It seems that the battle between cable television and satellite television has come to an end: in 2009 millions of Americans switched from cable television to satellite television. The main reasons for this change are price difference, program options, image quality, and customer service and satisfaction. For example, cable TV rates in the US are around $ 39.99 per month for 64 channels and an additional cost of $ 10.95 per month to add digital channels. There is an initial setup fee of $ 39.95 plus $ 9.95 for each additional room.
DirecTV satellite TV rates are $ 41.99 per month for 115 channels and Dish Network is $ 31.99 per month for 60 channels. Both satellite providers currently offer free satellite television sets, as well as free installation for up to four rooms.
In most areas, cable TV is broadcast in analog format, and if you need digital sound and pictures, you will have to pay an additional fee of $ 10 to $ 15 per month. On the other hand, satellite television offers more than 250 channels in addition to HDTV programming. All channels are broadcast in digital format, providing viewers with the highest image and sound quality.
Cable TV includes the input cable to your TV, but if you need a digital video recorder, you will be charged a monthly fee. Satellite television requires a satellite dish and receiver of which both Dish Network and DirecTV offer the equipment free of charge, including installation. Dish Network includes a free DVR or HDTV receiver, and DirecTV charges $ 49.99 for a DVR receiver and $ 299 for an HDTV receiver.
Cable TV averages 3-5% annual outages, and its customer services have received a poor rating. Satellite television averages about 1% annual outages. Dish Network and DirecTV have been ranked as the top two satellite TV providers and have also ranked very highly when it comes to customer service and satisfaction for the last five years. So there seems to be a winner in the cable vs satellite TV battle – if you want variety and quality, you should definitely go for satellite TV systems.
