Sparklight TV Review
From channels to prices, we've spent hours researching Sparklight's cable TV plans and here's what you need to know about them.
| Package | Price* | Channel count up to | Cloud DVR | Popular channels | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Best for no-contract cable Standard Cable |
$121.75/mo. | 100 channels | 200 hrs. | ESPN, E!, FXX | View Plan |
Sparklight—previously known as Cable ONE—has tidy little cable TV packages. While Sparklight won’t box you into a yearly contract, that flexibility will cost you another handful of dollar bills than most cable companies charge.
- No annual contracts
- 30-day money-back guarantee
- Limited-time discounts when you bundle TV with internet or phone service
- Overpriced TV packages
- Data caps that make Digital Value Pack impractical
- No Viacom channels
Sparklight TV packages and pricing
| Package | Price for first 6 mos. | Channel count up to | Cloud DVR | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economy Cable | $54.00/mo. | 20 channels | Up to 200 hrs. | View Plans for Sparklight |
| Standard Cable | $121.75/mo. | 100 channels | Up to 200 hrs. | View Plans for Sparklight |
| Digital Value Pack add-on | $16.00/mo. | 24 channels | n/a | View Plans for Sparklight |
Data effective as of publish date. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change.
If you’re wondering why we listed the cheap Digital Value Pack last, that’s because it’s an add-on pack, not a regular Sparklight TV package, and it’s available only when you sign up for both Standard Cable and a Sparklight internet package.
The Digital Value Pack is an online streaming service that comes with a selection of channels like ESPNU, Disney Junior, and Big Ten Network. But you won’t find local channels, ESPN, or Disney Channel here.
While the Digital Value Pack is only another $16 per month, be careful—because this package uses internet data, you’ll want to watch for Sparklight’s overage fees.
Sparklight’s other little package, Economy Cable, is focused on local channels. It will keep you plugged into primetime and local news, but $54 per month is a pretty steep price for locally broadcast networks. You could get those channels with no monthly payments if you buy an HDTV antenna (we recommend the Mohu ReLeaf on Amazon*).
Finally, the Standard Cable plan is the way to go for awesome networks like ESPN, Hallmark Channel, Disney, and HGTV. But be aware that—even at this highest tier—Sparklight doesn’t offer Viacom channels like MTV and Nickelodeon. And is TV even TV without Jersey Shore?
. . .
Yeah, you don’t need to answer that.
These exclusions don’t make the Standard Cable package any more affordable. You can get a similar standard package from DISH or DIRECTV for about $20 less per month. We suggest going that route if bang for your buck is your top priority.
But Sparklight is the better option if you’re thinking of moving soon. Those satellite TV companies each have a two-year contract, whereas Sparklight plans don’t have contracts, so you can leave at any time without paying an early termination fee.
Sparklight TV + internet packages
| Package | Price* | Channel count | Download speeds up to | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Standard Cable + Turbo 300 Plus Internet | $164.75/mo. | 100 channels | 300 Mbps | View plan |
| Standard Cable + Freedom Connect 600 Internet | $174.75/mo. | 100 channels | 600 Mbps | View plan |
| Standard Cable + Freedom Connect Gig Internet | $184.75/mo. | 100 channels | 1 Gbps | View plan |
Data effective as of publish date. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change.
* Sparklight TV Plus at $12/mo. required for all bundles that include video.
You can save some cash when you bundle your Sparklight TV with internet. But be careful of Sparklight’s internet data caps, which might end up costing you (see our Sparklight internet review for all the gory details on that nonsense).
Sparklight also bundles TV plans with phone service. To see all your mix-and-match options, head over to our Sparklight bundles review.
Sparklight TV equipment
You’ll need your own equipment to support your Sparklight TV plan. Luckily, that means you won’t have to pay rental fees—and you might already have one of these Sparklight-compatible devices:
- Amazon Fire TV Stick
- Apple TV
- Apple iPhone/iPad
- Google Phone/Tablet
- NVIDIA SHIELD
- PC or Mac, using Chrome, Edge/IE, Firefox, or Safari browsers
- Sony & Sharp TV’s with Amazon Fire TV built-in
Check out our Sparklight TV review for a full breakdown of the provider’s TV options.
Sparklight TV perks, cool stuff, and deals
Sparklight, formerly Cable ONE, doesn’t have any hot TV deals right now, but we’ll update this section when they do.
Final take
Despite its luminous name, Sparklight dulls in comparison to its competitors like DISH and DIRECTV. Sparklight TV prices are just way too high, and its channel lineups are tiny. It’s not for everyone.
But if you need only a few months of TV service to tide you over before a big move, it’s not a bad choice to save you from other providers’ super-long contracts.
Methodology
To find out how Sparklight stacked up against the competition, we spent more than 16 hours breaking down Sparklight’s plans in areas including cost, internet speeds, and channel lineups. We also used our annual internet customer satisfaction and TV customer satisfaction surveys to see what real Sparklight internet and TV customers thought about the ISP.
To learn more about our methodology, check out our How We Rank page.
Sparklight TV FAQ
Is Sparklight TV the same as Cable ONE TV?
You nailed it—Sparklight TV is the new name for Cable ONE TV. The company made the switch mid-2019.
Does Sparklight TV require a contract?
No, Sparklight TV plans are all contract-free, which makes it a good choice if you need TV service for only a short time. You can cancel Sparklight service at any time without facing a high-price early termination fee.
Can I watch Sparklight online?
You can watch Sparklight online via Sparklight TV Everywhere, which is Sparklight’s on-the-go TV service. It has over 60 channels and comes with the Standard Cable package.
What are Sparklight’s cable packages?
Sparklight’s cable TV packages are as follows:
- Economy Cable ($54.00/mo., up to 20 channels)
- Standard Cable ($121.75/mo., up to 100 channels)
We don’t recommend Economy Cable, which is a basic cable package. You can get the same 20 local channels—plus a variety of subchannels—with an over-the-air (OTA) antenna. And the best part is that you can buy the antenna for only $30–$60, and that’s way, way better than paying $54.00 a month.
What channels does Sparklight offer?
We recommend Sparklight’s Standard TV plan ($121.75 a month), which has up to 100 channels, including all your local channels plus popular channels like CNN, Discovery Channel, Disney Channel, ESPN, ESPN2, Fox News, Food Network, Hallmark Channel, HGTV, HISTORY, TNT, and USA. Beware, though. If you want MTV, Nickelodeon, and other Viacom channels, Sparklight doesn’t carry them. To see more Sparklight channels, read our Sparklight channel guide.
Does Sparklight have Netflix?
Sparklight doesn’t offer Netflix directly—but if you select the TiVo DVR when you order Sparklight TV service, you can use it to watch your Netflix subscription (sold separately).
