How Hotels and Senior Living Communities Can Stay Ahead This Fall
Fall is a peak season for travel, events, and indoor entertainment. Guests and residents expect properties they frequent to provide the best in TV service, whether it’s live sports, popular shows, or news programming. But just as demand surges, cable providers continue to make costly moves by dropping major channels, shifting to streaming-only models, and increasing rates, all while delivering less value.
In this article, we’ll explore what hospitality and senior living community properties can do to keep their entertainment options affordable and reliable.
What’s Really Happening with Cable Providers?
Channel Blackouts & Permanent Drops
Buckeye Broadband recently dropped ESPN, NBC 24, and FanDuel Sports Network, with no sign of returning these popular channels. Other providers like Spectrum and several regional companies have shut down TV service entirely or moved to streaming platforms over the past few years, leaving properties scrambling for reliable solutions.
Rising Costs, Shrinking Lineups
Annual rate hikes continue despite reduced channel offerings. Cable companies charge more for less content, passing the burden directly to hotels and senior living communities.
Unstable Contracts & Negotiations
Ongoing disputes between providers and content networks often result in sudden blackouts, impacting guests and residents when they least expect it.
Why Cable Drops Matter Beyond Football Season
When channels suddenly vanish or rates spike, the consequences extend far beyond budget concerns.
- In senior living communities, access to entertainment supports connection, engagement, and quality of life. Losing key channels can lead to frustration, complaints, and declining satisfaction, which in turn affects retention and referrals.
- In hotels, dependable in-room entertainment is a core amenity that influences reviews, brand loyalty, and repeat bookings. Guests who expect access to live sports, news, and entertainment may leave negative reviews when their experience falls short, directly impacting future stays.
- For operators, staff are pulled away from core responsibilities to handle service issues, creating operational strain. Over time, these disruptions can erode a property’s reputation, signaling to guests and residents that their comfort and experience aren’t a top priority.
What Properties Can Do to Avoid Cable Hassles
With cable providers raising rates and cutting channels, properties can’t afford to sit back and hope things improve. Instead, it’s time to take control and choose solutions designed to keep entertainment reliable and cost-effective. Here’s how:
Move Beyond Traditional Cable
Outdated service models, unpredictable contracts, and shrinking channel lineups are no longer acceptable. Look for providers that deliver consistent, high-quality entertainment tailored to the hospitality and senior living industries.
Demand Clear, Transparent Pricing
Hidden fees and confusing billing create unnecessary headaches. Work with partners who are upfront about costs to help stabilize your budget and build long-term trust.
Prioritize Reliability Over Promises
Your guests and residents just want reliable service that works. Choose a technology partner committed to preventing blackouts and maintaining uninterrupted access to the programming people value most.
Make Entertainment a Differentiator
One way to stand out from your competitors is with premium sports programming that guests and residents can’t get everywhere else. DIRECTV’s NFL Sunday Ticket delivers every single NFL game, making it a major draw for football fans. DIRECTV for hotels creates a destination experience that can drive positive reviews and repeat customers. For senior living communities, it offers residents a unique entertainment option that fosters social engagement on game days.
Pairing this premium content with solid technology ensures your property delivers a next-level viewing experience all season long.
Groove Technology Solutions for Reliable TV Solutions
Groove delivers TV and technology solutions purpose-built for hospitality and senior living, backed by:
- 24/7 U.S.-based support for residents, guests, and staff.
- Custom, cost-effective bundles to avoid overspending on unnecessary services.
- A $500 performance guarantee if we fail to meet agreed timelines, scope, or budget.
- Industry expertise from years of serving hospitality, healthcare, and multifamily properties nationwide.
Future-Proof TV Solutions for Hotels & Senior Living
The cable landscape is becoming less reliable and more expensive. Your organization needs senior living or hospitality TV providers who can deliver consistent, transparent, and property-focused solutions. Groove provides exactly that, helping you stay ahead of cable disruptions and deliver the dependable entertainment experience your guests and residents expect this fall and beyond. Connect with our team now with questions.
