| The paid TV business is a competitive business that | | | | satellite TV companies are giving a much better |
| has no space for amateur. In fact, it is more like a war | | | | bargains in initial and monthly cost. In general, cable |
| between these paid TV service providers - namely | | | | services charge you about $40 per month. If you wish |
| the cable and satellite companies. | | | | to go for digital channels, you will need to pay another |
| If you are not too old to remember, you should recall | | | | extra of $12. Installation of cable TV is not free of |
| that when the satellite TV providers first came out, the | | | | charge. In general, you will need to pay roughly $50 for |
| cable companies did not give their new opponent | | | | a complete installation. |
| much thought. The satellite system was expensive, | | | | In contrast, satellite TV is much more cheaper. As for |
| bulky, messy to be installed, and the program offerings | | | | initial charges, satellite TV require zero installation fees - |
| were not attractive at all. Cable service providers | | | | that's a $50 difference compare to the cables. On top |
| were sitting comfortably on their monopoly position. | | | | of that, satellite TV monthly cost is much lower: Dish |
| However things changed, fast. | | | | Network packages starts at $19.99 per month; while |
| The satellite TV industry was revolving faster than the | | | | DirecTV's comes at $29.99. |
| cables can imagine. 18" small satellite dish were | | | | What make cable TV services attractive are their |
| introduced, cost of satellite equipments dropped | | | | bundle services. |
| sharply, and the installation process turned much easier | | | | Cable TV normally come along with cable phone and |
| than before. Then come DirecTV and Dish Network. | | | | cable broadband services - which is good for most |
| These two satellite TV providers utilized the small | | | | new home buyers. Take Comcast offers for example, |
| satellite dish system well and the success of satellite | | | | when subscribed to Comcast's triple play bundle |
| TV in late 90s was a big bang on cable's monopoly. | | | | package, customers will get TV entertainment, phone |
| Nowadays, DirecTV and Dish Network grew up to be | | | | communication as well Internet services all in one. This |
| two major players that cannot be ignored. Both | | | | mean single home bill for a big part of your home |
| companies enjoy a steady growth in subscribers and | | | | utilities - convenient and easy to manage. |
| gradually winning the paid TV market share. Where | | | | On the other hand, there's not much of add on for |
| the cable TV industry has reported an annual growth | | | | satellite TV services. The only two you can get is |
| between 10 to 15 percent, top satellite companies, such | | | | satellite radio and the unpopular satellite Internet. |
| as Direct TV, boast a market share increase of just | | | | Satellite radio are offered by Sirius or XM (which |
| fewer than 30% according to a study from The Media | | | | means these are not offered by the same company); |
| Audit. | | | | and satellite Internet connection are usually problematic |
| A quick check on the program offerings, you will | | | | (latency error and constant disconnection during |
| noticed that cable's programs normal come in analog | | | | storms). |
| or partly, digital signals. Their picture quality are | | | | Conclusion |
| generally good, but not as good as satellite TV that | | | | Both satellite and cable services have their |
| offers 100% digital picture in their broadcast. As for the | | | | advantages - cable's bundle services offer you great |
| programming varieties, cable TV offers about 150 | | | | savings in overall home expenses; satellite TV offer |
| channels in general; on the other hand, both Dish | | | | better programming quality in a much cheaper price. |
| Network and DirecTV offer up to 250 programming | | | | So cable or satellite TV, who has the best? I guess |
| channels. More over, Dish Network HD program | | | | this is not an one-answer-fits-all question. The best |
| offerings are amazing where they are offering more | | | | advice is to suggest you to review and select the paid |
| than 30 HD channels at the time of writing. | | | | TV entertainment service that suits your needs the |
| How about the pricing? From what we are seeing, | | | | best. |