Charter Communications, the US’s second largest cable company, is launching an inexpensive streaming TV service. For just $14.99 a month, subscribers will be able to watch 60+ live channels on an Apple TV, iOS device, Mac, or other computer.
Spectrum TV Essentials is scheduled to go live in March, when it will have to compete with similar services, like Sling TV and YouTube TV.
“Spectrum TV Essentials is an OTT offering designed to provide Spectrum Internet-only customers a new low-price, high-value video option,” said Tom Rutledge, Charter Chairman and CEO, in a statement.
Spectrum TV Essentials channel lineup
This OTT (Over The Top) service will include lifestyle, entertainment and news channels, as well as access to all of the associated On Demand content these networks make available.
Among the offerings are A&E, AMC, Animal Planet, BBC America, BET, Comedy Central, Discovery, DIY, Food Network, Hallmark Channel, HGTV, HISTORY, Lifetime, MTV, Nickelodeon, OWN, Paramount Network, Science Channel, TLC, Travel Channel, TV Land, VH1, and The Weather Channel.
Plenty of competition
The high cost of traditional cable service is leading to a plethora of more affordable options, including this one, which is really Charter competing with itself.
At $15 a month, Spectrum TV Essentials will be cheaper than its rivals. Sling TV starts at $25 a month, but YouTube TV and DirecTV NOW are $40. Hulu with Live TV is about to go up to $45 each month.
This upcoming offering OTT service will only be available to households that already subscribe to Charter’s Spectrum Internet service.
Another type of competition for traditional cable is video-on-demand services like Netflix. Apple is rumored to enter this market later this year.