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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:

Bill Would Eliminate Satellite TV Taxes
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By Nicole Franks - 610 WTVN Ohioans with satellite TV may get a break on their bill if proposed legislation gets approval at the Statehouse. State Rep. ...


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AT&T-Dish Break Signals Cloudy Weather For Satellite TV
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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
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Dish Needs To Keep AT&T, Improve Core Business For Rebound CNNMoney.com
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Proposal to Eliminate Tax for Ohio Satellite TV Customers
WCPO, OH - Jul 4, 2008
A Colerain Township lawmaker has proposed legislation to end a sales tax that satellite TV customers pay in Ohio. Republican Louis Blessing introduced the ...


Teleclick.ca

IPTV Growth Hasn’t Cut Into North American Satellite TV Market… Yet
Teleclick.ca, Canada - Jul 4, 2008
Despite runaway growth over the course of 2007, Internet Protocol Television (IPTV) isn’t yet cutting into the revenue of satellite television providers in ...


House Bill Could End Ohio’s Satellite TV Sales Tax
Satellite Today, MD - Jul 3, 2008
[Satellite Today 07-03-07] A bill has been introduced in the US House of Representatives that would end a state tax placed on satellite TV customers in Ohio ...


Bid to fight negative effect of satellite TV on region’s youth
Peninsula On-line, Qatar - Jul 3, 2008
DOHA • The Supreme Council for Family Affairs (SCFA) is seeking to formulate a media strategy to address the negative impact of satellite TV channels on GCC ...


Bill would end sales tax on satellite TV
Coshocton Tribune, OH - Jul 3, 2008
Louis Blessing introduced legislation Wednesday to lift the 5.5 percent state sales tax on satellite TV companies. House Bill 599, the "Ohio Video Tax ...


Teleclick.ca

AT&T Won’t Renew Dish Network Satellite TV Contract
Teleclick.ca, Canada - Jul 3, 2008
... AT&T Inc., said on Tuesday that it would not renew its existing contract to resell EchoStar Communications’ Dish Network satellite TV services. ...


Satellite TV On My PC Software Review
Pressemeldungen.at (Pressemitteilung), Austria - Jun 24, 2008
Whats all this about watching satellite TV on my PC? Well I’d heard a lot about it and it did sound rather good so I looked further into it. ...


Satellite TV for PC Review – Turning your Computer into a Super TV
Pressemeldungen.at (Pressemitteilung), Austria - Jun 25, 2008
This is made possible by software called Satellite TV for PC . But don´t get it wrong, from the word itself you might think that you will need a satellite ...

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