Is satellite TV better than cable?

To conclude, it is evident that satellite TV is superior to cable in terms of quality and price. This question has been asked for years as technology grows and new services are introduced in the market. Both are true and understandable perspectives. Below is a brief comparison of satellite and cable that should assist in deciding which service is best for you.

Frequency and Diversity of Communication Channels Currently the most popular advantage that satellite TV provides over cable is in the number of channels. Satellite TV has hundreds more television programs than any cable packages in the market. Satellite subscribe to the direct broadcasting technology from space instead of the cables and wires hence they offer far much more than channels and programs of the individual’s preference. Unlike basic cable which offers only over fifty local broadcast channels, even the most basic satellite packages offer over two hundred channels. Cable and satellite services offer a vast number of choices and these include:; Sports packages; Foreign language channels; Religious programming.

Picture and Sound Quality Satellite and cable signals can be viewed with high-definition TVs and are almost similar to the picture and sound quality. They both provide high definition programming on almost all the popular channels. Satellite TV firms state that they may be just a little better in picture quality since the signal is transmitted directly from the satellite to the dish instead of going through cables for many miles. But for most of the viewers watching their programs on HDTVs, they would have to look hard and long for the differences. Perhaps one of the possible benefits that cable may hold is during stormy weather. This is due to the fact that once in a while a heavy down pour of rain or snow will disrupt a satellite signal while cable connections stay consistent.

Availability and Installation Cable television is easier to install in more places. Cable networks are already in most populated areas and setting up cable is merely a matter of rolling in a truck. Satellite needs a proper site at the southern sky for the installation of the satellite dish. Satellite might not be feasible in some apartments or houses but cable on the other hand is easier in terms of logistics. However, satellite has become available everywhere in the US. Selecting the provider with high quality installation teams can ease the transition no matter where you are within the country.

Bundling Services Purchasing all your television, Internet and home phone services from a single provider is usually cheaper. It is rather simple for most cable companies to offer all three in one package. Most satellite providers rely on phone and internet service providers to package deals that include satellite television, home phone, and the internet. This is because the need to access different services may be combined into one bill, thus becoming a factor in the choice. However, one needs to compare total costs across different providers when using a bundle – bundling does not always result in actual cost savings.

Equipment and Fees Satellite and cable both depend on set-top boxes in order to access many of the programming options that are offered and that most of the providers offer for free with the package. Be certain to comprehend all charges concerning equipment, High Definition, Digital Video Recorder service, among others; While cable has been known to charge less for the initial equipment, satellite equipment charges have lowered over the recent past. Satellite buyers do not have to invest $300-$500 upfront for equipment anymore. As mentioned earlier, most satellite companies offer the dish and the equipment for free or for a small monthly charge. Also, their technological devices are portable and do not have bulky wires hanging around. Get details from any provider for all of them or some of them may be concealed or puzzling on any cable or satellite service.

Contracts and Cancellation Fees Phone and cable television providers offer their advertised subscription rates with the understanding that you will subscribe to them for a year, at least. This helps them recover promotional pricing and equipment expenses. It is also important to know about the contract terms, how long the promotional price will last for, and how much it will cost to cancel the service early. Some providers provide the opportunity to buy out the remaining term of a lease. Another option to look at is the TV services that are provided on a month to month basis and do not require signing long term contracts. The disadvantage of a pay-as-you-go plan is that it costs a bit more for the same services than, for instance, a monthly plan, but for some people, it is convenient not to overpay for unused minutes or messages.

DVR and On-Demand DVR is also available in both Satellite and Cable providers and is usually a bit pricey and entails an additional subscription charge. And they both have a ‘library’ function that lets you watch shows at a time when you did not catch them live. Examine storage space, number of recordings available, simplicity and cost of DVRs if this is a factor that you consider important. Also check on demand library content. The cable companies could have an added advantage here since internet based on demand can store more content than the satellite.

Interactive Features There are many good interactive channels and features that Satellite TV company provi-de along with internet TV programs. For instance, DirecTV has an interactive mix channel through which people can watch sports and at the same time, they can see statistics and scores on the screen. Dish Network has an application referred to as Dish Anywhere through which programming can be viewed on mobile devices. Cable companies have also enhanced interactive guides, apps and web integration in the last couple of years. Compare features and your requirements to get the best experience.

Sports Packages As for major sports fans, satellite is truly a star. DirecTV is more focused on appealing to the hearts of sports fanatics, particularly those who enjoy football, with their NFL Sunday Ticket package that allows viewers to watch every NFL game that is not televised in their region. And their MLB Extra Innings, NBA League Pass and NHL Center Ice packages also have excellent sports offering as well. Even the best of cable TV packages can be outdone according to most of the experts; this is as far as satellite sports programming is concerned.

In summary, satellite does retain some genuine benefits over cable but advances by cable operators have reduced the margin between the two over the last ten years. Take stock of what you watch and what is important to you. Do you love sports? Want to watch specific international or niche programing schedules? Do you have a dependable high-speed internet connection? These answers can in turn assist in ascertaining whether cable or satellite is the most appropriate TV solution. With everything that is available now from traditional pay TV provider to streaming video services your choice should be based on the provider that offers the programs and services you want to watch at the right price.