Bundling Digital Services or Shop and Compare?

The current communications and home entertainment fad from the major communications and media businesses is bundling two or more services into one discount package. Comcast, Time Warner Cable, Charter, and Cox started the trend, and it moved from there to national phone carriers. Does purchasing bundled TV, internet and phone services truly help you spend less money? I've been covering digital products and services for years and in this article I'm going to look at these package deals and find out if going to one company for all your TV, broadband, and phone needs is the best or if shopping around is the way to go.

No one wants to have one single company provide all our necessary services. Call it jaded consumer distrust, but it makes us uncomfortable. We wonder if the cable or telco provider will increase the amount I have to pay without warning and I'ill be obligated to pay it no matter what because I signed a contract? Or will I have to buy expensive equipment without the opportunity for a refund if I change companies. When examining competing offers and promotions from digital providers these are all valid concerns. After your special deal comes to an end what do you do next? I've found that the level of competition is so great among these companies rate hikes are few and far between. In fact, the drive to keep customers is so great that even when promos or special deals end, very often existing customers can extend their offer or move to a new promotion. It just might take a simple phone call from you to get the latest deal. A few cable businesses, such as Charter Communications, now provide consumers the opportunity for locking in prices for up to 2 years if they purchase cable TV, high speed internet, and digital phone digital package. The hardware issue comes down to the terms and conditions of each provider. The kind of equipment you'll obtain from the company you go with is typically a digital TV receiver and broadband modem if you purchase Internet. It's possible you may have a DVR - digital video recorder - as well if you've ordered a higher tier package. Usually, companies will not charge you surprise fees for using their equipment. A small monthly fee may be charged for a monthly broadband modem rental fee if you do not purchase one of your own. You may also be charged a small fee for additional digital receivers for multiple TV's. You need to check with the providers in your area in order to learn the exact regulations. If you move from the area or change service providers you're usually just responsible for returning the equipment to the local provider's office. If you haven't lost the equipment and it still works it's unlikely you will have to pay anything. Therefore, there's no reason for consumers to reject a bundle price because they are concerned about the equipment. Each of the major digital companies have essentially the same policies regarding hardware fees and returns which don't change whether you're getting all your services from one company or several. Look for cable television, broadband Internet and digital telephone bundles here!

Now lets look at the bundles you can currently get from the major players in the digital services space. Satellite become popular again in the 90s when they installed small dishes that delivered higher quality than cable. At the time Satellite TV had more channels at a lower price than cable. Since then satellite hasn't changed much at all. Limited by their own technology, Dish and DirecTV are struggling to compete in the world of broadband and digital phone service. Even though television prices are still very competitive, satellite has a poor Internet option that's only useful to homes in very rural areas and no phone service option. Lately, telco companies including AT&T, Qwest, and Verizon now offer digital TV, broadband, and telephone bundles. Telcos entered this market by utilizing fast fiber-optic networks available in high population centers and through partnerships with satellite TV and broadband companies. Although it's got the price point and quality, right now I am not suggesting customers go with a telco business for all 3 digital services. You are really just getting a repackaged product in most areas where fiber optic networks aren't accessible. And if one of the companies reselling their product through the telco alters cost terms or gets out of the deal with your telco altogether, where do you end up?

So what company do I think customers should get their cable and broadband from? Currently I'm an advocate of bundle deals available from major cable companies. Today's cable companies offer a complete digital and HD programming lineup that matches and often beats what Dish and DirecTV offer. In addition, cable customers get add-ons such as digital video recorder boxes and on demand service which satellite is just starting to provide. And unlike the telco's, you're getting digital cable tv, broadband internet, and digital phone service all from one company that will support all three products. If want digital TV only, however, competition among cable, telcos, as satellite is more intense and it might pay to shop around. But when you combine services you can't get a better deal considering the products and discounts a cable provider can give you. Take a look for yourself and compare the features of each major provider. Use this knowledge to find the very best television, broadband internet, and phone deal for you!

You can find the best Comcast cable tv, high speed Internet and phone bundle deals here!

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