Spectrum TV Choice Review 2024: Pricing, Channels, and More
If you're a Spectrum Internet customer, you can access up to 40 channels for just $29.99 a month. But beware that additional taxes and fees add up.
What is Spectrum TV Choice?
Spectrum TV Choice is a live TV streaming service available only to Spectrum Internet customers in certain Spectrum areas for $29.99 per month. Sounds cheap, right? Well, there’s also a local broadcast surcharge for up to $23.20 per month that nearly doubles the cost before tax.
Ultimately, subscribers get a trimmed-down channel lineup (15 cable networks of your choice plus local channels) at a lower monthly price than Spectrum’s traditional cable TV plan. So basically, it’s lean, clean Spectrum streaming. But don’t worry—in this review, we’ll outline whether it’s worth it.
Spectrum TV Choice deals and promotions
There aren’t any enticing deals or promotions currently running for Spectrum TV Choice. But Spectrum occasionally offers its internet customers a free seven-day trial.
Check out our Spectrum Deals and Promotions page for general freebies and money-saving initiatives.
Spectrum streaming and cable TV plans and pricing
| Plan | Type | Price | Live channels | Cloud DVR | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spectrum TV Choice | Streaming | $29.99/mo.* | 15+ | From $4.99/mo. | View plan |
| Spectrum TV Stream | Streaming | $39.99/mo.* | 90+ | From $4.99/mo. | View plan |
|
Spectrum TV Select Best plan |
Cable | $69.99/mo.† | 155+ | From $13.98/mo. | View plan |
| Spectrum TV Select Plus | Cable | $74.99/mo.† | 160+ | From $13.98/mo. | View plan |
Data effective as of post date. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change.
*Spectrum Internet required.
†For the first 12 months when bundling.
As you can see, Spectrum TV Choice is less than half the price of Spectrum TV Select and will save you money on DVR monthly fees as well. But you’ll get only about a third of the channels and a lot less DVR space.
So, if channel surfing and binge-watching are your bag, you may want to try a standard Spectrum TV package instead of Spectrum TV Choice.
Also, you can’t have Spectrum TV Choice without having a Spectrum Internet plan. Luckily, they have multiple internet options to choose from, with fits for every household and budget. Tap the drop-down menu below for a quick look at what Spectrum Internet offers.
| Packages | Price | Download speeds | Upload speeds |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Spectrum Internet View plan |
$39.99–$49.99/mo. for 12 mos. | Up to 300 Mbps | Up to 10 Mbps |
|
Spectrum Internet Ultra View plan |
$59.99–$69.99/mo. for 24 mos. | Up to 500 Mbps | Up to 20 Mbps |
|
Spectrum Internet Gig View plan |
$49.99–$79.99/mo. for 24 mos. | Up to 1 Gbps | Up to 35 Mbps |
Data effective as of post date. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change.
The Spectrum Internet package is the entry-level plan that offers download speeds of up to 300 Mbps (a recent upgrade from the previous 200 Mbps). This is a good base package, providing solid speeds for households of moderate internet users — especially those working from home.
Spectrum Internet Ultra is a step above, offering max download speeds of up to 500 Mbps. If we were to choose, we’d pick this plan as the best Spectrum Internet package. The faster speeds mean your connections will stay strong even if you have housemates who enjoy streaming TV shows or playing online games.
Spectrum’s top-tier plan, the Spectrum Internet Gig package, gives users download speeds of up to a lightning-fast 1 Gbps. This plan is best for households who have multiple streamers, gamers, or video-call takers who need the fastest internet available.
Spectrum TV Choice live channels
Spectrum TV Choice channels work a little differently. So listen up because this is super important: Spectrum lets you choose only 15 cable channels from a pool of 60+ networks.
The good news is that Spectrum offers quality channel options, so you can choose from many popular cable networks—including ESPN, Disney Channel, and MSNBC. Really, you should be satisfied if you have a small list of must-have channels.
Here’s a list of 15 popular channels available through Spectrum TV Choice:
- AMC
- Bravo
- Cartoon Network
- Discovery Channel
- Disney Channel
- ESPN
- Food Network
- FOX Sports 1 (FS1)
- Hallmark Channel
- HGTV
- Lifetime
- Nickelodeon
- TCM
- TNT
- USA Network
Pro tip: Visit Spectrum Support’s Changing Your Channel Selections guide to learn how to customize your TV Choice channel lineup. Once you save your lineup, you can’t change it again for 30 days.
Spectrum TV Choice local channels
Local channels are a little trickier to figure out with Spectrum TV Choice because what you end up with depends on your location. You’ll most likely get ABC, CBS, FOX, and NBC. But channels like PBS, ION, and The CW are also available in certain markets.
The downside is that you must pay a broadcast TV surcharge based on the local channels you receive. This extra fee can cost up to $23.20 per month, and you can’t opt out of it.
Spectrum TV Choice sports channels
Straight talk: the Spectrum TV Choice channel lineup will disappoint most hardcore sports fans. If you need to watch all the games, our Best Streaming Services for Sports guide outlines the best options for cord-cutters.
But if you just need your SportsCenter fix and a few other heavy hitters, Spectrum TV Choice might be for you. You can snag ESPN, ESPN2, FS1, and NFL Network (and local affiliate networks) for as low as $29.99 per month—not too shabby.
Spectrum TV Choice premium channels
Hear us out. Okay, yeah, Spectrum TV Choice doesn’t give you a ton of premium channels to choose from.
But it does give you Max, Paramount+ with SHOWTIME, STARZ, STARZ ENCORE, and THE MOVIE CHANNEL (TMC) at a decent bundle discount ($40 per month for all). For context, subscribing to both Max and Paramount+ with SHOWTIME will usually cost you at least $25 per month anywhere else.
If you’re into premium channels and you live in a Spectrum service area, we recommend Spectrum TV Choice.
What do real Spectrum customers think of TV Choice?
Spectrum TV Choice isn’t a popular TV plan among Spectrum customers. Most probably don’t know it exists because of its lack of advertising. But we examined our annual TV Customer Satisfaction Survey results alongside discussions on social platforms like Reddit and Quora to see what real customers think about the TV Choice package.
First off, Spectrum came in 10th out of 11 providers in our survey’s overall satisfaction category—an obvious red flag. But the provider ranked better in categories dedicated to pricing and channel offerings, which is where Spectrum TV Choice excels.
While analyzing online chatter about TV Choice, the consensus was that it offers an iffy streaming experience but is a reasonably priced TV plan even after the broadcast TV surcharge. Many users emphasized that knowing about the surcharge and other possible hidden costs is crucial before signing up.
Spectrum TV Choice video and audio quality
To stream Spectrum TV Choice, you’ll need the Spectrum TV app. The app is easy to use, but its quality and reliability aren’t solid.
We won’t sugarcoat it: many Spectrum customers have complained about their video resolution while using the Spectrum TV app. The reason? Spectrum offers HD channels only if you rent their cable box with their traditional cable TV packages.
So, shows, games, and movies won’t be as crisp as you might like if you go with TV Choice—even if you have super fast internet.
Likewise, audiophiles, you’ll be disappointed to know that the Spectrum TV app isn’t optimized for surround sound systems.
At least there’s one bright spot, though: The app’s channel guide. Because it’s laid out like a traditional cable channel guide, you don’t have to be a tech bro to figure it out.
But if a better viewing (and listening) experience is your top priority, we recommend YouTube TV over TV Choice. It has live HD channels, 4K YouTube videos, and cool, niche music streams.
Spectrum TV Choice specs and features
Sure, you’ll finally be able to throw out ye ole cable box, but, unfortunately, you won’t get much DVR storage or any HD channels in return.
Cloud DVR
| Service | DVR price | Storage | Upgrades |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spectrum TV Choice | $4.99/mo. | Up to 50 shows for 90 days | — |
What can we say? Spectrum’s cloud DVR sucks. From what we can gather, “100 shows” means 100 two-hour movies or 100 one-hour episodes (or 200 30-minute episodes).
If you’re an episode hoarder, paying $9.99 per month to store a paltry 100–200 episodes sounds like a nightmare. Even if you’re a movie buff, storing 100 movies is like having 200 hours of storage, which is about average with most TV providers lately. But if you’re looking for more storage, the DISH Hopper 3 stores 500 hours, or 250 two-hour movies.
And remember, free on-demand shows and movies are restricted to your 10 cable channels and local affiliate channels like NBC and ABC. That means you won’t be able to supplement Spectrum’s low cloud DVR storage limits with loads of free on-demand content.
If recording shows to watch on your own time is your thing, we recommend getting YouTube TV, which boasts an included cloud DVR with unlimited storage.
Multiple streams
| Service | Simultaneous streams | Upgrades |
|---|---|---|
| Spectrum TV Choice | Unlimited at home; 2 on the go | — |
Spectrum TV Choice has one feature we can get behind: unlimited streams. Okay, so you have to be on your home Wi-Fi to go unlimited, but that’s still a step above the one to four simultaneous streams offered by other live TV streaming services.
If you have a large household that uses several devices at the same time, Spectrum TV Choice might be your stream dream come true.
Spectrum TV Choice compatible devices
So, Spectrum offers unlimited streams but an extremely limited list of compatible streaming devices—whoops, Spectrum, you did it again, you played with our hearts.
If you’re an Android aficionado, however, you’re in luck because you’ll be able to watch on any of your devices.
Sorry all you Amazon fans (or as I like to call them, Bezos Buffs), but it looks like only the Amazon app and the Amazon Kindle Fire tablet work with Spectrum TV Choice.
True TV fans, like us here at CableTV.com, will be glad to know that the incomparable Apple TV 4K works with Spectrum TV Choice.
| Device | Spectrum TV Choice |
|---|---|
| Amazon Fire Cube, Stick, TV | — |
| Amazon Kindle Fire | ✔ |
| Android phones, tablets | ✔ |
| Android TV | ✔ |
| Apple TV (4th gen.) | ✔ |
| Apple TV 4K | ✔ |
| Chromecast, Chromecast with Google TV | ✔ |
| Echo Show | — |
| iPhone, iPad | ✔ |
| LG TVs (select models) | — |
| Nintendo Switch | — |
| NVIDIA SHIELD Pro TV | — |
| PC, Mac web browsers | ✔ |
| PlayStation 4, 5 | — |
| Roku Ultra, Express, Premiere, Stick, TV | ✔ |
| Samsung TVs (select models) | ✔ |
| TiVo Stream | — |
| Vizio TVs (select models) | — |
| Wii | — |
| Xbox One, Xbox Series S, Xbox Series X | ✔ |
| Xumo Stream Box, Xumo TV | ✔ |
Data effective as of post date.
Is Spectrum TV Choice worth it?
We think Spectrum TV Choice might be worth it for some folks, especially if you wanna get premium channels like Max, SHOWTIME, and STARZ on the cheap. It’s also a fine service if you prefer bundling your home internet with TV.
But if that’s not a priority, you’ve still got options. We rank YouTube TV as the best overall for live TV streaming. It’s got an excellent selection of live TV channels (100+) and unlimited cloud DVR storage. Plus, there are no hidden fees for local channels.
Spectrum TV Choice FAQ
How does Spectrum Choice work?
Spectrum Choice is a special offer available to Spectrum Internet customers that provides 15 channels for $29.99/mo. It’s not cable TV, like other Spectrum TV plans—it’s a live TV streaming service like Hulu + Live TV or YouTube TV.
What channels are included in Spectrum TV Choice?
Spectrum TV Choice includes 15 cable channels plus local channels available in your area. You choose your cable channels from 60+ popular networks, like AMC, ESPN, Comedy Central, TNT, TBS, FS1, Hallmark Channel, Investigation Discovery, Paramount Network, and more.
Can I change my Spectrum TV Choice channels?
Yes, you can change your Spectrum TV Choice channels after signup, but make sure to do it quickly. You have a 30-day window after signup to utilize the Edit Channel Lineup section of your Spectrum account settings. After that window, your selections will lock for another 30 days before you can change them again.
Does Spectrum TV Choice have on-demand?
Yes, Spectrum TV Choice has on-demand shows and movies. You can watch any of the 15 cable channels and available local channels included with your package on demand.
How much is Spectrum basic cable a month?
Spectrum TV Choice costs $29.99 per month before taxes and fees. Even though it’s a live TV streaming package, it’s the closest thing Spectrum offers to traditional basic cable. But if you’re not into streaming, check out our review of Spectrum’s traditional cable TV plans.
How do I get Spectrum TV Choice?
You can get Spectrum TV Choice by signing up online. Then, you can watch on the Spectrum app (available for Apple TV, Samsung Smart TVs, Xbox One, iOS and Android devices, and Roku) or online at SpectrumTV.com.
Can I lower my Spectrum bill?
If you’re a Spectrum Internet customer paying for cable TV, you can save money by switching to Spectrum TV Choice, a live TV streaming plan that offers 15 channels for $29.99/mo.
You could also try playing hard to get—we’ve found success by calling Spectrum and requesting to cancel service. You might receive an offer for a cheaper plan.
How do I change my Spectrum Choice channels?
Here’s how to change your Spectrum TV Choice channels:
- Contact Spectrum customer service by using its chat agent or by calling Spectrum over the phone.
- Say “representative” and follow the prompts to get to an agent.
- Ask if it’s possible for you to update your Spectrum TV Choice channels. Technically, you can change channels only during the first 30 days of service. But if you’re lucky, your customer service representative may give you some flexibility.
Why you should trust us
Our experts employed hours of hands-on testing and crunched the numbers, rating Spectrum Choice on value, reliability, features, and customer satisfaction. Then we matched up streaming services head to head to give a clearer picture of their strengths and weaknesses. For more information on our methodology, check out our How We Rank page.
