![]() The number of streaming services is growing, and that’s a good thing.ĭavid Lazarus’ column runs Tuesdays and Fridays.LG Channels allows you to stream more than 150+ FREE channels including movies & TV, breaking news, sports, comedy and more integrated into your TV's channel guide. However, we’re still years away from such a system becoming a reality. If it works, the idea is to eventually have thousands of satellites in orbit beaming wireless signals to the planet’s surface. Last week, Elon Musk’s SpaceX launched two satellites to test the feasibility of low-cost, space-based internet access. The tech heavyweight appeared determined to beat the you-know-what out of existing telecom players by rolling out super-fast, reasonably priced broadband connections nationwide.Īfter getting the fiber-optic service up and running in a handful of cities, though, Google’s expansion plans - including for Los Angeles - came to a halt amid cost overruns and disputes with utilities over accessing poles and pipes.Īt this point, hopes for broadband competition rest with the prospect of wireless services. Cord cutting has played havoc with all cable companies as consumers increasingly turn to streaming for their video fixes.įor awhile, it looked like Google Fiber would be the answer. This is all about locking you in as an internet customer.īasically, the deep thinkers at Charter Communications, which purchased Time Warner Cable a couple of years ago and renamed it Spectrum, know that all future revenue growth lies in broadband internet connections.Īs of the fourth quarter of last year, Charter had 22.5 million internet customers, compared with 16.5 million TV subscribers. I asked Johnson why customers can’t access the TV Choice app on mobile devices outside their home. The other streaming services are accessible anywhere you have an internet connection. If you’re elsewhere - Starbucks, say, or traveling - forget it. Here’s the real stink bomb: You can only watch Spectrum’s streaming service if you’re on your Spectrum home internet network. With internet access, that will bring your total to more than $100. Oh, and after your first two years of service, the monthly cost of Spectrum TV Choice will jump to $30 and then $38 (not including taxes) the year after that. That makes you wonder why Spectrum isn’t aggressively marketing them - why the stealth approach? You can’t even find a video touting the services on Spectrum’s YouTube channel. Apparently they’ve been available in Southern California for weeks. ![]() “We continue to launch and test new services to better serve customer demand for more choice.”Īlthough Spectrum has been testing the new services in a handful of markets, I only learned about them by chance, while researching a related topic. “Spectrum TV Stream and Spectrum TV Choice are targeted at customers who don’t currently purchase a video product from us,” said Dennis Johnson, a company spokesman. Spectrum is also offering a slightly different online service called TV Stream, which instead of allowing you to choose 10 favorite channels provides 25 channels of Spectrum’s own choosing. You can add a box and DVR functionality for an extra $20 a month. ![]() Premium channels such as HBO, Showtime and Starz can be tacked on for just $7.50 apiece or $15 a month for a premium bundle.īecause there’s no cable box, there’s no DVR service, so you can’t record shows.
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