The Flixed Guide to Spectrum TV

If, like us, you love streaming movies and shows online, Spectrum TV is likely to be something that has caught your eye. It is one of a burgeoning range of fantastic streaming services popping up all over the place. If you have yet to come across Spectrum or simply want a refresh, we’ve put together a handy guide for you. Read on to find out what it is, how to get started, and why Spectrum TV might just be the best option for you

What is Spectrum TV?

Spectrum TV is a non-cable television service delivered by the well-known internet, cable, and TV provider Spectrum. As a provider, Spectrum covers over 40 states, supplying high-quality cable solutions for countless households. Spectrum has branched into the increasingly popular world of online streaming by compiling a service that allows any new or existing customer to watch live TV with nothing but a handy app and a connection to the internet. No longer do you need to go through the struggles of setting up cable. Now, you can watch your favorite shows and channels whenever and wherever you want.

Spectrum TV is an internet service owned by Charter Communications that offers both live TV and on-demand streaming. In addition to cable and on-demand television, Spectrum offers internet and mobile phone services, which you can bundle with Spectrum TV.

There are a few things that set Spectrum TV apart from other cable TV providers.

• It’s widely available. With coverage in select cities in 41 states, it’s one of the most accessible cable TV providers in the U.S.
• There’s no contract. Cancel whenever you’d like.
• All channels are in HD. You won’t have to choose between snagging a good deal on cable TV and watching in high definition.

Spectrum TV’s basic package, Spectrum TV Select, hosts around 125 channels. The next tier up, Spectrum TV Silver, is where you’ll gain access to HBO Max. The silver tier hosts an additional 50 channels, including Oprah Winfrey Network, Nat Geo Wild, Disney Junior, and MLB, plus HBO Max and Showtime.

What does Spectrum TV Cost?

Spectrum TV Bundles

Spectrum TV offers two bundles — Spectrum TV Stream & Spectrum TV Choice — and two add-on packages — the Sports, News, and More Bundle & the Premium Add-On Bundle.

Spectrum TV Stream

The Spectrum TV Stream bundle offers a pre-planned list of 25 live TV channels, including such gems as the Discovery Channel, Nickelodeon, Comedy Central, The Food Network, BBC World News, and many more. You can also gain access to any of your local TV channels. The Spectrum TV Stream bundle costs $54.99 per month, with a 30-Day Money-Back guarantee.

Spectrum TV Choice

The Spectrum TV Choice bundle allows you to handpick ten of your favorite live TV channels, rather than utilizing the Stream bundles pre-prepared list. It also offers a selection of music channels, plus all the live TV channels local to your area. The Spectrum TV Choice bundle costs $30 per month, with a 30-Day Money-Back guarantee.

Sports, News, & More Add-On Bundle

The Spectrum TV Sports, News, and More Add-On Bundle does exactly what it says on the tin. This fantastic add-on bundle offers access to nine more live TV channels covering sports, news, and a smattering of other genres. The Spectrum TV Sports, News, & More add-on bundle costs $30 per month, with a 30-Day Money-Back guarantee.

Spectrum TV Premium Add-On Bundle

The Spectrum TV Premium Add-On Bundle offers access to seven premium channels, from a list including the likes of HBO, Showtime, Starz, Cinemax, and more. The Bundle costs $45 per month and comes with the standard 30-Day Money-Back guarantee.

How to Watch Spectrum TV

To watch Spectrum TV, you’ll need to have the Spectrum TV app. Once you have the app, you can indulge in the cable-less ease of Spectrum TV on several platforms. Spectrum TV is compatible with the following devices/platforms:

• spectrumtv.com
• Apple TV
• IOS phones/tablets
• Android phones/tablets
• Samsung Smart TVs
• Amazon Kindle Fire
• Xbox One

It’s worth noting that Spectrum TV is not supported on the following devices/platforms:

• Android TV
• Chromecast
• PlayStation
• Nintendo
• LG Smart TVs
• VIZIO Smart TVs

Spectrum TV Channels

Spectrum TV offers thousands of shows and movies and hundreds of live TV channels from all genres. Whether you’re in the mood for some light entertainment, want to brush up on the latest news and current affairs, or fancy some music, Spectrum TV offers a wide range of shows and channels to pick from. Just a few of the channels supported by Spectrum TV include:

• Comedy Central
• MTV
• Lifetime Movie Network
• Nickelodeon
• Science Channel
• Outdoor Channel
• Newsmax TV
• BBC World News
• Many, many more…

How to get the HBO Max with Spectrum Bundle

Signing up for Spectrum TV with HBO Max is pretty simple. If you have an existing basic subscription, you’ll need to upgrade to the Silver plan. If you don’t already have a Spectrum TV subscription, it’s as easy as signing up for the Silver package from the get-go. Either way, you can start by visiting Spectrum’s cable TV plans page.

Step 1: Navigate to Spectrum’s cable TV plans page

This page offers a preview of Spectrum TV’s most popular packages, including the Silver plan. Click the “shop now” button within the Spectrum TV Silver plan to start the process.

Step 2: Enter your address to see your offer

After clicking “shop now,” you’ll be directed to a page that asks for your address. If you’re an existing subscriber looking to upgrade, you can enter your address here, and it will give you the option to upgrade your existing account to the Silver plan.

Step 3: Browse offers and select “TV Silver:

Once you enter your address, you’ll be directed to a list of offers in descending order by price. You can browse all of your offers or skip down to the TV Silver option. Under this option, select “choose.”

You’ll be asked whether you’d like to upgrade or add even more channels throughout the process, which you can decline. However, more expensive plans include HBO Max and additional channels, so check those out if you’re interested.

You’ll also have to select what equipment you’d like to order. At least one HD box is required, and they cost $8.99 apiece per month. You can also add DVR service to any of your HD boxes, which costs $4.99 per month for one or $9.99 per month for two or more.

At this point, you’ll see a bar at the top of the screen with your initial payment amount, which includes applicable fees and startup costs.

Step 4: Enter your personal information

In the final step, you’ll need to enter your personal information and decide between picking up your self-installation kit in a store or having it shipped to you. You don’t have to make a payment at this point, but you do need to decide between paperless or mailed billing.

Once you’ve entered your information and preferences, the final step is agreeing to the terms of service and submitting your order.

How much does the Spectrum with HBO Max bundle cost?

To gain access to HBO Max, you’ll need to enroll in Spectrum TV Silver, which is the middle tier of Spectrum TV’s offerings. Silver tier status offers around 175 channels, 50 more than Spectrum TV’s basic package offers. The price difference between the basic and Silver packages is about $30 per month — the basic package costs $44.99/month for the first 12 months, while the Silver package will run you $74.99/month for the first 12 months.

If you’re only interested in Spectrum TV’s basic package of channels and HBO Max, you would be better off without the bundle since a standalone HBO Max subscription costs $14.99/month (or $9.99/month with ads). If you purchased the basic package of Spectrum TV and an HBO Max subscription separately, your monthly bill would be $59.98, rather than the $74.99 charged for the Spectrum TV Silver.

However, if you’re interested in Showtime and the 50 additional channels offered by the Silver package in addition to HBO Max, the bundle is certainly worth the investment.

Is the Spectrum and HBO Max bundle worth it?

With HD service in 41 states, Spectrum TV is a great cable and on-demand television provider. Basic plans start at $44.99/month for 12 months, but those won’t give you access to HBO Max. If you’d like to bundle HBO Max with your cable, the cheapest plan is the Spectrum TV Silver plan, which starts at $74.99/month for 12 months.

This plan is only worth it if you’re interested in the 50 additional channels the Silver bundle offers, including Showtime, Lifetime Movie Network, Oprah Winfrey Network, MLB, Nat Geo Wild, and more. If those don’t interest you, the better option is purchasing the basic Spectrum TV package (Spectrum TV Select) and a separate HBO Max membership, which costs about $15 less per month than the Silver package.

Our take on “TV Choice”

Last summer, Spectrum (formerly Time Warner Cable) slowly began offering customers an a la carte TV option called "TV Choice". The program was initially designed as a retention option to persuade individuals from ditching cable. At the time, many didn't know what to make of it, and details were scant.

However, Spectrum started rolling out the option with more gusto early this year. Cord Cutters News reported last week that the company plans to push the option more heavily. A recent Techhive review what many suspected: TV Choice is still wrapped in the funk of limited options and price creeps.

TV Choice? More Like Poor Choice

Techhive's Jared Newman received a retention call from Spectrum, offering him the TV Choice a la carte option. Here's how it broke down:

• He would get all of the major broadcast networks (NBC, CBS, ABC, FOX, CW)
• He would then get to pick from 10 major cable TV networks
• His cost initially would be [sc name="sling-base-price"] with an included broadcast TV fee

For a cable company, that sure sounds like a good deal. But compare the cost and TV options with popular OTT options:

• Sling TV Orange: $20/month, 30 channels (no locals)
• fuboTV: $44.99/month, 65+ channels (including some locals)
• YouTube TV: $35/month, 50+ channels (including some locals)
• Philo: $16/month, 37 channels (no locals, no sports)

If locals broadcast networks are imminently important, a consumer might be tempted by TV Choice. But Newman notes there's a price creep that brings the cost up to $30 per month.

For fewer than 20 channels at $30 per month, TV Choice is severely lacking in the kind of choice most cord-cutters are looking for.

Spectrum TV FAQs

Is there any way to watch Spectrum sports live without cable?

Unfortunately, none of the regional Spectrum Sports channels are available through any of the major American streaming services. That's probably because Spectrum Sports is owned by Charter Communications, the second-largest cable provider in the United States. Despite this, you may still want to consider checking out Hulu with Live TV, fuboTV, Sling TV, AT&T TV NOW or YouTube TV. All five streamers have a lot to offer sports fans– and you can sign up for free trials of each one, as well.

Do I need to sign a contract?

No. Spectrum TV is a monthly subscription. You can cancel at any time, and it has a 30-day money-back guarantee if you decide it’s not for you in the first month.

Can I binge-watch TV Series?

Absolutely! When you’re watching an episode of a series, the next episode will begin playing automatically after the current one finishes. You can binge-watch all day long, so get the popcorn ready!

What is ‘For Parents’?

The For Parents option is a helping hand for parents to determine what they can or can’t show their children. It isn’t available on every movie or show, but when it is, it offers a detailed guide to any violence, adult themes, language, and types of character.

Kelsey Reynolds • Editor

Kelsey Reynolds is Flixed’s content lead. She is based in Minneapolis. Kelsey holds a Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing from the University of Minnesota, and has spent her career writing and editing content about marketing, education, emergency preparedness, science, cannabis, and entertainment. When she’s not at her computer, Kelsey can usually be found working in her garden or walking her two dogs in the park.