Entertainment

8 Key Features to Think About When Choosing a Home Entertainment Provider

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There are so many home entertainment providers out there in the market today. Some use fiber-optic internet, others use cable and yet others use satellite dishes to deliver their services. Just to mention a few examples without using any specific criteria, we have the likes of Netflix, Hulu, Amazon, Cinema Now, VoD, Apple TV and DirectTV.

The difficult question now is… how does one pick the right provider that will suit them best out of all the available options? Here are some important things to consider that will assist you to make the right decision.

Content

Consider who is in your home. What do they like to watch? You need to think about yourself as well. What is your favorite kind of entertainment? Are you a movie person? What kind of movies or shows are you interested in? Horrors? Comedies? Reality shows? Drama series?

Or maybe you are one of those people that just love to watch music videos. Or possibly you are a sports person, the type who would not dare to miss any important game or match. You like to keep abreast with what is happening so that you will chip in when discussing games with your friends.

Perhaps you might just happen to be a news junkie, a documentary lover or a religious fanatic. Whatever the case, the point is that the provider you choose should be able to bring to you the content that you desire to view.

Access Across Platforms

In this mobile age, you will most likely want to be able to access your desired content at any time and from any place. You should, therefore, consider how accessible the entertainment provider’s service is from different platforms.

Will your choice be compatible with all your devices and gadgets? We are talking about your phone, laptop, tablet, TV, and every other media device that you own.  The more accessible the service is across different platforms, the better an option it is for you. More importantly, the transmission across all the platforms should be hitch free.

Another thing to look out for is whether the service can be streamed on more than one device simultaneously. This would be an added advantage for you. Some services offer the capability of being able to create a number of different profiles on one account. This will enable every member of your household to customize their own viewing preferences. That is a really helpful feature to have so that everyone can enjoy what they like without interfering with the choices of others.

Channels                                       

Apart from the type of content that they offer, it would be good to also factor in how many channels the entertainment provider is going to bring into your home. The more the channels, the wider your viewing options or scope and the better the choice as a provider. You never know, you may inadvertently fall in love with a channel that you were not initially inclined to, just because you opted to venture into the unknown and go for more.

Pricing Plans

How much something is going to cost you is always a determining factor when shopping for anything. Find out the installation and monthly or annual fees that each provider is charging. When you compare the price and the package, what will give you good value for your money? Will your pocket be able to comfortably meet the costs? Ask yourself these kinds of questions as you diligently consider the various options available to you.

Ease of Use

When you bundle services together, it makes it easier for you to use them. The most common bundles have internet, cable or digital cable, and phone services. There are some applications that you can install that will deliver to you all these services at a go. You will need to make sure that all the services integrate easily with one another. Something that may be a deciding factor for you is a provider that not only bundles all these services together but also gives you the option to get free installation.

Quality

Quality may be a deal breaker when you are looking for a service provider. You will probably be looking out for two things. One, you will be looking out for the quality of the content, lest you end up boring yourself to death. Two, you will be looking out for the quality of media – whether it’s HD, UHD, 4K, or 8K.

Ask yourself how reliable their signal is. Are they prone to interruptions, say, for example, during bad weather? You would not want to experience a blue or black screen with a ‘no signal’ message right in the middle of your favorite sitcom when things were just beginning to get interesting.

Customer Service

Nothing sells like good customer service. Check out how the service provider takes care of their customers after they have sold their product and gotten their money. Do they offer guarantees? How long do the guarantees last? The longer the guarantee period, the more reason to opt for that service.

How many hours are they open to serve their customers? Is their customer call center based in the States or is it outsourced? What is the speed and quality of their response to customer complaints and queries? Make sure that you do your research before you finally settle on which home entertainment provider you will go for.

Special Offers

Who in this world does not like freebies? Be sure to look at the different offers and specials from each service provider. Some providers have added entertainment packages, like gaming, which will also be something to consider depending on your preferences. The number and types of extra features and benefits comparable to the price package are important decision-making factors. How many and what kind of free channels have they thrown into your package? Ask yourself these questions and let the answers guide you to your decision.

Conclusion

You thought it was going to be an easy decision to make, right? Well, nothing good comes easy. Take your time, analyze and research, so that you will be able to get what you want – and more – at a cost that you will delight in paying. Regret is painful. Do not inflict it on yourself.

Lifestyle Mommy Blogger and Virtual Assistant from Cagayan de Oro City, Philippines. Aside from doing product reviews and events coverage, she blogs about solo parenting, homeschooling, and things in between.

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