Compare Cable TV and Internet Deals in Chicago, IL
Change Location
Cable TV and internet in Chicago, IL
Being the third-largest metropolis in the US, Chicago offers more choices in local TV and internet service than most other cities, from both big brands and smaller regional providers. Finding a good deal in the Windy City should be as easy as stumbling into a pro game (Chicago is a serious sports town).
What are the best TV providers in Chicago?
- DIRECTV: NFL SUNDAY TICKET
- DISH: Powerful Hopper 3 DVR
- Xfinity: X1 receiver/DVR with built-in apps
- RCN: No-contract packages
- WOW: Low-priced plans
What are the best internet providers in Chicago?
- AT&T Fiber: Fast fiber internet
- Xfinity: Wi-Fi hotspots nationwide
- RCN: Eero Plus Wi-Fi security
- WOW: No data caps
Fiber is king when it comes to internet service; it’s the fastest and most stable connection available in 2019. Only AT&T Fiber offers it in Chicago, with nearly 100% coverage in the city—if you want fiber, it won’t be hard to get.
Cable internet comes in as a close second to fiber, and Chicago has three providers that offer it: giant Xfinity (99% coverage) and smaller companies like RCN (22%) and WOW (16%). HughesNet and Viasat satellite internet are also available, but with all of the other internet choices in Chicago, we can’t recommend them. Satellite internet is slow, expensive, and best avoided if possible.
TV choices are even better in Chicago, with six providers that can hook you up: DIRECTV, DISH, Xfinity, RCN, and WOW. DIRECTV and DISH are satellite TV services; Xfinity, RCN, and WOW are cable; and AT&T TV is basically a streaming TV service.
All six of these companies feature similar packages loaded with popular channels across different pay tiers. But DIRECTV has the edge in sports (only DIRECTV carries NFL SUNDAY TICKET—a must-have for most football fans). Also, of the six, RCN and WOW have more limited availability in Chicago than the bigger TV players on the list.
Cable and internet bundles in Chicago
Bundling internet and cable service is a great way to save a few bucks and cut down on paperwork. Of course, it helps if the provider you choose offers both TV and internet services like AT&T, Xfinity, RCN, and WOW do.
Bundling gets a little more complicated with single-service providers like DIRECTV and DISH, which only do TV. You might think that bundling satellite TV and satellite internet would be easy, but not quite: you can’t use the same rooftop dish receiver—it requires separate dishes for TV and internet.
Also, satellite internet is subpar at best (we repeat: last-resort circumstances only).
Top TV and internet bundles in Chicago
- AT&T: 125+ channels + fast fiber internet
- Xfinity: High speeds + large channel counts
- RCN: Low-priced TV/internet bundles
Summary of Cable TV Providers in Chicago, IL
Provider | Service Type | Channel Count | Customer Rating (out of 5) |
Features | Prices Starting At* |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
DISH | Satellite | 290+ | 3.8 | Enjoy a 2-year price guarantee. | $64.99/mo. |
DIRECTV | Satellite | 330+ | 3.7 | See out-of-market games on NFL SUNDAY TICKET. | $39.99/mo. |
Spectrum | Cable | 200+ | 3.4 | Enjoy FREE HD. | $44.99/mo. |
Xfinity | Cable | 260+ | 3.5 | Access your entire DVR library via the cloud. | $24.99/mo. |
RCN | Cable | 285+ | 3.9 | Sync recorded shows to your mobile devices. | $29.99/mo. |
WOW! | Cable | 75+ | N/A | Thousands of on-demand movies and TV shows. | $34.99/mo. |
*Pricing subject to change. Not all offers available in all areas.
Summary of Internet Providers in Chicago, IL
Provider | Service Type | Max Download Speeds up to | Customer Rating (out of 5) |
Features | Prices Starting At* | Area Availability* |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
AT&T | DSL | 1,000 Mbps | 4.1 | Get help anytime with 24/7 customer service. | $49.99/mo. | 100% |
Spectrum | Cable | 940 Mbps (wireless speeds may vary) | 3.4 | Get a high-performance modem included. | $44.99/mo. | 20% |
Xfinity | Cable | 1,000 Mbps | 3.5 | Easily monitor who's using your internet. | $24.99/mo. | 100% |
Viasat | Satellite | 25 Mbps | 3.9 | Fastest residential satellite internet in the U.S. | $65.00/mo. | 99% |
Google Fiber | Fiber | 1,000 Mbps | N/A | No data caps. | $50.00/mo. | 1% |
RCN | Cable | 1,000 Mbps | 3.9 | Get the help you need with 24/7 customer support. | $29.99/mo. | 50% |
WOW! | Cable | 1,000 Mbps | N/A | No data caps. | $34.99/mo. | 16% |
Earthlink | Fiber | 1,000 Mbps | 4.0 | Download as much as you want with unlimited data. | $49.95/mo. | 100% |
*Pricing subject to change. Not all offers available in all areas.
Data effective as of 01/17/20. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change.
Most popular TV channels in Chicago
There’s no Real Housewives of Chicago series, but Chi-Town still likes Bravo—as well as the Networks of Cartoons and Food.
On the sports side, ESPN, FOX Sports 1, and NBA TV are the big three. And local network affiliates WMAQ (NBC), WCPX (ION), and WSNS (Telemundo) are clear favorites.
Top 3 | Sports | Local |
---|---|---|
Bravo | ESPN | NBC (WMAQ) |
Cartoon Network/Adult Swim | FOX Sports 1 | ION (WCPX) |
Food Network | NBA TV | Telemundo (WSNS) |
With the exception of NBA TV’s absence from WOW’s channel lineup, all of Chicago’s most popular channels are available from all local providers.
TV packages featuring Chicago’s most popular channels
Package | Price | Channels | Contract | Bundles |
---|---|---|---|---|
Xfinity Preferred | $80.00/mo.* | 220+ | 12 mos. | TV, internet, digital phone |
WOW Medium TV | $74.99/mo. (bundled with internet)† | 100+ | 12 mos. | TV, internet, digital phone |
RCN Signature TV + Premiere Sports | $76.98/mo. ‡ | 364+ | 12 mos. | TV, internet, digital phone |
DIRECTV Xtra | $59.99/mo.§ | 235+ | 12 mos. | TV only |
DISH America’s Top 200 | $84.99/mo.˚ | 240+ | 24 mos. | TV only |
Data effective as of 01/17/20. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change.
Most of the above packages are similarly priced, but we like Xfinity’s Preferred package. It’s easily bundled with internet, it’s available in most of Chicago, and it offers a lot of channels—channel count isn’t everything, but 220 is pretty impressive at 80 bucks a month.
Chicago sports coverage
Chicago is home to eight pro sports teams: Bears (NFL), Cubs and White Sox (MLB), Bulls (NBA), Blackhawks (NHL), Fire (MLS), Sky (WNBA), and Red Stars (NWSL). That’s a lot of games to keep up on, even with the right TV package.
How to watch Chicago sports
Sports team | Channel | Packages |
---|---|---|
Chicago Bears | ||
Chicago Cubs | ||
Chicago White Sox | ||
Chicago Bulls | ||
Chicago Blackhawks | ||
Chicago Fire | ||
Chicago Sky | ||
Chicago Red Stars |
Most of Chicago’s biggest players can be seen on Xfinity and RCN’s cable packages, depending on regional blackouts. Baseball, basketball, and football get plenty of TV love locally.
The Chicago Blackhawks have an exclusive deal with NBC Sports Chicago—which, fortunately for hockey fans, is a widely available channel.
Soccer is a little trickier: Women’s league Red Stars are aligned with FOX Soccer Plus, which is available only on DIRECTV or DISH. MLS team Chicago Fire has opted to go with ESPN+, ESPN’s streaming service (though some games can be seen on the local Univision station).
Local Chicago channels
There are over 20 Chicago-area TV stations, including 71-year-old superstation WGN. Not all of them are as easy to get with cable or satellite because they’re over-the-air channels. Availability and channel numbers vary by provider.
Local Channels in Chicago
There are over 20 Chicago-area TV stations, including 71-year-old superstation WGN. Not all of them are as easy to get with cable or satellite because they’re over-the-air channels. Availability and channel numbers vary by provider.




















Channel numbers and availability vary by provider.
Jump to Providers ListNot all Chicago TV stations are available through every provider, but here are three packages that carry the most local channels for the lowest price:
- Xfinity Starter: $49.99/mo.*
- DIRECTV Select: $59.99/mo.¶
- DISH America’s Top 120: $59.99/mo.˚
Find a provider store near you in Chicago
If you’d rather talk to someone in person than over the phone or online chat, most providers have physical storefronts. In large cities like Chicago, they’re especially easy to find.
Find Store Locations Near Chicago
CableTV.com cannot guarantee that all the information displayed below is accurate.
Related Content
With so many provider choices in Chicago, picking the right one for your needs can be daunting. Read over some of our side-by-side comparison reviews if you’re stuck on which to go with.
Chicago FAQs
If you want absolutely free TV, get an antenna—there are plenty of local broadcast channels to enjoy at no cost.
Internet-based streaming TV services charge monthly fees, but they’re almost always cheaper than those of cable or satellite. On-demand services (like Netflix and Amazon Prime Video) offer thousands of shows and movies; livestreaming TV providers (like Sling TV and YouTube TV) emulate the live TV channels and interface of cable, usually with a high-capacity cloud DVR.
Xfinity and RCN’s cable internet, thanks to recent DOCSIS 3.1 upgrades, can hit download speeds up to 940 Mbps. Meanwhile, AT&T Fiber gets up to 940 Mbps—with 880 Mbps upload speeds.
The major difference is this: fiber internet allows for equal (or close to equal) download and upload speeds, while cable’s upload speeds still max out at around 35 Mbps. If your internet usage doesn’t involve heavy file uploading (home-business owners take note), either type should meet your household’s needs.
- AT&T Fiber: download speeds up to 940 Mbps, upload speeds to 880 Mbps
- Xfinity: download speeds up to 1 Gbps (1,000 Mbps), upload speeds to 35 Mbps
- RCN: download speeds up to 940 Mbps, upload speeds to 20 Mbps
Don’t want to click through every TV and internet provider’s site to find out who services your neighborhood? We’ve made it easy with CableTV.com’s availability map—just enter your ZIP code once, and we’ll give you all the services available in your area.
* For the first 12 months with a 1-year agreement.
† For 12 months with a 2-Year Agreement + AutoPay & Paperless Billing.
‡ For the first 12 months.
§ For 12 mos. plus taxes and RSN fee.
for 24. months. New customers only. All offers require 2-year commitment with early termination fee and eAutopay. Price includes Hopper Duo for qualifying customers.
• For 12 mos. plus taxes.
¶ /mo. for 12 mos. plus taxes.