Which Is Best - Cable Television Versus Satellite TV

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Which Is Best - Cable Television Versus Satellite TV
The differences between cable and satellite TV aren't all that great nowadays. Yet there are a couple of differences you need to be aware of if you're thinking about paying for cable or satellite TV service. Here they are in a nutshell .

Cost

On average, cable costs $10 to $25 a month more than satellite TV due in part to the fact that cable providers must pay local fees and taxes which satellite TV companies don't have to pay.

For instance, in my neck of the woods cable television costs $57 monthly for satellite TV channels, while I can get Dish Network for $24.99 a month for 190 channels, plus 3 months of HBO, Cinemax, Showtime, and Starz.

As far as price increases, cable TV fees have increased by 40% since 1998, while Dish Network and DirecTV's fees have gone up by barely 8% during the very same time period.

System Comparison

With cable TV you get a receiver that receives a television signal from a cable TV company through an underground coaxial or fiber optic cable. The receiver translates that signal and delivers it to your TV set.

With satellite TV you get a dish that captures the signal originating from a satellite, and a receiver that translates that signal and sends it to your TV.

Cable TV companies charge $3 to $5 a month extra for each and every receiver, while Dish Network and DirecTV receivers are free of charge.

DVR Recorders

Digital video recorders, or DVRs, let you record your favorite shows. They also allow you to pause the show you're watching so you can get a snack, answer your phone, or whatever else you need to do, then resume watching your show when you're ready.

With the standard cable TV DVRs you can record 2 shows simultaneously, and record 100 hours of programming. So in case you have 3 shows that come on at the same time you can record one and watch one, or record both shows, but you are going to miss the third show.`

Dish Network, on the other hand, allows you to record 6 different shows simultaneously, and you can record up to 2,000 hours of programming, so you won't miss any of your favorite shows. With DirecTV you can record 4 different shows simultaneously, and record as many as 1,000 hours of programming.



Installation

Due to the competition involving cable and satellite TV companies, equipment installation for either one is free. You'll want to make sure you get a professional installation company and a certified installer, otherwise you may experience equipment difficulties down the line.

Reliability

Cable TV blackouts average 3% to 5% depending on the company that installs the particular cable TV system, while Dish Network and DirecTV blackouts average 1%.

Customer Satisfaction

The ASCI (American Customer Satisfaction Index) ranks Dish Network and DirecTV as number one and number two among all satellite TV and cable TV providers for customer experience, customer satisfaction, customer loyalty, as well as overall value.

Customer Service

Customer support for almost all satellite TV and cable TV providers is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week including holidays, and with most companies the service is good.

Conclusion