Breaking: Charter Introduces Low-Cost Streaming Packages for Internet Subscribers That Recreate Cable Bundle
By tying the channels to their method of delivery, Spectrum is essentially offering an internet version of its cable packages.
With each passing day, the way that people consume media — especially video — seems to be changing at ever-accelerating speeds. As streaming continues its inevitable march to being the primary form of entertainment, even the last bastions of the old, traditional pay-TV models are finding ways to get in on the internet-delivered streaming expansion. On Tuesday, Charter Communications — the parent company of Spectrum TV, the United States’ second-largest cable company — announced that it would be launching two low-budget streaming TV packages available exclusively for Spectrum internet subscribers.
Key Details:
- Charter is launching two budget-friendly streaming packages exclusively for its internet customers.
- The Spectrum TV Stream will contain over 90 cable channels, but will not carry broadcast networks or sports-specific channels.
- Spectrum Stream Latino will provide access to over 45 channels, and will have a mix of Spanish-language broadcast and sports outlets.
Charter’s two new streaming packages will be known as Spectrum TV Stream and Spectrum Stream Latino. The former will feature over 90 news and entertainment channels including such popular offerings as the Discovery Channel, the Hallmark Channel, Lifetime, MTV, The Weather Channel, and more, as well as cable news networks CNN and Fox News.
What you will notice is that there are no national broadcast channels like ABC, CBS, Fox, or NBC included in the package, nor are there any sports channels like ESPN and FS1. These channels are generally the ones that drive up the price for consumers as they carry far more exorbitant carriage and retransmission fees than the more entertainment-focus cablers do.
The price for the Spectrum TV Stream package will be $39.99 per month plus tax and it is only available to customers who also subscribe to Spectrum’s internet service, creating a bundle that contains both the entertainment and how it is delivered, similar to the cable bundle that Spectrum also offers.
The second streaming option, Spectrum Stream Latino, will run $24.99 per month and will include 45 Spanish-language channels. While the plan will include both news and entertainment options, like the Spectrum TV Stream package, it will also include live sports via Univision, Telemundo, beIN Sports en Español, and Discovery en Español. The full channel lineups for both new streaming plans are available below.
“We are focused on creating more flexible, lower-cost video options for our customers that include a bundle of channels they want to watch,” Charter EVP Sharon Peters said. “With Spectrum TV Stream and Stream Latino, our customers now have the option to choose high-value, internet-delivered streaming TV packages that include the most popular news and entertainment networks and Spanish-language programming.”
Both plans will be available to stream via the Spectrum TV app, which is available across many major streaming platforms and devices, including Xumo Stream Box, the streaming device from Charter's joint venture with Comcast, as well as Apple TV, Roku, Samsung Smart TV, and more.
What Channels Are Available on Spectrum TV Stream and Spectrum Stream Latino?
