Cable, Satellite, Telco TV: Signup Steps

Snapshot. 

• If you watch TV with an ANTENNA, one way to manage the ANALOG channel shutoff is to subscribe to a SUBSCRIPTION TV service.

• The SUBSCRIPTION TV services will probably continue to carry the same local TV stations as today, after the ANALOG channel shutoff. 
  

• If you're thinking of getting a SUBSCRIPTION TV service, do your homework. Most areas have three or more choices of services.

• Consider  getting a "BUNDLE" of services, including TV channels, home phone service, and high speed Internet.

• Compare all packages, prices, offers, and reputations before you commit to a TV service. 

A SUBSCRIPTION TV service will provide local TV stations to ANALOG TVs.  An option for making sure you can easily continue to watch local station channels after the analog channel shutoff is to sign up with a SUBSCRIPTION TV service like CABLE TV, SATELLITE TV, or TV from a TELEPHONE or communications company.  All these companies have said that they will continue to provide the same signals to analog TV sets that they do today, for the near future.  (The non-satellite TV companies are required by law to continue providing local TV signals in analog for at least 3 years after February, 2009). 

Do you have a subscription TV service and TVs that are not connected to it?  You can contact your service provider to see how to get any OVER-THE-AIR TV in your home connected to the service. A  CABLE TV company may need to activate a non-used cable that is already installed in your home, or run a new cable from the cable distribution box to your TV. 

If you have SATELLITE TV and want to connect another TV, you need to contact your provider or installer.  You may need a new SET TOP receiver for the TV and a connection to the satellite dish, or a connection to another satellite receiver.  You may be able to purchase and install these yourself. 

Adding TVs to other TV services, such as TELEPHONE COMPANY TV, may require a new SET TOP for the TV and a connection to the central network distribution box for your location. 

If you don't have a subscription TV service, you probably have several choices for receiving subscription TV.  Almost anywhere, there are two satellite TV choices, DIRECTV and DISH NETWORK.  Nearly all communities have one established CABLE TV provider, and in many communities there are one or more alternate sources of subscription TV service, including other CABLE TV, TELEPHONE COMPANY TV, OR COMMUNICATIONS COMPANY providers. 

Steps for choosing a subscription TV service.

Today, most subscription TV services can provide you with a "BUNDLE" of services that includes TV channels, a broadband or high speed Internet connection, and digital home phone service.  Some can also add cellphone service to the package.  By getting two or more of these services in a BUNDLE, you may get a discount over buying each service by itself.

First, decide if you might be interested in getting TV plus Internet, home phone, and cellphone service in a bundle.  For the services you have now (such as wired phone and cellphone service), write down the level of service you have and all the features (monthly minutes, messaging, etc.) and costs. 

Second,  make a list of the available subscription TV providers in your area, plus their phone numbers and websites (this is easy to to by putting the terms "cable TV" or "satellite TV" and your city name in an Internet search service).  Contact them to get their service packages and prices for comparison.  See if any are offering installation specials or monthly fee discounts.  Make sure that each company can provide service to your home or TV location (for instance, for satellite TV, can you install a satellite dish and aim it at the southern sky?) 

Also, ask friends about their experiences with the different TV providers.  Is the service reliable?  Were installations reasonable and professional?  Is the company responsive to service calls?

Third, compare the hardware requirements for each provider.  CABLE TV usually offers "basic" or "lifeline" service, with all the local broadcast stations and possibly some government access and public interest channels, for between $12 and $20 a month.  And cable may offer "expanded basic" service with more channels; both these levels usually do not  require a SET TOP. 

Or you can get a cable SET TOP which offers more features, including more channels; digital cable, with many channels in digital quality and HDTV options; a TV guide on the screen; a DIGITAL VIDEO RECORDER (DVR); and interactive services such as video-on-demand. 

SATELLITE TV, TELEPHONE COMPANY TV, and others usually require a SET TOP RECEIVER or CONVERTER, and may need one for each TV set connected.  SATELLITE TV will require installation of a satellite dish that can be pointed at the southern sky.  These set tops can also offer "on screen" guides, DIGITAL VIDEO RECORDERS (DVRs), and other advanced features.

All the subscription companies can provide access to HIGH DEFINITION TV (HDTV) signals, both from your local stations and from national TV networks. If you are using an older, non-digital TV, then your TV cannot display HDTV programs with full HDTV quality, so you don't need to add the HDTV feature.  If you buy a new digital TV with HD, you can have your subscription TV company activate the HDTV feature.  Getting access to a package of HDTV channels may require an additional monthly fee.

Fourth, decide what you want to watch.  Local stations only?  Popular national channels?  Special packages featuring sports or cultural programming?  "Premium" subscription channels such as HBO, Starz, or Showtime?  Do you want the service to include a DVR or video-on-demand programs?

Finally, compare the TV channel packages from each provider.  Look at the basic, or lowest price, service from each, then look at the upgraded packages with more channels, and the higher (monthly) prices.  Decide which specialty packages and "premium" services you might be interested in (these have their own monthly fees).

Summary: key factors to consider in choosing a subscription TV provider.

• service availability to your residence or TV location
• what "bundle" of video, wired or home phone, broadband Internet, and possibly cellphone service you may want
• hardware requirements, features, and costs
• video channel packages and costs
• installation costs
• discounts and long term contract requirements
• the local service reputation of the video company

Click the "back button" on  your browser to return to the home page.

CAPITALIZED WORDS are defined in the Digital TV Glossary.