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Reviewed by

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Updated 4/10/23

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Huge value for internet-based TV

Optimum offers exceptional value. You get tons of channels, a solid DVR, and a good selection of sports and premium channels for a very reasonable price. Despite some additional fees, Optimum is an excellent choice.

What we like

No contracts
High channel count
Excellent value

What we dislike

Some areas can't get fiber internet
High fees
Second-year price hikes

Before digging too deep...

Make sure Optimum is available in your area.

Savings tip: Optimum often has

sign-up promotions

for first-time customers. Call 1-844-719-8066 to ask a rep about current deals and discounts.

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Our expert assessment

Content

5.0

Popular channels to suit every taste

Optimum offers a great selection of channels, and pricing at each of its tiers is reasonable. If you’re part of a big family with diverse TV tastes, Optimum is easy to recommend.

Local: 5/5
Optimum offers a fantastic selection of local channels in each of its four package tiers. You get access to the four basic broadcast channels (NBC, CBS, ABC, and FOX) plus Univision and Telemundo. That means local news and sports, big national games like the Super Bowl, and primetime favorites.

Sports: 5/5
Not only does Optimum offer a ton of great channels for sports, you can get most of it at either the Basic TV or Core TV packages. In addition to wrestling on USA Network and all that ESPN has to offer, you get TNT, Fox Sports 1, MLB Network, and NBA TV. NFL Network is available on the highest tier, and you can get NFL RedZone as an add-on. Sports aficionados should opt for at least the Select TV plan to get the best selection.

If Optimum's offerings aren't quite right, you're in luck! A lot of games and matches are now available via streaming or over the air. Find out how to watch the MLB, how to watch pro football, and how to watch the NHL.

Family and education: 5/5
Optimum TV truly offers something for everyone, and that includes all kinds of shows for kids and channels focused on education. You can get PBS, Disney, and Nickelodeon at the Core TV price. If you bump up to the next tier, you can get History, Discovery, NationL Geographic, Travel, Animal Planet, and more. There’s no Family Entertainment TV (FETV) or Me TV, but we aren’t too mad about it.

News and politics: 5/5
Optimum TV keeps hitting homers when it comes to news. You get a selection of US political news from both sides of the aisle plus international news, Spanish-language news, business news, and even sports news.

Entertainment and lifestyle: 4.5/5
When it comes to watching great movies, reality TV, and home improvement shows, Optimum TV has you covered. At the highest tier, you get a selection of premium channels including Reelz, HBO, and SHOWTIME, plus both Hallmark and Lifetime. A number of the top 100 channels in the US are missing, including Game Show Network, Grit, INSP and Ion Mystery, but all the most popular content is easy to find. (1)

Local news, sports, and entertainment channels vary based on your location. Check out

Optimum channel offerings

in your area.

View plans

Value

5.0

You get a lot for the money, but internet is required

Optimum TV offers excellent value, whether you live in an area that gets only cable internet or one wired for fiber-to-the-home. Internet-based TV packages are available for as little as $35 per month (for basic TV), while the higher-tier plans offer high channel counts for the price. There are as many as 420+ channels available—one of the highest channel counts of any provider.

The internet service is also a fantastic value, offering faster speeds for the money than many competitors. It’s worth noting that an internet plan is required, though, at a minimum price of $40 per month. There’s also a few hidden fees, but they’re lower than what we’ve seen from other cable providers.

There's a 2-year price lock on most plans, which is great! Prices go up in the third year of TV service, though, and the company doesn't say by how much. We've heard customers complain about price hikes in the range of $85–$115, though, and that's just for TV. Since you also need internet, your price could balloon by $200 per month by year three.

You may be able to save on your bill by calling in and threatening to switch to a competitor, so we recommend it!

Get the best value by speaking directly with a sales rep at 1-844-719-8066 or check your address at

Optimum's website.

Check address

Features

4.0

A solid DVR, but fees for storage

Optimum TV is a nice option for channel surfing, watching on-demand, and catching episodes or games you might have missed (whether on a TV set or on your phone or laptop). However, its costly DVR storage may not be worth the money.

Ability to watch: Great
Whether you go with the Optimum cable box, buy an Apple TV from the company, or use your own Apple TV, we think you’ll enjoy watching Optimum TV. Optimum gives you Wi-Fi equipment and the first set-top box for free, but you'll be charged an additional $10 per month for each additional TV box. However, it’s easy to get out of those fees using the sweet Optimum TV mobile app, so that’s what we recommend for most households.

Ability to record: Good
Optimum’s Cloud DVR system offers up to 150 hours of storage for your favorite shows and movies, and you can record up to 15 shows at the same time—perfect for large families or households with lots of roommates. The system comes with all the modern features we expect from a DVR: voice control, an Apple TV app, support for streaming services, and more.

You can also access your DVR and on-demand content from your iPhone, iPad, or Android device with the provider’s app. Our only gripe is that the DVR storage is costly—more than $20 per month for the full 150 hours, in addition to the fee for renting the box. You'll also be charged a DVR service fee for every set-top box you rent, but you can skip the DVR altogether if you want and there’s no charge.

Ability to find: Great
Optimum TV offers thousands of shows and hundreds of channels, and they’re pretty easy to find using the app, the company’s cable box, or an Apple TV. Both the cable box and Apple TV have voice search functionality, and you can enter in credentials for other streaming services like Netflix on either. With the cable box, you can even pause and restart live TV.

Customer experience

4.0

Premium installation with a premium price

Most Optimum TV customers are happy with the service and self-installation is free if you order online. If you need a pro to come help (and you order online), the charge is $60. If you call in to order, self-install is free, the standard installation costs about $100, and premium installation costs about $150.

Visit Optimum's website

or call 1-844-719-8066 for more information on contracts and money-back guarantees.

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We stand by the validity of our reviews and are committed to transparency: Our team uses consumer sentiment software to source customer reviews, which are entirely unique to this website. Reviewers attest to being current customers of the providers they review and are not incentivized to speak positively or negatively about their experience. We do not alter the reviews in any way. Learn more about how we source reviews.

Optimum customer ratings overview

Optimum

3.6

(22)

5 Star

27%

4 Star

32%

3 Star

27%

2 Star

1 Star

Our reviews come from real customers who weren't incentivized to leave a review. The rating distribution typically shows a range of experiences and opinions that helps you get a sense for the average customer experience, not just extremes.

Top reviews from Optimum customers

Melanie from North Haledon , NJ

Optimum Customer for 8+ years

Reviewed on: 9/14/2022

They offer great rates and customer service

Abdulrasheedfrom Brooklyn, NY

Optimum Customer for Less than a year

Reviewed on: 9/12/2022

Good thinking good product

Christie from Washington , NC

Optimum Customer for 1+ years

Reviewed on: 9/3/2022

Our service has been wonderful. It's not too expensive. They have great customer service.

Karlfrom Beckley , WV

Optimum Customer for 4+ years

Reviewed on: 8/31/2022

They r good and the TV service it pretty goodm yet they have serious issues with tryin to over charge ppl

Eugeniafrom Louisville'S, KY

Optimum Customer for 1+ years

Reviewed on: 8/29/2022

It has been great better then other service's ive had

Bethfrom Charleston, WV

Optimum Customer for 1+ years

Reviewed on: 8/22/2022

it has been great, I haven't had any problems with them at all

Nikifrom New Haven, WV

Optimum Customer for 4+ years

Reviewed on: 8/21/2022

They are good only complaint I have is it takes them days to come out to your residence if you need them

Edwardfrom Manalapan , NJ

Optimum Customer for 4+ years

Reviewed on: 8/15/2022

Service is good but we lost channels in the last change of offers

Darafrom Prestonsburg, KY

Optimum Customer for 8+ years

Reviewed on: 8/10/2022

I haven't used any of their features other than just regular cable TV. I don't have a recording device or option. Or any extra channels that I could subscribe to. But the quality has been great for a great price. I would say I am a loyal customer and trust them very much as well.

Williamfrom New York, NY

Optimum Customer for 1+ years

Reviewed on: 8/7/2022

I nthink i am being overcharged. Inever rexeive mu potage credit. It has failed to connect with my acs

Sarah from Ruston , LA

Optimum Customer for Less than a year

Reviewed on: 7/16/2022

Have good signal and service, and Wi-Fi service is great too. I have all I need through them for all my tv needs.

Amyfrom Rocky Point , NY

Optimum Customer for 8+ years

Reviewed on: 7/15/2022

They are way too expensive, their customer service is awful, their plans and whats included suck, they have a monopoly on the market so its the only option we are stuck with.

Joann from Fairfield , CT

Optimum Customer for 8+ years

Reviewed on: 7/14/2022

Too expensive. Difficult to contact by phone

Danielle from Eatontown , NJ

Optimum Customer for 1+ years

Reviewed on: 7/11/2022

More channels included

David from Hackensack, NJ

Optimum Customer for Less than a year

Reviewed on: 7/2/2022

My optimum bill is included in the rent.I use it mostly for the wifi. I like to use the Amazon firestick as it offers first run movies.i don't think that there is any way to improve on that.

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Endnotes and sources

"Most-Watched Television Networks: Ranking 2022’s Winners and Losers," Variety. Accessed 4 April 2023.