Only DIRECTV has an NFL SUNDAY TICKET, and you’ll get enough DVR storage, but second-year price increases are inevitable. Charter Spectrum TV has a cheap starter package that doesn’t require you to sign a contract, but your DVR storage is limited. Spectrum TV came out on top, but only by the tiniest margin.
Price comparison between DIRECTV and Spectrum TV
You’ll have to make a choice between saving money and having more channels. DIRECTV is a better option if you’re looking for a lot of channels, but it’s also more expensive than Spectrum.
DIRECTV’s channel lineups are well-liked by experts, but we’d prefer not to pay nearly twice as much next year. The pricing is still reasonable considering how many channels you’ll get, but it will go up by 30–40 percent in year two due to increased costs. A two-year contract is required, which includes second-year price increases.
There is no contract required, but it isn’t clear how much your bill will rise after the first year of service. You’ll pay the advertised price for the first year, and experts particularly like Spectrum TV Select’s monthly pricing. There are more than 125 channels to choose from, including most of the most popular ones like Disney Channel and ESPN, for just $45 a month.
The contract battles between DIRECTV and Spectrum
Only a few TV providers still impose price increases in the second year, including DIRECTV.
Just when you think you’ve got enough, DIRECTV throws in NFL SUNDAY TICKET, a 200-hour DVR, and access to more than 330 channels. The amount you’re paying each month goes up nearly fourfold.
In fact, after paying only $85 for the first year, if you commit to the ULTIMATE package for two years, you’ll be paying $151 per year. Spectro games are unique to the platform. While you won’t see a price increase in the second year, you will see some sort of increase nonetheless. Spectrum does not make it clear how much your monthly bill will go up if you stay with them.
Fees for Spectrum TV and DIRECTV
DIRECTV is the clear winner when it comes to fees. The first set-top box is included in your DIRECTV plan, and each additional box costs $7. As a result, three TV receivers for your living room, bedroom, and children’s room could cost you $14.
Three set-top boxes and a DVR service fee totaling $10 are included in Spectrum’s monthly fee of $27. Spectrum’s broadcast fee is significantly higher than that of DIRECTV. Because of these fees, you can’t avoid watching sports or the news on your television set.
Sports channels on DIRECTV and Spectrum TV
To begin, only DIRECTV offers NFL SUNDAY TICKET, which is available only through the satellite provider. SUNDAY TICKET allows you to watch all regular-season games that are not broadcast in your area. There are up to 18 sports channels on DIRECTV, but there are 26 (including Espanol) on Spectrum. Compared to just three on DIRECTV’s network, a basic Spectrum package includes eight sports channels (ESPN, ESPN 2, and ESPN 3). (including NBC Sports Network and Big Ten Network).
Spectrum TV won, but only by a sliver
Spectrum TV’s pricing and contracts are better than those of its competitors. With Spectrum, you can get 125+ channels for $49–$99, while DIRECTV costs $65–$134 to get 160–330 channels. DIRECTV is a good option if you’re looking for the most channels, but you’ll have to deal with price increases for the second year of your contract. There is no contract with Spectrum TV, which means you can cancel at any time, but there is a price increase in year two.
DIRECTV’s monthly fees are less expensive than Spectrum’s. The first set-top box is included in your DIRECTV plan, and each additional box costs $7. Each of Spectrum’s TV boxes costs $9. A monthly DVR service fee of $10 is also required.
Spectrum offers a good selection of popular cable channels at a reasonable price. You’ll have access to more of your favorite channels with DIRECTV, but do you think the extra cost is worth it? Consider the channel selections offered by DIRECTV and Spectrum before deciding on a new TV provider.
With Spectrum, you get eight more sports channels than with DIRECTV, including college sports, soccer, and Espanol sports. While DIRECTV offers NFL SUNDAY TICKET, Spectrum offers a more diverse selection of sports channels that will appeal to a wider range of sports fans.
Spectrum TV’s DVR can’t compete with DIRECTV’s Genie DVR. The Genie is more than four times larger than its predecessor when it comes to storage capacity and simultaneous recording. Getting a DVR with 150 hours of storage space is a good idea if you’re thinking about getting cable TV.
