Watching television is among the most common pastimes. Not only is it great for getting timely updates about the world outside, but also provides for a wholesome family experience. Nowadays, there are various technologies that offer a great TV-watching experience. People may choose between cable, streaming, and satellite TV.
Comparing these services is not an easy task either. All of them offer unique advantages and disadvantages that a person has to embrace. Thus, we thought to compare two of these services and tell you whether cable or satellite TV will be the right choice for you. Remember though, this discussion will not present you with a clear winner, rather the pros and cons of each service. So, let’s get started:
Cable TV
Cable TV is the older of the two technologies that millions of households in the country benefit from. This technology is primarily dependent upon long coaxial cables installed underground that transmit the signals to your homes.
Satellite TV
Satellite TV, on the other hand, is not dependent upon physical cables laid underground. Instead, the signal is transmitted wirelessly from the source to a satellite orbiting in space. From there, the signal is further transmitted to the receiver at your home. Thus, making this technology available all across the country.
Factors to Consider
Before you choose between cable and satellite TV, make sure to go through these factors of the service provider:
Availability
As discussed earlier as well, satellite TV is available all across the country where the sky is clearly visible. Even in remote areas, where large infrastructure is harder to deploy, satellite TV may still be enjoyed as it does not rely upon static infrastructure and cables.
Cable TV, in contrast, is dependent upon coaxial cables deployed underground. As a result, only regions where a cable TV service provider is available nearby may enjoy the facilities of cable TV. That being said, there are cable TV service providers like Spectrum and Xfinity that offer their services in more than 40 states of the country.
Pricing
Most cable TV service providers do not bind you with irritating contracts. However, you might have to bear a monthly price that is quite high. For instance, the Spectrum TV Gold plan may cost you a minimum of $99.99 per month, and that too is increased after 12 months. And this plan will offer a channel lineup of TV channels a little over 200.
Satellite TV, on the other hand, may require you to enter a long-term contract. And the period of the contract is often 2 years. If you consider DIRECTV packages, the DIRECTV Ultimate plan will cost you a minimum of $99.99 per month initially. Though, the TV channel count surpasses the figure of 250 and includes a plethora of HD channels as well.
Installation
With satellite TV, you just need to set up a satellite dish on the rooftop of your hop. This requires minimum tampering with the inside structure of your home. Though, some people might find a satellite dish on the roof to be somewhat unappealing to look at.
In contrast, cable TV will require you to install wires inside your home. And keeping them out of sight may also require you to tamper with a wall or two. And this is something that can be really unsightly.
Channel Count
Both cable and satellite TV holds a multitude of exciting TV channel from all sorts of genres. However, since the satellite is available nationwide, you are more likely to access TV channels available on both, the east and west coast.
Cable TV would be more practical if you are interested in local programming. And similar to satellite TV, you may also enjoy a number of premium TV channels that may be acquired as add-ons in your plan.
Quality
You simply cannot enjoy your favorite TV show or movie if it is being displayed in distorted images. If not 4K, then at least HD is something that you should have access to. Here, the satellite may have an edge over cable since it generally provides access to a larger selection of HD and UHD 4K TV channels.
However, it does not mean that cable TV will deprive you of this luxury completely. While it may have a lesser count of HD TV channels, the ones that are available in HD are still sufficient to satisfy your entertainment needs.
Reliability
This is where cable TV may get ahead of satellite TV. Satellite TV is greatly dependent upon weather conditions. In case of extreme weather, such as snowstorms and thunderstorms, you might experience poor reception or lose the signal completely.
Cable TV subscribers, though, will likely not have to suffer in harsh weather as the cables are laid underground. However, moisture and corrosion in the wires may still affect this medium’s performance.
Bundling
Both cable and satellite TV enable you to experience bundling. Bundling often enables you to experience multiple services from a service provider at relatively cheaper rates. And even if your cost is not reduced from bundling your services, you have the comfort of knowing that you only need to contact a single customer service team whenever you need help with your TV service, internet, or phone.
TV Service Providers to Consider
There are several TV service providers in the United States. However, not all of them deliver on their promise of high quality. Turn to these TV service providers to access a hassle-free experience:
DIRECTV
DIRECTV is a satellite TV service provider that is accessible to millions of people in the country. If we talk about its TV channel lineup, even the most basic plan enables subscribers to access more than 160 vibrant TV channels. Moreover, the service provider offers several additional benefits such as a dedicated DIRECTV app for watching TV on the go, Genie HD DVR, and an immersive 4K experience.
Xfinity
Xfinity is a cable TV service provider accessible to a majority of the states in the country. The service provider offers access to over 200 amazing TV channels belonging to almost every genre imaginable. Furthermore, you may also bundle Xfinity’s TV service with a blazing-fast internet service that has an internet speed potential of up to 1200 Mbps.
Spectrum
Spectrum is another cable TV provider that you might find appealing. With a plethora of TV channels and exceptional additional benefits, the service has made a home in the hearts of millions of people in the country. The service provider offers three different TV channel lineups, each with its own charm to the customers.
How to Subscribe to these TV Providers?
Subscribing to these TV service providers is not that difficult either. All you need to do is visit the BuyTVInternetPhone platform and enter your Zip code. And you will be presented with the TV service providers in your region instantly.
On a Final Note
There are pros and cons to almost everything in this world. You just have to decide what you want and what you can compromise on. The same is the case with cable and satellite TV. Deciding between the two will require you to identify your preferences.
