Satellite & TV Information

Satellite TV vs. Cable TV -- Which is Best?


The move is on. Last year millions of Americans switched from cable TV to satellite TV.

Why? When you compare satellite TV to cable TV you'll discover the main reasons are cost, picture quality, program choices, and customer satisfaction.

Let's check out the differences ...

Cable vs. Satellite TV Fees

Cable TV fees across the country average $39.99 per month. In our area the cost for cable TV is $37.30 a month for 64 channels, plus $10.95 a month to add digital channels. Installation in one room is $39.95, plus $9.95 for each additional room.

Satellite TV fees from Dish Network are $31.99 per month for 60 channels, while DirecTV charges $41.99 per month for 115 channels. Both satellite TV providers currently offer free satellite TV equipment and free installation in up to four rooms.

Cable vs. Satellite TV Programming

Cable TV in most areas offers almost as many channels as satellite TV, and is broadcast in analog (over-the-air) format. If you want to have digital picture and sound you'll have to pay an additional fee, usually $10 to $15 a month.

Satellite TV offers more channels than cable TV (more than 250 channels), and more HDTV (high definition TV) programming. All satellite TV channels are broadcast in digital format for the highest quality picture and sound.

Cable vs. Satellite TV Equipment

With cable you only need cable boxes that connect the incoming cable line to your televisions. There is usually no charge or rental fees for cable boxes, however, If you want a digital video recorder, you'll have to pay an extra fee.

With satellite TV you need a satellite TV dish and TV receivers. Both Dish Network and DirecTV offer that equipment, plus installation, for free. Dish Network will give you a DVR (digital video recording) receiver or an HDTV receiver at no charge, while DirecTV charges $49.99 for DVR receivers and $299 for HDTV receivers.

Cable and Satellite TV Reliability and Customer Satisfaction

Cable TV outages average 3% to 5% per year. J.D. Powers and Associates ranks cable companies as good to poor in customer satisfaction.

Satellite TV outages average about 1%. J.D. Power and Associates has ranked the two satellite TV providers -- Dish Network and DirecTV -- higher in customer satisfaction than any of the cable TV companies for the last five years

The Bottom Line

If you only watch a couple of shows a week, and you live in an area where you can't get over-the-air TV and cable TV costs less than $20 per month, then cable may be your best option.

If, on the other hand, you want the biggest variety of shows, movies, sports, and news for the least amount of money ... you want to watch your all your shows in digital video and sound ... and you want the option of watching them in HD format and recording them on a DVR receiver, then satellite TV is what you're looking for.

Brian Stevens is a professional freelance writer and webmaster who has written extensively on cable TV and satellite TV. Click the following link for more information on satellite TV vs. cable TV.


MORE RESOURCES:

Canada.com

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Broadcasting & Cable, NY - Jul 24, 2008
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A House Judiciary subcommittee on Thursday approved legislation that would give satellite TV providers a leg up in their longrunning battle with cable ...


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ArabianBusiness.com, United Arab Emirates - Jul 22, 2008
by Andy Sambidge on Wednesday, 23 July 2008 DISH WARNING: Inappropriately placed satellite TV receivers will lead to fines, it has been warned. ...
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Technology News Daily

Guilty Plea For Illegal Sale Of Satellite TV Decoding Devices
Technology News Daily, AZ - Jul 21, 2008
Garr Thickens, 56, has pleaded guilty to one count of the illegal manufacture, distribution and possession of unlawful wire, oral or electronic ...


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Chicago Daily Herald, IL - Jul 18, 2008
By Charles Keeshan | Daily Herald Staff Writer A 20-year-old Mundelein man faces a pair of felony charges alleging he racked up a $948 satellite television ...


Boston Globe

AT&T-Dish Break Signals Cloudy Weather For Satellite TV
InformationWeek, NY - Jul 2, 2008
As AT&T rolls out its own IPTV offering, it may see its satellite TV partnerships as insignificant to its overall strategy. By Richard Martin The news that ...
AT&T ends Dish satellite TV partnership CNET News
Dishing It Out ZDNet
Dish Needs To Keep AT&T, Improve Core Business For Rebound CNNMoney.com
Barron's - Reuters
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In response to growing Internet users, small majority of the Arab ...
Business Intelligence Middle East (press release), United Arab Emirates - Jul 15, 2008
During April 2008, the Arab Advisors Group examined 377 FTA satellite TV channels broadcasting on Arabsat, Nilesat, and Noorsat satellite systems (targeting ...


Satellite TV To PC Package - Watch Satellite TV On Your PC
Pressemeldungen.at (Pressemitteilung), Austria - Jul 13, 2008
In a time when we are all being forced tighten our belts a bit and look at our outgoings a satellite TV to PC system could not be more perfect. ...


House Subcommittee Passes Video-Tax Fairness Bill
Twice, NY - 4 hours ago
The bill (HR 3679) still must move on to full votes from the House and Senate before becoming law, but the nation’s two satellite TV providers — DirecTV and ...


Judges Favor the Profane
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The framework is outdated, created long before cable and satellite TV. He proclaimed the need for a new framework that “all parties and consumers can ...

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