Satelite TV vs. Cable Television

Satellite TV has the advantage of unlimited reach to any urban or rural area. With satellite television companies now battling both each other as well as the cable companies, cost is everything when it comes to penetrating the home. Beyond that, quality of service and available options seem to be giving satellite TV a competitive advantage.

To date satelite TV has had favorable reviews in the service department, and the recent FCC ruling that allows them to carry local channels has given them appreciable boosts. Current figures put the number of satellite TV subscribers at about 22 million in the U.S. alone.

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Even if the cost and quality of service were equal, satellite television still has three major advantages over cable. The first strikes to the core of what satellites are all about--reach! No matter where a subscriber is, satellite reception is almost guaranteed to be within reach. Cable deployment is still restricted to populated areas. For those rural areas that have virtually no cable access, satellite it the only alternative. And it saves the costs of running long cable lines to widely dispersed homes.

Furthermore, even potential subscribers in populated areas are tired of the monopolistic practices of cable companies, which often don't face competition from other cable companies in their home markets. This monopoly doesn't sit well with subscribers, causing many to opt for satellite television in the face of constantly rising costs.

Finally, satellite TV companies are not paying the exorbitant taxes levied by local government. This cost can add as much as 5% - 7% on your monthly bill. Satellite companies are the only external force that is putting some pressure on cable to keep the prices reasonable. Our city governments have a cozy relationship with cable companies. The more money cable charges the more money the cities make in taxes on the cable bills.

The bottom line is that satellite TV is winning the battle on price, selection and customer service.