Cable TV Bundles: Have You Hugged Your Cable Guy Today?
Cable companies aren’t just cable companies anymore. They can also be your phone company, your internet company, your entertainment company, and your technology company. Nowadays we use our cable companies for all of our communication needs, whether we’re searching the internet, calling out for pizza, or watching the daily news. Not only have they made our lives more technologically empowered, they’ve also made our lives more technologically manageable.
With the so-called “Triple Play”--the grouping of digital cable television, high-speed cable internet, and cable broadband phone--cable companies provide more services than ever. And now you have just one bill, one company, and one customer service department to navigate when you have questions, concerns, or complaints.
How can one coaxial cable transmit so much information? The answer lies in the universal nature of digital services. The coaxial cable doesn’t care whether or not the digital information it carries is from the voice of the pizza guy, or from the news video feed--it takes the data packets of information, compresses them, and sends them on their merry way.
Now that many cable companies offer bundled services, how can you choose the best provider? If you’re worried about making a wrong decision, take a deep breath. In many cases, your choice in cable companies has already been made for you; in the United States, local cable companies have negotiated and have been designated by the local governments to serve particular areas. In that case, the next hurdle is to try to find the most conducive cable package for the least expensive price, without sacrificing quality or availability. And luckily, due to that bundle, you won’t have to search hard to find a good deal.
There are cons to cable TV bundles, however. Should your cable go out for any reason, your home will feel less like communication hub and more like a deserted island until its repaired. Fortunately, such occurrences are rare and brief as cable continues to grow more popular and more reliable. And, as if you needed more reasons to consider the Triple Play, bundling your services helps the environment. Less paper invoicing, fewer installation visits, less electronics, and more opportunities to manage your single account online are all ways that help reduce your carbon footprint. And if it helps you save money in the long run, it takes going green to a whole new level.
Since most cable companies offer the Triple Play of digital cable service, phone service, and internet service, the trick is to find a cable company that adds a fourth service to the package: great customer service. Once you have that, you’ll have no reason to consider another option for your technology needs.