Cable vs. Sat: Accurate?

[Ira Lacher]

This was an article that appeared in Monday's Des Moines Register. Comments?

http://desmoinesregister.com/business/stories/c4789010/23393013.html

[FTA Michael]

First, I was surprised by the casual, flowery tone of the article; it sounded more like what a columnist would write. I wonder whether the reporter or an editor wrote such section headings as "Think global, subscribe local" and "Hail, the almighty dollar".

Second, I'm a little surprised how clearly the article favors the local cable company. The first section head shows that more truly local programming is on cable, and the second discusses how "Satellite companies tout themselves as a bargain alternative."

Examine the words the reporter uses. DBS companies "tout themselves", but the cable company "keys on the fact" of local employment. Cable "bring(s) around new equipment" if something breaks; DBS "has started to tout a lease option".

How about this sentence: "Remember, satellite TV companies have an incentive to get you equipment on the cheap - so you'll pay your monthly bills like a nice customer." Sounds like a wise uncle trying to caution a teenage nephew against doing something stupid.

Finally, let's list who gets quoted, in order:
* Market research analyst, who says digital cable is comparably priced per channel
* Cable company "spokesman"
* Cable company vice president
* Local appliance store salesman, surprised how many people want DBS
* DBS viewer, happy
* DirecTV "spokesperson", (so why was the cable dude a "spokesman"? but I digress) mainly suggesting new subs shop around for installation deals
* Local Dish installer

So at the top of the article, we find how valuable the local cable company is. Further down, we read that some folks prefer DBS just because it saves a few bucks, apparently. Buying equipment is portrayed strictly negatively; leasing relieves customers' "worry about their equipment becoming obsolete."

It's not a cable company press release, but it's slanted that way. Again, I expected much better from the Register. Oh, and TiVo says PVR is a trademark; if so, it's used incorrectly in the article.

[greggg]

I can only speak of my experience. I live in a suburb of Chicago and had cable because our reception is awful. I got fed up with the snowy picture and got E* which I have had for about 8 years. No real complaints other than my locals are becoming more pixelated, but still easier to deal with than Cable. I Just got an HD TV and went with Comcast for HD locals, because of my no-antenna problem. The HD picture is great, but the analog cable is awful and everytime I get upset and want to change providers my wife turns the Comcast SD feed on and I bite my tongue and switch back to the E* input.

[Bogy]

I can only speak of my experience. I live in a suburb of Chicago and had cable because our reception is awful. I got fed up with the snowy picture and got E* which I have had for about 8 years. No real complaints other than my locals are becoming more pixelated, but still easier to deal with than Cable. I Just got an HD TV and went with Comcast for HD locals, because of my no-antenna problem. The HD picture is great, but the analog cable is awful and everytime I get upset and want to change providers my wife turns the Comcast SD feed on and I bite my tongue and switch back to the E* input.
What does this have to do with the article or cable quality in Des Moines?

[greggg]

I could go into a page long diatribe, but it relates to it because the original poster is looking for people's opinion on the acurracy of the article comparing DBS and cable. I can compare both side by side since I have both. I guess it has nothing to do with cable quality in Iowa though, on that my hat's off to you. Maybe you can solve the Lindberg kidnapping next.

[Mike123abc]

They also tried to point out how many people the cable company keeps employed locally. This is pretty deceptive... How many satellite installers, people selling satellite, etc... Very few cable companies are locally owned and operated...

[Bogy]

I could go into a page long diatribe, but it relates to it because the original poster is looking for people's opinion on the acurracy of the article comparing DBS and cable. I can compare both side by side since I have both. I guess it has nothing to do with cable quality in Iowa though, on that my hat's off to you. Maybe you can solve the Lindberg kidnapping next.
I don't need to go into a diatribe, and I don't currently have both DBS and Cable, but I have had DBS and now have digital cable. I happen to be served by one of the best cable companies in the country, and because I get a better package deal from Cox Omaha for a combination of digital cable, local and long distance phone service, and Internet access, with great service in all these areas, plus really great customer service, I have no reason to go back to DBS. And I can't afford to. Now I realize that not everyone is as lucky as I am, and when I lived in St. Louis I had no other choice but either OTA or DBS. I don't know what the service is like in Des Moines, but for me to tell my story of a very satisfactory experience with a cable company and say that is the norm that everyone should experience means is as misleading as for you to tell your horror story and say that is the only possible experience with cable. DBS service might be comparable nationwide, installers excepted, but with cable companies YMMV, and widely.

[greggg]

bogy that is a point well taken. We have a lot of local politics here in Chicago that has made cable a nightmare, although it has gotten better.