Before anyone had ever heard of satellite television, cable television seemed like a good deal. Prices for cable weren't terribly high, the quality was much better than over-the-air programming, and it was possible to get many more channels than ever before. But in the more than a decade since satellite television came into maturity, things have changed greatly. Cable rates have risen to exorbitant new highs, technology has made cable television practically obsolete, and satellite television has risen to the top of the television service industry.
Dish Network's success is a good example of how the satellite television industry is shaking things up for cable television. From its beginning in the 1990's the company has grown to over 15 millions subscribers and has won multiple awards for its customer satisfaction. The subscribers of Dish Network were mostly all ex-cable subscriber who were dissatisfied with the service they were receiving and tired of paying high prices. Satellite television's rise to the top of the customer satisfaction rankings shows that cable television has not been able to keep up with the demands of its customers. When satellite television came along, customers were relieved to be able to find a new provider to meet their needs.
Price is often the most contentious issue when it comes to cable television. That is because rates have been rising extremely quickly. For cable customers it seems like one rate increase after another cuts into the entertainment budget and prevents them from upgrading their services or taking advantage of any of the newest technologies. With many areas of the country experiencing rate increases exceeding 8% each year, cable customers have been relieved to switch to Dish Network's service which has not had large rate increases. In fact, Dish Network's service has remained extremely affordable, even for the most advanced services like high definition television.
Along with large rate increases, cable customers have gotten tired of paying extra for every little service that seems like it should be included in the base price. Services like digital cable and even the electronic program guide can cost many dollars more for cable subscribers. This eliminates a lot of the convenience and enjoyment of the newest technologies and keeps families from getting the level of television service they deserve. Cable's inclination to nickel and dime customers differs from Dish Network's service which includes things like fully digital television, parental controls, on-screen caller ID, and electronic program guides in the package price.
Cable television customers are also having trouble accessing high definition television and other advanced services. It is especially troubling that only a few HDTV channels are available in many areas of the country through cable television providers. With high definition television poised to take over the television industry, it is very important for customers to start having access to this format. With Dish Network, it is already possible to get dozens of HD channels.
The appearance of satellite television in the television industry greatly changed many things. For cable companies, satellite television has meant that customers no longer have to put up with inferior service and high prices- they can just switch providers to get better values and more entertainment.
