Entertainment Showdown: Cable and Satellite TV Compared

When it comes to sitting down at one's HDTV and enjoying what's on for the evening, there are choices. People might not realize that these choices extend beyond what is offered up on the channels available, and actually encompass who is offering those channels in the first place. But it's true; there's more out there than mere cable service, and if those in charge of dish companies have anything to say about it, all television viewers who haven't made the shift yet will be won over soon enough.

For anyone who doesn't quite understand why it matters to switch viewing options, it's really quite helpful to look into the world of technology and customer service. These two seemingly unrelated aspects to a company are the reason that so many have leapt in droves from their cable packages and found themselves contentedly using satellite TV to get entertainment at home. A major aspect in the customer service department is the fact that those with a dish can call up the company and actually expect their situation resolved in a helpful manner, since there are just so many more perks that those companies are willing to offer up. Thus, someone who wants a particular package but does not want all of the channels on it can do some swapping and switching, and end up with something that's more of a keeper. This is all accomplished in a rapid fashion with the assistance of whoever is on the other end of the line, something far different than the world of cable.

Where cable is busy telling its customers "no," satellite tv continues to say yes. They approved of the expansion of their high definition channels, which means that they are ahead of the pack as far as channel options are concerned. Since cable was waiting to see if HDTV was just a fleeting trend or not, they didn't make the proper leap on board. And the result was definitely something less than helpful not just for their market share, but for their customer base.

For serious sports fans, it also makes sense to move away from cable and to leap into the welcoming arms of dish-based television viewing. Because it's possible to save money but still pick up one of the numerous package deals that ensures it's never going to be an issue to catch every single moment of a particular team's rise to hopeful glory, there's no reason to stick around with a cable box when it's time for the big game to be on. And for those who are smart enough to go ahead and make that move over to the world of the dish, it's also possible to check out the various other different games happening the same day, or even classic moments in athletics.

So whether it's going to be an afternoon of watching great movies in high quality image variety or simply figuring out the most cost-efficient solution to ensuring the big game is a part of Sunday at home, moving to the world of satellites providing television service directly is definitely the smartest decision for countless consumers and viewers out there.

Once the final choice is made, http://www.tvbydirect.com/directv-vs-cable.html can make upgrading a simple process.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Cable TV

Cable TV has been facing increasing competition from other communications types like satellite television and even such computer sites as Netflix. With all of these options now available, it is a good opportunity to look at the pros and cons of cable television. In this article, I will examine three positive and three negative points about cable television, to help you make an informed decision.

Advantage #1: Stability

Cable television is especially stable in its service. Both traditional air-wave broadcasts and modern satellite television can and will cut out on you during any serious storm (and often during some not-so-serious storms). Cable, on the other hand, will only go out if there is some flaw in the overall system, like a broken cable or router. This will happen far less often than rainstorms, so cable television will provide far more consistent service.

Advantage #2: Bundling

Often specials are available by bundling your cable television with other services in a single package, usually internet and phone, but sometimes services like cellular phones. These bundles can actually save you quite a bit of money, especially if you bundle all three typical services together. It also provides the convenience of having a single bill.

Advantage #3: Price

Cable television can actually be fairly inexpensive, if you don't add too many options. The initial hardware costs are fairly inexpensive when compared to satellite, and the FCC requires that all cable companies provide a basic cable package consisting of broadcast channels and a few local channels. As a result, cable television can be the cheapest form of television aside from buying an antenna.

Disadvantage #1: Annoying Monopolies

Many areas only have a single cable television provider, and this creates a monopoly. While the competition from satellite is increasing, the corporate culture of these monopolies is especially poor. Customer service can be terrible, if not non-existent in many cases, and consumer satisfaction with cable TV companies is consistently some of the worst among any companies in the United States.

Disadvantage #2: Confusing Price Packages

Many cable companies are very confusing when it comes to how much their service will actually cost in the long run. Many require you to sign up for two years in order to get a one-year introductory deal. However, you have to really dig on their websites to find out how much the second year will cost. In other cases, there are hidden fees, rental charges and taxes.

Disadvantage #3: Privacy

If you are bundling your cable television with your internet (and many people do), you will have less privacy on the internet. Cable internet works with a stable IP address that doesn't change, so people will be able to easily track your visits to their sites. Compare this with DSL, where you can easily reset your IP by turning your modem on and off.

With these advantages and disadvantages in mind, you will be in a better position to make a decision about whether to choose cable television.

Alexander Rorty, M.A. lives in Toronto with his wife, Janet, and their two children. He has been writing for the internet since 1997. He has been working on a site called Cable Packages with dozens of articles on cable television, internet and telephone. He has recently written an article about finding the cheapest cable and internet packages.