Spectrum TV^® Review

How good is Spectrum TV service?

Spectrum TV is a solid service that doesn’t demand a contract. It gives you access to a decent number of channels and options for premium content. You can watch all your favorite shows anywhere, too, whether you’re at home on the couch or away on a business trip.

Spectrum TV packages

You can get Spectrum TV through the traditional TV receiver box provided by Spectrum, or you can use a smart TV, media streamer, or game console to access your service through the Spectrum TV app.

You can view the entire channel lineup on Spectrum’s website, but you must call 1-800-267-6094 to add standard and premium channels to your plan.

Spectrum TV vs. Mi Plan Latino TV

Spectrum TV Select Signature starts you with 150 channels, but you can add other popular TV channels like Cartoon Network, Boomerang, Disney Junior, Freeform, MTV Classic, and many more. To add standard and premium TV channels, call 1-800-267-6094.

Spectrum’s Mi Plan Latino service includes 140 channels. It’s a slightly different TV lineup than the Select TV plan, offering channels like AyM Sports, Baby First TV, Bandamax, Canal Once, Cine Mexicano, and more. And like the TV Select plan, you can add standard and premium TV channels by calling 1-800-267-6094.

Spectrum TV package tiers

Customers can choose between TV Select Signature with 150 channels or Spectrum TV Essentials with 65 channels. There are package add-ons like Entertainment View and Latino View each for an additional $12.00 a month.

Data effective 3/25/22. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change.

^‡  Limited time offer; subject to change; valid to qualified residential customers who have not subscribed to any services within the previous 30 days and who have no outstanding obligation to Charter.

*Limited time offer; subject to change; valid to qualified residential customers who have not subscribed to any services within the previous 30 days and who have no outstanding obligation to Charter. Spectrum TV Select Signature promotion price is $59.99/mo; standard rates apply after yr 1. Taxes, fees, and surcharges (broadcast surcharge up to $23.20/mo) extra and subject to change during and after the promotional period; installation/network activation, equipment and additional services are extra. General Terms: TV: TV equipment required; charges may apply. Channel and HD programming availability based on level of service and location. Account credentials may be required to stream some TV content online. Services subject to all applicable service terms and conditions, subject to change. Services not available in all areas. Restrictions apply. Enter your address to determine availability. 

**Limited time offer; subject to change; valid to qualified residential customers who have not subscribed to any services within the previous 30 days and who have no outstanding obligation to Charter. Spectrum Mi Plan Latino: Price is $39.99/mo for yr 1; standard rates apply after yr 1. Taxes, fees and surcharges (broadcast surcharge up to $23.20/mo) extra and subject to change during and after the term; installation/network activation, equipment and additional services are extra. General Terms: TV: TV equipment required, charges may apply. Channel and HD programming availability based on level of service and location. Account credentials may be required to stream some TV content online. Services subject to all applicable service terms and conditions, subject to change. Services not available in all areas. Restrictions apply. Enter your address to determine availability.

#Limited time offer; subject to change; new residential customers only (no Spectrum services within past 30 days) and in good standing with Charter. SPECTRUM TV ESSENTIALS: Price subject to change. Taxes, fees, surcharges extra and subject to change during and after the term; additional services are extra. Spectrum Internet required. Channel availability based on level of service and not all channels available in all markets or locations. Additional equipment may be required to access PEG channels. Services subject to all applicable service terms and conditions, subject to change. Services not available in all areas. Restrictions apply. 

Judging by that chart, it might look like Spectrum has a ton of bundle options, but there are basically just three types.

• Internet and TV
• Internet and home phone
• Internet, TV, and home phone

However, keep in mind that you must have a Spectrum Internet or Spectrum TV Select Signature plan to get Spectrum Voice. Also, Spectrum charges a broadcast TV service charge of up to $21 per month that’s not part of the base price.

Spectrum TV tech

Spectrum doesn’t use just one specific receiver model across the US. In fact, there are more than 60 models listed on its website, so we can’t compare its hardware with other cable internet providers. The list of manufacturers includes Arris, Motorola, Cisco, Scientific Atlanta, Pace, and Samsung.

If you don’t want to use Spectrum’s hardware, you can log in to your Spectrum account through the Spectrum TV app and watch your favorite channels on any compatible device. You can also set Spectrum as your default TV provider in devices like Apple TV and standalone apps for Max, Showtime, and more.

Picture quality

Spectrum’s receivers support digital content up to Full HD (1080i). Broadcasters control the visual fidelity, not Spectrum, so channels will have different resolutions. If you want to watch 4K content, then you must stream it over the internet using a compatible media streamer, like the Apple TV 4K with the Spectrum TV app.

Unlike other TV providers, Spectrum doesn’t include both HD and SD versions of the same channel to pad its channel count. If it’s available in HD, it just goes with that. We appreciate this no-nonsense approach, and it’s something to take into account when comparing channel counts.

DVR

Spectrum’s DVR service costs  $12.99 per month if you have one receiver, or $19.99 per month if you have 2–4 receivers. All receivers have built-in DVR capability, but the storage and multi-record capability depends on the model.

For example, the Arris DCX3520e-M receiver used by Spectrum has a 500 GB drive. So, if a 60-minute TV show in standard definition (SD or 480p) requires 1 GB of hard drive space, then you can record 500 hours of SD programming. If the same show is in high definition (HD or 720p) and requires 5 GB of space, then you can record 100 hours of programming.

Ultimately, the amount of time you can record depends on the show’s quality, how it’s encoded, and the amount of storage space on the receiver.

Spectrum also provides a Cloud DVR service for customers who don’t have a receiver. Instead, you can record and watch stored content through the Spectrum TV app.

Where are you finding this information? I don’t have anything in what Spectrum has sent us and I can’t find it on their website either. Everything says Free On Demand with TV service.

Remotes

Spectrum TV uses more than 60 remote models, all of which are pretty standard universal remotes. You can also use the Spectrum TV app’s Send to TV feature to tune the receiver to the channel or On Demand content you want to watch using a smartphone or tablet.

Spectrum TV App

If you don’t want to rent Spectrum’s equipment, use the Spectrum TV app on a device you already use at no additional cost to you. You can access all your standard and premium channels no matter where you are—including live TV and on-demand content. All you need is your Spectrum account’s login credentials.

Spectrum TV installation

Spectrum TV installation costs $49.99. The process will go something like this:

1. You schedule your installation appointment when you sign up for a new service.
2. Spectrum will text, call, or email you (depending on your preference) to confirm your appointment the day before or the day of.
3. Before the technician arrives, prepare a work area for them. Clear the space around any existing cable outlets, and make sure your pets are out of the way.
4. At any point during your appointment window, a technician will show up to set up your TV service. Someone over the age of 18 has to be present to let them in.
5. The installation appointment can take up to three hours. If the job requires more time, you’ll unfortunately have to set another appointment so the technician can stay on schedule.
6. After everything is installed, the technician should check to make sure everything works correctly. Now’s the time to ask any questions about how to use your TV service.
7. Get the stranger out of your house, and enjoy your Spectrum TV!

If your home is already wired for cable service, you can self-install your equipment. It’s cheaper, and you don’t have to wait around for an appointment. We recommend reading through the instructions before making your decision if you’re unsure whether you can handle it. The biggest downside of self-installation is that nobody’s there to help if you need to troubleshoot an issue.

Our verdict

Spectrum TV is adequate for a cable TV package. It’s cool that you don’t need a receiver to enjoy your favorite shows and movies—you just need the Spectrum TV app and a compatible device. We also like that Spectrum keeps your choices simple rather than throw tons of confusing options at you. Just keep in mind that the promotional pricing ends after 12 months, so all the TV and premium channels you stack on top of the base plan can lead up to a jaw-dropping experience when you get the bill.