Optimum Cable TV Plans, Packages, and Bundles

Is Optimum good?

Optimum doesn’t offer standalone TV, but it does sell bundles with high-speed internet service (cable or fiber), cable TV, and home phone lines. You can mix and match internet and TV plans to create a bundle that meets your needs, and the pricing is reasonable. A TV plan will add between $35 and $125 to your monthly internet bill.

And if that’s not enough, Optimum will pay up to $100 to buy you out of your current contract.

On the downside, Optimum no longer offers Price for Life. Also, it has expensive equipment, limited availability, low DVR storage, and high DVR prices. But, that aside, Optimum TV service looks more optimal than ever.

Jump to:  

• Plans and pricing
• Optimum TV vs. the competition
• Packages for existing customers
• Deals
• Channels
• DVR and equipment

Optimum TV packages and pricing

When you sign up with Optimum online, you’ll be given a menu of internet and TV plans. The idea is for you to mix and match, creating your own bundle based on your TV and internet needs (and budget).

1) Choose an Optimum internet plan

Data as of post date. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change.
Wired connection speeds. WiFi speeds may vary.

Depending on where you live, you’ll get either cable or fiber internet connections from Optimum. There is no difference in  download speeds, but fiber connections are better because they have symmetrical upload speeds—you can upload as fast as you download.

But the speed you need depends on what do you do online, and how much of it you do.

Optimum 300 ($40.00 a month, 300 Mbps) is good for most households with multiple devices, streaming TV in HD, casual/recreational online gaming, and downloading large files frequently.

At the other end of the spectrum, a large household with multiple TVs streaming in 4K, multiple serious online gamers with their own devices, and everyone on their phones, will want to go with Optimum 1 Gig ($80.00 a month, 940 Mbps).

Now let’s assess your TV needs.

2) Choose an Optimum TV plan

Data as of post date. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change.
Wired connection speeds. WiFi speeds may vary.

With Optimum Core, you’ll get 220+ basic cable channels like HGTV, Disney Channel, and ESPN. At only $85 per month, the package will work best for most households who just want cable TV service.

Optimum Select ($105 a month) ups your lineup to 340 channels with additional networks including NFL Network, Disney XD, and MTV. Your household will get the most out of Optimum Select if you have multiple family members who want to watch the package’s sports, kids, or news channels.

If you want the best of everything, Premier TV is our bang-for-your-buck pick. It has 420+ channels—including Max^TM, SHOWTIME®, STARZ®, and STARZ ENCORE®. At $115 per month, that’s only $0.30 per channel, which ain’t bad at all.

Optimum TV deals and promotions

Optimum’s TV deals often change month to month. For details on all of Optimum’s promotions, check out our Optimum deals page.

Optimum TV channels

Optimum has 420+ live channels. That’s second only to Verizon, which has 425+ channels.

Here’s a rundown of Optimum’s popular channels, premium channels, and channel add-on packs. For even more information, check out our Optimum channel lineup guide.

Popular channels on Optimum

Optimum has 29 of the 30 most-watched channels according to Variety and they’re all in HD.¹ The missing channel is INSP—but don’t fret. Optimum has other channels for people of faith, like the Trinity Broadcasting Network (TBN) and UP.

To see which packages have which channels, see our Optimum Channel Lineup Guide.

Top 30 most-watched channels of 2020¹

Premium channels on Optimum

If you want the premium stuff, Optimum has it, with all the best movies and TV series.

• CINEMAX® ($9.99/mo.)
• Max ($15.99/mo.)
• SHOWTIME and The Movie Channel ($10.99/mo.)
• STARZ and STARZENCORE ($9.99/mo.)

Don’t forget—we recommend Optimum Premier ($125.00 a month, 420+ channels) because it already includes Max, SHOWTIME, STARZ, and STARZENCORE.

Data as of post date. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change.

Optimum channel add-on packs

If you’re into add-on channel packs, Optimum has two: one for Spanish speakers and one for sports fans.

• Optimum en Español ($15.00/mo.): 55+ channels, including Antena 3, CNN en Español, Discovery en Español, ESPN Deportes, FOX Deportes, History en Español, and NBC Universo
• Optimum Sports Pack ($15.00/mo.): 24 channels, including NFL Network, NFL RedZone, NHL Network, MLB Network, NBA TV, Golf Channel, and more.

Optimum’s main TV packages include a handful of Spanish-language channels. Those will suffice when your abuela is visiting. But if she’s gonna move in—or if a bilingual familia is your priority—go for Optimum en Español.

The Select ($105 a month, 340+ channels) plan already includes MLB and NFL Network at no extra cost. But if you have room in your budget, the Optimum Sports Pack is a sweet deal for the price.

Data as of post date. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change.

Optimum DVR service and TV equipment

Your Optimum service equipment will vary depending on whether or not you have a standalone TV package or a bundle. Let’s talk boxes.

Optimum TV boxes

When you bundle with Optimum internet, you’ll get the Optimum TV Box (First box free, $12 a month for additional units) as your cable box. It has a voice-activated remote, supports 4K Ultra HD, and is compatible with streaming apps, including the Optimum TV mobile app.

For multiroom TV, you can choose the Optimum TV Box or an Apple TV device (both are $10 a month). If you go with the Apple TV, it’s a rent-to-own deal: the device is yours to keep after 13 months.

Optimum cloud DVR service

Optimum’s cloud DVR plans cost way too much for way too little storage—especially when you’re already paying $10 a month for the TV box.

Optimum DVR plans and pricing

Data as of post date. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change.

Paying $22.00 a month for a TV box and 150 hours of storage stretches our idea of a decent deal. But it’s not necessarily a deal-breaker. On the bright side, Optimum’s Cloud DVR is included at no extra charge with their 1 Gig Internet + TV packages.

Optimum modem/router

For the internet part of its bundles, you get the Optimum Gateway 6 modem/router ($12 a month), which comes with in-home Optimum Wi-Fi and 24/7 tech support. Or, if you can do without the in-home Wi-Fi and tech support, you can go buy an Optimum-compatible unit—the cheaper option, in the long run.

Optimum TV apps

The Optimum TV app (for Amazon Kindle Fire, Android, and iOS) allows you to watch your Optimum channel package and on-demand content anywhere. You can also watch, manage, and schedule DVR recordings—and even use your phone as your remote control.

Optimum customers give the app solid marks, though—3.6 stars on Google Play and 4.6 on the Apple Store.

Is Optimum TV worth it?

Optimum has high channel counts (420+, which is the second-best in the biz), high internet speeds (up to 5,000 Mbps), a $100 contract buyout, and premium freebies in the Optimum Premier plan.

All of that makes it easier to swallow Optimum’s limited availability, expensive equipment, high DVR fees, and low DVR storage. So, get Optimum while the getting’s good.

Optimum TV FAQ

Methodology

Our experts broke down each Optimum cable TV plan, rating how each package’s features and price stacked up against the competition. We also referred to our annual TV customer satisfaction survey, which asks customers how responsive companies like Optimum are to their concerns.

For more information on our methodology, check out our How We Rank page.

ENDNOTE

1. Variety, “Year in Review: Most-Watched Television Networks—Ranking 2020’s Winners and Losers,” December 2020. Accessed May 17, 2021.

Disclaimer

‡PREPAID MASTERCARD: Offer is not available to individuals who have previously participated in a Prepaid/Reward Card promotion within the past 12 months. Must maintain promotion and remain in good standing with no past due or returned payments throughout first 90 days after account activation in order to receive Prepaid Card. Card will be mailed 4-6 weeks after 90-day period or customer may elect to receive virtually. Limit 1 per customer. Prepaid Mastercard cannot be used to pay Optimum monthly bill. Card/Virtual card is issued by Pathward®, N.A., Member FDIC, pursuant to license by Mastercard International Incorporated. Mastercard and the circles design are registered trademarks of Mastercard International Incorporated. No cash access or recurring payments. Card can be used where Debit Mastercard is accepted. Virtual card can be used where Debit Mastercard is accepted online, for phone/mail orders or in stores that accept mobile wallet. Card/Virtual card valid for up to 12 months; unused funds will forfeit after the valid thru date. Terms and conditions apply.
Optimum Sports Package available for 4 mos. with Select TV and Premier TV. NFL Games on local channels in participating team markets in TV package. All trademarks and service marks are the property of their respective owners. NFL RedZone is included with Sports Package. Blackout and other restrictions may apply. May not be available in all areas. Optimum Sports Package details available at optimum.com/tv/sport-packages and is subject to change.