skip to main content
We may earn money when you click our links.

Best Satellite and Cable TV Deals for December 2024

Our experts compile this monthly guide to the best cable TV deals, promotions, packages, and bundles.

Best current promotion
Price:
$129.00/mo.
Channels:
425+
DVR:
200+ ($30.00/mo.)
Deals:
$200 Verizon gift card
Price:
$129.00/mo.
Channels:
425+
DVR:
200+ ($30.00/mo.)
Deals:
$200 Verizon gift card
Cheapest TV package
Price:
$95.00/mo.**
Channels:
150+
DVR:
100 shows, $10.00/mo.
Deals:
Free Disney+, Paramount+ Essential w/ any TV plan
Price:
$95.00/mo.**
Channels:
150+
DVR:
100 shows, $10.00/mo.
Deals:
Free Disney+, Paramount+ Essential w/ any TV plan
Best bundle
Price:
$215.00/mo.
Channels:
250+
Download speed:
940 Mbps
Deals:
Free cloud DVR
Price:
$215.00/mo.
Channels:
250+
Download speed:
940 Mbps
Deals:
Free cloud DVR
Best for families
Price:
$112.99
Channels:
240+
DVR:
500 hr. DVR ($10.00/mo.)
Deals:
Paramount+ with SHOWTIME, STARZ, and DISH Movie Pack free for 3 mos.
Price:
$112.99
Channels:
240+
DVR:
500 hr. DVR ($10.00/mo.)
Deals:
Paramount+ with SHOWTIME, STARZ, and DISH Movie Pack free for 3 mos.
Best for sports
Price:
$142.99/mo.*
Channels:
185+
DVR:
450 hrs.
Deals:
Max, Paramount+ with SHOWTIME, MGM+, CINEMAX, STARZ free for 3 mos.§
Price:
$142.99/mo.*
Channels:
185+
DVR:
450 hrs.
Deals:
Max, Paramount+ with SHOWTIME, MGM+, CINEMAX, STARZ free for 3 mos.§

Data effective as of post date. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change.
§ with ENTERTAINMENT, CHOICETM, or ULTIMATE plans. Channels included in PREMIER plan.
* w/ 24-mo. agmt. AutoPay and Paperless Bill req’d. Advanced Receiver Service Fee $15/mo. and Regional Sports Fee up to $13.99/mo. are extra & apply.
** For the first 12 mos. Availability varies by location. See full disclaimer for details.
^ See full disclaimer.

December 2024 TV deals and promotions

We’ve combed through cable and satellite TV providers’ websites to find the best limited-time-only TV deals. Here’s what we found—get ’em while they’re hot. Note: Most of these are for new customers only. If we find a TV deal for current customers, you’ll see it here (clearly marked, of course).

  • Spectrum: New Spectrum TV customers get the Xumo Stream Box free. Spectrum’s TV Select Signature plan comes with free Disney+ and Paramount+ Essential, and TV Select Plus comes with free Disney+, Paramount+ Essential, and ESPN+.
  • Optimum TV: Enjoy cloud DVR for free with 1 Gig Internet + TV packages.
  • Verizon Fios: New customers receive up to a $200 Verizon Gift Card, along with a set-top box rental and unlimited streaming on your own devices.
  • DISH: For a limited time, new customers with America’s Top 120+ or higher get Paramount+ with SHOWTIME®, STARZ®, and the DISH Movie Pack free for 3 months. Also, get free installation when you sign up. Plus, use code NF24 at checkout and get 2 free years of Netflix Standard.
  • DIRECTV: Two-year price guarantee, plus 3 mos. free of Max™, Paramount+ with SHOWTIME, STARZ, CINEMAX®, and MGM+™ with the ENTERTAINMENT All Included package or higher. (Note: These channels already come in the PREMIER All Included plan.) And for a limited time, refer a friend and get up to $500 a year in eGift Cards when they sign up.

Everyone wants a free TV, T-Mobile is making that happen.

For a limited time, get a FREE 40-inch Smart TV when you sign up for T-Mobile 5G Home Internet online or $150 back.

Check Availability

 

*With new home internet line. Via redemption code; allow 10 weeks

Enter your zip code below to see if you can get these cable TV deals in your area.

Huzzah! CableTV.com is available!

Bummer! CableTV.com is not available in your area, but we can help you find a provider that is.

See Providers

Best TV packages and plans

These cable deals have so much to offer it may be hard to choose just one.

Compare the best TV plans and pricing

Package Price Channels DVR storage Download speeds Details
Spectrum TV Select Signature
Best traditional cable provider
$95.00/mo.** 150+ Varies N/A Check Availability

Read Spectrum review
Optimum 1 Gig + Premier TV
Best internet and TV bundle
$215.00/mo.† 250+ 25–150 hrs. 940 Mbps
Read Optimum review
Verizon Fios: The Most Fios TV
Best current promotion
$129.00/mo. 425+ 50 hrs. N/A
Read Verizon review
DISH America's Top 200
Best family package
$112.99/mo.^ 240+ 500 hrs. N/A
Read DISH review
DIRECTV PREMIER All Included
Best sports package
$142.99/mo.* 185+ 200 hrs. (Genie) or 450 hrs.. (Genie 2) N/A
Read DIRECTV review

Data effective as of post date. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change.
* w/ 24-mo. agmt. AutoPay and Paperless Bill req’d. Advanced Receiver Service Fee $15/mo. and Regional Sports Fee up to $13.99/mo. are extra & apply.
** For the first 12 mos. Availability varies by location. See full disclaimer for details.
† For 1 yr. w/ Auto Pay & Paperless Bill. See full disclaimer for details.
^ See full disclaimer.

These are four of the best TV packages out there, and each appeals to a different lifestyle. Read under the cut below for more details on these plans.

For the budget-conscious TV lover, we suggest cable TV provider Spectrum’s TV Select Signature package ($95.00/mo., 150+ channels). Also, new Spectrum TV customers get a Xumo Stream Box free, plus free Disney+ and Paramount+ Essential.

Although it’s a more expensive option, if you’re looking for a quality bundle, we recommend bundling Optimum 1 Gig or Fiber Internet 1 Gig ($80.00/mo., 940 Mbps*) with Premier TV ($135.00 monthly for 250+ channels, including Max, Paramount+ with SHOWTIME, and STARZ at no extra cost. (Optimum offers both cable and fiber internet, depending on your location. Both plans are currently the same price, but fiber-optic internet speeds are faster—when downloading and uploading.)

Verizon Fios’ The Most Fios TV package is a great deal in its own right, providing over 425 channels for only $129.00 per month. But the cable TV provider has our best current promotion due to their new-customer incentives—a $200 Verizon gift card, MGM+, Paramount+ with SHOWTIME, and STARZ included, one set-top box rental included, and unlimited streaming on your own devices.

Families will love DISH for its education and kids channels, excellent parental controls, and Hopper 3 DVR, which stores 500 hours of HD content—and can record up to 16 movies at once. We recommend America’s Top 200 ($112.99/mo., 240+ channels). Since DISH charges $10 a month for the Hopper 3, your total payment for this plan would be $122.99 monthly.

DIRECTV is the way to go for sports fans because it has the most sports channels of any TV provider—although it no longer includes NFL Sunday Ticket (YouTube TV snagged that one). New customers who choose the ENTERTAINMENT™ All Included plan or higher get three free months of Max™, CINEMAX®, Paramount+ with SHOWTIME, MGM+™, and STARZ. For the most sports channels, we recommend going with PREMIER All Included ($142.99/mo., 185+ channels).

Unlike cable TV providers, which have limited service areas, satellite TV providers like DIRECTV and DISH have near-100% availability in the U.S.

Spectrum: Best traditional cable provider

Plan:
TV Select Signature
Price:
$95.00/mo. for 12 mos.**
Channels:
150+
DVR:
varies

Data effective as of post date. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change.
* For the first 12 mos. Availability varies by location.

  • Bundle discounts with internet
  • Plan buyout for switchers
  • Free Xumo Stream Box
  • Free Disney+ and Paramount+ Essential
  • Limited, confusing DVR storage
  • Recent price hikes have increased the price by $30

Spectrum TV Select Signature ($95.00/mo. for 12 mos., 150+ live TV channels) used to be one of the cheapest standalone TV packages out there. You previously could get 150+ channels for just $65, but Spectrum’s fall 2024 price hike has bumped the price up $30.

One plus, though, is Spectrum’s great bundle discounts, offering up to $30 off per month when you bundle your Spectrum TV plan with a Spectrum internet plan.

If you’re sick of your current TV plan but worried about paying cancellation fees, Spectrum is eager to steal you away. When you bundle Spectrum TV with Internet and phone services, it’ll buy out your contract (up to $500) to rescue you from the dungeon of your current provider’s plan. Don’t keep settling for a plan you don’t love.

But Spectrum’s DVR service is kinda weird. Most TV providers measure DVR storage in hours, but Spectrum lets you record a certain number of movies and shows, regardless of length. For some customers, that makes sense, but for others, that can get really confusing, and it could lead to the accidental deletion of your recordings. For a more straightforward DVR experience with more storage, consider buying your own Spectrum-compatible DVR, like the TiVo EDGE for Cable.

Optimum: Best TV and internet bundle

Plan:
1 Gig + Premier TV
Price:
$215.00/mo.†
Channels::
250+
DVR:
25–150 hrs. (extra fee)

Data effective as of post date. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change.
† For 1 yr. w/ Auto Pay & Paperless Bill. See full disclaimer for details.

  • No contracts
  • Max, Paramount+ with SHOWTIME, and STARZ included in Premier TV
  • Free cloud DVR
  • High internet speeds
  • Limited availability
  • Limited DVR storage
  • DVR fees

The TV portion of the bundle, Premier TV, has 250+ live TV channels, including big-time premium channels like Max, Paramount+ with SHOWTIME, and STARZ for $135.00 a month.

But you can’t purchase Optimum TV without first picking an internet plan. You can choose internet speeds of 300 Mbps ($40 monthly), 500 Mbps ($60 monthly), and 1 Gig ($80 monthly), although whether this service is delivered via traditional cable or fiber is entirely dependent on your location. Both cable and fiber cost the same, but fiber offers symmetrical upload and download internet speeds, which means a better experience overall.

For more information on Optimum deals, head over to our Optimum TV deals page.

Verizon Fios: Best current promotion

Plan:
The Most Fios TV
Price:
$129.00/mo.†
Channels:
425+
DVR:
50 hrs.

Data effective as of post date. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change.
†Price with Auto Pay + taxes & equip. charges.

  • Inexpensive pricing
  • 425+ live TV channels
  • Excellent picture quality
  • MGM+, Paramount+ with SHOWTIME, and STARZ included in The Most Fios TV
  • Limited availability and package choices
  • DVR rental fees

For customers who want every channel at their disposal, Verizon Fios’ The Most Fios TV package does it all and then some. You won’t find a cable or satellite package that gives you more than 425 live TV channels at just $129 a month.

Besides the price being a great deal, Verizon Fios is offering some extra incentives when you sign up for The Most Fios TV. Currently, new customers who sign up for The Most Fios TV package will get one set-top box rental included, as well as unlimited streaming on your own devices with the included streaming device connection bundle. Plus, you also get up to a $200 Verizon gift card, depending on your plan choice. Not bad.

DISH: Best for families

Plan:
America's Top 200
Price:
$112.99/mo.
Channels:
240+
DVR:
500 hrs.

Data effective as of post date. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change.
^ See full disclaimer.

  • 290+ live TV channels
  • Hopper 3 DVR
  • Paramount+ with SHOWTIME, STARZ, and DISH Movie Pack free for 3 mos.
  • Use code NF24 at checkout and get 2 free years of Netflix Standard
  • 2-year price guarantee
  • Limited internet/phone bundling options

DISH offers Disney Channel in America’s Top 120+, but America’s Top 200 is where you start getting more specific family favorites. If you’re an Animal Planet, Disney XD, or Nick Jr. fan (or if at least your kids are), America’s Top 200 will meet all your needs for $112.99 a month.

What really sets DISH’s plan apart is its partnership with Common Sense Media. Using the Hopper 3 DVR, you can tailor your child’s viewing experience with age-appropriate recommendations and ratings in eight different categories:

  1. Educational value
  2. Positive role models
  3. Positive messages
  4. Sex
  5. Violence and scariness
  6. Language
  7. Drinking, drugs, and smoking
  8. Consumerism

For keeping kids happy on the go, you’ll appreciate the DISH Anywhere App. It lets you watch your live TV channels, on-demand content, DVR recordings, and more while you’re away from home—like on long road trips, where satellite TV is a wonderful thing. This, while still allowing you to filter content by age and set up separate accounts for each of your children. That’s a lot of peaceful car rides for you—and no worries about inappropriate shows popping up for your kids.

Pro tip: For more DISH deals, check out our guide to DISH Deals and Promotions.

DIRECTV: Best for sports

Plan:
PREMIER All Included
Price:
$142.99/mo.*
Channels:
185+
DVR:
200 hrs. (Genie) or 450 hrs. (Genie 2)

Data effective as of post date. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change.
* w/ 24-mo. agmt. AutoPay and Paperless Bill req’d. Advanced Receiver Service Fee $15/mo. and Regional Sports Fee up to $13.99/mo. are extra & apply.

  • New 2-yr. price guarantee (goodbye, second-year price hike)
  • Fantastic selection of sports channels and add-ons
  • 3 mos. of premium channels
  • High pricing
  • No more included Genie ($15/mo. fee)
  • Activation fees for service and devices
  • No more NFL SUNDAY TICKET

DIRECTV is the best TV provider for sports programming, even after losing NFL Sunday Ticket to YouTube TV and trimming channel lineups to 75–150+ channels to more closely match its sister product, DIRECTV STREAM. It still has plenty of sports channels, loads of regional sports networks, and four big sports add-ons: FOX Soccer Plus, MLB Extra Innings, NBA League Pass, and NHL Center Ice.

If sports is your main concern, you’ll do fine with CHOICE™ All Included ($69.99/mo., 125+ channels) or ULTIMATE All Included ($97.99/mo., 160+ channels). But DIRECTV’s best TV package is PREMIER All Included, which has 185+ channels (every live TV channel DIRECTV carries except for add-ons) including Max, Paramount+ with SHOWTIME, Cinemax, and STARZ, for $142.99/mo..

Yes, $160 is a big monthly bill, especially with the newly shrunk channel lineups and $15-a-month Advanced Receiver Service Fee for the Genie DVR (formerly included with your plan). Fortunately, DIRECTV now has a two-year price guarantee, so the satellite TV provider’s notoriously massive second-year price hike is now only a bad memory.

Pro tip: Before you sign up for DIRECTV, be sure to check out our guide to DIRECTV Deals to see more promotions.

What to look for in TV packages and deals

Not convinced these TV packages are for you? Let us explain what to look for on your quest for the perfect TV package.

TV service types

You should know the different TV services types so you can see which is best for your lifestyle.

Cable TV

This is the classic, transmitted (as you’d expect) via a cable. Availability is often limited to a defined service area. Top cable TV providers include Cox, Astound Broadband powered by RCN, Optimum, Spectrum, and Xfinity—all of which offer cable and internet packages that bundle high-speed internet with hundreds of live channels. This is the service to pick if you have a large household that does a lot of streaming and gaming.

Satellite TV

Also somewhat of a classic, satellite TV signals get beamed from Earth to space, then back to a dish mounted on or around your home. For that reason, satellite TV is available almost anywhere—which is great if you live in a rural area or an ever-rambling RV. DIRECTV and DISH have a duopoly on satellite TV service.

Streaming TV

Some providers, like DIRECTV STREAM and Verizon Fios, are actually streaming services that deliver your TV channels via the internet. These services tend to have more streamlined channel lineups with mainly popular channels so you won’t have to wade through zillions of music, shopping, and weird fringe channels to get to the good stuff.

Channel lineup

The perfect package for you might look completely different from anyone else’s because you have your favorite channels you don’t want to miss out on. Look for packages that include all the channels you want at a good price.

If you’re willing to invest time in examining each package from providers that service your area, you’re much more likely to find exactly what you want.

Area availability

Despite your quest for the best TV package in all the land, you’re limited by what’s in your area. Unless you want to move to a place with all the best TV providers (like Wake Forest, North Carolina), you’re stuck with what you got.

Enter your zip code below to compare TV services near you.

Find the best satellite and cable TV deals near you

For those ready to commit to a superior TV experience, allow us to recap our best cable TV packages:

  • The best traditional cable plan is Spectrum TV Select Signature ($95.00/mo. for 12 mos., 150+ channels).
  • The best TV and internet bundle is Optimum 1 Gig (or Fiber Internet 1 Gig) + Premier TV ($215.00/mo., 250 channels).
  • The best current promotion goes to Verizon Fios, which has high-value new-customer offers for most of its TV packages including The Most Fios TV ($129.00/mo., 425+ channels).
  • The best cable TV package for families is DISH America’s Top 200 ($112.99/mo., 240+ channels) for its exceptional parental controls and many kids channels. DISH is also our pick for best overall TV provider.
  • And the best package for sports fans is DIRECTV PREMIER All Included ($142.99/mo., 185+) because it has the most sports channels and all the best premium channels.

Any of these plans should help you binge-watch to your heart’s content. But before you fall in love with one, enter your zip code below to see if it’s available in your area.

Best TV packages and deals FAQ

Which TV provider is cheapest?

In our guide to the “Best TV Providers,” we compared the top TV service providers and found that Spectrum has the best cable prices if you’re looking for cheap cable TV packages. Spectrum TV Select Signature gives you 150+ channels for $95.00/mo.. However, thanks to recent price hikes, that TV Select Signature no longer has the bang for your buck it once did.

Xfinity, in its western region—where it competes with Spectrum—has a package called Popular TV that has 125+ channels at only $50 per month. That value now blows Spectrum out of the water.

What's the cheapest satellite TV service?

DISH Network is the cheapest satellite TV provider. DISH TV packages ($97.99–$147.99/mo. for 190–290+ channels) cost $0.42–$0.54 per channel. DIRECTV packages look somewhat competitive at $57.99–$142.99/mo., but it has half the channels (90–185+), so it really costs twice as much: $0.80–$1.07 per channel.

It’s worth mentioning, too, that DISH is our pick for the Best Overall and Best for Families TV provider. You can read more about that in our guide to the Best TV Providers.

How much is cable per month?

Standalone cable TV packages run between $49.99–$159.99 per month, with the average standalone TV plan costing $83.35 monthly. You can find cheaper basic cable TV packages, but we don’t recommend them. You can get all the same channels by buying an over-the-air (OTA) TV antenna for a one-time payment of about $25.00–$60.00, which is much cheaper than paying a monthly fee.

Can you still get basic cable for free?

You can’t get basic cable free, but you can get your local channels and several of their subchannels free after you purchase and install an over-the-air (OTA) antenna. You can get a good one for only $25–$60. To learn more about OTA TV and see which antennas we recommend, check out our guide, “What Is Over-the-Air (OTA) TV?

What is the best TV provider?

According to our “Best TV Providers in Customer Satisfaction” survey, Verizon is the top TV provider when it comes to overall customer satisfaction. But our editorial pick for the best overall TV provider is DISH.

What is the best TV streaming service in 2025?

In our guide to the “Best Live TV Streaming Services,” we named YouTube TV the best streaming provider among six other streaming TV services. For $72.99/mo. you get 100+ channels—including tons of sports networks, access to the NFL SUNDAY TICKET add-on, thousands of on-demand movies and shows, three simultaneous streams, unlimited cloud DVR storage (recordings expire after nine months), and up to six user profiles. The app is also easy to use and runs like a champ on an array of compatible streaming devices.

Where can I find a list of TV providers near me?

To find a list of internet and TV providers in your area, enter your zip code below.

How much does it cost to get basic cable?

Basic cable packages start at around $20–$70 per month, though this varies by provider and service area. We don’t really recommend paying monthly for basic cable packages, though. You can get the same local channels with an over-the-air (OTA) TV antenna that you only have to pay for once—and you can get a good one for only $30–$70.

You can learn more about OTA antennas in our guide, “What is Over-the-Air (OTA) TV?

But, if you’re still interested in basic cable, check out our article on “Basic Cable Channels and Package Guide.”

Who has the best TV and internet bundle?

Our pick for the best overall cable and internet bundle is Optimum 1 Gig + Premier TV (250+ channels, including Max, Paramount+ with SHOWTIME, and STARZ). It’s currently $215.00 a month. Note: this isn’t an official bundle because Optimum has switched to selling its internet and TV plans a la carte. So, to get this “bundle,” select Optimum 1 Gig (or Fiber Internet 1 Gig if you live in Optimum’s fiber optic area) then select Premier TV.

Why you should trust us

Our monthly promotions are tracked down by a rabid team of data specialists so that you get the most accurate information possible. We also put our editorial know-how to the test by comparing the deals and top packages from nationwide providers so you don’t have to. To learn more about our methods, check out our How We Rank page.

Disclaimer

**Spectrum TV Select Signature: 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 $95/mo; standard rates apply after yr 1. Taxes, fees, and surcharges 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.
Optimum 1 Gig Internet: w/ Auto Pay & Paperless Bill. Wired connection up to 940 Mbps. WiFi speeds may vary. Not available in all areas. Max auto renews after 12 months at then prevailing rate (currently $16.99/mo). Price sbjct to change. Terms apply.
^DISH America’s Top 200: All information contained herein is confidential and subject to change. Offer for new and qualifying customers only. Other restrictions may apply a 2-year price guarantee.

Don't miss an update

Stay updated on the latest products and services anytime anywhere.