It’s no secret that cable and internet can be pretty expensive. Many people feel they overpay for these services. There are some great internet and TV deals to be had, though, if you know where to look.
We’ve done the digging and rounded up some of the best deals for cable and internet service you’ll find anywhere, so you can kick back and enjoy your reasonably priced entertainment without worrying about whether you’re getting your money’s worth.
The best TV and internet deals
Best deal for | Package | Price | Channels/speed | Cost per channel/megabit | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Sports fans | DIRECTV® XTRA + SPORTS PACK | $83.98/mo.* | 275+ channels | $0.31 per channel | View plans |
Budget shoppers | DIRECTV SELECTTM | $59.99/mo. | 155+ channels | $0.39 per channel | View plans |
Channel surfers | Verizon The Most Fios TV | $90.00/mo. | 425+ channels | $0.21 per channel | View plans |
Streamers | Hulu + Live TV | $54.99-$60.99/mo. | 65+ channels | $0.85–$0.94 per channel | View plans |
Internet-only shoppers | CenturyLink Fiber Internet | $65.00/mo. | Up to 940 Mbps | $0.07 per megabit | View plans |
*Data effective 03/18/2020. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change. For 12 months with a 2-yr contract, paperless bill, & autopay. Price increases for months 13–24.
† For 12 months with a 1-yr. agreement & Autopay.
Top internet and TV bundles
DIRECTV: XTRA + SPORTS PACK
Best TV deal for sports fans
Pros
- Great customer service
- Excellent price per channel
- NFL SUNDAY TICKET (current season free to new customers)
- Powerful Genie DVR
Cons
- Requires a 2-year contract
- Needs a mounted satellite dish
DIRECTV is one of the best providers in the business for sports programming, with tons of channel variety in its TV package deals. Based on cost per channel, DIRECTV XTRA® is a slightly better value than other high-end packages like DIRECTV ULTIMATE. Add in the Sports Pack and you’ll pay about 31 cents per channel, which is great.
The Sports Pack adds essential channels for sports fans, including regional sports channels and ESPN Classic. But there’s more: new customers get the current season of NFL SUNDAY TICKET free.
And there’s plenty of content in DIRECTV XTRA® for the less sports-obsessed folks in your life—check out the complete lineup here.
DIRECTV: SELECTTM
Best TV deal for a budget
Pros
- Great customer service
- Excellent price per channel
- Powerful Genie DVR
Cons
- 2-yr. contract required
- No free NFL SUNDAY TICKET
As noted above, DIRECTV‘s SELECTTM has 155+ channels for $59.99 a month, with a cost per channel of $0.39. So why didn’t we include it in the Sports recommendation above? Well, it doesn’t have as many sports channels as DIRECTV XTRA—and the NFL SUNDAY TICKET offer only counts for the CHOICETM plan and higher.
Verizon: The Most Fios TV
Best TV deal for channel surfers
Pros
- Tons of channels to choose from
- Excellent price per channel
Cons
- Limited availability
- Few package choices
- DVR fees
The Most Fios TV from Verizon gets the title of “Best TV Deal for Channel Surfers” with a whopping 425+ Channels. That works out to about $0.21 per channel, easily making it one of the best cable TV deals you’ll find. While some other providers offer similar channel counts, none do it at this price.
Availability, unfortunately, is limited since it’s a fiber-optic based service. But if you can get fiber in your area, we highly recommended The Most Fios TV. And since fiber is the fastest and most reliable internet connection, you might want to bundle. Verizon’s Fios Gigabit Connection + The Most Fios TV ($169.99 a month) is one of the best internet and TV bundles around with 425+ channels and speeds up to 940 Mbps. The cost per channel goes up to $0.40, but that’s still worth it.
Plus taxes. For eligible new res. custs. $99 set-up & taxes & terms may apply. Subj. to credit approval & may require a deposit. Fios avail. in select areas.
Hulu + Live TV
Best TV deal on streaming
Pros
- Stream live TV anywhere, anytime
- Offers a good variety of channel options
- Access to Hulu on-demand content and originals
Cons
- Requires an internet connection
- Some local channels not available
These days, cutting the cord doesn’t have to mean cutting out live TV. Several streaming providers offer live TV, including Sling TV and YouTube TV. We think Hulu + Live TV is the best bang for the buck, though, with a lower price per channel, as well as popular cable networks and access to Hulu’s library of on-demand shows and originals.
Hulu’s plans come in ad and no-ad tiers, apply to Hulu + Live TV: $54.99 a month for livestreaming TV services with the ad-supported version of Hulu, or $60.99 a month for livestreaming with ad-free Hulu. Hulu + Live TV also allows for premium TV add-ons, including HBO® ($14.99/mo.), SHOWTIME ($10.99/mo.), CINEMAX ($9.99/mo.), and STARZ ($8.99/mo.).
CenturyLink Fiber Internet
Best deal on internet
Pros
- Blazing fast speeds
- No contracts
- Guaranteed price for life of service
Cons
- Limited availability
- So-so customer satisfaction
We’ve covered great TV deals, but what if you’re looking for a great deal on high-speed internet service? Look no further than CenturyLink Fiber Internet. One gig plans in general tend to offer the best deals on internet service simply because the speed goes up so much in proportion to the price.
CenturyLink offers a couple things that set it apart from the competition: first, there’s no contract involved—just pay every month and enjoy the service as long as you want; second, the price is guaranteed to never go up as long as you maintain service. The downside is that this plan is still available only in select markets. However, if you can get it, we highly recommend it.
What makes a TV or internet package a great deal?
To find the best TV and internet bundles, we first looked at cost per channel (TV) and cost per megabit (internet). The math is pretty easy: just divide the number of channels (or number of megabits) by the package price.
For example:
- DIRECTV’s SELECT plan has 155+ channels for $59.99 a month. The cost per channel, then, is $0.39.
- Verizon’s Fios Gigabit Connection has up to 940 Mbps for $79.99 per month for a cost per megabit of $0.09.
- Xfinity’s Super Double Play with Blast Internet bundle has 245+ channels and up to 600 Mbps for $139.99 a month. That would make its cost per channel $0.57 and the cost per megabit $0.23.
Obviously, when it comes to this comparison, you want the lowest number possible—because that generally means you’re getting the most for your money.
We also looked at other additional perks the service offered—CenturyLink’s Price for Life guarantee, for example, protects your rate from increasing as long as you keep you plan. Spectrum’s TV Gold plan includes tons of extras, like free HBO, CINEMAX®, NFL Network, NFL RedZone, SHOWTIME®, STARZ®, and STARZ ENCORE (among other features).
Feel free to use our magic methods in your own shopping and let us know what screamin’ deals you dig up.
TV and internet deals FAQ
Which TV provider has the best deals?
If it’s available in your area, AT&T TV offers the best deals, with huge channel counts and affordable prices. If you don’t have access to AT&T TV, DIRECTV offers the same pricing scheme, and even though the channel counts are lower, it’s available in all 50 states.
See if AT&T TV is available in your area:
What does 1 gig mean?
One gig refers to an internet speed of 1 gigabit per second (Gbps), which is equal to about 1,000 megabits per second (Mbps). These plans are fast—you can download an entire HD movie in less than two minutes.
How can I lower my cable and internet bill?
If you spend a few more bucks on a faster internet service, you can lower your cable bill by cutting cable altogether with a livestreaming TV service. CableTV.com’s favorite livestreamer, Hulu + Live TV, gives you over 60 popular channels, including sports and locals, for $54.99-$60.99, which is a lot less than cable and satellite providers.
Other livestreaming services, like Sling TV and YouTube TV, offer even cheaper plans—but they don’t include Hulu’s on-demand and original content, a big selling point.
All you need to start livestreaming your TV is an internet connection and a streaming device, and you’ll just pay the internet bill and a subscription fee (renewed on a monthly basis with no contracts).