In this convergent world we live in there is still debate as to whether Cable TV or Satellite TV is the best way to go. Both have their advantages and drawbacks. Let's take a look at some background.
Cable was a godsend for TV viewers when it came out. For the first time TV was available in a crystal clear form. Gone were the vagaries of the rabbit ears or the rooftop antennae with or without a rotor. Your TV signal was delivered to you through a wire and in most cases you had more variety in channel selection and were not dependant on good weather for clear reception. The big drawback was the monthly fee. Over the antenna everything was free. Cable became fee for service. You essentially had to pay for better quality and selection. Today with fibre optics, cable offers full HD and Surround Sound with fantastic signal reliability. In many cases, users can now have their internet connection and telephone service through their cable company as well. This allows for substantial monthly savings because of bundled services.
As television grew, everyone wanted bigger, more, better. Satellite came about and offered the bandwidth to enable hundreds of channels in exceptional clarity plus the ability to watch feeds from other time zones. So, if you missed your favourite show for any reason, you could pick it up on another feed in a later time zone. Problem solved. Huge choice with access to network shows, specialty channels and Pay TV drove market share in satellite services to large numbers. Drawbacks include high monthly fees and rain fade, that is, compromised signal when the dish can't "see" the satellite because of environmental conditions.
An additional drawback is that internet connection is not generally a satellite offered service.
So what do you choose?
In my case we have a hybrid system. Satellite for mainstream TV and specialty channels and cable as a local channel back up with our high speed internet bundled in. Having both is definitely much more expensive but in our house both TV and internet are valued highly so we pay the price.
For retired people or others who are on a budget, cable would seem to be the answer. It offers great signal integrity, internet, telephone ability and a wide variety of television channels.
If you can put up with the occasional signal outage due to heavy weather, then satellite offers the optimum choice for your viewing. It will all depend on your consumer habits and the frequency and time allotted in your lifestyle for viewing TV.
At the risk of adding more mud to the situation let me say a word or two about PVR's or Personal Video Recorders which are available on both cable and satellite networks. These are devices which are akin to your old VHS recorders but without tape. They are essentially Hard Drive recorders that let you tap in to your cable or satellite feed and record and time shift record the shows you would like to see for later viewing. There are even ones that will let you program weeks in advance and tape two programs at the same time you are watching another one.
It all boils down to how much of a TVaholic you are.
Newer to the media picture are the TV and Film services like Net Flix. These are monthly fee view on demand services that allow you to watch a substantial selection of recent movies and whole seasons of TV Shows anytime you want. While very affordable you need a fast internet connection and a device to stream through like a Sony Playstation, a computer or a smart TV. In addition you must realize that not every show or movie is offered. These services are great for people who like movies and some television programs but who are also on a severe budget.
For years I have been urging my customers and radio show listeners to think about convergence. That is to say that, sooner rather than later your whole media world and your household will be centred on your computer and/or your internet connection. You will be able to turn on your lights, change your thermostat, program your TV, start the oven etc. all remotely using WiFi or cellular connections and the internet.
With that in mind, my money is on cable to end up on top. Reliability as your internet provider is the key here. In this Wi-Fi on demand world that is increasingly converging towards the internet as the conduit for all things, cables inherent speed and reliability will ensure its primacy. Couple that with the bundling of all services and I think it will offer you the best bang for your buck, as long as you are not looking for that show you missed on a west coast feed. But then again you can always wait a day and watch it online.
As always your comments are welcome. Drop me an email or comment here.
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Mike Reid can be heard approximately once a month on the Dave Fisher Show, weekends on CJAD 800 in Montreal. Mike and Dave talk about technology and new directions during these ten minute spots.
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