Optimum Basic TV Channel Lineup: Too Few Channels for Too Much Cash
✦ Edited and fact-checked by Managing Editor Mike Strayer, our editorial lead with over ten years of experience covering TV and entertainment.
The Basic TV channel lineup is, well, very basic
Optimum Basic TV is the cable company’s entry-level TV package. Basic TV offers 50+ channels of content, with a focus on local networks and public interest channels.
It includes all your crucial local networks, like ABC HD, CBS HD, FOX HD, and NBC HD, and features local subchannels, educational channels, and a selection of Spanish-language networks, like Estrella TV, UniMÁS HD, and Univisión HD.
Important: This is a local channel package, which means you won’t get popular basic cable channels like CNN, ESPN, and TBS.
To see the complete list of channels available in this package, scroll through the table below, or check our Optimum Channel Lineup comparison guide.
Optimum Basic TV complete channel lineup
| Channel | Optimum Basic (50+ channels) |
|---|---|
| A&E | — |
| ABC | ✔ |
| ABC Localish | ✔ |
| ACC Network | — |
| AMC | — |
| American Heroes Channel | — |
| Animal Planet | — |
| Antenna TV | ✔ |
| BBC America | — |
| BBC World News | — |
| beIN Sports | — |
| beIN SPORTS en Español | — |
| BET Her | — |
| Big Ten Network (BTN) | — |
| Black Entertainment Television (BET) | — |
| Bloomberg TV | — |
| Boomerang | — |
| Bravo | — |
| C-SPAN | ✔ |
| C-SPAN 2 | ✔ |
| C-SPAN 3 | — |
| Cartoon Network/Adult Swim | — |
| CBS | — |
| CBS Sports Networks | — |
| Cheddar | — |
| CMT | — |
| CNBC | — |
| CNN | — |
| Comedy Central | — |
| Cooking Channel | — |
| Court TV | — |
| Crime + Investigation | — |
| CW | ✔ |
| Dabl | ✔ |
| Daystar | — |
| Destination America | — |
| Discovery Channel | — |
| Discovery Family Channel | — |
| Discovery Life | — |
| Disney Channel | — |
| Disney Junior | — |
| Disney XD | — |
| E! | — |
| ESPN | — |
| ESPN2 | — |
| ESPN Deportes | — |
| ESPNews | — |
| ESPNU | — |
| Estrella TV | ✔ |
| Euronews | — |
| FLIX® | — |
| Food Network | — |
| FOX | ✔ |
| Fox Business Network | — |
| Fox Deportes | — |
| Fox News | — |
| Fox Sports 1 (FS1) | — |
| Fox Sports 2 (FS2) | — |
| Freeform | — |
| Fuse | — |
| FX | — |
| FX Movie Channel (FXM) | — |
| FXX | — |
| FYI | — |
| GAC Family | — |
| Galavisión | — |
| Game Show Network | — |
| getTV | — |
| Golf Channel | — |
| GoLTV | — |
| Hallmark Channel | — |
| Hallmark Drama | — |
| Hallmark Movies & Mysteries | — |
| HBO® | — |
| HBO Comedy | — |
| HBO Family | — |
| HBO Latino | — |
| HBO Signature | — |
| HBO Zone | — |
| HBO2 | — |
| Health Info | — |
| Here! | — |
| Heroes & Icons | — |
| HGTV | — |
| HISTORY | — |
| HLN | — |
| HSN | ✔ |
| Hustler | — |
| i24 News | — |
| IFC | — |
| Investigation Discovery | — |
| ION | ✔ |
| JBS | — |
| JTV (Jewelry Television®) | ✔ |
| Lifetime | — |
| LOGO | — |
| Magnolia Network | — |
| MeTV | ✔ |
| MLB Network | — |
| MOTOR TREND | — |
| MOVIES! | ✔ |
| MSG | — |
| MSG Sportsnet | — |
| MSNBC | — |
| MTV | — |
| MTV2 | — |
| MTV Classic | — |
| MTV HD | — |
| Nat Geo Channel | — |
| Nat Geo Wild | — |
| NBA TV | — |
| NBC | ✔ |
| (NBC) UNIVERSO | — |
| Newsmax TV | — |
| NewsNation | — |
| NFL Network | — |
| Nick Jr. | — |
| Nickelodeon/Nick at Nite | — |
| Nicktoons | — |
| NY 1 | — |
| OWN | — |
| Oxygen | — |
| Outdoor Channel | — |
| Pac-12 Network | — |
| Paramount | — |
| PBS | ✔ |
| PBS Kids | — |
| Pop | — |
| QVC | ✔ |
| QVC HD | ✔ |
| Recipe TV | — |
| Reelz | — |
| Regional News Network | ✔ |
| Science Channel | — |
| SEC Network | — |
| SHOWTIME® | — |
| SHOWTIME 2 | — |
| SHOWTIME EXTREME | — |
| SHOWTIME FAMILY ZONE | — |
| SHOWTIME SHOWCASE | — |
| SHOWTIME WOMEN | — |
| SHOxBET | — |
| Smithsonian Channel | — |
| Sportsman Channel | — |
| SportsNet | — |
| STARZ® | — |
| STARZ Cinema | — |
| STARZ Comedy | — |
| STARZ Edge | — |
| STARZ ENCORE | — |
| STARZ ENCORE Action | — |
| STARZ ENCORE Black | — |
| STARZ ENCORE Classic | — |
| STARZ ENCORE Español | — |
| STARZ ENCORE Family | — |
| STARZ ENCORE Suspense | — |
| STARZ ENCORE West | — |
| STARZ ENCORE Westerns | — |
| STARZ in Black | — |
| STARZ Kids & Family | — |
| Stingray Music | — |
| Sundance TV | — |
| SyFy | — |
| TBS | — |
| Teen Nick | — |
| Telemundo | ✔ |
| Tennis Channel | — |
| Travel Channel | — |
| ThisTV | — |
| TLC | — |
| TNT | — |
| Tr3s | — |
| Trinity Broadcasting Network (TBN) | ✔ |
| truTV | — |
| TUDN | — |
| Turner Classic Movies (TCM) | — |
| TV Land | — |
| TV One | — |
| TVG | — |
| UniMás | ✔ |
| Univision | ✔ |
| Universal Kids | — |
| USA Network | — |
| VH1 | — |
| VICE TV | — |
| WE tv | — |
| The Weather Channel | — |
| World | ✔ |
| YES Network | — |
Data effective as of post date. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change.
Optimum Basic TV pricing brings down its value
The Optimum Basic TV package starts at $50.00/mo. That said, Optimum requires all TV subscribers to also have an internet plan, meaning the cheapest combined bundle starts at around $90.00/mo.
Optimum does not require contracts, offering flexibility, but it is important to watch out for price hikes after the initial promotional period, which is a common complaint among customers.
To better understand how Optimum TV service bundles with internet, we recommend reviewing our regularly updated Optimum Internet Plans and Pricing Guide.
You’re gonna need premium add-ons to get the most out of Basic TV
Since Basic TV is strictly a local channel package, adding premium content is necessary for movies and sports. Here’s a quick peek at some of your options:
- Premium channels: Networks like HBO Max Standard ($19.00/mo.), Cinemax, and Paramount+ with SHOWTIME are available separately.
- Sports & International: You can add specific Sports Packages or International Programming, though the price for some international packages may be higher for Basic TV customers.
Spoiler: Optimum TV customers don’t love it
Optimum TV carries an overall editorial rating of 3.70/5.00, offering a familiar cable TV experience that comes with free set-top box in most areas. So far, so good, no?
That said, customers frequently cite issues with high prices for premium plans, confusing bundles, and generally poor customer service. This is especially true when introductory prices expire. As mentioned on our Optimum Cable TV Packages, Plans, and Pricing Guide, Optimum bundles are confusing, and price changes are fairly common.
For more real customer insights, check out our 2025 TV Customer Satisfaction Survey Awards.
Optimum Basic TV channel lineup FAQ
What channels are included in Optimum Basic TV?
Optimum Basic TV is a local channel package that includes over 50 channels like ABC, CBS, NBC, and many other local affiliates and subchannels.
Does Basic TV include cable channels like CNN or ESPN?
No, the Basic TV package is limited to local broadcast networks and public channels; it does NOT include popular basic cable channels like CNN, ESPN, or TBS.
What is the price for Optimum Basic TV?
Optimum’s Basic TV package starts at $50.00/mo., plus applicable fees and taxes.
Does Optimum require me to get internet service to get Basic TV?
Yes, Optimum TV subscribers must have an internet plan. The cheapest bundle starts at around $90.00/mo.
How much are the hidden fees with Optimum?
Optimum typically charges a TV Broadcast Fee (around $9.99/mo.) and other taxes and fees that can add up to about another $20.00 to your monthly service charge.
