Benefits of a Cable TV Bundle

In any given area, homeowners typically have access to one or two cable TV suppliers. In total, there are dozens of these cable providers operating in various regions throughout the United States. Learn about the most popular cable TV suppliers and how to find out which companies offer service in your area.

Largest Cable Suppliers

The cable industry in America is dominated largely by five major providers. The largest of these companies is Comcast. Boasting an estimated 24 million subscribers in 2008, Comcast currently services more Americans than any other cable provider. At 13.3 million subscribers, Time Warner Cable is also a major player. Charter Communications, Cox Communications and Cablevision are also fairly large and provide service to a high number of regions. Combined, these three companies deliver cable service to about 15 million households.

Finding Cable Suppliers in Your Area

Knowing your options is an important part of selecting a cable company. To learn which cable providers offer service in your area, you might consider visiting the website of each major provider. Typically, by inputting your zip code, you can find out if they offer service in your area. A simpler option, however, involves visiting a cable TV website that allows you to search availability across all service providers. On such websites, you can input your address and instantly learn which providers are available to you. In some cases, you may also get a list of current cable deals for each potential provider.

Comparing Cable Suppliers

It should be noted that the largest cable companies aren't necessarily the best. For the most part, market share is dictated by contracts signed between service providers and local regions that allow them to provide service to a given area. As such, it is certainly worthwhile to compare pricing between large and small companies operating in your area.

To adequately compare cable TV suppliers in your area, consider reviewing promotional offers. These offers can be found through direct mail advertising or online at a provider's official website. When comparing offers, be sure to read the fine print to determine length of the introductory offer, number of included channels and other pertinent data.