People today are spoiled for choice when it comes to what they want to watch, as well as which service they want to use to provide their favourite shows or news channels. Two such services are cable television and satellite television. With cable tv deals and satellite tv deals, choosing which one is the best for you is often a hard decision to make. By reading cable tv reviews or reviews on satellite tv, you can read real customer ratings on which service is better.
When looking at cable tv versus satellite tv, there are a number of factors we can use to make a comparison.
Here are 7 factors you should consider when choosing the best service for you and your family:
1) How they work:
Cable tv and satellite tv both work via a cable that runs into your television set. With cable tv, the signal runs from a fibre optic cable that plugs directly into your tv. Satellite tv transmits a signal via a dish that is installed on your roof, which then runs into a cable that is connected to your tv. While both offer the same thing, cable tv is easier to install, and does not require a dish which might be unsightly and exposed to damage on your roof or house exterior.
2) Reliability:
While both are reliable at receiving signals and allowing you to watch a wide choice of channels and news sources, cable tv has the advantage that it is more reliable in bad weather than satellite tv would be because of the dish that is needed to transmit the signals.
3) Number of channels:
Cable tv and satellite tv offer thousands of channels to choose from, as well as pay-per-view channels and new releases. Both offer a package or bundle system where you pay for a certain amount of channels. You can also add on as many channels as you would like to, at a cost per channel.
4) Cost:
When looking at the costs of both cable and satellite television, it is not only the cost of subscription that needs to be considered but also the cost of installation and the costs per channel you would like to add to your package or bundle. While cable tv might be cheaper in terms of subscription costs and installation, because of the ease of connection, satellite tv charges less per channel.
5) Availability in your area:
Satellite tv is more widely available because of the ability to transmit broadcast signals from a wider area. Cable tv is more limited, as the range of the cables is a set area.
6) High definition viewing:
Cable tv generally has a poorer HD connection, as it cannot transmit via a dish like satellite tv. Satellite tv offers much clearer HD viewing.
7) Equipment needed:
With cable tv, the only equipment needed is a television set and a cable, whereas satellite tv would require both items, and a dish and an external cable that would run into your home. As mentioned before, having a dish on the exterior of your home or on your roof can cause damage to the dish components as it is exposed to foul weather.
While there is no clear winner in terms of the factors we have discussed, customers are generally after a cheaper option, which is cable tv. It appeals more to lower income households than satellite tv.