Xfinity Preferred is the next package up from Starter. In Xfinity’s We count 288 total channels in the package, which is a lot of extra channels.
The table below lists all of the channels included in Preferred. After the table, you can read more about Preferred’s channels—and all of the sweet add-ons you can add for an extra fee.
The channel lineups listed are based on national estimates. Actual channels lineups vary by location. Call for details about the lineups in your area.
*Indicates the major college athletics network in your area, i.e. Big 10 Network, Pac 12 Network, SEC Network, etc.
**Indicates local professional sports network, i.e. Altitude, Root Sports, YES, SUN, etc.
***Indicates major college conference networks from across the nation.
Xfinity’s Preferred package has all* of the top 30 most popular channels. And 26 of those are high-definition (HD) channels. That’s one more HD channel than the next plan down, Starter.
(*Variety1 lists Adult Swim at #30, while Cartoon Network sits at #50 on the publication’s list. They’re separate networks, but Adult Swim airs at night on Cartoon Network. So Xfinity considers Cartoon Network a single channel.)
* SD only
Preferred has 23 sports channels, and all but two (Olympic Channel and Stadium) are HD channels. Pretty much every sport is covered, even disc golf (thanks, ESPN2!), so Preferred is the package for sports fans.
* SD only
Preferred has 22 popular educational and kids’ channels. All but four of them broadcast in HD. Compared to the next plan down, Starter, there’s a lot more for your kids to watch. That’ll be great for families with lots of little ones to please.
* SD only
Taste the rainbow! Preferred includes a total of 27 channels focused on stories for the LGBTQ+ community, people of color, Spanish speakers, and women. Fifteen of these are HD channels. It’s a bit of a drag that there’s only one LGBTQ+ channel, but you can add more with Xfinity’s HERE TV on-demand add-on ($7.99 a month).
* SD only
As you’ve already read, Preferred comes standard with nine Spanish-language channels. If you want más TV en Español, consider adding Xfinity’s Latino channel bundle. You’ll get up to 60 more channels (see sampling below) for $9.99 a month for the first year ($16.95 per month after).
Premium channels—drool. I mean, do you really have cable if you don’t have at least one of the top-shelf premium networks like HBO®? (That’s rhetorical, but feel free to debate that with a friend.) Here’s Xfinity’s premium-channels menu—with prices (so there are no surprises)!
Data as of publish date. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change.
Remember a little bit ago where we suggested adding the HERE TV on-demand pack for more LGBTQ+ movies and shows? Well, you can add more stiff-upper-lip Brit-watch, anime, animal, fitness, educational, kid stuff, definitely not-for-kids stuff, and more with Xfinity’s on-demand add-ons.
Data as of publish date. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change.
Xfinity Preferred has a 12-month term agreement, while Xfinity Digital Preferred has no- term agreement but at a higher monthly price (up to 33%). If you value your freedom, Digital Preferred is the way to go. If you value, uh, value—go for Preferred and save some bucks.
Xfinity did not drop STARZ. You can still add the premium network to your Xfinity channel package for an additional $8.99 a month.
Disney+ is a streaming service, not a channel, so you can’t add it to your Xfinity cable TV package or watch it on Xfinity equipment like the X1 DVR.
You can, however, subscribe to Disney+ separately ($5.99 a month) and watch it on a different streaming device. Or take advantage of the Disney+/Hulu/ESPN+ bundle and get all three services for $12.99 a month.
Xfinity offers the Outdoor Channel in its Preferred and Premier packages.
Xfinity’s basic cable TV packages have your local broadcast channels and their subchannels. But you can get all of the same channels with an over-the-air (OTA) antenna, which costs a one-time payment of $20–$60 instead of monthly payments to Xfinity. We like the Mohu Leaf Plus.
Flex is a free streaming device and streaming service available to Xfinity internet customers (meaning you don’t already have an Xfinity TV package). With the Flex box, and its accompanying voice remote, you can watch hundreds of live channels and tons of on-demand movies through a variety of free (ad-supported) and paid streaming apps.
For more information on Xfinity Flex, read our review.
Channel numbers for local broadcast affiliates like ABC vary with your location. Click on the link to find out your local ABC channel number on Xfinity TV service.
CBS is a local broadcast affiliate, so its channel number isn’t the same for everyone. Click on the link to find out your local CBS channel number on Xfinity TV service.
Channel numbers for local broadcast affiliates like NBC vary with your location. Click the link to find out your local NBC channel number on Xfinity TV service.
FOX and other local broadcast affiliates have different channel numbers in different areas. Click on the link to find out your local FOX channel number on Xfinity TV service.
CNN (HD) is channel 1111 on Xfinity.
FOX News (HD) is channel 1110 on Xfinity.
HBO (HD) is channel 1802 on Xfinity.
Endnote
1. Variety, “Most-Watched Television Networks: Ranking 2019’s Winners and Losers,” December 2019. Accessed December 4, 2020.
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