Cable TV refers to a television programming delivery system in which subscribers receive radio frequency signals transmitted through cables. Cable TV is distinctive from broadcast television, which involves a television signal transmitted over airwaves and received by an antenna.
For several decades, cable TV was a staple for the majority of Americans. In its early years, it served rural communities which did not have their own television station, as well as those who could not receive outside signals because of land formations or distance, such as being in the mountains. Cable-originated live television programming became popular in the 1980s in the United States. Specialty channels and local channels started to outnumber broadcast signals. The number of channels continued to grow.
These days, however, more and more people are cutting their cable connection in favor of downloading and streaming to watch television. Now that most cable television programming is available in some form or another online and on-demand, cable TV is becoming less and less popular. The following guide can help you understand the advantages and disadvantages of cable TV.
Advantages of Cable Television
The main advantage of cable television was always the variety of shows available. If you like to channel surf or flip back and forth between shows, cable is ideal. In addition, if you watch shows on more than twenty channels, or shows that aren’t available for download or streaming, cable might be your best bet. Most cable companies offer packages with numerous channels—in some cases, hundreds of channels are available.
Cable television is also ideal for watching sports. If you like to watch sports, it might be difficult for you to switch to streaming. Many people find that the quality of sports streaming is not up to par, and you won’t be able to switch between channels. Stick to good old fashioned cable if you love watching sports.
If you’re considering internet streaming services, such as Netflix and Hulu, one of the advantages that cable has is that you don’t need internet to tune in. In addition, if your internet isn’t fast enough, you might find it difficult to watch shows via streaming sites, at least without interruptions. If your internet happens to go out, you’ll be out of luck.
Disadvantages of Cable Television
One of the most commonly cited disadvantages of cable TV is the cost. These days, it’s far more economical to stream. A modest cable package can cost approximately $60 per month, and you’ll pay more for additional features and channels. Though you may be able to get a deal for your first months or even year, the cost is sure to go up.
Another disadvantage of cable is that it’s simply not as flexible as streaming. Though some channels may offer on-demand viewing, cable is based on a schedule and you’ll need additional hardware to record and save television shows to watch them when you want, as you would with internet streaming. For others having to watch commercials on cable television is a big con. While some streaming services still use ads, others are ad-free.