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Cable TV and Television Services Can Change Your Life

If you aren’t familiar with what cable television has to offer you, prepare for a dramatic moment. Life is about to get much, much cooler.

Cable was introduced in 1948, and now--just sixty years later--it has become how the majority  of Americans (58.4% to be exact) get their daily television fix. While the original programming was pretty basic and the channels fairly limited, today you have the freedom to pick virtually any program and watch it when you want to, how you want to, and--with the newest cable boxes equipped with Digital Video Recorders--with or without commercials.

Cable TV and Television Services versus The Antenna

Speaking of freedom, something cable television can offer that network TV usually cannot--adult-oriented content, a greater selection of movies, and looser broadcasting guidelines with regard to niche programming and news. That being said, cable TV also offers more precise control via the cable box, so these more “flavorful” programs can be restricted from younger viewers completely. Which, some would argue, is the best of both worlds.

Another key difference between cable TV and regular broadcast television is the shear volume of channels and features cable TV has to offer. Cable TV’s larger bandwidth translates to up to 20 times as many channels, which means it can specialize and cater to the demographics of the region. Want to watch nothing but old (yet still glorious) New England Patriot football games? watch the latest movie without commercials? learn how to cook southern-style grits? Chances are, your cable provider has exactly what you’re looking for--and a has cable box capable of finding it, recording it whenever it’s broadcasted, and storing it as long as you want it.

If that’s not life changing, what is?

Cable TV and Television Services versus The Satellite Dish

While cable TV has the popular vote, it’s not without its share of competition. Satellite companies like Dish Network and DirecTv, also promise large selections of programming, great prices, and other user-friendly features. For sports fans, satellite programming offers a great selection of non-local games; for those seeking international programming, satellite also offers more selection than cable TV and television services. While cable still has a ways to go as far as international channels, it still offers several competitive features and options. For instance:

  1. Program per program, cable television is more affordable.
  2. Installation costs and equipment fees/rentals can be a fraction of the satellite set-up costs.
  3. Cable allows you to bundle your technology--so you can get your phone, your internet, and your television all on one bill, and for a discounted rate.
  4. Cable is more reliable during inclement and windy weather, and it will consistently provide you quality programming regardless of whether or not you have a clear shot of the south-western horizon.
  5. For the most part, cable television is available without a contract, so you can enjoy flexible services (and addresses) with a lot of inconvenience.

As part of the “digital transition” mandated by the government, all antenna-users will have to rely more than ever on digital cable to get the programming they are used to. If you’re in that group, it doesn’t mean life as you know it will change completely--in fact, aside from a little box and perhaps a clearer picture, you may not notice anything. On the other hand, once you get a taste of what digital cable has to offer, you’ll wonder what you ever did without it.