Although scores of people are jumping the cable ship for streaming services, plenty of folks are still attached to the old stalwart of cable TV, and many are even quite happy with it. That’s why we continue working diligently to research and evaluate traditional TV services, helping our readers find the best options for all their binge-watching needs.
But we know our opinions aren’t the only ones that count, so we also run our annual Customer Satisfaction Awards survey to gather feedback from real users. You know, the ones who experience these services every day and foot the bill.
For 2025, we asked 5,767 cable, satellite, and fiber TV customers to rate their providers on overall satisfaction, pricing, features, and more. For the third year running, Verizon Fios TV topped our list with the highest overall satisfaction rating (79%) and earned top marks on 19 out of 20 survey questions for the second year in a row.
Keep reading to learn what makes Verizon Fios stand out (even above streaming services!) and how your TV provider measured up this year.
Cable strikes back: TV trends for 2025
Fiber TV beats out streaming while most cable providers continue to flounder
For the second year in a row, Verizon Fios TV placed first in 19 out of 20 of our TV survey questions. And in the one question where it was bumped from first, bang for your buck, it still landed a close second.
What’s more, Verizon Fios tied with our top live TV streamer, YouTube TV, for overall satisfaction (79%) and put the beat down on other top streamers like Hulu + Live TV and Sling TV. Pretty darn impressive, given traditional TV’s decades-long decline into the postmodern-tech dustbin (BRB, still mourning my iPod Nano).
Verizon’s place at the top came as no surprise to us here at CableTV.com. Verizon perennially scores high not just in this customer satisfaction survey but also in our Best of the Best Awards for both TV and internet.
Its fiber-optic technology, reasonable prices, myriad freebies, and strong reliability make for outstanding services that impress customers and tech reviewers like ourselves.
Verizon Fios scores in key areas
- Overall satisfaction: 79%
- Customer experience: 78%
- Streaming quality: 77%
- Channels: 77%
- Customer loyalty: 78%
- Pricing: 69%
- Reliability: 77%
- User experience: 76%
When the customer service sucks, would you stick around for good prices?
It’s astounding (pun intended) how fast opinions can flip. Last year, regional cable provider Astound Broadband ranked second in overall satisfaction (70%) and had top-three finishes on a whopping 17 out of 20 questions. This year feels like a total one-eighty, with Astound’s overall satisfaction in the toilet—it came in dead last place this year with just 55% of customers feeling satisfied with their service.
Customers expressed dissatisfaction primarily with Astound’s customer service, features (like channel lineup and add-on availability), and reliability. As Madeleine S. from Illinois said in our survey, she specifically found issues with Astound regarding “Inconsistency of service [and] poor customer service via phone.”
One shining spot for Astound was its pricing. It was the only provider that beat Verizon Fios in any category when it came out in front for its pricing compared to competitors. For now, it looks like good prices trump poor customer service. Well played, Astound?
Price increases continue to dog cable customers, pushing many to streaming alternatives
While it surprised us that Astound did much worse this year than in last year’s survey, regional cable provider Optimum’s overall turnout came as no great shock. It finished in the bottom three providers in 18 out of 20 questions (and came in dead last on 11 of those).
We will say that Optimum is faring perhaps slightly better than last year. It finished in last place in overall satisfaction in our 2024 survey but inched up to third-from-last in this year’s edition, with a 9% difference between it and Astound Broadband, our overall lowest.
As expected, Optimum’s pricing was a big gripe for customers. It makes sense that rising prices, even for legacy customers, were a big reason why many folks, including my parents, have switched from Optimum to streaming alternatives like YouTube TV over the past few years.
Traditional TV rankings see uptick in approval, but live TV streaming still wins out
We know that most (82%) cable TV customers subscribe to at least one streaming service. With that in mind, we wonder if the overall higher scores on the majority of questions across this year’s survey compared to last year’s might indicate a bit of streaming fatigue, likely due to growing dissatisfaction with price hikes and password-sharing crackdowns from both on-demand and live TV streaming services.
Traditional TV (by which we mean satellite, cable, and fiber), although still generally pricier than streaming services, might appeal to customers as a simpler, more reliable value when compared to the oodles of streaming services out there vying for your subs.
For example, OG cable villain Xfinity saw a big jump in ratings this year, beating out jock streamer Fubo for the first time ever (HUH?!). Having a cable giant like Xfinity beat out a live TV streaming darling demonstrates that cable can still compete with streaming—and maybe even win.
On top of offering solid TV service, Xfinity serves up bundle discounts and freebies like free Peacock Premium with its internet plans. Xfinity customers rave about its bundling capabilities, like Christopher K. from Connecticut: “I gave Xfinity the overall [completely satisfied] rating as a cable service because of the wide variety of selections and options to choose from. I like the fact that I can add to my plan and bundle […] various options as I feel necessary.”
Fubo is a very different service than Xfinity (Fubo leans sports-heavy and is missing Warner Bros. Discovery channels like HGTV and TNT), and like many streaming services, it just can’t compete with those NBCUniversal bundle discounts and perks.
Now, we’re not claiming that traditional TV will right the ship and come back into fashion. Those days are gone, and live TV streaming is what even these traditional TV providers are embracing nowadays (think DIRECTV STREAM and Spectrum TV Stream).
Live TV streaming services also saw a blanket increase in approval this year and scored higher across the board satisfaction-wise versus traditional TV. But remember: In terms of overall satisfaction, Verizon Fios TV tied YouTube TV and beat out streaming big boys like Hulu + Live TV and Sling TV.
Sure, sure, but no matter what traditional TV does to make up lost ground, it seems live TV streaming and its flexibility, ease of use, and generally lower prices will still win out in the long run.
Live TV streaming services: Highest overall satisfaction
- Philo: 88%
- Frndly TV: 87%
- YouTube TV: 79%
- Hulu + Live TV: 78%
- Sling TV: 75%
- DIRECTV STREAM: 74%
- Fubo: 68%
Check out this year’s Live TV Streaming Services Customer Satisfaction Survey to learn more.
Highest overall satisfaction
Customer satisfaction relies heavily on customer service. We asked survey respondents if their providers resolve issues quickly and effectively.
Would they recommend their providers to other people? Do they get what they expect from their service?
What is your overall satisfaction with your cable TV provider?
Verizon Fios is the clear-cut winner in our overall satisfaction polling. Not only are customers satisfied overall with Verizon Fios, but they’re also satisfied with basically everything the provider offers (keep reading for all the deets).
We’re not shocked Verizon’s back on top for the third year running. It offers fast and reliable fiber internet and TV service (with great bundles to boot), tons of channels, and heaps of deals to sweeten the already sweet pot.
Xfinity coming in second is a little surprising. Xfinity isn’t a bad TV provider by any means, but its prices and channel offerings are nothing remarkable in our eyes.
Tied with Xfinity are Cox and Spectrum, all three of which had much better showings in this year’s survey than last year’s. Cox’s placement in the top three is even more surprising than Xfinity’s. We think Cox offers little value-wise (especially compared to providers like Verizon), but its customers are satisfied regardless.
Spectrum also clawed its way out of last year’s next-to-last finish. We have an inkling that Spectrum will once again plummet to the cold depths of the rankings next year since it raised its TV prices by $30 over the last few months. That price change wasn’t in effect when this survey was run, but we bet its ramifications on respondents’ opinions about Spectrum will be felt during 2025.
What is your overall satisfaction with your TV provider?
| Provider | Completely satisfied + very satisfied | Hardly satisfied + Not at all satisfied |
|---|---|---|
| Verizon Fios | 79% | 5% |
| Other | 72% | 9% |
| Xfinity | 69% | 9% |
| Cox | 69% | 10% |
| Spectrum | 69% | 10% |
| DIRECTV | 68% | 8% |
| Xtream (powered by Mediacom) | 67% | 12% |
| DISH Network | 66% | 10% |
| Optimum | 64% | 15% |
| Sparklight | 63% | 14% |
| Astound Broadband | 55% | 18% |
How well did your TV provider services compare with the ideal cable service?
Yeah, yeah, we know, “ideal cable service” sounds pretty abstract. But everybody has to have some idea about what would make a service provider ideal for them. Let’s see if customers feel like they’re getting what they expected.
- Verizon Fios: 75%
- Cox: 69%
- Spectrum and Xfinity: 68%
Three out of four Verizon Fios cable TV customers feel like they’re getting what they expect from the provider—no surprise there, given Verizon’s rosy showing across all sections of this survey. Plus, its 75% satisfaction rating is up 4% from last year. Verizon really just keeps getting better, according to survey respondents.
Unsurprisingly, the other providers rounding out the top section of this survey are the same ones topping our overall satisfaction question: Cox, Spectrum, and Xfinity.
Hear from real Verizon Fios customers
"Lightning fast speeds with no interruptions, excellent customer service in person and on the phone or a chat online. There isn't really anything that I have disliked about my service with Verizon and I have highly recommended them to others both online and in person."
How well did your TV provider services compare with the ideal cable service?
| Provider | Extremely close + Very close | Hardly close + Not at all close |
|---|---|---|
| Verizon Fios | 75% | 6% |
| Cox | 69% | 11% |
| Xfinity | 68% | 9% |
| Spectrum | 68% | 12% |
| Other | 67% | 12% |
| DIRECTV | 64% | 10% |
| Sparklight | 62% | 13% |
| DISH Network | 62% | 13% |
| Xtream (powered by Mediacom) | 61% | 16% |
| Optimum | 59% | 17% |
| Astound Broadband | 58% | 15% |
Customer experience
Customer experience hinges on two things: user experience (UX) and customer support.
On the user experience side, we ask: Is using a provider’s TV service easy, intuitive, and reliable? Do customers get the entertainment they’re paying for with minimal frustration?
Regarding support, do these TV providers resolve issues quickly and effectively? Do they provide customers with reliable assistance, or something less than ideal?
Thinking about your recent interactions with your TV provider, how effectively did they meet your needs?
Over three-fourths of Verizon Fios TV customers feel the provider effectively meets their needs. Verizon Fios customers raved about its quick and timely customer service—multiple respondents talked about rarely needing customer support because their service was that reliable. Still, when required, Verizon Fios customer service was consistently helpful.
- Verizon Fios: 78%
- Xfinity: 72%
- DIRECTV: 71%
It’s worth pointing out that, given DIRECTV’s wide availability (satellite TV providers like DIRECTV and DISH are available nationwide), its 71% rating might be more impressive than Verizon Fios’ and Xfinity’s higher ones. Consider that when comparing where you see DIRECTV or DISH in the rankings.
Hear from real DIRECTV customers
"While installing our new wireless system, the customer service rep and the installer went the ‘extra mile’ to get our service installed for us."
Thinking about your recent interactions with your TV provider, how effectively did they meet your needs?
| Provider | Extremely + Very effective | Hardly + not at all effective |
|---|---|---|
| Verizon Fios | 78% | 4% |
| Other | 74% | 7% |
| Xfinity | 72% | 6% |
| DIRECTV | 71% | 7% |
| Cox | 71% | 7% |
| Spectrum | 70% | 10% |
| DISH Network | 65% | 7% |
| Xtream (powered by Mediacom) | 65% | 11% |
| Sparklight | 63% | 12% |
| Astound Broadband | 59% | 7% |
| Optimum | 58% | 13% |
How easy was it to work with your TV provider?
Effectiveness is one thing, but can your TV provider resolve your issue without blood, sweat, or tears? How fast and accurately can its support department answer your questions?
Verizon Fios cleared the number one spot with ease, with Cox, Sparklight, and DIRECTV not too far behind.
Cox moved up quite a ways from last year’s survey percentage-wise—from 66% to 74% satisfaction. That 74% brings them back into the top three, a place it held back in 2023’s survey. Cox customers we surveyed had overwhelmingly positive things to say about Cox’s customer service, with an overall consensus that most of the agents they dealt with were helpful in effectively fixing their issues.
- Verizon Fios: 78%
- Cox: 74%
- Sparklight, DIRECTV: 71%
Hear from real Cox customers
"Their customer service is excellent, easy to work with and quick to fix things."
How easy was it to work with your TV provider?
| Provider | Extremely + Very easy | Hardly + Not at all easy |
|---|---|---|
| Verizon Fios | 78% | 4% |
| Other | 75% | 7% |
| Cox | 74% | 7% |
| DIRECTV | 71% | 7% |
| Sparklight | 71% | 15% |
| Spectrum | 70% | 9% |
| DISH Network | 69% | 7% |
| Xfinity | 69% | 7% |
| Xtream (powered by Mediacom) | 66% | 7% |
| Astound Broadband | 64% | 11% |
| Optimum | 60% | 13% |
How enjoyable were your interactions with your TV provider?
IMO, I can’t imagine anyone coming off of a call or online chat with a TV provider and feeling as though it was a thoroughly enjoyable experience. However, I do admit that some interactions are better than others. Perhaps the customer service representative is kind, helpful, and knowledgeable. Or—we can hope!—they don’t try and upsell you to a more expensive plan.
- Verizon Fios: 75%
- Cox: 67%
- Spectrum, Xfinity: 66%
Regardless of what respondents considered enjoyable, Verizon Fios again came out on top with a comfortable lead. We will say that the scores on this question were 3–8 percentage points lower across the board than the previous question about the ease of working with your provider. Seems to back up our opinion that no matter what, it’s hard for a customer service call to be objectively enjoyable.
Hear from real Verizon Fios customers
"Their service is amazing. Never have a problem with service at all. If there is a problem customer service walks you through fixing the issue right away. Great company to have for service."
How enjoyable were your interactions with your TV provider?
| Provider | Extremely + very enjoyable | Hardly + Not at all enjoyable |
|---|---|---|
| Verizon Fios | 75% | 5% |
| Other | 69% | 10% |
| Cox | 67% | 10% |
| Spectrum | 66% | 12% |
| Xfinity | 66% | 11% |
| DIRECTV | 65% | 10% |
| Sparklight | 63% | 12% |
| DISH Network | 63% | 11% |
| Xtream (powered by Mediacom) | 61% | 15% |
| Astound Broadband | 60% | 15% |
| Optimum | 55% | 18% |
To what extent has your TV provider met your expectations as a cable service?
Expectations are also a bit subjective, with everyone’s likely being slightly different. But we imagine that the core expectations for most customers are relatively aligned: reliable service, large channel lineup (whose channels stay consistent and don’t randomly have Disney-owned channels pulled due to disputes—*cough* Spectrum, *cough* DIRECTV), lack of price hikes, et cetera.
- Verizon Fios: 77%
- Xfinity: 71%
- Cox, DIRECTV: 70%
Verizon has a solid six percentage point lead over Xfinity, further solidifying its status as the best of the best. Only 4% of Verizon customers’ expectations were unmet—an impressively small percentage.
To what extent has your TV provider met your expectations as a cable service?
| Provider | Completely + very much | Hardly + not at all |
|---|---|---|
| Verizon Fios | 77% | 4% |
| Other | 74% | 8% |
| Xfinity | 71% | 7% |
| Cox | 70% | 8% |
| DIRECTV | 70% | 7% |
| Spectrum | 68% | 11% |
| Astound Broadband | 65% | 16% |
| DISH Network | 65% | 7% |
| Sparklight | 62% | 9% |
| Xtream (powered by Mediacom) | 66% | 11% |
| Optimum | 60% | 13% |
Best bang for your buck
We all hate paying bills, but TV provider bills are particularly annoying.
Yes, things have improved since the FCC ruled that TV providers have to disclose their sneaky “junk fees,” but they’re still inherently a pain.
Let’s see what providers came out on top regarding pricing, fees, and contracts.
Given the quality of your TV provider’s service, how would you rate the price you pay for them?
Notice how, in this question, the highly satisfied percentages are much lower overall than the previous questions—even Verizon didn’t hit the 70% satisfaction mark (like it did with all but five total questions).
This further suggests that no matter if a provider offers great channels and pristine picture quality, money is still key. Basically, you can love a provider’s service and offerings and still be bummed that you’re paying out the wazoo for that excellent service.
Regardless of its under-70 showing, Verizon Fios came out with top marks again. We think Verizon Fios’ cost is particularly worth it for its beefy channel lineups, included equipment, contract-free agreements, and signup deals.
Optimum, consistently low but particularly bogged down by its pricing, is at rock bottom on this question, just like last year.
Given the quality of your TV provider’s service, how would you rate the price you pay for them?
| Provider | Excellent + good | Poor + terrible |
|---|---|---|
| Verizon Fios | 69% | 8% |
| Other | 65% | 17% |
| Cox | 64% | 13% |
| Xfinity | 62% | 13% |
| Xtream (powered by Mediacom) | 61% | 20% |
| Spectrum | 61% | 15% |
| Astound Broadband | 60% | 20% |
| DIRECTV | 58% | 15% |
| Sparklight | 55% | 13% |
| DISH Network | 54% | 20% |
| Optimum | 53% | 18% |
Given your initial expectations, how would you rate the price that you pay for your TV provider’s services?
When we consider TV providers, our expectations typically focus on channels, features, and, of course, pricing. Pricing includes not only the package rates but also taxes, equipment rental fees, activation charges for service and equipment, local channels, regional sports networks (RSNs), and other, perhaps unanticipated, costs.
While providers must disclose their hidden fees per the aforementioned FCC ruling earlier this year, it wouldn’t surprise us if many customers were not aware that many of these fees are recurring monthly charges.
- Verizon Fios: 69%
- Cox: 66%
- Astound: 65%
Verizon Fios customers experience far less of this, likely because the provider doesn’t charge a broadcast TV fee—one of the highest hidden costs.
We’re honestly very surprised that Cox took second place in this question (and the previous question). We think its plans are overpriced for the number of channels they offer. For example, its TV plan with the most channels (Contour TV Ultimate, 250+ channels) costs a staggering $152.00 per month.
Verizon Fios, on the other hand, offers up to 425+ channels with its The Most Fios TV plan for $129.00 per month—still pricy, but you’d be paying $23.00 more per month with Cox for 175+ fewer channels. Verizon Fios does have limited availability, so likely, these Cox customers don’t even know what they’re missing.
Optimum and Sparklight are fighting for the bottom, which makes sense because both providers have high pricing compared to their lower channel counts and reliability.
Hear from real Sparklight customers
“The price increases are insane and never explained. I am getting less with it costing more and more. I feel gouged because nothing else [is] available in my rural area.”
Given your initial expectations, how would you rate the price that you pay for your TV provider’s services?
| Provider | Excellent + good | Poor + terrible |
|---|---|---|
| Verizon Fios | 69% | 11% |
| Other | 66% | 16% |
| Cox | 66% | 14% |
| Astound Broadband | 65% | 24% |
| Spectrum | 64% | 17% |
| Xfinity | 64% | 13% |
| Xtream (powered by Mediacom) | 59% | 23% |
| DIRECTV | 57% | 17% |
| DISH Network | 55% | 21% |
| Sparklight | 54% | 17% |
| Optimum | 54% | 20% |
Given competitors’ prices, how would you rate the price that you pay for your TV provider’s services?
We’re as shocked as you are that Verizon Fios fell out of top place on this lone question. Although just 2 points ahead of Verizon, Astound’s place on top shows its value versus other providers … or rather, what respondents think is its value.
- Astound Broadband: 67%
- Verizon Fios: 65%
- Xfinity: 62%
We don’t expect respondents to be making price comparisons while answering this survey, but in our own quick digging, Verizon is a better deal than Astound. In fact, in 2024, it’s been the best value of any TV provider we cover on CableTV.com.
Astound does offer some of the most budget-friendly TV options we’ve seen. Unfortunately, to get Astound TV, you must also bundle with its internet plans. This bundling requirement pushes up the monthly cost significantly. Astound’s broadcast TV fee (around $30 per month) also tacks on a minimum 20% increase to your bill.
Astound TV and internet bundles are great deals, though, with a $10–$20 monthly discount compared to the cost of the two services separately. Over half of respondents (53%) noted that they bundle their Astound Broadband TV service with Astound Broadband internet, which likely influenced their overwhelmingly positive answers to this question.
Hear from real Astound Broadband customers
“Because for the price it's a decent internet and cable provider, just wish the service was a little better. But overall they aren't a bad provider.”
Given competitors’ prices, how would you rate the price that you pay for your TV provider’s services?
| Provider | Excellent + good | Poor + terrible |
|---|---|---|
| Astound Broadband | 67% | 16% |
| Verizon Fios | 65% | 9% |
| Other | 65% | 16% |
| Xfinity | 62% | 13 |
| Spectrum | 60% | 17% |
| Cox | 60% | 14% |
| Sparklight | 57% | 15% |
| DIRECTV | 56% | 15% |
| Xtream (powered by Mediacom) | 55% | 21% |
| DISH Network | 54% | 18% |
| Optimum | 49% | 19% |
Highest customer loyalty
Do easy, effective, enjoyable customer support interactions lead to enthusiastic customer recommendations?
Yeah, for the most part. Duh.
How likely are you to continue subscribing to your TV provider for cable service?
Ah, yes, Verizon Fios is back on top. All is right in the cable TV survey world.
Verizon isn’t just on top, but also scored 7 percentage points higher than its first-place showing on this same question in last year’s survey.
Xfinity is the next-closest provider to Verizon, coming in at 72%—the only individual provider besides Verizon to crack 70. We imagine this is partially due to Xfinity’s longevity as a provider. (Xfinity used to be called Comcast and has been offering cable TV services since the 1960s.)
Customer loyalty is a thing, y’all. People like the familiar. (Comfort and familiarity are also why so many people still pay for cable, but we digress.)
How likely are you to continue subscribing to your TV provider for cable service?
| Provider | Completely likely + very likely | Hardly likely + Not at all likely |
|---|---|---|
| Verizon Fios | 78% | 7% |
| Other | 74% | 12% |
| Xfinity | 72% | 9% |
| Astound Broadband | 68% | 18% |
| Cox | 67% | 12% |
| Spectrum | 66% | 13% |
| DIRECTV | 65% | 12% |
| DISH Network | 64% | 14% |
| Xtream (powered by Mediacom) | 61% | 17% |
| Optimum | 60% | 13% |
| Sparklight | 56% | 14% |
How likely are you to recommend your TV provider to a friend or colleague?
Verizon coasted into first place on this question at 8 percentage points ahead of Xfinity, Cox, and Spectrum. Given literally everything else in this survey, it’s not surprising that Verizon customers would pass on their Verizon Fios love to their friends and family. Now, if only I could get Verizon Fios where I live …
- Verizon Fios: 72%
- Xfinity, Cox, Spectrum: 64%
- Astound Broadband: 62%
Optimum is, again, at the bottom of the barrel, although it did finish 10% higher than last year when it also came in last place on this question with 44% approval. The increase shows the overall upward trend in satisfaction in providers across the board. Does this mean the providers are getting better, or are people getting less harsh? Or, more likely, are expectations just lower? Shrug.
Hear from real Verizon Fios customers
"I gave [Verizon Fios] a good review because it exceeded my expectations. The quality was exceptional, it delivered on its promises, and it provided excellent value for the price. Additionally, the customer service was excellent and the overall experience was positive. I would highly recommend this product to others based on my positive experience."
How likely are you to recommend your TV provider to a friend or colleague?
| Provider | Completely likely + very likely | Hardly likely + Not at all likely |
|---|---|---|
| Verizon Fios | 72% | 10% |
| Other | 68% | 17% |
| Xfinity | 64% | 14% |
| Cox | 64% | 16% |
| Spectrum | 64% | 17% |
| Astound Broadband | 62% | 21% |
| DIRECTV | 59% | 16% |
| Sparklight | 56% | 18% |
| Xtream (powered by Mediacom) | 56% | 22% |
| DISH Network | 55% | 18% |
| Optimum | 54% | 22% |
How likely are you to increase the amount you purchase from your TV provider?
The low scores on this question (the lowest in the whole survey) are not surprising in the slightest. Providers want us to give them more money? In this economy?
- Verizon Fios: 51%
- Xfinity, Spectrum: 48%
- Astound Broadband: 47%
Predictably, given the rest of the survey results, Verizon Fios is the only provider to break the 50% mark. It’s also not shocking that Verizon customers would be more likely than not to add services. Verizon made its name as a reliable mobile provider and also offers fiber-optic and 5G internet plans, plus landline home phone service. Brand awareness is a real thing, and Verizon has it in spades.
We’re also not surprised by the other providers in the top results: We like Spectrum for its reasonably priced add-ons, Xfinity for the blazing-fast internet speeds available in its bundles (up to 6,000 Mbps), and Astound for solid internet-TV bundle discounts.
Like the previous question, even though the numbers depress us, they still went up across the board. Some examples: Verizon increased from 45% in last year’s survey to 51% this year; Spectrum and Astound Broadband increased by 11% percentage points; Xfinity by 12 percentage points; and Optimum, who came in last place last year with a dismal 24% approval, is up to 40% this year.
This is the first question where Optimum isn’t in the bottom two providers. Perhaps this is due to Optimum offering more services than the providers it beat out—Sparklight and DISH—and the appeal of bundle discounts and convenience.
How likely are you to increase the amount you purchase from your TV provider?
| Provider | Completely likely + very likely | Hardly likely + Not at all likely |
|---|---|---|
| Verizon Fios | 51% | 30% |
| Xfinity | 48% | 32% |
| Spectrum | 48% | 33% |
| Astound Broadband | 47% | 36% |
| Cox | 46% | 36% |
| Xtream (powered by Mediacom) | 45% | 37% |
| DIRECTV | 42% | 39% |
| Optimum | 40% | 43% |
| Sparklight | 37% | 26% |
| Other | 35% | 46% |
| DISH Network | 32% | 48% |
Most reliable
Reliability matters when you watch a lot of live TV.
An unexpected service outage can spoil your Super Bowl or TV series finale party in an instant.
In this section, we’ll explain which TV providers you can count on and which you should run from.
Are you satisfied with your TV provider’s reliability?
The best TV provider for reliability is Verizon Fios (77%, fiber-optic), followed by Xfinity (69%, cable) and Cox (68%, cable).
In technical terms, satellite is generally the least reliable TV service, as it can be affected by weather. Both DISH and DIRECTV are satellite TV providers, for example, and you don’t see either in the top three.
Cable TV is more reliable than satellite but still not perfect. Streaming TV’s reliability is also variable, as it depends on your internet speed and connection type.
Fiber-optic TV (and internet) is the most reliable service, as fiber networks transmit information via cables that often run underground, meaning the lines aren’t as susceptible to electrical interferences or natural disasters. It makes sense, then, that Verizon Fios’ fiber TV service is our top provider for reliability for the third year running.
Hear from real Xfinity customers
"The cable service has been reliable and I have had no issues. I am upset that the price of service keeps going up-- not a good way to reward customers for their loyalty."
Are you satisfied with your TV provider’s reliability?
| Provider | Completely satisfied + very satisfied | Hardly satisfied + Not at all satisfied |
|---|---|---|
| Verizon Fios | 77% | 5% |
| Xfinity | 69% | 8% |
| Cox | 68% | 10% |
| Other | 67% | 11% |
| Xtream (powered by Mediacom) | 67% | 10% |
| DIRECTV | 64% | 10% |
| Spectrum | 64% | 15% |
| Astound Broadband | 62% | 19% |
| DISH Network | 61% | 15% |
| Optimum | 58% | 16% |
| Sparklight | 57% | 12% |
Best features
In this section, we asked respondents to consider their TV providers’ actual products.
Do they enjoy certain features, like fat channel lineups and high-storage DVRs?
Do those features function properly and reliably? Did they live up to expectations?
Are you satisfied with your TV provider’s overall channel offering?
When considering the quality of a channel lineup, one may think that the more channels, the merrier. This idea correlates with Verizon’s first-place finish: It offers 425+ channels, the highest of any TV provider, traditional or live TV streaming.
But not so fast—the provider with the next highest channel count, Optimum with 420+, came in dead last in this question (and plenty of other questions, if you’ve been paying attention).
TV providers often overstuff their channel lineups with fillers like music channels just to puff up their overall channel count. That worked for a while, but consumers have caught on.
Likely due to backlash surrounding these overstuffed channel lineups, DIRECTV trimmed down its channel count significantly in early 2024 (mainly cutting those filler and music channels), but it still tied for third place in this question. Quality over quantity, people!
Hear from real Optimum customers
"Optimum prices are too expensive; too many junk channels must be paid for in order to get the good channels [that] I enjoy!"
Are you satisfied with your TV provider’s overall channel offering?
| Provider | Completely satisfied + very satisfied | Hardly satisfied + Not at all satisfied |
|---|---|---|
| Verizon Fios | 77% | 5% |
| Other | 75% | 7% |
| Xfinity | 71% | 9% |
| Cox | 70% | 7% |
| Xtream (powered by Mediacom) | 70% | 8% |
| DIRECTV | 70% | 9% |
| Spectrum | 68% | 10% |
| Sparklight | 67% | 11% |
| Astound Broadband | 64% | 8% |
| DISH Network | 62% | 13% |
| Optimum | 62% | 14% |
Are you satisfied with your TV provider’s local channel selection?
Most TV providers carry the same local channels, which is in their best interest because customers want to keep up with local news and other programming.
Overall, there’s super high satisfaction in this question, with all but two providers (Sparklight and, you guessed it, Optimum) coming in below 70% approval.
- Verizon Fios: 78%
- Xfinity: 73%
- Cox: 72%
If customers are unsatisfied with a provider’s local channel selection, it could be because their provider dropped a particular channel due to a dispute over carriage fees. That said, we aren’t aware of any such ongoing conflicts.
Are you satisfied with your TV provider’s local channel selection?
| Provider | Completely satisfied + very satisfied | Hardly satisfied + Not at all satisfied |
|---|---|---|
| Verizon Fios | 78% | 4% |
| Other | 78% | 7% |
| Xfinity | 73% | 7% |
| Cox | 72% | 5% |
| Xtream (powered by Mediacom) | 71% | 6% |
| DIRECTV | 71% | 8% |
| DISH Network | 71% | 9% |
| Spectrum | 70% | 9% |
| Sparklight | 70% | 10% |
| Astound Broadband | 63% | 8% |
| Optimum | 63% | 10% |
Were you satisfied with your TV provider’s add-on channels and packs?
Most TV providers offer similar premium channel and streaming add-ons, including (but not limited to) Max™, Paramount+ with SHOWTIME®, STARZ®, EPIX, THE MOVIE CHANNEL, and CINEMAX®. Typically, TV providers charge the same price as a direct subscription, but sometimes slightly more or less.
What sets providers apart add-on-wise are the channel packs they offer. These channel packs offer additional sports, entertainment, kid-friendly, and international channels.
Channel packs are available for additional fees on top of your regular monthly TV bill. So, if you already pay tons for your base TV plan, you likely won’t wanna fork over even more cash for add-ons, even if your provider offers good options.
- Verizon Fios: 68%
- Cox: 66%
- Xfinity: 65%
Among the top three providers, Xfinity stands out with an impressive 60+ add-ons, which cover its premium channel and streaming service offerings, channel packs, sports subscriptions, and more. It makes sense that Xfinity has placed in the top three for this question for two years running.
Were you satisfied with your TV provider’s add-on channels and packs?
| Provider | Completely satisfied + very satisfied | Hardly satisfied + Not at all satisfied |
|---|---|---|
| Verizon Fios | 68% | 7% |
| Other | 68% | 10% |
| Cox | 66% | 10% |
| Xfinity | 65% | 10% |
| Xtream (powered by Mediacom) | 63% | 8% |
| Spectrum | 62% | 16% |
| DIRECTV | 59% | 12% |
| Astound Broadband | 58% | 14% |
| DISH Network | 57% | 16% |
| Optimum | 57% | 16% |
| Sparklight | 56% | 11% |
Are you satisfied with your cable TV streaming quality?
We’ve known for years that streaming is the future, and cable and satellite TV providers are finally catching on. Most TV providers now offer streaming options via mobile apps or streaming devices like the Xumo Stream Box.
- Verizon Fios: 77%
- Xfinity: 74%
- Xtream (powered by Mediacom): 74%
Verizon’s streaming quality is the best in the business thanks to its fiber-optic internet connection, which we ranked as the fastest out there in this past year’s Best of the Best Awards. Your streaming quality outside the home (like when using your provider’s mobile app on the go) will depend on your mobile data connection and device, which will also be top-notch if you have Verizon Wireless service.
TV provider mobile apps are free with your package. These apps allow users to stream their channel packages, on-demand libraries, DVR recordings, rentals, and purchases, although exact uses vary between apps and providers. Cox, Spectrum, Verizon Fios, Astound, and Xfinity are examples of providers that offer these mobile apps. We like the DISH Anywhere app, too, even though DISH came in at the bottom of this question.
Some providers now offer streaming TV packages, like Spectrum and its TV Stream plan. However, Spectrum must not have ironed out all the kinks, as it’s gone down in the rankings year over year.
Are you satisfied with your cable TV streaming quality?
| Provider | Completely satisfied + very satisfied | Hardly satisfied + Not at all satisfied |
|---|---|---|
| Verizon Fios | 77% | 6% |
| Other | 76% | 6% |
| Xfinity | 74% | 6% |
| Xtream (powered by Mediacom) | 74% | 7% |
| Cox | 71% | 7% |
| DIRECTV | 67% | 9% |
| Spectrum | 66% | 11% |
| Optimum | 66% | 12% |
| Astound Broadband | 63% | 17% |
| DISH Network | 62% | 11% |
| Sparklight | 62% | 10% |
Are you satisfied with your cable TV user experience (e.g., channel guide, on-demand menu, suggested shows)?
Understanding user experience (UX)—what it’s like to use a product—is essential. It doesn’t matter if a product offers you all the bells and whistles if those bells and whistles aren’t pleasant to use!
Questions we ask when considering TV UX: Is the TV channel guide clear, scrollable, and easy to navigate, allowing you to easily find what you want to watch? Is the remote control intuitive, with well-placed and clearly labeled buttons? Are the programs suggested to you relevant to your interests?
- Verizon Fios: 76%
- Xfinity: 72%
- Cox: 71%
Verizon Fios comes out on top here, with Xfinity and Cox rounding out the top three. Unsurprisingly, each of these providers has excellent on-screen guides, menus, and programming recommendations.
In particular, Xfinity’s XR15 voice remote is consistently one of the best in the business, with a backlit keypad, voice control, point-anywhere functionality, easy pairing, and excellent accessibility features. To drive this home, Xfinity is in the top three for UX satisfaction for the third year running.
Hear from real Xfinity customers
"The channels are diverse and there's a lot to go around. I love the remote with voice find."
Are you satisfied with your cable TV user experience (e.g., channel guide, on-demand menu, suggested shows)?
| Provider | Completely satisfied + very satisfied | Hardly satisfied + Not at all satisfied |
|---|---|---|
| Verizon Fios | 76% | 4% |
| Xfinity | 72% | 7% |
| Other | 72% | 9% |
| Cox | 71% | 6% |
| Xtream (powered by Mediacom) | 69% | 8% |
| Spectrum | 68% | 9% |
| DISH Network | 68% | 9% |
| DIRECTV | 67% | 9% |
| Astound Broadband | 65% | 18% |
| Optimum | 61% | 11% |
| Sparklight | 60% | 18% |
Are you satisfied with your cable TV provider’s DVR?
While plenty of providers offer physical set-top receivers/DVRs with hard drives and additional features, Cloud DVR storage is becoming more commonplace. Cloud DVRs typically have smaller storage capacities than physical DVRs, shorter keep times (some physical DVRs let you keep recordings forever), and more simultaneous streams (unlimited in some cases).
- Verizon Fios (physical): 73%
- Xtream (powered by Mediacom) (physical): 69%
- Xfinity (physical and cloud): 66%
Verizon Fios customers appreciate its affordable DVR service, which starts at $12 monthly for 50–200 hours, depending on your plan. We wish Verizon would switch from a physical DVR to a Cloud DVR (Verizon Fios does offer cloud storage, but currently only for its internet products, not TV), but it seems its customers are pleased regardless.
Regarding Xtream (powered by Mediacom), we are frankly befuddled that its DVR service came in second place. As one Reddit user posted on r/Mediacom just a few months ago, the TiVo DVR system that Mediacom offered no longer records shows.
We’ve also been puzzled trying to figure out what type of DVR service Mediacom currently offers, as it no longer partners with TiVo. We read the fine print, and Mediacom includes one Xumo Stream Box for free with a subscription to a TV plan. But we can’t figure out if Mediacom allows for DVR recordings on these Xumo Stream Boxes.
We assume Mediacom had some sort of successful DVR system when we ran our survey since its customers seem overwhelmingly pleased with the service. We just hope it gets this whole no DVR mess all figured out before next year’s survey.
Are you satisfied with your cable TV provider’s Cloud DVR?
| Provider | Completely satisfied + very satisfied | Hardly satisfied + Not at all satisfied |
|---|---|---|
| Verizon Fios | 73% | 6% |
| Xtream (powered by Mediacom) | 69% | 6% |
| Other | 69% | 7% |
| Xfinity | 66% | 9% |
| DIRECTV | 63% | 11% |
| Astound Broadband | 63% | 19% |
| DISH Network | 62% | 12% |
| Cox | 61% | 13% |
| Optimum | 61% | 17% |
| Spectrum | 60% | 15% |
| Sparklight | 54% | 12% |
Are you satisfied with everything else your cable TV provider offers?
By “everything else,” we mean anything we forgot to cover in our survey—basically, any other aspect of your TV service that goes beyond channel lineups, DVRs, pricing, reliability, customer service, et cetera.
- Verizon Fios: 75%
- Cox: 70%
- Xtream (powered by Mediacom), Xfinity: 68%
We compared these results—which we consider the final chance for customers to tell us how they feel about their provider of choice—with those for overall satisfaction, which are close to the same.
And unsurprisingly, even with a question as vague as this, Verizon Fios still comes out on top. It really does have that certain je ne sais quoi.
Are you satisfied with everything else your cable TV provider offers?
| Provider | Completely satisfied + very satisfied | Hardly satisfied + Not at all satisfied |
|---|---|---|
| Verizon Fios | 75% | 4% |
| Other | 72% | 9% |
| Cox | 70% | 9% |
| Xtream (powered by Mediacom) | 68% | 8% |
| Xfinity | 68% | 8% |
| DIRECTV | 65% | 10% |
| Spectrum | 65% | 13% |
| Astound Broadband | 64% | 14% |
| Sparklight | 63% | 9% |
| DISH Network | 61% | 14% |
| Optimum | 58% | 13% |
Methodology
The team here at CableTV.com has been the internet’s resident cable TV experts since way back in 2007 and has conducted our Customer Satisfaction Award surveys for seven years.
For 2025, we surveyed nearly 6,000 people across the U.S. to measure their satisfaction with their TV providers. Our sample reflected broader U.S. demographics (i.e., gender, race, age, etc.) and was analyzed using prevailing industry standards by our data experts.
A 100-respondent floor requirement was implemented when a provider was included in our analysis. For more information on our methodology, check out our Why You Can Trust CableTV.com page.
If you’re a member of the media and you have follow-up questions, feel free to contact us at pr@cabletv.com.
