Spectrum to Launch $14.99 OTT Cable Service.

Charter Communications Inc. announced this week that it will launch Spectrum TV Essentials, an innovative internet-delivered over-the-top (OTT) video service, to be made available exclusively in Charter’s footprint to Spectrum Internet customers who don’t already subscribe to Spectrum video services. The service will include Newsmax TV.

Launching by the end of March, Spectrum TV Essentials will include more than 60 live popular lifestyle, entertainment, and news channels, and access to all of the associated On Demand content these networks make available. Charter reached separate agreements with programming partners including Viacom, Discovery, A&E, AMC, and Hallmark to create this new offering.

“Spectrum TV Essentials is an OTT offering designed to provide Spectrum Internet-only customers a new low-price, high-value video option,” said Tom Rutledge, Charter chairman and CEO.

“As we began to assemble the rights for this new video service, we received great enthusiasm and encouragement from these key programming partners, who share our view and embrace creating an innovative video offering we believe will resonate with our internet customers.”

At launch, Spectrum TV Essentials will be available for $14.99 plus tax, with no additional fees or installation charge. The entire TV Essentials lineup will be available through the Spectrum TV App, one of the highest-used, IP-based live TV apps in the U.S., on all supported mobile and connected devices – iOS and Android phones and tablets, Apple TV, Roku, Xbox One, Amazon Kindle Fire, Samsung Smart TVs, and computers via SpectrumTV.com.

Networks available on Spectrum TV Essentials include: Newsmax TV, A&E, AMC, American Heroes Channel, Animal Planet, CMT Music, Comedy Central, Discovery, Discovery Family, HGTV, HISTORY, MTV, MTV2, MTV Classic, MTV Live, MTVU, Nickelodeon, Nick Jr., Nick Music, Travel Channel, TV Land, VH1, Viceland, The Weather Channel, and other channels.

Newsmax TV is carried in 65 million cable homes on DirecTV Ch. 349, Dish Network Ch. 216, Xfinity Ch. 1115, Spectrum (check guide), U-verse Ch. 1220, FiOS Ch. 615 or More Systems Here.