TV Options for Expats:
Free Television
Los Angeles has a large selection of television programming for free. These non-pay channels provide full programs of news and entertainment. All you need is a television set and, in some cases, a good antenna. Below you will find the basic channels for the area.
2- KCBS- CBS Broadcasting
4- NBC- NBC Broadcasting
5- KTLA– CW/ Local Broadcasting
7- KABC- ABC Broadcasting
9- KCAL- KCAL/Local Broadcasting
11- KTTV- FOX Broadcasting
13- KCOP- Local Broadcasting
18- KSCI- Asian Broadcasting (Japanese, Chinese, Korean, Mandarin)
22- KWHY- Spanish Broadcasting
24- KVCR- Native American Broadcasting
28- KCET- PBS Educational Broadcasting
30- KPXN- Religious Broadcasting
34- KMEX- Spanish Local Broadcasting
40- KTBN- Christian Programming
44-KXLA- Asian Broadcasting (Korean, Japanese)
46- KFTR- Spanish Broadcasting
50- KOCE- Local PBS Broadcasting
52- LVEA- Spanish Broadcasting
54-KAZA- Spanish Broadcasting
56- KDOC Local Broadcasting
57- KJLA- Spanish Broadcasting
58- KLCS- Educational Broadcasting
62- KRCA- Spanish Broadcasting
64- KHIZ- Chinese Broadcasting
Cable and Satellite TV
Cable and satellite TV offer a mind-boggling choice of programs that range from sport to music to movies and foreign-language channels. A variety of packages are available, including BBC America, Mexican, and South Korean programming, among many others.
Satellite services are available for most areas in major cities. Visit CableMover.com to find the cable company servicing your area or call (866) 620-9093. You will probably get advertisements or fliers in the mail when you move into a new home with introduction prices which are usually discounted to encourage you to sign up with that particular cable company.
You can order via website or by calling the company’s 800 number. If you have any questions, most websites offer an online chat service with the customer support. The service providers will schedule a time with you for a technician to come to your place to install equipment. Once the technician comes it should only take less than an hour before you can enjoy your favorite shows!
Time Warner Cable: Digital cable with over 200 channels from $39.99 per month.
(888) 892-2253
http://www.timewarnercable.com
Charter: Digital cable from $49.99 per month (for 6 months)
(800) 577-9562
http://www.charter.com/
Comcast: HD digital cable from $29.99 per month (for 12 months) with 80+ channels to $84.99 per month (for 12 months) with 200+ channels. Order online.
http://www.comcast.com/
Direct TV: Satellite and cable TV packages from $29.99 (after rebate with 2 year contract) with 150+ channels to $83.99 (after rebate with 2 year contract) with 285+ channels per month. International packages are available for Brazilian, Cantonese, Mandarin, Russian, Korean, Filipino and South Asian.
(888) 777-2454
Dish Network: Satellite and cable TV packages from $24.99 per month ($19.99/mo for the first year) with 55+ channels to $69.99 ($44.99/mo for the first year) per month with 260+ channels. International packages are available for Pan African, Chinese, Korean, Filipino, Japanese, Taiwanese, Vietnamese, French, German, Greek, Italian, Polish, Portuguese, Russian, Arabic, Israeli, Brazilian, Bangla, Bengali, Hindi, Kannada, Malayalam, Marathi, Punjabi, Nepali, Tamil, Telugu, Urdu and Cricket. With a package of $34.99 or higher, you can add HD for free.
(800) 823-4929
http://www.dishnetwork.com/
All of these providers offer bundle deals that combine TV, Internet, home phone and/or mobile phone into one bill which is typically less expensive than using a different provider for each service. Check the websites for deals and specials.
