The war between digital cable and satellite television has raged on for some time, with a plethora of different deals and special offers. So how do you choose between cable and satellite? There are advantages and disadvantages that need to be considered, and a lot of people tend to get confused when they're attempting to locate the best deal possible. Keeping this in mind, let's have a look at the details of both satellite and cable.
The first thing that you will probably look at is the programming, which is what most people look at. You have satellite, which provides more than 250 digital channels. The problem is that satellite does not offer quite as many local channels as one might like. On the up side, satellite companies usually provide HDTV for those with a newer television. Then there is Digital Cable. This is a service that provides more than three hundred channels of programming, and they even have more local channels. On top of that, many of the large cable companies provide Video on Demand. It wasn't long ago that HDTV was a thing that only satellite companies could actually offer. This has all changed, and now cable television has taken the lead.
So let's talk about the prices. Between Digital Cable and Satellite they're a bit different. For instance, the majority of the cable companies have local franchising and broadcasting fees that you will have to pay. This means that they will start at $30-$40 per month, and if you have every single feature included then you will more than likely end up paying over $100 per month. Satellite packages on the other hand are comparably cheaper. But while that may be the case, they tend to have a twelve month contract up front. If you're looking for cheap television though, satellite is definitely the one you should go with.
Equipment is a difference as well. For instance when you go with the satellite dish you will find that there is an actual dish to deal with, and it will be mounted on the side of your house. Is this feasible? It really depends on your preferences and that of your homeowners association. Inside the house it doesn't look that much different. You will have a receiver box, and everyone in the house will need one if they want to receive satellite television in their respective rooms. DVR is better with cable simply because of the way the data is received. Next you have to think about the signal quality. With a satellite dish you'll find that you constantly lose signal in rain or snow.
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.
In the end the prices and service offered by both are very close. It comes down to which system will best suit your TV needs and what you are more comfortable with. Both Digital Cable TV and Satellite TV both have their disadvantages and advantages, and only you can make the decision after comparing all the features and options. Everything being equal, though, I generally lean towards recommending cable from one of the major carriers like Comcast, Time Warner Cable, or Charter. They currently offer the best combination of price, options, best deals, and bundled service options.
Author Resource:
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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