Most of us rely on our television sets for information, knowledge, and most of all, entertainment. In fact, recent studies show that an average TV viewer would watch about 78,705 hours of television in their lifetime. That is why it isn’t at all that surprising to find out that billions, yes, billions of households around the world own at least one television set.
And because we rely so much on our TVs, we always value the viewing experience that comes with it. Moreover, we take into serious consideration how exactly we can get our hands on the content we consume via television. The most common? TV Aerials, Cable and Streaming. The last one, however, is a whole different beast, and so today, we’re discussing only the first two.
And instead of walking you down a list of pros and cons for each, I’m going to take a stand and say that using a TV Aerial (for the services like Freeview, the UK’s Digital Terrestrial Television provider) is much better than a cable subscription . Here’s why:
1. It Costs Less
A cable subscription means having to pay expensive fees for channels you don’t even watch, save for about 4 or 5. Such subscriptions range anywhere from £25 to around £50, which means you’d be paying thousands of money annually for a service you’re not consuming for its full potential.
Meanwhile, if you go for a TV aerial, you won’t have to worry about monthly costs at all! You just have to shell out a few bucks for the TV aerial and its installation if you don’t have one already installed, as well as any compatible equipment you don’t already own. (i.e. a Freeview-ready TV or set-top box)
And even then, installing it is pretty simple. All you have to do is contact an aerial installation service company to help you out. AerialForce, for example, can help you out with aerial installations in Sussex , Birmingham, Falmouth and London among many others!
2. Aerial TV Offers More Flexibility
And because you’re already saving a lot of money by installing a TV aerial, that means you have the budget flexibility to spring for one or two streaming service subscriptions. This way, you get to diversify the content you consume and have access to exclusive or premium content, all for the cost of a monthly cable subscription!
3. There Is No Pressure To Consume As Much Of That Content You’re Paying For (Because You’re Not Paying For Anything)
If we’re talking about the number of channels each service provider offers, then a standard cable subscription would outmatch aerial TV, without a doubt. However, you probably do not, and will never, watch every single channel your cable service provider offers anyway.
So, if you think about it, this would also mean less pressure for you to make the most of whatever you’re paying for on cable! To put it simply, if you ever decide to leave your TV on one channel for the rest of your life, it wouldn’t matter because you’re not losing any money by paying for something you don’t even make use of.
4. You’ll Have Access To Channels That Are Not Distributed By Cable Service Providers
Some of the channels on an aerial TV service aren’t exactly accessible anywhere else. This is because some broadcast companies offer sub-channels that Pay-TV service providers pass on. That means these channels can only be accessed when you are using an antenna or TV aerial.
Alternatively, if you’re worried about not having access to channels or programmes that are only available on cable, do not fret! Service providers like Freeview offer subscription-only channels which you can opt in, or out of, at any time.
You also have the option to sign up for much-cheaper-than-cable live TV packages online, like the NowTV Entertainment Pass. ( Read : In 2018, this would have been one of the easiest ways to get your hands on a Game of Thrones episode while using Freeview!)
5. A TV Aerial Is Almost Weather-Proof
Extreme climates or weather conditions can hinder the services or signal transmission of cable TV. A TV aerial, on the other hand, would experience some interruptions and affect picture quality, but the signals will be transmitted nevertheless.
That means any information will still be relayed to you when you need it the most. (i.e. Storm signals, blizzard or tornado warnings)
6. High-Quality TV Pictures
Cable service providers are known for compressing the signals that broadcast networks deliver. This means if you’re using an antenna or TV aerial, you are more likely to notice a difference in quality, even for standard definition pictures.
7. Troubleshooting Is Much Easier
Lastly, any issues you may encounter while using a TV aerial may easily be fixed with the following:
- Repositioning your antenna or TV aerial
- Replacing your coaxial cables
- Installing a signal amplifier or attenuator
- Restarting your device
Cable TV subscriptions, on the other hand, would require you to call an expert or a technician to conduct the diagnosis of the issue or any necessary repairs.
I am Author on Selfgrowth