A trial is only useful if you test the right things. Here is a plan that takes about ten minutes.
1. Peak-hour live sports
Open a sports channel in the evening or on game day. This is the hardest test for any service and your home network.
2. A 4K channel
Check the picture and whether it holds for a few minutes.
3. Channel zapping and the guide
Jump between channels quickly. Open the guide and scroll. Watch for lag.
4. VOD
Start a movie, pause, skip forward and back.
5. Your language and local needs
Ask whether the channels you care about are available, and check them.
6. Multiple screens
If your plan allows several connections, run two at once.
7. Support response
Ask a question during the trial and see how fast and how clearly you get an answer. That is what support will be like later.
Red flags
Pressure to pay before you have tested anything, vague answers about what is included, or no public terms.
Request your free trial and run the plan on your own TV.