In 2007, 98.7% of households had at least one TV. 61.4% of those with a TV had cable, while only 26.2% had satellite (MPAA 2007 Entertainment Industry Market Statistics). Why is that? It’s a simple question with a complex answer. Cable is the proven champion of streaming entertainment into American homes. Each year, though, it appears satellite is gaining ground on cable and there is good reason why. Satellite TV is superior in Digital Picture quality, offers a variety of media platforms/options, and is relatively cheap compared to similar cable programming.
How does Satellite TV get such a clear, quality digital picture? Well, the answer is fairly simple. The signal received that goes into the satellite receiver comes directly from satellites hundreds of miles above the Earth. Compared to cable TV the actual travel of the signal is much less. It’s only the length from the satellite receiver dish on the roof to the satellite receiver in your living room. Cable, on the other hand, receives similar signals from satellites high above the Earth at regional stations that then process the signal through an array of systems and push it out to homes. Virtually the same signal received has to travel through miles of cable before it reaches your home, reducing the overall quality of the picture and sound you receive the further and further the signal travels. If you have a HDTV with a digital tuner, you’ll get a better signal from your antenna and the Over-the-Air signal. The more and more Americans buy HDTVs, the more demand there will be for a consistent, quality digital picture. It’s a no brainer that Satellite TV would have a far superior digital picture and sound.
Cable TV may have Video on Demand (VOD) down. I’ll give them that, but beyond that, the variety of media platforms and options is very little. One thing we have seen come on in just the last couple of years with Satellite TV is Internet connectivity. An example of this is Dish Network’s VIP series satellite receivers. These receivers all have a Cat-5 connection built in which allow customers to plug in to their home internet connection, adding a few more options beyond VOD that cable just can’t offer. The first is true 1080p VOD and Pay-Per-View. Cable can’t offer this. Why? For the same reasons above, their signal just isn’t strong enough or big enough to hold all of the bandwidth required. Second, Internet connectivity allows for remote scheduling with the Digital Video Recorder (DVR). For both cable and satellite, DVRs are becoming a standard household name. Internet connectivity only enhances this tool.
Most cable companies only offer savings that last six months, if that. Satellite offers year long savings and for the most part even regular programming costs are cheaper than Cable TV. Yes, you do have to sign a two year contract with Satellite TV companies and I know this may hold some of you back from buying in to Satellite. There are some benefits to this I’ll point out later. In addition to cheaper costs, satellite’s equipment is almost always free along with the installation of that equipment, even if it means the installer having to crawl up in the attic like I asked one to do in my own satellite TV installation. You lease the satellite receivers and usually the first one is included in your regular monthly programming costs. If your concerned about HD programming, Satellite also has cable beat. Both major satellite companies have over 150 HD channels and for the most part add new ones as they become available. Cable only offers locals and a few other channels that doesn’t even come close to the offerings of satellite TV.
I’m sure there are several reasons why you might be hesitant to switch to satellite TV. Here are some top excuses:
The signal isn’t reliable. Satellite TV is actually 99.9% reliable. Having satellite with Dish Network for over four years, I have not had a loss in signal once, even with 60 mph wind gusts. Even though cable’s infrastructure is underground and somewhat protected, signals can easily be compromised. In fact, I would argue that Cable TV’s signal is likely to be less reliable than Satellite TV’s. With the miles of cable and equipment used to deliver your cable programming, stuff is more likely to be broken or malfunction or even be dug up accidently.
The satellite receiver dish is ugly and awkward. OK, I agree it’s not ideal to have an 18” dish attached to your roof. As a first-timer to satellite myself, I was hesitant to take the plunge because of this, but I worked with the satellite installer to install it in a place where it would be the least seen and intrusive. Most installers will be willing to work with you and meet your needs, especially if you’re new to satellite. In addition you don’t have to be an expert or tech guru. The Satellite installer will take care of installing everything needed, including giving you a tutorial on how to use it.
You have to sign a two year contract. This is not a very appealing feature of Satellite TV either, but there is legitimate reason behind it. If the satellite companies want to continue to offer reliable, quality entertainment along with good customer service, they need committed customers. Whether you like it or not, this is why Satellite, especially from Dish Network is able to keep the costs down for consumers. The result of signing a contract is really not that bad. There are ways out of it and I can tell you that at least Dish Network offers incentives to continue with them even after the two years are up, including free programming and monthly discounts.
In conclusion let’s recap. Satellite TV has a superior, quality digital picture. Cable can’t even come close in the current set-up of delivery. Internet connectivity of satellite receivers offers many features and true 1080p HD that isn’t even on Cable’s radar. The overall price is cheap compared to cable and other TV competitors. There are lots of incentives for signing up for the first time with a Satellite company like Dish Network, including free installation, free HD DVR equipment, and free programming. The misconceptions about Satellite TV are just that, untrue. If you’re thinking about switching TV programming providers you should definitely consider Satellite TV from Dish Network.
