Frontier Communications is among the biggest telecommunications companies in the US. While they specialize in DSL, they also provide TV services.
Still, I can’t deny that Frontier has received its fair share of consumer complaints. I’ve personally had some disappointing experiences with them while researching this article on my grandmother’s DSL Frontier plan. (Calls cutting off, blunt technical support, etc.) So, I know it’s not easy to decide if this is the right option or not.
Regardless, I went through Frontiers’ plans and terms to pick out the highlights and show you what you need to watch out for.
Pros
- Great Variety
- Attractive TV Plans
- Speedy Online Support
- Quality DVR Options
Cons
- Hidden Fees
- High Pricing
- Slow Phone Support
Frontier stats Overview
- Offers Service in: California, Connecticut, Florida, Texas, Indiana, Illinois, West Virginia, Ohio, Washington, New York, Michigan, Oregon, Wisconsin, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Minnesota, South Carolina, Arizona, Idaho, Tennessee, Nevada, Nebraska, Iowa, Alabama, Georgia, Utah, New Mexico, Mississippi, Montana, Virginia, South Dakota, Kentucky, North Dakota, Massachusetts, Maryland, New Jersey, Missouri and Rhode Island
- Major Cities Covered: Rochester, NY, Fort Wayne, IN, Durham, NC, Beaverton, OR, Moreno Valley, CA, Everett, WA, Elk Grove, CA, Portland, OR, Bridgeport, CT, Muskegon, MI, New Haven, CT, Stamford, CT, Charleston, WV, Hartford, CT, Bothell, WA, College Station, TX, Waterbury, CT, Lynnwood, WA, Elkhart, IN and Hillsboro, OR
- Residential Pricing: $20.00+ (See Latest Deals)
- Business Pricing: $19.99+
- Setup Service: (855) 231-5629
Frontier DSL and Fios Availability
Frontier is a common option throughout much of the US, with most coverage on the West and East coasts.
Texas, California, and Oregon are a few of the more common areas to find their coveted FiOS service. Most customers will find them as an alternative to a cable provider like Comcast or Spectrum.
Services Overview
Frontier offers a variety of TV options depending on which network type they have in your area. Additionally, they partner with Dish TV to offer discounted satellite options. Image via Parker Byrd/Unsplash- Vantage TV – Frontier’s TV platform offers direct Netflix access, advanced search functions, 560+ channels, Video On Demand coupons, digital HD and picture, a wireless Receiver + a Total Home DVR, and an advanced fiber-optic network.
- FiOS TV – Frontier’s FiOS TV boasts the same advanced fiber-optic network and clear HD picture and sounds as Vantage TV. Additionally, their FiOS services provide you with premium movies and FiOS channels.
- Dish TV – Frontier is also a Dish TV provider. Their Dish offers come with 330+ channels, a rich Video On Demand catalog, and numerous HD DVR and Receiver options.
Furthermore, I should mention that Frontier TV lets you stream On Demand and live content no matter where you are in your home. And you can do that on mobile devices too.
Frontier Fios Packages + Bundles Reviews
More information on these plans is available at my Dish TV deals page.
| Dish Packages | Channels | 2-year price |
|---|---|---|
| America’s Top 120 | 190 | $49.99 |
| America’s Top 120+ | 190+ | $59.99 |
| America’s Top 200 | 240 | $69.99 |
| America’s Top 250 | 290 | $79.99 |
All Dish plans come with free premium movie channels (HBO, SHOWTIME, CINEMAX) for the first 3 months, a free Hopper upgrade, and HD Free for Life.
Just keep in mind that the plans can vary in price according to your location.
FiOS TV Packs + Bundles
- FiOS TV Prime HD – 225+ channels and 55+ HD channels. The price is in the $71.99/month range.
- FiOS TV Extreme HD – 290+ channels and 75+ HD channels. Expect to pay approximately $82.99/month.
- FiOS Ultimate HD – 345+ channels and 95+ HD channels. The plan will cost you around $93.99/month.
All TV packs let you stream your favorite shows, enjoy dedicated 100% fiber optics in your home, and take advantage of DVR services.
Frontier also provides FiOS Triple Play bundles:
- Extra Value Bundle – Connection speeds as fast as 30Mbps, 290+ channels and 75+ HD channels, as well as unlimited local and nationwide long-distance calling. The monthly fee is roughly $134.97/month in most areas.
- Entertainment Bundle – Connection speeds up to 50Mbps, 225+ channels and 55+ HD channels, as well as unlimited local and nationwide long-distance calling. Expect to pay around $148.97/month in most areas.
- Entertainment+ Bundle – Connection speeds as fast as 50Mbps, 290+ channels and 75+ HD, as well as unlimited local and nationwide long-distance calling. You’ll be paying approximately $159.97/month in most areas
All Triple Play bundles come with a $5/month auto-pay discount, and a free Frontier WiFi Router.
Still, it’s worth bearing in mind that you’ll also have to cover a $79.99 professional installation fee on top of a one-time activation fee of $49.99. Additional equipment fees might apply too.
Vantage TV Bundles
I’ve sifted through the sales pages and chatted with reps on the phone to figure out what the real options are for Vantage TV. For the most part, the best deals I uncovered were “double play” TV and Internet bundles.
Vantage Select Family
The promotional price starts at around $55/month for the first 6 months, and reaches up to approximately $80/month afterward.
Vantage TV Prime
As for the price, the total is in the range of $54.99/month for 24 months.
Vantage TV Ultimate
- Music channels
- Local channels
- The Sports Package
- HBO
- SHOWTIME
On top of that, Frontier also offers an extensive On Demand Library + 12Mbps connection speeds.
Price-wise, expect to pay around $117/month for the first 6 months, and $142/month after.
Which Plan/Bundle Should You Choose?
One of the key advantages of Frontier is that you can bundle TV, phone, and Internet from one provider without the need for multiple bills and installations.If you want to enjoy HD channels and streaming on the side too, it’d be wise to go with FiOS TV Prime HD.
If you just want budget family programming, you’ve already seen why Vantage Select Family is a great choice.
And if you’re not worried about money and want to get the most out of what Frontier offers, I recommend choosing the FiOS Entertainment+ Bundle.
Frontier FiOS TV vs Verizon FiOS TV: What’s the Difference?
Verizon and Frontier Fios are very similar in terms of Internet,but their TV offerings are totally different.
Image via Michael Johnson/Flickr
Still, while Frontier FiOS mostly relies on the same tech and platform like Verizon FiOS, the services aren’t the same. Frontier’s FiOS TV packages are a bit sub-par compared to Verizon, since Verizon’s FiOS TV plans offer up to 530+ channels and 175+ HD channels for a better price.
Another detail that separates both services is that Verizon’s FiOS installation fees are more expensive (they start at $90).
Channel Offerings
Frontier TV offers both SD and HD channels (over 200). Here are some examples:
- HBO
- HBO2
- SHOWTIME
- CINEMAX
- CNN
- BBC America HD
- STARZ
- AMC
- AMC HD
Do keep in mind that channel variety depends on the state where you live. For the full channel list, I recommend checking their comprehensive guides.
Frontier TV Sports Options
The only things that are missing from Frontier TV are the Pursuit Channel, the Ski Channel, and the NFL Sunday Ticket.
Image via William Hook/Flickr
Frontier offers a decent number of sports channels. Besides that, they also offer a sports package which includes 14 extra channels (beIN Sports, Fox College Sports Atlantic/Central/Pacific, Fox Deportes, and CBS Sports Network are some highlights).
The sports package also includes Pac-12 games.
Other options include:
- NBA League Pass
- ESPN College Extra
- Fox Soccer Plus
DVR and Equipment Options
Frontier Fios requires different equipment from their DSL offerings. While installing DSL Internet yourself is simple, Fiber usually requires a specialized technician visit. Image via Mike Mozart/FlickrVantage TV DVR
- Record up to 6 shows at once.
- 1 TB recording capacity.
- Recent and DVR Peek – lets you preview/tune into the last 5 DVR recordings.
- Stream shows to any TV in your home.
- Wireless set-top box.
FiOS Set-Top Boxes
- SD Set-Top Box – FiOS TV Interactive Media Guide, 45+ digital music channels, Pay-Per-View and On Demand shows.
- HD Set-Top Box – Everything SD set-top boxes offer + HD content.
- DVR – Everything HD set-top boxes offer + the ability to pause/rewind live TV and record shows.
Hopper HD DVR ($15/month)
- Record up to 16 shows at once*.
- Record and watch from any room.
- Store up to 2,000 hours of content.
- Auto-skip commercials in Prime Time.
- Pause/Play/Rewind live TV.
- Lets you access various encrypted SD/HD digital programs without needing a set-top box.
The Hopper DVR is available if you sign up for one of Frontier’s Dish plans.
Overall, I think Frontier’s DVR options are decent and only hardcore “man cave” TV buffs will find problems to nitpick over with their DVRs.
*To enjoy that feature, you’ll need to add a Super Joey (DVR receiver) to your bill (~$10/month). If you do that, you’ll have to pay around $25/month alongside the monthly Dish TV plan.
Where Frontier TV Shines: Variety
Frontier knows how offer real variety. Basically, there’s a TV plan for everyone.
Whether you’re just looking for family-oriented TV programming or want to enjoy 400+ digital channels alongside high-speed Internet, Frontier has got you covered.
Frontier’s On Demand Library is extensive — I compared it to competitors and found it to be one of the better ones on the market. You won’t have to worry about running out of content any time soon.
If you have problems with your service, start with Frontier’s online support first. They tend to be faster at helping resolve problems.
Also, you definitely won’t like the hidden fees. Yes, all providers have them, but Frontier’s hidden fees are something many of their former customers complained about.
For example, if you sign up for a Dish TV plan, you get 3 premium movie channels for free for the first 3 months. Well, if you don’t call Frontier when the 3 months are up to cancel those channels, you’ll be billed $60/month.
The best way to avoid hidden fees with Frontier is to thoroughly read the terms and conditions before signing anything.
The Big Picture: Despite Some Issues, Frontier TV Is Still a Decent Choice
If you love sports, HD channels, family programming, great DVRs, and reliable Internet, Frontier TV will likely live up to your expectations — especially if you’re in a rural area. Just keep in mind that there’s a chance you’ll be paying pricey monthly fees in the long run.
If you’re interested in some other alternatives, DirecTV and Dish TV are common alternatives, particularly if you already have Internet service.