Website design By BotEap.comCable television has faced increasing competition from other types of communications, such as satellite television and even computer sites like Netflix. With all of these options now available, it’s a good opportunity to look at the ins and outs of cable TV. In this article, I’ll examine three positives and three negatives about cable TV to help you make an informed decision.

Website design By BotEap.comAdvantage #1: Stability

Website design By BotEap.comCable TV 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-severe storms). The cable, on the other hand, will only shut down if there is some fault in the overall system, such as a broken cable or router. This will occur much less frequently than storms, so cable TV will provide much more consistent service.

Website design By BotEap.comAdvantage #2: Bundling

Website design By BotEap.comSpecial offers are often available when you bundle your cable TV with other services into 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.

Website design By BotEap.comAdvantage #3: Price

Website design By BotEap.comCable TV can actually be quite cheap, if you don’t add too many options. Initial hardware costs are quite cheap 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 TV can be the cheapest form of television besides buying an antenna.

Website design By BotEap.comDisadvantage #1: Annoying Monopolies

Website design By BotEap.comMany 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 non-existent in many cases, and consumer satisfaction with cable TV companies is consistently one of the worst among companies in the United States.

Website design By BotEap.comDisadvantage #2: Confusing Pricing Packages

Website design By BotEap.comMany 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 deal. However, you should really do your 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.

Website design By BotEap.comDisadvantage #3: Privacy

Website design By BotEap.comIf you’re bundling your cable TV with the Internet (and many people do), you’ll have less privacy on the Internet. Cable Internet works with a stable IP address that doesn’t change, so people can easily track your visits to your sites. Compare this to DSL, where you can easily reset your IP by power cycling your modem.

Website design By BotEap.comWith these advantages and disadvantages in mind, you’ll be in a better position to make a decision about whether to choose cable television.