Most Cable subscribers have noticed their monthly bills rising at an unexpectedly high rate, with the average increase a full 8.2% per year. Even with these rate increases, Cable has lagged behind satellite television in offering access to technology such as digital broadcasts and HDTV. Because of this, over 100,000 people are switching from Cable to satellite TV every month. DISH Network, as one of the largest satellite service companies, has seen its subscriber base swell to over 11 million people.



The first difference people notice when comparing DISH Network and Cable is the price. With basic DISH packages starting at $19.99, Cable's average $69.99 basic digital package price seems extraordinarily high. At the lowest price level, DISH offers 60 channels plus locals in many areas and approximately 80 Pay Per View movies and event. Even Cable TV's non-digital package with a similar number of channels costs over $50 each month. Cable also offers only 40 Pay Per View channels.

Cable TV's prices are high in part because of the limitations inherent in a land-based wired system. Not only does Cable TV require lines to be run underground and brought to each individual house, but the lines also create very severe limitations in bandwidth that affect the amount and type of programming accessible. Trying to expand digital or high definition service creates pressures on the system that take huge amounts of money and time to fix. DISH Network, however, uses electromagnetic waves to transmit programming in digital format to its fleet of geosynchronous satellites. These satellites then send the signals back to Earth (also in digital format) where individual satellite dishes capture them and receivers unencrypt and translate them into the format visible on a television screen. Because electromagnetic waves are transmitted through the air instead of inside cables, there are very few limitations on bandwidth and therefore, few limitations on programming capacity and type. The differences will become more apparent in the future. HDTV is likely to become the standard television format in the coming years, and Cable will continue to struggle to provide HD programming and meet future technological advances. Prices will surely continue to rise as it tries to update its technology to meet these needs. However, DISH Network already offers a wide variety of HD programming, all at a reasonable price.

You will also notice, if you check out a Cable website, that you need to enter your address to find out if you can receive service. For city-dwellers and suburban people, this may not be a problem, but the millions of people who live further away from heavily populated areas will find they cannot receive any programs through Cable. DISH Network, due to the operation of its geosynchronous satellites, is able to transmit programming to practically every area in the United States. Even residents of populated areas find the convenience of being able to move their satellite TV with them to a new house a very attractive feature.

DISH Network also provides hundreds of International Channels and foreign language programming options. With an increasing number of immigrants and foreign language speakers in the U.S., these options give everyone access to both the entertainment and educational aspects of television. Cable TV is not able to offer this diversity, leaving entire segments of the population without any access to TV.

Even though many people are still subscribing to Cable TV, more people are switching to satellite every day. Cable TV was a great option for families for many years, but with changing technology, satellite television seems like it will be the only option in the future. Between lower prices, more selection and easier access to technology like digital programming and HDTV, satellite TV is offering families much better values for home entertainment.