The Differences Between Cable and Satellite TV
December 18th, 2009 |
There’s been a lot of forward movement in the world of television recently, with a flurry of new products designed to bring even higher-quality images into living rooms all over the country as well as more options for how content can be received. Now, a typical American living room can consist of more integration between television sets and computers, with different computer companies making devices that wirelessly stream the content from the computer onto television, making it possible to watch images from the internet in high definition without needing to strain your neck in front of a computer screen for the duration of a hard-to-find film.
While all of these other leaps forward are happening, there are still some television viewers who are still making basic choices and figuring out not which gigantic flat screen to buy, but which package provides the best service at the most reasonable and reliable rate. Historically, this distinction has often gone to cable company providers, but changes in the marketplace are making satellite tv more desirable every year, as people understand its far-reaching capabilities and are won over by packages that offer more choices and affordability, too.
Now that the United States only has digital television broadcasting, people are making the switch from their old rabbit ears to digital for the first time, and with this transition comes a little bit of fear. Older people were more likely to still be using rabbit ears, and the world of so much digital and HD technology can be a little overwhelming. Cable, with its relatively similar appearance and navigation, might be desirable for these sort of customers, who are not as interested in large packages and unlimited options, and instead prefer something a little easier to understand.
For consumers who feel comfortable with technology and who are looking for something a little more cost-efficient, the clear choice is actually to go ahead and use satellite. Most of the satellite packages available allow more decision-making on the part of the consumer, including the premium movie channel bundles, so customizing what it is that you actually want to watch is significantly easier. More important, making changes to your plan does not result in re-upping your contract, leaving you free to change your mind a lot more.
In the past, consumers’ number one gripe with satellite TV was that it was less reliable than cable, but the fact of the matter is that this actually isn’t so–it was more a product of cable advertising. Both satellite and cable ultimately depend on larger satellites to beam the signals to their towers, which provide it to your home. A thunderstorm isn’t more likely to cause troubles with a dish; in fact, cable companies and their older wires are more likely to drop to static right in the middle of a suspenseful moment on television, when you really look at it. And installing dishes is significantly easier and less expensive than it was when satellite was first around, so for those who had previously written it off, it might be time to reconsider.
If you’re making that switch from cable to satellite, consider going with Direct TV. No one offers more choices and channels. With DirecTV, you have a name you can count on.
