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Astound Broadband has contract-free TV plans and bundles for those on the East Coast.
Astound Broadband (formerly RCN)
4
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Contract-free fair-priced TV plans
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You have to bundle with internet to get TV, but you can get internet for as low as $10
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Only available on the East Coast
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By Chantel Buchi
Jun 04, 2024
6 min read
Most cable providers try to lock you into a contract by promising sweet deals upfront. But not Astound Broadband. Its plans are month-to-month, and the prices are on the lower end of the spectrum.
But Astound Broadband (formerly RCN) is only for some. It’s only available in six different areas on the East Coast: Boston, Chicago, DC Metro, Lehigh Valley, New York, and Philadelphia, and its TV packages are only available when bundled with internet services.
If you live in one of these areas, let’s get into the details to see if this is the right cable TV (and internet) provider for you and your family.
- Packages, pricing, and fees
- Astound Broadband
- Channels, sports channels, and add-ons
- DVR equipment
- Recap
How much is Astound Broadband cable?
Service area | Plan | Monthly price | TV channel count | Details |
Philadelphia | 1000 Mbps Internet + Basic TV | $73.49/mo. | 40+ | View Plans |
---|---|---|---|---|
Chicago | 1500 Mbps Internet + Basic TV | $83.7/mo.* | 40+ | View Plans |
DC | 1000 Mbps Internet + Basic TV | $83.88/mo. | 40+ | View Plans |
Lehigh | 1000 Mbps Internet + Basic TV | $77.78/mo. | 40+ | View Plans |
New York | 1000 Mbps Internet + Basic TV | $73.37/mo. | 40+ | View Plans |
* No contract required. 12 Month Internet Pricing. Equipment priced separately. Includes $5 discount for 12 months w/ ebill & autopay.
See if Astound Broadband is available in your area.
How much does Astound Broadband Cable cost?
Astound Broadband gives you the choice between a $21 or $170+ bundle plan, depending on how many channels or Mbps you'd like.
As we mentioned above, Astound Broadband is only available in six cities in the US. There are only two TV plans for each city, and the pricing differs in all six areas.
Kind of confusing, we know.
Either way, the monthly price for your Astound Broadband cable bill will most likely be lower than any other cable TV provider in your area. So, why not take advantage? Save a few dollars for those Nike shoes you have your eye on.
How much are Astound Broadband's cable TV and internet bundles?
With some cable TV and internet providers, when you bundle, you save little to nothing—it's more about the convenience of paying one bill.
With Astound Broadband, you can save $10–$20 monthly by bundling your TV, phone, and internet service.
Astound Broadband's TV/internet/mobile plan combinations and prices vary widely by service area (check Astound Broadband's websiteto see what it offers in your area), but here's an idea of what you'll find at checkout.
You can mix and match download speeds of 300, 600, 940, or 1,500 Mbps, and you can choose from a combination of Basic TV, Preferred TV, and Paramount+ with SHOWTIME® packages. Mobile plans range from $15–$50 per line, offering 1.5GB, 3GB, and unlimited data options.
Here's a glimpse of Astound's bundles in different locations.
Service area | Plan | Monthly price | TV channel count | Details |
Philadelphia | 1000 Mbps Internet + Basic TV | $73.49/mo. | 40+ | View Plans |
---|---|---|---|---|
Philadelphia | 1500 Mbps Internet + Basic TV + Preferred | $163.41/mo. | 220+ | View Plans |
Philadelphia | 600 Mbps Internet + Phone | $40/mo. | View Plans | |
Chicago | 1500 Mbps Internet + Basic TV | $83.7/mo.* | 40+ | View Plans |
Chicago | 300 Mbps Internet + Basic TV + Preferred | $129.32/mo.* | 220+ | View Plans |
Chicago | 600 Mbps Internet + Phone | $54.99/mo.* | View Plans | |
DC | 1000 Mbps Internet + Basic TV | $83.88/mo. | 40+ | View Plans |
DC | 1500 Mbps Internet + Basic TV + Preferred | $164.6/mo.* | 220+ | View Plans |
DC | 600 Mbps Internet + Phone | $40/mo.* | View Plans | |
Lehigh | 1000 Mbps Internet + Basic TV | $77.78/mo. | 40+ | View Plans |
Lehigh | 1500 Mbps Internet + Basic TV + Preferred | $165.92/mo.* | 220+ | View Plans |
Lehigh | 600 Mbps Internet + Phone | $40/mo.* | View plans | |
New York | 600 Mbps Internet + Phone | $36/mo.* | View Plans | |
New York | 1000 Mbps Internet + Basic TV | $73.37/mo. | 40+ | View Plans |
New York | 1500 Mbps Internet + Basic TV + Preferred | $177.75/mo. | 220+ | View Plans |
* No contract required. 12 Month Internet Pricing. Equipment priced separately. Includes $5 discount for 12 months w/ ebill & autopay.
And remember, you have to bundle with Astound Internet to get TV service. Everyone needs an internet plan, so this isn't a downside. The true upside is that you can tack on internet service for as low as $20.
Astound Broadband internet plans
Plan | Monthly price | Download speed | Details |
300 Mbps Internet | $20/mo.† | Up to 300 Mbps | View Plans |
---|---|---|---|
600 Mbps Internet | $35/mo.‡ | Up to 600 Mbps | View Plans |
1500 Mbps Internet | $55/mo.‡ | Up to 1500 Mbps | View Plans |
† No contract required. 24 Month Price Lock. Equipment priced separately. Includes $5 discount for 12 months w/ ebill & autopay. Observed speeds may vary. Excludes surcharges and fees. New residential customers only.
‡ 24 Month Internet Pricing. No contract required. Equipment priced separately. Includes $5 discount for 12 months w/ ebill & autopay. Observed speeds may vary. Excludes surcharges and fees. New residential customers only.
Does Astound Broadband Cable have a contract?
Astound Broadband's minimalist attitude also extends to its contracts: it has none.
None of the company’s plans require a contract. Its prices are guaranteed for 12–24 months, and you can cancel at any time without penalty.
Does Astound Broadband Cable have fees?
Astound Broadband has a few fees like every other cable TV provider, but not as many as some.
The activation fee is self-explanatory (and only $10). We also like that your internet modem rental is free for your first 12 months.
How much are Astound Broadband's Cable fees?
Fee | Price |
Activation fee | $9.99 (one-time) |
---|---|
Internet modem rental | Included for 12 months |
Main set-top box | $10–$20/mo. |
Additional set-top boxes | $5/mo. |
As for the equipment, the charges increase with each TV you'd like a set-top box for. You can choose between a "TV converter" or a "TV converter with Cloud DVR Enhanced Tier."These are Astound Broadband's versions of set-top boxes.
Astound Broaband's cable box rental is $10–$20 per month for your first with 125–250 HD hours or DVR space. If you want an additional one for your bedroom and one for your living room downstairs, they will each cost $5.
How much are Astound Broadband Cable equipment fees?
# of TVs | TV converter | TV converter with Cloud DVR enhanced tier |
One TV | $10/mo. | $19.99/mo. |
---|---|---|
Two TVs | $15/mo. | $24.99/mo. |
Three TVs | $20/mo. | $29.99/mo. |
Four TVs | $25/mo. | $34.99/mo. |
How much are Astound Broadband Cable installation costs?
Astound Broadband has an $80 installation fee, but when you order online, this cable service waives the fee. Use that $80 to treat yourself to something nice.
Which channels does Astound Broadband Cable have?
Astound has local, lifestyle, news, and kids channels, but not many sports.
Astound Broadband's Basic TV plan comes with all local channels and some network favorites, like The CW.
Basic TV + Preferredadds 220+ popular channels, like Disney Channel, History Channel, Hallmark, FX, and HGTV.
You can see the full channel lineup on Astound Broadband's website or get a sneak peek here. Basic TV includes the following channels in its lineup:
- ABC
- CBS
- The CW
- Cozi TV
- Crime Network TV
- FOX
- HSN
- NBC
- Telemundo
- PBS
- PBS Kids
- QVC
- Unimas
- Univision
Basic + Preferred TV includes the following channels in its lineup:
- A&E
- AMC
- Animal Planet
- BET
- Cartoon Network
- Comedy Central
- Discovery Channel
- Disney Channel
- Food Network
- FX
- Hallmark Channel
- HGTV
- Lifetime Movie Network
- MSNBC
- National Geographic
- Nickelodeon
- Paramount Network
- TBS
- Telemundo
- TNT
- TruTV
- Turner Movie Classics (TMC)
- Univision
- USA
Which premium channels do Astound Broadband Cable have?
Regarding premium channels, Astound Broadband prices are about the same as other major television companies besides CINEMAX and STARZ.
CINEMAX's and STARZ's price is slightly high with Astound Broadband, so we recommend ordering these premium channels through their standalone apps.
But who doesn't want Paramount+ with SHOWTIME® and TMC for free for one year?
Channel | Price |
Max | $14.99/mo. |
---|---|
Paramount+ with SHOWTIME® + The Movie Channel | Included for 12 months |
CINEMAX | $15.99/mo. |
STARZ | $17.95/mo. |
Premiere Sports | $29.99/mo. |
Premiere Entertainment | $27.99/mo. |
Premiere News & Information | $22.99/mo. |
Premiere Family & Kids | $22.99/mo. |
Premiere Total Pack | $18.99/mo. |
Premiere Sports includes channels like NFL Network, MLB Network, Tennis Channel, and NHL Network.
Premiere Entertainment will have your Starz Encore, BBC America, MTV2, and VH1 Classic.
Premiere News & Information is for the newsies who like their daily Bloomberg Television and Science Channel.
Perfect for families, Premiere Family & Kids has channels such as Nicktoons, Cooking Channel, DIY Network, and Destination America.
Lastly, the Premiere Total Pack includes all these channels, making it the most worthwhile option. You can try any of these add-ons for one month—if you don't like the channels it offers, cancel before your next billing cycle.
Which international packages does Astound Broadband Cable have?
Astound Broadband (formerly RCN) Cable has international channels in 13 different languages, each channel with its own price. This cable provider offers 1–8 channels for each language, ranging from $5 to $16 per month.
The languages Astound Broadband has channels for are the following:
- Arabic
- Chinese
- Filipino
- French
- Greek
- Italian
- Japanese
- Korean
- Polish
- Portuguese
- Russian
- South Asian
- Spanish
Which sports channels does Astound Broadband have?
Astound Broadband could up its game in the sports channel area.
To get any sports channels with Astound Broadband, you'll have to get either the Basic + Preferred TV plan for $107+ or the Premiere Sports add-on with the Basic TV plan for a total of $60+ per month.
Astound Broadband reveals only four channels you'll receive with the sports-channel add-on: NFL Network, MLB Network, Tennis Channel, and NHL Network.
The Basic + Preferred TV package includes the following sports channels:
- Big Ten Network (BTN)
- CBS Sports Network
- ESPN, ESPN2
- ESPNews
- ESPNU
- FOX Sports 1 (FS1), FS2
- Monumental Sports Network
- Tennis Channel
- TNT (for NBA games)
This cable TV provider also has sports packages for diehard league fans.
The NFL RedZone Channel is the best channel for NFL fans, but Astound Broadband charges the most for it among other TV providers. No other TV provider requires a one-time charge; instead, they let you pay about $11 monthly.
Check out our NBA League Pass and NHL Center Ice reviews for more info on these services.
Sports package | Price |
FOX Soccer Plus | $14.95/mo. |
---|---|
NFL RedZone + Premiere TV | $18.99/mo. + $68.99 (one-time charge for RedZone) |
NFL RedZone + Premiere TV Sports | $29.99/mo. + $68.99 (one-time charge for RedZone) |
NHL Center Ice | $69.99/season |
NBA League Pass | $99.99/season |
What equipment and features does Astound Broadband Cable have?
Astound Broadband has one of the best DVRs in the TiVo.
Watch your daughter’s game at school without missing the game on TV.
How often have you said no to a dinner party so you could stay in and watch your team dominate (or not) in a home game? With a DVR system, you’ll never have to ditch on dinner again. (You can still use the game as an excuse—we won’t blow your cover).
The company has teamed up with TiVo, one of the best DVR services on the market, to offer DVR rental options. And heads up, the pricing for the DVRs will differ based on which area you live in.
How much storage space does Astound Broadband's cable DVR have?
Device | Monthly price | Storage hours |
TV converter | $10/mo. and $5/mo. for additional | 125 hours |
---|---|---|
TV converter | $19.99/mo. and $5/mo. for additional | 250 hours |
Recap: Is Astound Broadband Cable worth it?
Astound Broadband gives its customers a money-saving and all-entertainment option.
Astound Broadband Cable is for you if you live on the East Coast and want an inexpensive TV package with lots of channels and low-cost internet. It's also for you if you prefer to avoid committing to a contract.
- Boston: $21.00–$161.60/mo.*
- Chicago: $39.99–$164.32/mo.*
- DC Metro: $25.00–$164.60/mo.*
- Lehigh Valley: $25.00–$165.92/mo.*
- New York: $21.00–$177.75/mo.*
- Philadelphia: $25.00–$163.41/mo.*
Astound Broadband Cable is not for you if you want more TV packages to choose from. If this is you, check out our top cable TV providers. Or we suggest a live TV streaming service to avoid the headache of fees and equipment.
What makes this internet review legit?
With 8+ years of experience reviewing telecommunication companies and hours of research, we base our cable TV reviews and ratings on the following aspects:
- Price
- Channel count and variety
- Bundles
- Equipment and DVR storage space
First and foremost, we compare all cable TV providers on their dollar-to-channel ratio. We notice that the providers with the best value, like Astound Broadband, have limited availability across the US.
Most people need internet and mobile service, so it's nice to have the simplicity of one bill when you bundle.
Good equipment prevents stress in your life, so a well-performing set-top box and sufficient DVR space are a must.
Written by
Chantel Buchi
Chantel is all about finding the best tv or streaming service to watch as many football games as possible to keep her Fantasy Football team in check. A former TV and Streaming Tech Reporter for Reviews.org, she has also worked for NFL Network and The Alliance of American Football. Before that, she received a B.A. of Communication at the University of Utah and an M.S. in Sports Journalism at USC. Go Utes and Fight On.
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