Advantages and disadvantages of cable television
Shopping Product ReviewsCable television has faced increasing competition from other types of communications, such as satellite television and even computer sites like Netflix. With all these options now available, it’s a good opportunity to see the pros and cons of cable television. In this article, I’ll examine three positives and three negatives about cable television to help you make an informed decision.
Advantage #1: Stability
Cable television is especially stable in its service. Both traditional airwave transmissions and modern satellite TV can and will interrupt you during any severe storm (and often during some not-so-serious storms). The cable, on the other hand, will only go out if there is some failure in the overall system, such as a broken cable or router. This will happen much less frequently than storms, so cable TV will provide much more consistent service.
Advantage #2: Grouping
Special offers are often available by bundling your cable TV with other services in one package, usually Internet and phone, but sometimes services like cell phones. These packages can actually save you quite a bit of money, especially if you bundle the three typical services together. It also provides the convenience of having a single bill.
Advantage #3: Price
Cable TV can actually be quite cheap, if you don’t add too many options. Upfront hardware costs are quite inexpensive compared to satellite, and the FCC requires all cable companies to provide a basic cable package consisting of broadcast channels and some local channels. As a result, cable television can be the cheapest form of television besides buying an antenna.
Disadvantage #1: Pesky Monopolies
Many areas only have a single cable TV provider, and this creates a monopoly. While competition from satellites is increasing, the corporate culture of these monopolies is especially poor. Customer service can be terrible, if not nonexistent in many cases, and consumer satisfaction with cable TV companies is consistently one of the worst among companies in the United States.
Con #2: Confusing pricing packages
Many cable companies are very confused when it comes to how much their service will actually cost in the long run. Many require you to sign up for two years to get a one-year introductory agreement. However, you really need to do some research on their websites to find out how much the second year will cost. In other cases, there are hidden fees, rental charges, and taxes.
Disadvantage #3: Privacy
If you’re bundling your cable TV with the Internet (and many people are), you’ll have less privacy on the Internet. Cable Internet works with a stable IP address that doesn’t change, so people will be able to easily track your visits to your sites. Compare this to DSL, where you can easily reset your IP by turning your modem off and on.
With these pros and cons in mind, you’ll be in a better position to make a decision about whether to choose cable television.