Yucatan Living

Yucatan Television Options

15 January 2014 Immigration & Residency 20

So, you move to Merida, renovate your house... and now it is time to move in. And you are faced with installing the utilities. Thus begins a labyrinthine exercise on former owners, contracts, addresses, comprobantes (oh, you don't know what that is? You will!) (It's a receipt from a utility (Telmex is the preferred one) that shows the address of your house. No, it does not have to be your NAME on the receipt, just the correct address), etc.

Of course, one of the most important utility decisions you will have to make, second only to cel phone service, will probably be which vendor from which to buy your television and internet service. In this article, we are talking about televison... shows, sports, movies and more that sometimes comes with internet service. Sometimes not. The lines are blurring more and more these days... we realize that. We will follow this up with an Internet list.

If we have missed someone here, please let us know. This list has a few core vendors and then an ever-changing list of secondary providers. So with your help, we'll do our best to keep it current.

Merida's Television Services

Cablemas

Phone: 01-800-522-2530
Location: Merida at the Gran Plaza
Address: Calle 33B No.536 Int. A Col. García Ginerés
Additional Info: Watch what you want when you want. Cablemas service now has an Interactive Guide. With over 120 channels with the best programming video and 50 music channels with all genres. The new interactive guide lets you browse channels without changing the channel, consult up to 3 days of programming, check out the overview of programs, create three lists of your favorite channels and use the parental control. With the box you can change the language and take off subtitles.
Cost (2013): Digital packages start at $369 pesos for more than 100 channels. Prices change according to the package you choose, and if it includes internet and/or phone.
Other Services: Cablemas also offers phone and internet services. Available in most of Merida and Progreso.
Website: www.cablemas.com.mx
Notes: Cablemas for internet doesn't get great reviews from a lot of people. However, it has traditionally been the cheapest option.

SKY

Phone: 01-800-201-8770 or 999-981-6208 (in Merida)
Location: Merida
Address: Calle 21 # 89, Col. Chuburna
Cost (2013): Basic service starts at $309 pesos for 174 channels.
Other Services: They offer service in Merida and outlying towns on the Yucatan Peninsula. SKY also has premium channels like HBO, Movie City, etc.
Website: www.sky.com.mx

Dish

Phone: 999-964-3450
Location: Merida
Address: Telmex Store at Calle 59 x 64
Cost (2013): Basic service starts at $119 pesos for 36 channels, most of which are in Spanish. More than 110 channels for $619 pesos.
Other Services: They offer satellite service in Merida and towns in Yucatan. Service includes HD. Dish has premium channels like HBO, Movie City, and sports channels etc.
Website: www.dish.com.mx

Club 1080 HD

Phone: 999-285-9896
Location: Merida
E-mail address: sales@club1080hd.com
Cost (2013): Basic service starts at $ pesos for channels most of them in English. More than 200 channels to choose from.
Other Services: They offer service in Merida and outlying towns on the Yucatan Peninsula. Service includes HD. They provide hookups to Dish Network, Sky and Direct TV. They also provide professional installation of whatever is required.
Website: www.club1080hd.com

ROKU

Services: Roku launched the first product designed to deliver movies from Netflix instantly on TV, using the power of the Internet. Roku is a little box that makes it easy to stream anything directly from the Internet.
Cost (2013): Boxes start at $49.99 to $89.99. Service requres internet.
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Website: http://www.roku.com /
Local Roku Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/roku.sureste.peninsular​

USTVNOW

Additional Info: Internet television
Cost (2013): Three different packages. Free for 6 basic channels. 28 channels cost $ 39 USD a month.
Website: www.ustvnow.com

Slingbox

Additional Info: Internet television. See anything on your TV that you can watch on your PC, Mac, tablet or smartphone. Watch and control your entire channel line-up wherever you can connect to the Internet.
Cost (2013): Box start at $180 USD.
Website: www.slingbox.com

Chromecast

Additional Info: Internet television. See anything on your TV that you can watch on your PC, Mac, tablet or smartphone. Google's answer to ROKU, Slingbox, etc. The Working Gringos have this and it works like a charm.
Cost (2013): $35 USD
Website: www.google.com/intl/en/chrome/devices/chromecast/

Additional Options

Technology is changing almost daily. Besides local cable and internet options, there are satellite options. We know some Canadians that have recommended buying satellite receivers and service directly from Canada Satellite, but we are unfamiliar with how it works.

Have a Suggestion?

Do you know about an option that we have not mentioned? We would love to hear about it. Please leave a comment and we'll investigate the details... and add it to the list if it makes the cut. Thank you in advance!