Whether it’s cable/satellite tv, a digital signage service, or a custom TV network for your waiting room, you can always count on there being a contract that needs signing before you can get started. Contracts are a necessary tool for any subscription-based service. They outline the terms, conditions, and policies while solidifying the consent of everyone involved. But at the same time they can be tricky and require careful review.

How contracts and terms are structured might reveal something you didn’t notice about a service you’re signing into. This article will explore the top 3 risks to avoid before finalizing a contract for your waiting room TV.

1. Long-Term Contracts

The first red flag to identify are companies that lock you into long-term contracts. “Why is my waiting room TV service that just loops nature pictures all day requiring a 5 year contract?”

Plainly put: Because it’s boring. And the service provider knows it’s boring. They know you’re likely to get tired of the dull, repetitive service within a few days or weeks so they make it so you can’t back out of it. If you don’t like it, then chances are your visitors won’t like it as well.

In addition it’s important to realize that things change. A better TV service for your waiting room might come along tomorrow, so why prevent yourself from being able to use it by signing a contract today? If you’re stuck in a contract for the next few years, you’re forced to dwell on what could have been. A long-term contract usually means the provider is afraid you’ll back out on them, which speaks to their lack of confidence in their own service.

2. Poor Video/Image Content

A service with a great library of quality digital content for your waiting room TV can be difficult to find. Unless it’s Netflix, which is illegal to play in public, it isn’t likely to be chock full of interesting videos for people to see.

This is particularly true with medical TV displays that loop stress-inducing, and sometimes graphic medical videos. No one wants to see them. People also don’t want to see the same 10 videos repeating again and again while they wait. If it wasn’t interesting the first time, it certainly won’t be the 10th time it plays.

Don’t sign a contract until you’ve had the chance to really explore the service. Take time to see for yourself what visitors are going to see when they come in. If you’re curious about a particular waiting room TV software, look into scheduling a demo with the provider. The best bet is to get a risk-free pilot going- allowing you to put the service in place at your location, while having the flexibility to back out of the service if it doesn’t end up being as good as it sounded when you bought into it.

3. The “FREE” TV Service

A TV service for your waiting room that’s inexpensive is great, even better when it’s free. Not good enough? How about a free TV and a box of iPads? Better, right? Unfortunately no.

TV services aren’t free. If someone was giving out hundreds of free TVs and ipads without getting anything in return, he or she would be out of TVs, iPads, and probably a job. Everything has a cost – sometimes it just isn’t what you think. That TV on the wall you get for “free” will be full things you didn’t know you would be getting, like ads- even competitor ads. And those iPads, apart from being riddled with ads themselves, are also riddled with germs from a day’s worth of visitors handling them. Which in the case of a medical office may be unsanitary.

TV services that label themselves as “free” make their money selling ads to companies that want to sell their product. Which puts money in everyone else’s pocket but your own. There is truth to it being free, insofar as you aren’t being billed for the service. But it also isn’t making you any money and may be losing you business. Don’t fall for free.

Avoid the Risks with a Low-Cost TV Solution

It’s Relevant TV is a television network for businesses, designed with businesses in mind. IRTV provides waiting room TVs with programming and a digital signage app which transforms your TV into a tool that improves visitor experience. With It’s Relevant, you control what’s on – selecting from a list of 40+ categories, from a library of over half a million videos. And you don’t get ads from competitors or pharmaceutical companies that might harm your bottom line.

Everything is customizable, and can even be controlled from your computer, tablet or smartphone – anywhere, anytime. Visit It’s Relevant.com to schedule a demo to explore how It’s Relevant works and see if it’s a fit for your business.