Satellite television and cable cost approximately the same amount of money, but satellite providers give people more viewing options and better overall quality. Satellite receivers pick up signals sent directly from broadcasters, whereas cable signals travel from hub to hub and often acquire imperfections along the way. Many digital cable subscribers complain of fuzziness in the non-HD channels, and according to some satellite providers, the cable HD channels are sometimes not as clear as they should be.

Cable companies counter that the weather interferes with satellite reception, a claim that is simply false. Satellite signals have no problems cutting through clouds and rain. Furthermore, due to the nature of satellite broadcasting (from the broadcaster directly to the viewer's dish), the picture is actually clearer than cable.

Cable companies are currently struggling with high-definition compatibility. For example, Time Warner Cable in New York City offers high-definition channels, but the picture, while crystal clear, is vertically elongated. People who want to watch HD television have to deal with two thick blocks of blackness on the right and left sides of their TV screens. The people on TV appear much taller and thinner than they really are, and some of the on-screen action gets lost on the sides. Some cable companies have rectified this issue, but viewers at home have to manually stretch the image sideways to fill their televisions.

Which Option Offers the Most Services?

Satellite and cable offer very similar programming, although satellite providers give people more options with their premium packages than do cable companies. Furthermore, satellite companies will place receivers in multiple rooms at lesser costs than cable companies. One advantage of cable companies, however, is that they often provide inclusive telephone services at very competitive rates.