The War Between Satellite and Cable TV: Who's Winning?
by John Tuthill

Cost

Although satellite service used to be only for the wealthy, cheap satellite TV is now available everywhere in the US. Although the initial setup cost may be a bit more, satellite television will save you money over cable in the long run.

Accessibility

There is one basic criterion that your property must meet in order to install satellite service. You must have a place to install a dish that has an unobstructed view of the southern sky. For folks that live in the country or suburbs, this is not usually a problem. But for people that live in apartment buildings or condos, satellite television might not be a viable option. In the city, cable often wins.

Quality

What about image and sound quality? Satellite television gives you completely digital audio and video, resulting in crisp, realistic pictures. Many cable television services still rely on analog signals, so that the original quality of the program is lost in transmission. This difference will be especially pronounced if you have a flat screen or high definition TV.

Programming

Even cheap satellite TV provides its owners with over 200 channels, plus a virtually unlimited supply of pay channels for movies and sporting events. In comparison, cable TV usually provides 40 or so channels, about one fifth of satellite's offerings. Although many users previously chose cable to gain access to local channels, that reasoning no longer applies. Nowadays, all cheap satellite TV services also provide access to local channels. When it comes to programming options, satellite television wins easily.

Source:
Satellite TV Consumers

About the Author
John Tuthill is an aspiring beekeeper and horticulturist. He lives in Missoula, Montana.