Ever since the invention of the TV set, it has been the top media channel in the modern world. In the United States alone, there are millions of people who rely on their TV for both news and entertainment from daily scheduled programming. Today, a popular method of television broadcasting is done via cable television.

Cable television or CATV was commonly used in mountainous regions where broadcast signals are weak, so they used coaxial cables to broadcast television programming. Today, it is a common television service and in America and there are a lot of cable providers to choose from. Unfortunately though in most areas, you will just have one cable TV company serving your area, so if you want something different, you will have to go with satellite TV. This is not always a bad thing, its a good idea to line up the companies side by side, comparing satellite television vs Comcast.

The top cable provider in the United States is Comcast, it is by far the largest cable company in the country. It also offers high speed internet service and is currently in second place and fourth place in providing telephone service. The Comcast triple play deal is usually available to first time customers. Unfortunately, they have a reputation for having the worst customer service among any company or government agency in the United States. Next is Cox cable, which is owned by Cox enterprises. They have almost 6 million subscribers to their cable service, internet and phone service. They are currently the third largest cable company in the country. The third largest in terms of revenue is Charter TV company. In terms of revenue, they are behind only from Time Warner cable and Comcast. Then we have bright house cable which is the sixth largest cable company. Most of these companies now also offer local and long distance phone service.

Many are satisfied with the Comcast premium cable packages, however if these do not catch your fancy you can also turn to satellite TV companies like Dish Network who also provides high definition or HD service for those who want it. The only problem being it is sometimes difficult to get satellite in your apartment

A young man rang Charter Cable to cancel his cable TV connection and maintain his Internet connection. Why? Because cable TV is an anathema to this generation’s vision of media consumption and/or it sucks. So he calls Charter and Charter informs him that he has to pay a $10 no-cable fee and he is told that soon Charter and the rest of the cable companies will control all streaming, thereby rendering all streaming media unusable after “May 1.”

Consumerist has his note:

At this point, he said he would see what the cost of internet alone was, and said there would be a $10 “no cable TV” fee (sounds like b.s. to me), which would make it $49.95 a month for internet alone. Then he went on to say that he strongly suggested that I keep the tv service because come May 1, all of the online streaming services would be shut down because the cable TV providers are taking over, and that the FCC regulations are changing so that the cable companies will have total control over streaming video.

Total control, eh? Sounds fishy. Look: cable companies have cables that come into people’s homes. They can make lots of money offering fat pipes to people who want them. But they don’t. They want to stick to whatever consumption model appeals to them and that model is the the cable channel. Cable channels don’t cost them money to maintain, they don’t have to be up 24/7, and they can sell premium channels and services to rubes who don’t know any better. The Internet is like offering running water to the home. Cable TV is like offering a bottled water service with a special “shower package” for those who want to wash. Which one is more lucrative?

Here’s the thing, my father-in-law is a hard-working UPS driver. He defines blue-collar. After a long day driving around in a brown truck and wearing a brown jumpsuit in the freezing Michigan winter, he wants nothing more than to come home and enjoy a random sports game — sometimes live, sometimes a re-broadcast. But the damn TV guide keeps ruining the fun for him. Look at that pic and tell me what’s wrong.

The description,

Repeat, From 1996: Pittsburgh’s 20-16 win over the Colts in the AFC Championship Game. The game ended with a dramatic Hail Mary pass. (Football)

It tells who wins and the game’s final play. That’s not fun. It ruins the experience. All the discription needs to say is,

Repeat, From 1996: The Pittsburgh Steelers battle the Indianapolis Colts in the AFC Championship Game. (Football)

That’s it. Maybe they could throw in some facts quickly gathered off of Wikipedia like the quarterbacks or TV announcers, but that’s probably asking too much.

Two of the large companies in the cable television landscape today are Charter cable and DIRECTV satellite service.  If these big media companies are on your radar when it comes to selecting a satellite or cable company, you may be confused about what they claim to offer, and how much it costs. The smart thing to do is sit down and make a chart of what each company offers, and of course price out the services including everything they offer.  Here are a couple of things to consider when shopping for satellite versus Charter cable.

HD – While both companies now offer hi def content, Dish beats Charter cable hands down as far as the actual number of channels. Direct TV claims over 130 HD channels, though that number is a bit inflated.  They in reality have around 90 when you remove the pay per view stations. Charter cable TV maxes out at 60 in the best case, and many areas have far fewer HD channels depending on the network.

Sports channels – You will be able to find lots of sports content with either provider, as both carry all of the local networks and ESPN.  But if you want out of market sports programming, Direct TV satellite is the way to go. They have the rights to the NFL Sunday Ticket bundle, but it doesn’t end there. Other bundles found on satellite but missing from Charter include the NBA League Pass and the NASCAR Hotpass serires.

Bundled options – One drawback of satellite TV service is that they don’t have the ability to compete with Charter service when it comes to the triple play package. Charter can offer bundled services which add high speed internet access and local and long distance calling through your home phone. Combining these services with your cable TV service makes it convenient as far as billing and customer service issues.

So which company is the right one for you? Of course only you can make the final determination.  While hi def content and premium sports content may be high on the list for some, they aren’t a big deal to others. Reviewing both services and the overall costs will insure that you make the right decision for your particular situation.

100% Hi Definition Service.

If you’re a cable TV subscriber, your service provider most likely carries around 20 to 50 channels in HD. But if you have access to satellite TV, chances are you’re enjoying up to 100 channels that have nice crisp pictures and flawless reception.

Currently, not even the largest cable companies such as Comcast, Time Warner, Brighthouse, Cox and Charter Cable can match up to DirecTV’s 130+ channels you can watch on HD. By the end of the year, DirecTV projects satellite TV subscribers will be watching up to150 channels in HD. Put that HDTV to good use and maximize your viewing experience through satellite TV!

Pay Less, Watch More.

The pro-con list could go on and satellite would still emerge superior to its cable counterpart. However, it all boils down to this: You get to see more for a price that won’t burn holes in your pocket. With satellite, you get more features, more movies, more music, more cartoons, more sports, more HD! You will be getting more of almost everything each month. Great sports programming like the NBA League Pass are also available for an extra charge. What more could you ask for?

Free Set-up.

Most cable providers charge you up to $100 for sending out a technician to gear up your television sets. Satellite TV providers Dish Network and DirecTV offer free installation and setup for your convenience. You no longer have to worry about reading the fine print or fees that cable companies (over)charge one time or monthly.

Multi-media Experience.

Radio on Your Television?! The limits of media are once again broken, but in a good way. Subscription to Dish Network gives you access to Sirius Satellite, so you can listen to great music all day long once you’re tired of watching tv.

Family Friendly Packages.

With your current cable subscription you get basic packages with channels picked for you. However, satellite TV services from Dish Network and DirecTV program packages that will cater to all members of the family. Everyone should be able to enjoy viewing without worrying what they young ones are seeing. These satellite packages ensure that children access age-appropriate as well as educational shows.

Comparing your local cable company, such as Direct TV vs Comcast might save you some money. Switch now to a great Direct TV deal if you don’t want to regret missing out on anything.

The television has been the most used entertainment device in almost all homes in the United States ever since it was invented. It is still the top media source in the home, though the home computer is gaining ground, and it looks like it will stay that way for a many years to come. It has bypassed both print media and radio transmission media in terms of audience and profitability. But pay television relies on a service provider and the two kinds to pick from are satellite TV or cable television.

Cable television is delivered through optical fiber cables and coaxial cables. The big advantage of cable television is that it the quality of its signal is not deterred in any way by mountains, trees or any other geographical limitations. The disadvantage from the cable company point of view is that it is expensive to constantly expand and maintain the cabling necessary to broadcast the network content. Today cable TV is offered by more companies compared to satellite, as the market is more fractured. Such companies are Cox cable, Charter cable, Time Warner, Bright House cable and Comcast cable. The competition to be the biggest and best cable company will ensure you that you will get your money’s worth.

Satellite TV on the other hand is offered by just two companies in America. First is Dish Network and the other is Directtv. These companies rely on the receivers given to their customers and they use communication satellites in order to broadcast their programs. They offer more networks compared to Comcast cable and usually cost quite a bit less than cable. However, the costs involved here are the satellites that must be launched into orbit. There are lots of sources to read Direct TV Reviews and find out more about the company.

The good news for any customer is the wide variety of choices they can choose from. Whether the preference be based on programming, prices, packages or customer service; the consumer will be able to find a suitable provider for him or her.