As the summer comes to an end, college students are going back to school. Many are faced with the challenge of picking cable and internet for their off-campus apartments for the first time. We sat down with a few rising juniors and seniors who interned with us this summer to learn about their decision-making process so we could share their findings with you.
Moving off campus is an exciting time, but it can also be a bit stressful. For the students we spoke with, choosing the right internet and entertainment services to keep up with their on-the-go lives was the start of a major research project.
First came the debate of cutting the cord and only purchasing internet. In theory, sticking with an online video streaming service seemed like the most flexible option. In reality, content was limited to older seasons of shows and there were zero live viewing options. Having to wait to see things like NBC’s Will & Grace revival or the new season of USA Network’s Mr. Robot was a total deal breaker for these students.
Next on the list for consideration were internet streaming players that connect to a TV. While streaming players included a handful of live viewing options, and a slightly wider range of movies and shows, content could only be viewed from a connected TV. This was another deal breaker for these students, who considered the ability to watch shows from their smartphones, tablets and laptops a necessary.
After that, it was time to explore local cable and internet providers. For those living in a Comcast service area, a special student bundle for $79.99 per month offered high-speed internet and XFINITY TV, plus HBO and Showtime at no extra cost.
While a good deal off the bat, the clincher was the additional perks the bundle included that extended beyond the apartment. The XFINITY Stream app, for instance, allows customers to watch 200+ live channels and 40,000 XFINITY On Demand titles from a Wi-Fi enabled device, and XFINITY WiFi, a network of more than 18 million Wi-Fi hotspots that customers can tap into across the country.
As one student put it, the package essentially lets you watch whatever you want at home AND it lets you take your show (or two) on the road, while saving your data. That right there was the definition of keeping up with the fast-paced life of a college student, and it brought the search for services to a close…just in time for moving day!
