Offering another way to protect its video subscriber base by luring in new customers and fending off a growing cord-cutting trend, Charter Communications has recently introduced a new, in-home skinny-bundle offering called Spectrum Choice.
Per a web site dedicated to the new offering, it includes local broadcast networks, 25 Music Choice channels, and -- in an a la carte-like approach -- lets customers select 10 more channels to complete their package. Customers can also pay extra for premium add-ons such as HBO, Showtime, The Movie Channel, Starz and Starz Encore.
The site doesn’t provide pricing without an authenticated address, but TechHive, which took the service for a spin, said Spectrum Choice starts at $25 per month (after a discounted first month of $15) for the first two years, but with no long-term contracts. Customers can buy premiums for $7.50 per month each or $15 when all are bundled.
The service, the report added, is offered on mobile devices, web browsers, Roku players, and Xbox consoles. Spectrum Choice doesn’t require a Charter-supplied set-top box, but customers will need one if they want to add a DVR (Charter has yet to launch a cloud DVR that, for example, could work with Roku boxes). TechHive said that set-top box/DVR option would raise the cost by $20 per month, with recordings only available on the set-top.
As this is an in-home, in-footprint offering, Charter is delivering the service into the home via a managed IP connection.