The Pros and Cons of Cable TV

Cable television is everywhere and has become a part of our day to day life. It will not be entirely wrong to say that it is difficult to imagine a life without access to television today. However, like any other technology this one too has its pros and cons. In this article I will be evaluating and analyzing the pros and cons of cable TV:

Variation and Choice:

Cable TV has so many different TV channels and shows to choose from and there is an endless variety of things to watch on demand and live. There are also many Time Warner alternatives available on cable TV as compared to satellite television. Because of this, it is guaranteed that cable TV has something to suit everyone’s likes and interests and provides constant entertainment for everyone.

The downside of this is that complete packages have to be bought for people to get the shows that they want. This means if they wanted to get the Disney channel, they’d have to buy a kids channel package. This can be quite costly if you want channels that don’t fall under the same category as you’d have to buy a range of different packages to get the channels you want. Sometimes these packages have channels and services within them that might not be suitable for all the family and can cause parental control issues.

Additional equipment and services:

Basic cable doesn’t require anything fancy and can be connected via coaxial cable to the service; however some require specific cable boxes and particular remotes. Boxes such as these provide people with accessibility to more channels, demand services and high definition upgrades and capacities.

A negative to this is after a certain period of time an upgrade is needed, this can be given free if you enter into a new contract, and however, if you’re in an existing one and they crop up, you generally have to pay a fee for new services and equipment. Depending on the type of contract you have and how much you pay, this could be very expensive or cost very little.

Contracts and Cost:

Cable TV is a service that is contracted. There are various competing service providers in most places and this competition often leads to companies enticing customers with introductory offers and prices. Although they can be appealing and money saving, they almost always have a lot of terms and conditions attached to them.

Often, companies increase prices greatly after six months to a year. Extra channels and services cost more so it is important to read the fine print and negotiate an affordable fixed price. Many are also very confusing in explaining exactly how much their service will realistically be in the long run. They may also be unclear on the length of the introduction period and the actual contract. In some cases, there can also be hidden costs, taxes and charges that you aren’t informed of.

Privacy:

Most people purchase combination TV and internet packages when on cable, this means they have a limited amount of privacy and a stable IP address that can quickly and easily track your search history and site visits. This means it is easier for you to be hacked and for cable companies to keep an eye on what you’re doing, what you’re searching, how often you’re on the internet etc.

There are many advantages and disadvantages of cable TV, although it is very versatile, entertaining and has a lot of option, it can be expensive and there is an invasion of privacy. Over all, cable TV is good for those who want endless entertainment and can afford to pay a decent/expensive price for the services.