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Spectrum television reviews

Charter Spectrum brand logo
Staff rating
2.8
Customer rating
4.0
(155)
Price: $29.99 - $169.97/moSpeed: 30 Mbps - 1 GbpsChannels: 140+
staff review
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Rebecca Palmer smiles for the camera
Researched by
Rebecca PalmerSenior Staff Writer
Headshot of Bri Field
Headshot of Michal Ash
Reviewed by
Updated 4/10/23

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No contracts and affordable prices

Spectrum TV is good if you’re bundling and on a budget, and we love the $500 contract buyouts. Better yet, Spectrum doesn’t force you into a contract, so you can give the cable TV service a try with relatively little risk. We don’t love the low channel count, and it’s a bummer that you can get 4K programming only if you also have home internet (and upgrade your DVR to an Apple TV box).


What we like

  • Simple package options
  • No contract to join
  • Up to $500 contract buyout if you switch
What we dislike

  • Second-year price hikes
  • High broadcast fee
  • No DVR with basic receiver
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Before digging too deep...
Make sure Spectrum is available in your area.
Savings tip: Spectrum often has
sign-up promotions
for first-time customers. Call 1-844-733-6483 to ask a rep about current deals and discounts.
Check deals

Our expert assessment

Content
3.5
You’ll pay extra for premium sports and entertainment

Spectrum TV is a good choice for basic TV viewing on a budget, especially if you bundle with home internet. You get more than 125 channels with TV SELECT and more than 140 channels on MI PLAN LATINO, but those are your only package options. Your exact channel lineup depends on where you live (and some areas even have unique package options), so enter your address and check the channel guide as you decide.

Local: 4/5
Spectrum does a great job of providing local channels throughout the hundreds of markets it covers. You get the big four—NBC, ABC, CBS, and FOX—plus The CW and Spanish-language channels. You’ll miss out on a few smaller local networks in some areas, such as Antenna TV and Estrella TV, but we have no major complaints.

Sports: 3/5
Spectrum TV is only passable when it comes to sports. You’ll get national games on the local networks and coverage from networks like TNT and FS1, but you’ll have to pay extra for goodies like MLB Extra Innings, NHL Center Ice, and the ESPN College Extra. You may be eligible for various regional sports networks, but they almost always cost extra. The sports pack is a breezy $6 per month, which isn’t bad, but we’d still prefer the channels be in the standard package.

Family and education: 3/5
Spectrum TV also earns a passing grade for kids shows, but it’s nothing to write home. You won’t get Disney Jr., Nat Geo Wild, Cartoon Network, or Nick Jr., unfortunately. Smithsonian’s out, too, and Science (you can get some of these with the Entertainment View add-on, but it costs $12 extra each month). You do get PBS, though, plus the regular Disney channel, Family Entertainment TV (FETV), and Discovery. It’s not great, but it’s not awful either.

News and politics: 4.5/5
Spectrum doesn’t offer the hotly debated Newsmax channel at its base price, but it has almost everything else news junkies crave. You get national networks CNN, MSNBC, and Fox News, plus all the news that comes with local channels. If your primary reason to pay for live TV is to stay up to date, we think you’ll be pretty happy with what Spectrum has to offer.

Entertainment and lifestyle: 3.5/5
Spectrum TV’s lineup for movies, home improvement shows, reality TV, and true crime is just OK. You’ll have to pay extra for HBO, SHOWTIME, STARZ, and CINEMAX, or for an Entertainment View add-on that includes NFL Network, OWN, and the Cooking Channel. That said, you get channels like Investigation Discovery (ID), TLC, Hallmark, and INSP with the regular package price. You can’t get Ion or Ion Mystery either way, which is a bummer, but there are still hundreds of channels to choose from.

Local news, sports, and entertainment channels vary based on your location. Check out
Spectrum channel offerings
in your area.
View plans
Value
3.5
Good starting prices, but extras add up quickly

The two package options from Spectrum TV are pretty decent when it comes to channel per dollar, and you get all but one of America’s top 100 channels. (1) You’ll need add-ons for international programming, premium sports, and premium education and entertainment, but the cost is about average compared to other providers we review.

You’ll have to pay even more for your cable boxes and DVRs. Plus, there’s virtually no way out of a local broadcast fee, which tops out at more than $20 per month. Worst of all, that low base price will increase in the range of $20–$30 per month after your first 24 months. Competing services have much bigger second-year price jumps (we’re looking at you, DIRECTV and Astound TV), but we still wish Spectrum would end the practice.

Get the best value by speaking directly with a sales rep at 1-844-733-6483 or check your address at
Spectrum's website.
Check address
Equipment and features
2.5
Bare bones but nice for budget viewers, especially with bundling

The daily Spectrum TV experience isn't as good as what you may find with other cable competitors, and it's quite a bit worse than you would get with a satellite TV provider. It all works, but it's not the top of the line.

Ability to watch: Good
Spectrum TV uses HD receivers from a handful of companies, but none are very impressive and there’s no way to control which one you receive. The no-frills remote has controls for channels, a TV guide, and your DVR (if you pay extra for the service). It’s functional, but there’s no voice remote or way to watch in 4K unless you have an Apple TV (or buy one from Spectrum).

Ability to record: Fine
Spectrum’s DVR options are not nearly as good as the DVR setups you’ll get with satellite TV providers, and it falls short compared to other cable providers, too. Rather than create its own high-tech DVR, Spectrum offers a payment plan for a 4K Apple TV that’s preloaded with the Spectrum TV app. You can also use your own Apple TV or buy theirs up front, but the Apple TV option requires internet access.

It’s the best way to access 4K programming with Spectrum, but it ends up being a little more expensive than the competition’s top-of-the-line DVRs. If you end service before you pay your Apple TV off, you’ll be charged the complete price for the device. It’s not a bad deal if you’re already in the Apple ecosystem and have multiple streaming services in addition to cable TV, but it’s not a huge value add for a lot of users.

That aside, we like that you can record from either your regular set-top box or the highly rated mobile app, and it’s easy to see how much storage capacity you have left. You top out at just about 100 hours of HD storage, though, so keep an eye on that library and make sure to delete anything you don’t need.

Ability to find: Fine
You don’t get a voice remote with the standard Spectrum TV equipment, but you do get channel buttons, and we like that you can see both channel numbers and icons from the home screen. We gotta say, though, the Spectrum system for showing which channels are free, which are blocked, and which you have to pay extra for takes some getting used to.

There are workarounds so you see only channels you’re subscribed to and even a way to hide adult-themed shows from the guide, but we wish it were a little more intuitive. Lucky for you, this guide from Spectrum can help you get oriented.



Features and equipment may vary based on package. Visit
Spectrum's website
or call 1-844-733-6483 for more information.
Customer experience
2.0
Plenty of room for improvement

Spectrum leaves a lot to be desired when it comes to how it treats its customers. Starting with installation, you can do it yourself for free if you have had the service at your address before, but there’s an unusual $25 activation fee no matter what. If you need a pro install, you may be charged up to $50, but the company doesn’t list those fees publicly. Either way, you have to pay for your first set-top box, you can’t choose which DVR equipment you get, and you have to pay hefty fees for local broadcast stations and premium channels.

If you have trouble, you’ll need to contact customer service. We like the online help guide and 24/7 chat option, but the service overall scores worse than average among TV providers. (2)

You won’t see promotional pricing on any of the premium channels like you will with the competition, but we aren’t mad about it. Those promotions mostly amount to hidden charges a few months into the contract, and we applaud Spectrum for being more straightforward.

Read our expert guides to learn more about how to watch MLB, how to watch the NFL, and the top cheap providers we tested.

Visit Spectrum's website
or call 1-844-733-6483 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.

Spectrum customer ratings overview

Spectrum
4.0
(155)
5 Star
40%
4 Star
33%
3 Star
21%
2 Star
3%
1 Star
3%
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 Spectrum customers

L
Leslie from Hopkins, SC
Spectrum Customer for 8+ years
Reviewed on: 9/15/2022
They provide amazing service
O
Olivia from Columbus, OH
Spectrum Customer for 4+ years
Reviewed on: 9/14/2022
Honestly all the cable companies need to be broken up the whole system is wrong I only have cable because it's free with rent
S
Suzannefrom Myrtle Beach , SC
Spectrum Customer for 1+ years
Reviewed on: 9/14/2022
They have good service
S
Sally from Corbin , KY
Spectrum Customer for 4+ years
Reviewed on: 9/14/2022
The programming in the Wi-Fi is good. I just have other problems with spectrum.
A
Ainsleyfrom Kent, OH
Spectrum Customer for 1+ years
Reviewed on: 9/13/2022
It is good. I like spectrum. It works
M
Mikefrom Dallas, TX
Spectrum Customer for 1+ years
Reviewed on: 9/12/2022
Okay but it's a good choice for price discounts
H
Hannahfrom Sylacauga , Al
Spectrum Customer for 4+ years
Reviewed on: 9/11/2022
Their service is exceptional could improve their prices
M
Michelle from Marion , NC
Spectrum Customer for 8+ years
Reviewed on: 9/11/2022
I love spectrum but they are way too expensive
T
Tyrafrom Roeland Park , KS
Spectrum Customer for 1+ years
Reviewed on: 9/10/2022
They do well with internet speed and good customer service and providing offers and they should approve more on their price of each service and to make some things
J
Javonte from Dallas , TX
Spectrum Customer for 1+ years
Reviewed on: 9/9/2022
It's good I have a bundle pack with internet and cable
J
Jefffrom Hurley, WI
Spectrum Customer for 8+ years
Reviewed on: 9/7/2022
they have many different sports. they also have my teams on to watch
L
Lisafrom Bristol, VA
Spectrum Customer for 4+ years
Reviewed on: 9/7/2022
They provide numerous channels of sports,news, music,movies and tv shows. For the price you can get channels.
C
Constancefrom La Junta, CO
Spectrum Customer for 8+ years
Reviewed on: 9/7/2022
less outages and better price
R
Rachel from Brooksville , FL
Spectrum Customer for 4+ years
Reviewed on: 9/6/2022
I've always had a great opinion of spectrum. They have great service and wonderful customer service. I've never had a problem with any of my services with them.
M
Margofrom San Antonio , TX
Spectrum Customer for 4+ years
Reviewed on: 9/5/2022
Reliable cost effective
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Endnotes and sources
  1. Most-Watched Television Networks: Ranking 2022’s Winners and Losers,” Variety. Accessed 6 March 2023.
  2. DISH Receives J.D. Power National TV Satisfaction Award for Fifth Consecutive Year,” J.D. Power. Accessed 6 March 2023.

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