Cable Television

Cable television is pretty much the standard of television use today.  Although there are still a number of basic channels that are broadcast by radio waves in through the air, the number of channels available in this manner has remained the same since the 1940’s.  Put simply, there just isn’t enough space in the electromagnetic spectrum to provide for a lot of different television channels.  Each television channel transmitted by air takes up the same amount of space as many dozens of radio stations. 

With cable television, the limitation is the number of different frequencies that can be transmitted through a single coaxial cable.  Transmitting frequencies of television by way of a cable generally provides a lot more space, which has led to a tremendous increase in the number of available channels.  Even better, cable television is usually received a lot better than traditional air broadcast television.  If you’ve ever owned a TV that did not have cable, you’re probably familiar with doing the rabbit ears antennae dance trying to get some decent picture quality.  You don’t have do that anymore with cable TV. 

Cable television costs more, as you have to subscribe for it through a local cable provider, but if you watch TV with any regularity you’ll probably find the extra fee well worth it.  I’ve been a subscriber to cable television now for almost twenty years, and I’ll never go back to the rabbit ears.  Over the years, the way in which the frequencies are transmitted through the cables has gotten more efficient, and more channels have opened up.  Instead of getting seven or eight barely recognizable images like you do with air broadcast TV, you get upwards to seventy or more crystal clear channels with cable TV, depending on where you live and who your cable provider is. 

Cable television may have been the standard for some years now, and may still be today, but it’s probably going to give way to digital television soon.  Digital TV opens the possibility for hundreds of channels, with even better picture quality than traditional cable TV.  The good news is digital TV is transmitted by the same sorts of cables that bring you cable television today.  Digital TV is still in its infancy, and isn’t available everywhere, but cable television is pretty much everywhere in the United States, Canada, Europe, East Asia, and is in most of Australia, South America, and parts of the Middle East.