Satellite TV vs. Cable: Which One is Right For Your Household?

Satellite TV was once the unpopular choice among entertainment delivery systems, but it is rapidly gaining force as the in-demand system for people around the country. What is it that is causing viewers to compare the merits of satellite TV vs. cable, and what is it that is making satellite the winner?

Satellite TV vs. Cable: The Costs

Once upon a time, satellite was significantly more expensive than cable. This is not the case any longer! As technology has allowed satellite TV to get more sophisticated and efficient, cable is stuck with basically the same technology it's always had, but with the added troubles of heavy loads on existing lines.

Cable lines and equipment are rapidly aging and need to be replaced, and the consumer picks up the cost of that in the form of increased monthly fees. Satellite technology has plenty of room to grow without the consumer picking up the costs of upgrades.

In fact, satellite TV costs have decreased recently, while cable costs have continued to climb.

Satellite TV vs. Cable: The Programming

Satellite has always offered more channels than cable. Regional, national, and even international channels which are not available through a cable subscription are available through satellite, and satellite TV still provides the local channels as well. Satellite signals are also delivered in a digital format, meaning that the quality is much higher than the analog signals received through cable.

Satellite TV vs. Cable: The Availability

Cable TV requires access to the complex grid of cable and fiber optic connections. If you live in a rural area, an older home, or a country without an existing cable network, cable is simply not an option for you. Putting a fiber optic network in place is extremely costly and damaging to the environment as the ground must be dug up and later replaced.

Satellite, on the other hand, requires minimal ground connections to operate. Electricity is required, but there are no other complicated systems to plug into. The satellite dish sits on your roof or in your yard to collect the signal, and connects directly to your home through one cable connection.

Satellite TV vs. Cable: Which Would You Choose?

Knowing that cable TV is outdated, expensive, and extremely limited in both programming and availability, it doesn't seem like the sensible choice. Satellite TV has rapidly overtaken cable as the leader in the entertainment delivery industry, and it is expected to reign supreme for many decades to come.