellite service. The only other option in that area would be Dish Network satellite TV.  It seems as if the marketing executives as Cox recognize where strong competition is eating away at their cable TV franchise, and thus new customers can get the best Cox deal in these markets.

Of course things are always in a constant state of change in the pay television marketplace.  The internet is usually a good place to start when looking for deals from Cox cable and the competition, but the place to finish is over the phone.  Giving companies like Cox and DIRECTV a phone call can often result in an offer not generally advertised to the public.

Today in the United States there are two dominant satellite TV providers – Dish Network and DIRECTV. While the growth of satellite television services has been incredible over the past 20 years, every new technology has a saturation point. Are satellite TV companies beginning to suffer as the market matures? What factors should you consider if you are considering signing up with one of the satellite companies?  What should you know if you are going to compare satellite TV providers?

While both DIRECTV and Dish Network use similar technology, they certainly run their businesses differently. Dish Network continues to focus on price, with the lowest package costs overall. Most advertisements from Dish Network hit on their America’s Top 120 offer, which you can get for an entry level price point of $24.99 a month for one year. Of course this is a bare bones offering, with just a basic receiver. As soon as you add DVR service or need multiple boxes you will be paying more, not to mention this offer is discounted by $15 a month. A more realistic price for Dish Network’s service is probably between $50 and $60 a month once you factor in everything else.

Dish Network continues to be the provider willing to stand up and fight content providers tooth and nail. This probably comes from the fact that their founder and CEO Charlie Ergen is always willing to fight for a good deal when it comes to buying content for Dish Network. While some may call him “cheap” he won’t sign off on contracts he considers unfair. This is probably why some baseball related content like the YES Network, MLB Extra Innings, and the MLB Channel are not yet carried by this satellite television provider.

The other satellite provider, DIRECTV, focuses on the sports fan in much of their marketing. They continue to be the home of the NFL Sunday Ticket, which brings in millions of hard core football fans every season. While this package is a loss leader, costing DIRECTV around a billion dollars a year, it does a great job in insuring football fans both sign up and stay with DIRECTV year after year. DIRECTV is also the home of the NASCAR Hotpass package as well as the Mega March Madness bundle offered each spring. While your DIRECTV package price is probably going to cost you a bit more than a comparable Dish Network package, you will find all of your sports content here.

Both satellite TV providers have had to adopt to added competition in the market over the past few years.  This has come in the form of telecom companies beginning to offer their own cable TV packages. Verizon has rolled out FiOS to millions of customers, and the same is true of AT&T and their U-verse packages. These companies also have the advantage of being able to offer triple play bundles which make it easy for the customer to get high speed internet access and digital home phone services through one provider. How have satellite TV companies adapted to this challenge?

DIRECTV has adopted a “keep your enemies” close policy, by signing resale agreements with both AT&T and Verizon. If the technology is not available to the customer for either FiOS or U-verse, they can bundle DIRECTV service along with their home phone and high speed internet. DIRECTV also partners with Qwest in the Western United States, but has more success there as Qwest does not offer their own video product.

Dish Network currently navigates the pay television market on their own, relying on low prices and heavy advertising to battle the competition. Both companies have relied on their HD content offerings to bring in millions of customers.   Will the two big satellite TV providers merge at some point? It has been rumored that Dish and DIRECTV will get together at some point, but regulators in the United States government would have a hard time swallowing a deal like this. Many rural areas do not have any other choice when it comes to their pay television provider, so competition between Dish Network and DIRECTV remains a good thing for these individuals.

DISH Network made a huge jump in the latest ACSI (American Customer Satisfaction Index) survey, leapfrogging DIRECTV to take the top spot overall – well sort of. Here is how the latest DISH Network ratings shook out in comparison to DIRECTV and cable providers.

The DISH Network score of 71 in the survey was the top ranking among all cable and satellite TV providers. DIRECTV dropped a few points and came in with a score of 68 compared to a 2009 score of 71. The numbers have DISH Network beating DIRECTV for the first time since 2005, at least according to this customer satisfaction survey.

DISH Network was quick to pound their chest in regard to the good news. In a press release dated May 18th, Dish claimed to be number 1 in customer satisfaction among satellite and cable companies. While that statement was technically true, two other companies actually beat DISH Network according to the ACSI survey – AT&T and Verizon.

The key to DISH Network’s claim comes into play with the phrase “satellite and cable companies.” While all companies considered to be cable and satellite TV including Comcast, Cox cable, Charter, and Time Warner along with DIRECTV fell behind Dish, the other two are consider Telco TV companies.   AT&T Uverse came in with a score of 72, while Verizon FiOS was the actual winner of this year’s survey with a score of 73.

With 5 million video customers between them, AT&T and Verizon are certainly viable players in the pay television market. Those numbers will only increase over the next five years as each company continues to build out their TV network. Still the latest DISH Network ratings show a strong turnaround for the company that was lagging badly behind the competition just a year ago.

According to the surveys comments, one reason DISH Network enjoyed higher satisfaction ratings was due to a more aggressive pricing strategy. While DIRECTV raised prices across the board on all packages earlier this year, DISH Network held the line on package prices. Instead, some DISH Network customers who had multiple DVRs including HD DVR models saw price hikes in this area. Overall, fewer Dish customers felt the pain this year when it came to price increases.

DISH Network ratings were also higher than the top cable TV companies, though cable operators did improve over their 2009 performance. Cox cable was the leader among cable operators once again with a score of 67, while the largest cable companies Time Warner and Comcast each scored an ACSI score of 61 which was a 3% gain over last year.