We've come a long way since rabbit ears on the tv set or an antenna on the chimney. We've seen the advent of cable tv, satellite tv and now you can watch thousands of cable and satellite programs for free online!
It seems to take many years for things to develop in the world of television reception. The most recent evolution is Internet TV which means you can now watch TV on the Internet for free. I remember when virtually every home had a TV antenna on the roof and, if not, rabbit ears on top of the set. I recall when cable TV was first introduced and how much time it took for the general public to comprehend its advantages and get used to the concept of paying money for something they formerly (and still could) get for free
The advantages of cost-free web TV should be readily apparent but before Internet TV became available, the important advantages of cable TV over reception via roof antenna were picture clarity and the amount of channels one could choose from. Before cable, most large cities had just 5 over-the-air channels available: The network affiliate stations: ABC, CBS and NBC plus PBS and possibly one independent station. That was it. Cable television offered many alternatives to network TV plus the old network local TV Stations as well. And, the picture quality was a great improvement over what could be accessed over the air. Even so, people were slow to appreciate and take on the new technology, at once.
After an adjustment cycle of about 10 years, cable TV all at once came into its own and ugly, metal TV antennae rapidly began disappearing from the tops of houses. An indication that cable TV had arrived at near unanimous acknowledgment was seen in the fact that most homeowners' associations in middle class and upscale neighborhoods now outlawed rooftop antennas altogether. The cable television barons now ruled the world of TV reception which used to be the domain of the TV networks.
The banning of rooftop antennae actually became a barrier to future progress when satellite TV was debuted because, at first, many homeowners' associations considered satellite dishes to be one more kind of television aerial. Many, but not all, homeowners' association bylaws were eventually rewritten to allow satellite TV dishes on building exteriors.
Today, satellite TV is in competition with cable TV for the same customer base. Reception quality is the same, with the inception of high definition channels being offered by both sources (for a price, of course.) The case for one source of TV programs over the alternative is usually about costs and the number and type of channels available. The argument for Internet television is that you get everything you can obtain from your local cable or satellite company, and more, for FREE.
Cable TV will probably never vanish because it is obtainable in almost all areas in most countries and it is a key source of high speed internet service which can be accessed at extra cost over the basic television programs. The problem is that basic cable TV service is compulsory before you can obtain high speed internet as an add-on. If you want to get around paying for cable TV, you can acquire DSL high speed Internet from your local phone company, assuming you are not situated too far away from the closest telephone company switching center. You need high speed Internet service to watch web TV so you still will have to pay for that.
The conundrum of having to pay for television programming still sticks in the craw of persons who remember free TV coming in over the air, which was supported completely by sponsor commercials. Fortunately, an alternative to paid cable and satellite reception is now to be had to any person with a computer and a high-speed web connection. Software programs are now becoming available that allow free connection over the Internet to thousands of different programs (worldwide and local) presently being televised over cable and satellite. There is no charge to view these channels, only the affordable cost of the mandatory software and a high speed Internet hook-up. If you don't like the concept of watching web TV on your laptop or desktop, your computer can easily be temporarily wired to your regular TV for living room viewing by the whole family.
Finally, after a long time, TV is at no cost again, well, almost no cost. Just like in the old days, TV programming is paid for by sponsor advertising but if you run your Internet TV signal through a TIVO or similar device, you can record the programs and zip through the advertising. Is this legal? Yes. Is this fair? That would depend on whether you are a network, cable or satellite source or Harry Homeowner enjoying free Internet TV.
© 2011 Robert M. Gillespie, Jr.
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