At this point, the majority of people in the industry would say that Digital Cable is going to emerge victorious in the battle against satellite television. The thing to remember though is that the decision is not always that easy to make. After all, there are just too many factors for each situation, depending on the person. Prices have been slashed due to the war between the dish and cable companies. It confuses many people, especially when they're trying to get the best deal out there. That in mind, let's take a look at the pros and cons of each, and then you should be able to make a decent decision as to which you want to get.
Programming is the first big feature most people look at when comparing cable and satellite. Most Satellite TV systems can support over 250 channels of programming. All channels are digital quality. One downside is satellite offers less local channels and may not have local channels at all in some areas. Most satellite companies also offer HDTV services as well. Digital cable on the other hand can support over 300 channels of programming in digital quality. Digital Cable has more local channels available in most major cities. Most cable companies now offer Video on Demand (a library of movies and TV shows that you can order and watch at any time). Just a few years ago HDTV was dominated by satellite companies, but now high definition service has become the standard among cable companies as well. When it comes to overall lineups Cable TV gets the edge.
Now let's look at the cost difference between Digital Cable and Satellite. Most cable companies include local franchise fees along with local broadcasting fees on your monthly bill. Digital cable varies starting at $30-$40 per month and up depending on the package you choose. Your bill can go up as high as $90 or more per month if you order all the HD, movie, and special tier packages. Satellite packages on the other hand usually offer betters deals for basic packages. Some satellite companies offer a price point between of about $25 for around fifty channels. However, watch out for long term contracts with satellite. With most satellite companies pricing may be a little higher per month unless committing to twelve months of programming up front. Those looking for the most channels for the absolute cheapest rate, however, will usually find satellite the winner.
When it comes to equipment, the biggest difference between cable and satellite is the actual satellite dish itself. With satellite you're going to have a dish on the outside of your home that's visible to everyone. Plus, you may live in a community that doesn't allow satellite dish's on your home or apartment. Check with your home owner's association or leasing office beforehand. Inside the home there's not a big difference for satellite and cable customers. For a digital signal each TV will need a digital receiver. Most satellite and cable companies now offer a DVR (digital video recorder) box as well. Currently, a DVR and On Demand services run better through cable providers than satellite. The reason is because of the high speed data infrastructure that cable deploys over landlines. Satellite's air signal doesn't have the same stability or speed found with cable. They've made great improvements over the past couple of years, but the services still don't match the quality that cable providers like Comcast, Charter, Time Warner Cable, and Cox are delivering.
There are a couple final points to consider too. For consumers who want HDTV programming the choice between satellite and cable can be even more important. Both services offer pretty good HD lineups. Satellite led the way in total HD channels for quite awhile, but recently the expansion of digital cable has meant that cable providers now match, and in many cases exceed, the HDTV package that satellite offers. Prices have never been more competitive with many promotions offering free HD channels with purchase. Now is the best time to purchase HDTV service with cable or satellite and enjoy the best picture and sound you can get. The other point for people debating satellite and cable is for those in rural areas. There are still many people in the United States who still can't get cable service. In that case it's a simple choice, you have to go with satellite. The one draw back is for some folks you might need one of the older, larger dishes in order to receive service.
Both of the services are very close in price and offerings. When all is said and done, you need to pick the system that is best for your television, as well as what you believe will do well for your needs. Both Satellite TV and cable are quite different, and there are many cable TV deals and special offers out there that can help boost your television experience. For the most part, cable is much better. They offer the best deals, best combinations, and best bundles.
Programming is the first big feature most people look at when comparing cable and satellite. Most Satellite TV systems can support over 250 channels of programming. All channels are digital quality. One downside is satellite offers less local channels and may not have local channels at all in some areas. Most satellite companies also offer HDTV services as well. Digital cable on the other hand can support over 300 channels of programming in digital quality. Digital Cable has more local channels available in most major cities. Most cable companies now offer Video on Demand (a library of movies and TV shows that you can order and watch at any time). Just a few years ago HDTV was dominated by satellite companies, but now high definition service has become the standard among cable companies as well. When it comes to overall lineups Cable TV gets the edge.
Now let's look at the cost difference between Digital Cable and Satellite. Most cable companies include local franchise fees along with local broadcasting fees on your monthly bill. Digital cable varies starting at $30-$40 per month and up depending on the package you choose. Your bill can go up as high as $90 or more per month if you order all the HD, movie, and special tier packages. Satellite packages on the other hand usually offer betters deals for basic packages. Some satellite companies offer a price point between of about $25 for around fifty channels. However, watch out for long term contracts with satellite. With most satellite companies pricing may be a little higher per month unless committing to twelve months of programming up front. Those looking for the most channels for the absolute cheapest rate, however, will usually find satellite the winner.
When it comes to equipment, the biggest difference between cable and satellite is the actual satellite dish itself. With satellite you're going to have a dish on the outside of your home that's visible to everyone. Plus, you may live in a community that doesn't allow satellite dish's on your home or apartment. Check with your home owner's association or leasing office beforehand. Inside the home there's not a big difference for satellite and cable customers. For a digital signal each TV will need a digital receiver. Most satellite and cable companies now offer a DVR (digital video recorder) box as well. Currently, a DVR and On Demand services run better through cable providers than satellite. The reason is because of the high speed data infrastructure that cable deploys over landlines. Satellite's air signal doesn't have the same stability or speed found with cable. They've made great improvements over the past couple of years, but the services still don't match the quality that cable providers like Comcast, Charter, Time Warner Cable, and Cox are delivering.
There are a couple final points to consider too. For consumers who want HDTV programming the choice between satellite and cable can be even more important. Both services offer pretty good HD lineups. Satellite led the way in total HD channels for quite awhile, but recently the expansion of digital cable has meant that cable providers now match, and in many cases exceed, the HDTV package that satellite offers. Prices have never been more competitive with many promotions offering free HD channels with purchase. Now is the best time to purchase HDTV service with cable or satellite and enjoy the best picture and sound you can get. The other point for people debating satellite and cable is for those in rural areas. There are still many people in the United States who still can't get cable service. In that case it's a simple choice, you have to go with satellite. The one draw back is for some folks you might need one of the older, larger dishes in order to receive service.
Both of the services are very close in price and offerings. When all is said and done, you need to pick the system that is best for your television, as well as what you believe will do well for your needs. Both Satellite TV and cable are quite different, and there are many cable TV deals and special offers out there that can help boost your television experience. For the most part, cable is much better. They offer the best deals, best combinations, and best bundles.
About the Author:
Anna J Sussman covers the latest promotions and rates for Time Warner Cable. Many readers following Anna's articles and advice can find the best deals on digital cable, digital phone, and high speed internet service.
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