| Package |
| Best standalone TV package Contour TV Preferred Plus |
| Best TV + internet bundle internet ultimate 500 + Contour TV Preferred |
Cox may have begun as a cable TV company way back in the 1960s, but in 2020, it’s better at delivering bundles than channels. If you’re looking for a standalone TV plan, Cox offers only one worth paying for; the better values lie in bundling with internet service.
| Package |
| Best standalone TV package Contour TV Preferred Plus |
| Best TV + internet bundle Internet Ultimate 500 + Contour TV Preferred |
* 1 year agreement
** for 12 mos. w/ 1-yr. agrmt.
Cox’s Contour TV Preferred plan gives you a decent range of popular cable networks, even if the 140+ channel count is a bit misleading (more on that in a minute). If you’re looking for more (a likely case), we recommend Contour TV Preferred Plus, which has 170+ channels, including premium channels like CINEMAX®, HBO Max, SHOWTIME®, and STARZ®.
Unfortunately, Cox doesn’t include Contour TV Preferred Plus in its bundles. So, if you’re looking to bundle a TV plan with high-speed cable internet service, you’re gonna be stuck with Contour TV Preferred.
* 1 Year Term Agreement.
Data effective as of 03/30/2021.
Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change.
About Cox’s channel counts: they’re inflated with local TV stations, shopping networks, and a boatload of Music Choice “radio” channels (50 to be exact). So while Contour TV Preferred offers a decent array of cable staples, the Countour TV Starter package is a complete non-starter—you’d be better off buying an over-the-air antenna than paying Cox for channels you can easily get free elsewhere.
All four plans include your first HD receiver at no charge (additional boxes are $10 each). If you want DVR service, there are three tiers:
Since Cox TV plans are already expensive, these additional fees will really jack up your monthly payment. Most people will be happy with the first or second tier. As for the third one, it’s only for hardcore TV lovers because, while we’re totally into 1,000 hours of HD storage, we can’t imagine ever finding 24 things to watch at the same time.
† For 12 mos. w/ 1-yr agrmt.
Data effective as of 03/30/2021.
Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change.
Cox offers some impressive internet download speeds, but we’re running into the less-than-impressive Contour TV Preferred TV plan again. But TV Preferred does give you most of the popular channels (which can be built upon with Cox’s various add-on channel packages—if you want to spend even more than $170 a month) and plenty of internet speed (500 Mbps) to handle a household with multiple surfers and streamers.
Cox offers term agreements, not contracts, so it’s easy to make changes to your packages without incurring extra fees. You can also cancel service within 30 days without being charged an early-cancellation fee.
Cox’s TV service is standard-issue cable fare: it covers the basics, but if you want more, it’ll cost you—and its prices are a little on the high side to begin with.
We wouldn’t recommend Cox as a standalone TV provider; bundles are the smarter way to go with this company. You’ll get excellent internet service, which you can use to supplement your cable-channel selection with streaming TV services like Netflix and Hulu.
You can watch live and on-demand Cox TV content through the Contour app, available for iOS and Android on phones, tablets, and computers. You can also use network-specific apps for free with your Cox account info.
In addition to premium channels like HBO® and SHOWTIME®, Cox offers five multi-channel packages: Variety Pak (15 entertainment channels for $12/mo.), Movie Pak (10 film-centric channels for $12/mo.), Sports & Information Pak (14 news and sports channels for $10/mo.), Sports Pak 2 (nine more sports channels for $10/mo.), and Latino Pak (10 Spanish channels for $10/mo.).
Cox’s Contour DVR/receiver comes with several streaming apps installed, including Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Pandora, YouTube, Tubi, and a few others. Most require internet service (because streaming) and will count toward your internet plan’s data usage.
TV Starter is the cheapest of Cox’s TV packages, coming in at $50 a month. This no-frills option doesn’t include premium channels, but it gets you connected to local ABC, CBS, NBC, CW, Fox, and PBS affiliates offering plenty of content. It also features C-SPAN, more than 50 music channels, and shopping destinations like HSN and QVC.
A Cox basic box, wired HD Contour box, or wireless 4K Contour box is needed for each TV used to enjoy your favorite programs. The first box is included with your Cox TV package. It is $4 a month for each additional Basic Box and $10 for each additional Contour Box.
To give you the best information so you can make the right decision when it comes to cable TV packages, we’re not the biggest fans of basic cable TV packages. The cost doesn’t equal the value. In most cases, you get local channels and not much more.
If a simple package is what you want—and local channels are a must—go with a cable TV antenna. We’ve researched to help you find the best antenna to meet your needs.
