Cable TV is getting more expensive every year. Between 2007 and 2017, USA Today reports cable bills increased by 53 percent, soaring to more than $100 per month¹.
You don’t have to pay these high prices for cable TV. You have options, and satellite TV could be a cheaper alternative. If you don’t want to lose your favorite TV channels but need to save money, here’s why you should consider satellite TV.
Bill Oxford / Getty ImagesSatellite TV Works Everywhere
Cable isn’t cheap, and it also isn’t convenient. If you’re a cable subscriber, you know there are plenty of limitations. In some cities, you only have one option for your cable TV service. In others, cable is limited entirely – especially if you’re in a rural area.
Switch to satellite, however, and these problems will disappear. Satellite TV is available everywhere, from rural towns to big cities. As long as you can install a satellite dish on your home and face the dish to the south, you can enjoy satellite service².
No matter where you live, satellite TV is an option. And with satellite, you can choose any provider. There are zero limitations, giving you more options and more flexibility.
Satellite Offers the Same Programming as Cable
One of the biggest concerns people have about getting rid of cable is the loss of their favorite channels. Cable offers a huge selection of TV channels and programming – and some channels, like local sports stations, aren’t available elsewhere.
However, don’t let the fear of losing your favorite channel stop you from making the switch to satellite. Satellite TV offers the same channels as cable, from premium options like HBO and Showtime to sports programming. As Diffen explains, satellite TV offers even more options; you’ll get both east and west coast channels, as well as alternate sports programming for an even bigger selection³.
And satellite TV offers programming and channels that cable doesn’t. With satellite, you can get international channels, which aren’t available on cable. You can also browse a wider selection of regional channels because you’ll have access to programming from coast to coast. With hundreds of channels to browse, you won’t miss anything at all when you switch to satellite.
You Can Bundle Satellite and Other Services for Savings
Cable has its perks, and that’s why so many people continue to stick with it even as prices increase. One of the most popular perks cable companies offer is bundling. You can easily bundle your TV, internet, and phone service with one cable company. And that allows you to have just one bill each month – and sometimes, you can get significant savings by bundling.
However, giving up cable doesn’t mean you have to give up your bundle. You can still bundle your TV, internet, and home phone service when you switch to satellite.
Just like cable providers, satellite providers offer bundles and service packages. And you may be able to save money just like you would with cable by combining your satellite TV, internet, and phone service. Reviews.org⁴ reports that DirecTV and Dish, the two most popular satellite companies, offer bundling options that start at $35 and $60 respectively.
Satellite TV Can Be Cheaper
Whether you choose to bundle your services or not, there’s one big advantage satellite offers that cable cannot. Satellite TV can be cheaper.
The cost of satellite TV depends on the channels or packages you choose. But it can add up to less than what you’re paying for cable every month.
Part of the reason satellite TV can be cheaper is simply its setup. In order to have cable TV, you have to pay taxes and fees. Those taxes and fees, which increase often, are typically imposed by local governments or TV providers who offer certain channels. As Lifewire⁵ reports, subscribing to cable also means you’re paying to help cable companies maintain their outdated underground cable lines and upgrade to digital, modern technology.
Your TV package could come with far fewer extra costs because satellite doesn’t have to worry about any of these expenses. According to CheatSheet⁶, new customers can expect to pay the following estimates for switching to DirecTV instead of cable:
- $20 for a basic package of 145 channels
- $25 for an entertainment package of 150 channels
- $30 for a “choice” package with 175 channels
- $90 for a premium package that includes 315 channels
Add internet and phone to your satellite TV package, and your total might increase by around $50 to $60 per month. If you’re already paying $100 or more per month for cable, your savings could be significant with satellite.
How to Find the Best Satellite Packages and Deals
Now that you know the benefits of choosing satellite TV over cable TV, there’s just one more thing to do. You need to do your research and shop around before making the switch to satellite.
Satellite providers know plenty of people are giving up cable. And in order to earn your business, satellite companies offer plenty of incentives, sales, and special offers for new customers. These special deals could save you a ton of money – but you need to find them, know about them, and ask for them when you sign up with a satellite provider.
Search online to see what satellite TV companies are offering new customers right now. You can also search for seasonal specials and ongoing sales. And while you’re looking at prices, don’t forget to compare. You should compare the offers from satellite providers to see which offers the best deal and lowest price to make sure you’re getting the best possible deal.