Find the Best Cable Companies and Satellite TV Providers in Nashville, TN

Choosing a cable company or satellite TV provider in Nashville

From Nashville’s professional sports teams to music events on downtown Broadway, Music City has many televised events. If you can’t be there in person, you can always watch it on TV — assuming you subscribe to a cable or satellite television package.

Nashville residents have multiple TV packages and companies from which to choose. However, when deciding between companies, there are several factors to consider, including:

• Channel availability: Certain local, regional and national programs are only available with specific packages. Know which channels you absolutely need or want and identify the packages that offer them.
• Contracts: Consider the types of contracts offered along with their respective lengths of time. Can you change contracts at will, or are you locked in for a specific period? Are you able to add channels at your pleasure?
• Package bundles: Often, cable and satellite TV companies also offer phone and internet bundles along with their television service at a reduced rate. Explore these options when reviewing companies.
• Reliable service: The last thing you want is for your TV service to go out in the middle of a show. Scroll through customer reviews to determine how reliable the company’s service truly is.

Types of cable and satellite TV

Typically, cable and satellite television companies in Nashville offer three types of packages:

• Basic: This is a base set of channels including local broadcast stations and a few select national channels.
• Expanded basic: This package includes a few of the most popular cable or satellite channels, such as ESPN and CNN.
• Premium: Premium channel packages offer a greater number of options, including movie channels such as HBO and channels that cater to specific topics such as National Geographic and HISTORY.

Cable vs. satellite TV

If choosing between a cable and satellite TV package, it is good to review the advantages and disadvantages of each. If you live in a rural area, you may need to choose a satellite TV company. Cable TV companies can only operate inside their service areas, whereas satellite services have a wide delivery area.

Alternatives to cable and satellite TV

Thanks to today’s technology, Nashville residents can access top TV channels through streaming internet services such as Sling, Hulu, and YouTube TV. These options also have a monthly fee, similar to that of a traditional cable or satellite TV company, and can be accessed from any compatible device. Similar to satellite and cable TV subscriptions, these services often offer tiers that let you add more channels for a higher cost.

Unlike traditional cable or satellite TV, these services do not work directly through many televisions — you need to use a smart TV or a separate device, such as an Amazon Fire TV or Roku. These companies usually offer month-to-month service without requiring a long-term contract.

How much does cable and satellite TV cost in Nashville?

The average subscriber pays between $85 and $100 a month for cable or satellite TV service. The total cost varies based on the package you select. Basic cable includes 10+ channels at around $20+ per month, while premium packages cost $65 and up.

Expect satellite TV from providers such as DISH and DIRECTV to start at around $35+ per month for 150+ channels — but be careful, these rates are often for the first year of a two-year contract that includes dramatic monthly price increases in the second year. Ask your provider what your total cost is over the life of the contract.

Some companies in Nashville offer promotions to reduce your cost, such as waiving equipment fees. Ask your provider if you will pay an installation fee on your first month’s bill. This fee of up to $100 includes the connection hook-up, hourly service cost for the installation technician and other extraneous fees. You may be able to negotiate this fee down.