Over the last ten years or so, about 30 million people have abandoned cable television services and made the switch to the over-the-air cable satellite TV service providers. There are obviously some very good reasons why so many people have made this change, much to the chagrin of the executives at the cable service companies who have watched this exodus.
In addition to those who switched from cable to satellite, there are millions more who were never able to have cable access to programming because they lived in rural areas. But, with the addition of a satellite dish antenna and a dish receiver, those in rural areas now can also enjoy the same entertainment programming as people who live in metropolitan areas.
One of the biggest reasons why people are walking away from their cable providers and embracing the cable satellite TV providers comes down to money. No matter what part of the country you live in you will find that it costs less to get your entertainment needs met if you use a satellite dish antenna, versus the old fashioned and out of date cable providers that still need to have their network hard-wired.
In order to have cable TV satellite service in your home, you need to have a complete satellite TV system. The first component is the satellite dish antenna that is positioned outside of the premises. You will often see the mini dish antenna units on rooftops, the sides of buildings, on fences or mounted to a pole, in order to provide the proper positioning. The satellite dish antenna must have a clean and unobstructed view of a certain area of the southern sky and they must be precisely positioned by trained technicians.
The second component to a cable satellite TV system is the receiver with takes the signal from the dish antenna and sends it to the television. The receivers have programming that affects the programming guides, providing detailed information about each show you wish to watch.
One of the most interesting innovations that was recently introduced and has quickly become very popular in the DVR, or digital video recorder, that is integrated into some models of cable TV satellite receivers. These DVR receivers allow you to pause live broadcasts and also to record your favorite programs without the need to fuss with video tapes. Some of these devices are dual receivers, which allow you to watch one show while recording a second, or record two shows at the same time.
Cable satellite TV services continue to be popular not only because they provide better value at a lower cost, but also because of the innovative features that they offer, such as DVR services and dish on demand programming. While traditional cable providers now match many of the features of the TV satellite dish services, it seems that these companies tend to be first to bring new innovations and then the cable companies follow a bit later.
Compare Cable Satellite Tv
Comcast Corp, the dominant cable provider in the nation, has raised cable TV rates for the third time in three years The rates will go up about 6 to 7 percent, depending upon where you live. Other cable providers, like RCN, have also raised rates by about 8 percent.
7 percent is double the rate of inflation. Comcast's prices have risen three times faster than inflation since 2000.
Although cable price increases have moderated in recent years from the double-digit hikes of the 1990s, many research analysts predict that costs will keep going up.
"Operational costs" are the culprits for the rate hikes. "Operational costs" include energy costs, improvements in customer service and network maintenance. Cable companies have millions of miles of outdated lines buried below ground, and are in the process of converting their technology to digital, which will be expensive. Comcast spent nearly $200 million in the past year to maintain and enhance its fiber-optic network in the Bay Area alone.
More Facts
Cable rates have climbed 40 percent in the past six years, from an average $34.40 in 2000 to the $47.93 just announced for 2006. During that same period, inflation increased 14.3 percent, according to the federal Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Is it any wonder why the sale of satellite tv is increasing?
There are about 65 million homes nationwide with cable TV, a number expected to decline to 61 million by 2008. DirecTV accounts for 15 million subscribers and EchoStar's Dish Network for 12 million.
Because satellite providers don't have to pay taxes levied by local governments and feature smaller infrastructures, consumers get more bang for the buck with satellite.
With cable, additional charges are typically assessed for installation and equipment. These charges range from $30 to $80. Satellite Tv offers free instulation, free movie channels, and free upgrades, usually as an incentive to get customers to sign up for their services.
More pros of a satellite dish.
* Digital picture means better quality
* More flexible programming options
* Cost is cheaper per channel
* Good solution for those living in rural areas
According to a J.D. Power study, the average cost of satellite service is about 4% less than cable. Satellite subscribers
save an average of about $2.00 monthly compared to cable.
So, as the rates for the cable companies continue to rise,
you can expect comsumers to continue the migration to
Both Mike Selvon & Van Whitsett are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
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