Find the Best Cable Companies and Satellite TV Providers in Cleveland, OH

Choosing a cable company or satellite TV provider in Cleveland

Most Cleveland residents have many options for cable or satellite TV providers. While the choices become more limited in rural areas, the city has a competitive market, and each company has several tiers of programming. When searching for a cable or satellite provider, it’s crucial to look at:

• Channel availability: Each company decides its channel lineup, so compare packages from different companies to make sure you get your favorite shows and programming.
• Bundling: Some cable and satellite TV companies also offer phone and internet service. It’s usually possible to bundle these services together and receive a discount.
• Additional features: Cable and satellite TV companies also provide DVR features that allow you to record shows, and some providers have an app that allows you to watch television on the go with compatible smartphones and tablets.
• Contracts: Check to see if the company requires a contract — some companies offer month-to-month subscriptions, but others may require a 12- or 24-month contract.

Types of cable and satellite TV

Many different businesses offer television services, and the main difference is how the company transmits the signal to your home. In the Cleveland area, you have the following options:

• Cable television requires you to live in a specific service area. The companies transmit the signal via a physical cable, and installation generally only requires a cable box that plugs directly into your television.
• Satellite television providers transmit a wireless signal. Because of this, the companies have few geographic restrictions, but you must install a satellite dish outside your home or apartment.
• Internet-based streaming services such as YouTube TV and DIRECTVNOW use an app that lets you watch television channels from any compatible device. Other services, such as Netflix and Amazon Prime Video, provide video-on-demand services with movies and television shows.

Cable vs. satellite TV

When shopping for a cable or satellite TV package, it’s important to know the pros and cons of each.

Pros and cons of cable and satellite TV

Service reliability in the Cleveland area can be problematic in different ways. Recently, several channels were blacked out for roughly two weeks by a cable provider because of a contract dispute. Cleveland’s excessive snowfall sometimes compromises satellite service, leading to outages or poor reception.

According to the Ohio Telecom Association, video streaming is rapidly emerging as an alternative or complement to cable or satellite television. More than 30 percent of homes have a Netflix account, and cheap cable TV alternatives such as Hulu and Sling TV are gaining customers.

How much does cable and satellite TV cost in Cleveland?

In Cleveland, the average cable customer spends roughly $85 a month, while the average satellite customer pays around $100 a month. The total price depends on the package you choose — the key to saving money on television is to make sure you’re not paying for channels you don’t watch.

Satellite and cable TV starting prices in Cleveland

Be sure to read your contract carefully — some companies offer two-year deals with reduced rates in the first year and dramatically increased prices in the second year.

Cable and satellite TV both have equipment and installation requirements. Cable TV companies in Cleveland have transitioned to digital transmission, which requires a converter box. Satellite TV uses a receiver box as well as a satellite dish.

The cable companies in Cleveland generally have an $8 to $16 monthly charge for the receiver and a one-time installation fee, while the satellite options typically have the cost of the equipment and installation built into the monthly price for the given contract period.