Basic Cable Packages and Channels Guide

The best basic plans from a cable TV provider have a fair dollar-to-channel ratio, local channels, and top channels in its lineup, and they are widely available across the country.

• Low price with limited fees
• Comprehensive channel lineup for its price
• Availability in your area
• Easy-to-install equipment
• Sufficient DVR storage space

When looking for a basic cable plan, you want to make sure you get the most bang for your buck.

A basic TV plan will be low-priced with a fair number of channels, and these channels should include your local cable channels and could include some top channels, such as Disney Channel and HGTV.

It also helps a cable TV provider’s case when they’re widely available across the US, have easy-to-install equipment, and a decent DVR storage to record all of the live shows you might not be home for.

You should receive all of your local channels, such as ABC, CBS, PBS, FOX, and NBC with basic cable.

With a great basic cable package, you should also have access to entertainment and lifestyle channels like HSN, The CW, C-SPAN, ION Television, and Telemundo.

Cable TV is worth it if you like the traditional TV feel, want all of your local and popular channels, and like the simplicity of bundling with internet and paying one bill.

We’re noticing that cable TV can actually be cheaper than a live TV streaming service (which wasn’t the case when live streaming first came around).

Cable TV isn't worth it if you rather stream on your device or smart TV; you only need 30–200 channels (rather than the 200–300 channels that cable TV could offer you), and you want on-demand content.

If the latter sounds like you, we have a list of the best live TV streaming providers.

Comcast Xfinity is a favorite because it’s one of the most widely available cable providers in the US, and its pricing is one of the best.

Xfinity has three inexpensive TV plans, one for each region this cable TV provider is available: Central US, Northeast US, and West Coast. And now, none of these plans require you to sign a contract. That's what we like to see, Xfinity.

Since some of these plans are only available in certain areas, I recommend finding out if they’re offered in yours. (Choice TV is for Central and Western US residents, and Limited Basic is for the Northeasters.)

No matter your region, you might have to pay up to a $21.95 broadcast fee and a $12.30 regional sports fee. So, I recommend double-checking your monthly total during the checkout process.

Spectrum TV gives you a complete channel lineup for the price of nosebleed tickets, and you don’t have to worry about signing a contract.

As one of the best cheap cable TV options, Spectrum undoubtedly has one of the best basic cable packages for TV watchers.

Spectrum doesn’t require a contract, you get a solid number and a great selection of channels, and the price doesn’t break the bank.

You might notice that Spectrum offers 150+ channels for $10 more than Xfinity TV's Popular TV plan. Spectrum could use a little price decrease, but both providers are widely available nationwide. There’s a good chance one of them will be available in your neighborhood.

But you’ll get the choice between paying Xfinity’s pricey fees or being OK with Spectrum’s 80-hour DVR storage.

Spectrum’s TV® Select plan includes the following cable TV channels:

Cox TV has a higher dollar-to-channel ratio than Xfinity and Spectrum do. Still, it's nice how Cox gives customers a customized checkout experience that allows you to bundle TV, internet, smart home automation, and a home phone.

Cox Communications is offered in 18 states nationwide, so I recommend checking in the zip finder above if this cable TV provider is in your state.

Cox’s basic plan is $61 per month with more than 75 channels, including local channels and some entertainment channels.

I don’t necessarily like that price tag because 50 of those 75 channels are music channels. But hey, maybe you enjoy playing music in the background while cleaning or working.

The price tag might also be worth it if you like bundling all your services in one: TV, internet, smart home automation, and a landline.

You’ll have to commit to your bundle for two years. Cox has this thing called a two-year contract that we could honestly do without. But after you see the personalized bundle you’ve created for your home on Cox’s website, the contract might not matter.

Cox’s Contour TV Starter channel lineup includes the following:

Sparklight TV doesn’t exactly give you the most bang for your buck, but if you like the idea of minimalism and staying up-to-date on the news is what you’re after, this is the plan for you.

With Sparklight, you'll get around 20 basic cable channels, including local broadcast channels in standard and high definition, along with faith, shopping, and music channels.

Sparklight’s Economy package has a higher dollar-to-channel ratio than the rest on this list, but you might like having 20 local channels with no fluff to search through.

Or you could live in one of the 23 states Sparklight offers coverage, and there isn’t another cheap cable TV option. So, Sparklight has got your back. (Or you could consider the HD antenna route.)

Keep in mind that the local cable channels differ in each area Sparklight is offered, but to give you a sneak peek, these are the 26 channels offered in Idaho.

The basic channels included in the Economy TV plan are the following:

Optimum TV offers an inexpensive bundle at a reasonable price. You’ll get over 50 basic cable channels with internet service of 300 Mbps download speeds so you can work without waiting forever for your screen to refresh.

Optimum doesn’t offer TV plans alone, but a bundle isn’t so bad when you need internet to stream Netflix, work from home, and use your Google Nest camera. And, for a limited time, Optimum is offering free installation on its internet service when you order online.

Speaking of basic packages, Optimum's entry-level plan is aptly called “Basic TV.” And then, you can add 300–1500 Mbps of internet download speeds. If you're not sure what speeds you need, we have a guide to help you. 

Unfortunately, Optimum's website doesn’t list all 50 channels you’ll get in your lineup with its entry-level plan, but at checkout, Optimum says they guarantee these basic cable TV channels:

Luckily Optimum doesn’t require an annual contract, so you can cancel your service if you don't get the channels you were hoping for.

If you want an even cheaper and basic bundle, Xfinity offers a bundle with 10+ channels and 75 Mbps download speed. And although it advertises at "10+ channels," we've noticed Xfinity offers a lot more than that in our area. 

• Comcast Xfinity TV: For every region Xfinity services, this cable provider offers a TV plan for just $20–$25 per month. The Limited Basic TV package is a super inexpensive option for northeast US residents to access over 100 channels! And if you live in the central or western parts of the US, Xfinity's Choice TV plan gives you that same access. Xfinity also offers affordable bundles so you only have to worry about one bill for multiple services.
• Spectrum: Spectrum’s TV® Select plan is $65/month for more than 150 channels, which is $15 more than Xfinity's Popular TV plan. So, I encourage you to compare fee pricing before ordering. This TV provider also made it to our list of cheapest cable TV providers.
• Cox: Cox gives you more than 75 channels for $61 per month with the Contour TV Starter—which is a little steep—but this cable TV provider gives you a personalized checkout with many options for bundling TV, internet, smart home automation, and a landline.
• Sparklight: If you want only your local channels and nothing else, Sparklight might be what you’re looking for. Sparklight’s Economy Cable package is $42/month for 20 or more local news, entertainment, and lifestyle channels.
• Optimum: Optimum's bundle option (Basic TV + Internet 300) is the best because it gives you a good deal on 50+ channels and 300 Mbps download speeds for $70 per month. This is a solid option if Xfinity isn’t available in your area.

If you need help determining which cable TV provider to sign up with, check out our Best TV Providers of 2024 review to compare more options.

We compare and ranked these basic cable packages based on five key factors:

1. Pricing (both monthly and after the contract is over)
2. Channel count and variety
3. Availability
4. Contracts (both length and if the contract is worth it)
5. Equipment

We ranked each of these five factors to decide which basic cable TV packages are best for you. Because the plans we’ve highlighted are basic, starter, and entry-level, we weighed the pricing and channels more heavily than other aspects.

No entry-level TV plan should break the bank for the number of channels you could get with an HD antenna.