In the 21st century, television is one of the most popular and widely used means of communication and entertainment in the daily lives of many people. The interesting thing about television is that it has adapted to all the technological advances that have arisen after its invention.
Because of this, nowadays there are many options with which people can enjoy their favorite content. On this occasion, we will talk about two of them: cable TV and IPTV. Yes, we will compare IPTV vs. cable services. Which service is better, how do they differ, what are the advantages and disadvantages of one service over the other?
Read on for answers to all the above questions. Cable TV vs IPTV, what to choose? From Boom TV, where we are experts in the field and provide excellent live TV services (and much more), we will explain it all to you!
Cable TV and IPTV services: clarifying some basic concepts about both
Before comparing services and considering whether one is better than the other, it is pertinent to know a little about them and how they work. We will explain it very briefly and without technicalities. And is that the IPTV system and cable TV are quite different. Let’s see below:
Cable TV
Cable TV is one of the oldest services. How does it work, what does it consist of? Easy: the signal is transmitted from a distribution center, it is sent to the receiving TV sets, through which users can tune in to the channel they want to watch.
To carry out this distribution, the providers have a physical network (similar to the electrical wiring), which reaches the receiving devices by means of a cable known as coaxial. In other words, the signal arrives directly to the TV set, without any intermediary device.
IPTV Service
Well, having understood the above, we can talk about the other service. To begin with, what IPTV means? what is an IPTV? It is also simple to explain, the acronym stands for Internet Protocol Television.
This means that the Internet service is provided directly through the network connection and only when the user wants it. The provider, through the Internet connection, creates a private network exclusively for television so as not to limit the rest of the bandwidth.
And how does the signal reach the receiving device with IPTV services? It does it in a very similar way to a streaming content. In this case, you will need to use an Internet router or a set-top box (often known as an IPTV box).
The signal will not only be visible on a TV set. The provider can indicate other devices compatible with the service in question (such as cell phones, tablets and even computers through applications or programs).
Cable vs IPTV: which one to choose?
Have you understood how both options work? Well, then it’s time to move on to compare cable services with IPTV services. Let’s stop beating around the bush and get down to the nitty-gritty: which is better? Check out this list of factors to consider:
1. Cost
First of all, let’s talk about something that many people are concerned about: IPTV vs cable cost comparison. The price of cable TV services tends to be higher in most cases.
The service is usually provided by companies that also provide other services (such as telephony or residential internet). Often the high cost of cable television is due to the payment of licensing fees for television transmission.
As for IPTV services, it is often more accessible, i.e. cheaper. This is due to the fact that everything is transmitted over the Internet. In principle, this is an advantage.
However, for this reason, many people often doubt the legality of this alternative. This is a point to be taken into account and will be discussed later.
2. Quality of service
What about the quality of both services? The truth is that both are very good and it could be said that they are evenly matched. However, some strong points of one service over the other are notorious. Let’s start with something very important: IPTV vs cable, picture quality.
Regarding image quality, cable TV is usually limited to the analog signal (many times) and to be able to watch the content in higher quality (such as high definition) requires the use of a decoder. On the other hand, IPTV services usually have a higher quality, as they are transmitted over the Internet.
If we make a set top boxes comparison, the difference is not so great. In other words, at the end of the day, both IPTV and cable TV serve the same function: to get the signal to the receiving device. Cable TV can do without it, but with the aforementioned limitation. Therefore, we conclude that they are tied.
3. Variety
The variety of content in both services, both IPTV and cable TV, is one of the most disputed elements since each one has its own strengths. Let’s see why, because at first glance it may seem unimportant, but it is not.
Cable TV usually has very well-defined packages with respect to the content they offer (be it movies, series, documentaries, music, news, among other categories). In some cases, it is even possible to choose specific channels to add to a package you already have in use. It’s great, isn’t it?
However, the IPTV service is not far behind. Some IPTV providers (such as Boom TV) offer the service with access to a wide variety of channels free and unlimited at all times, just as you read, without the need to opt for packages with channels that we often do not watch! The truth is that IPTV services are very worthwhile.
The best thing to do is always to check and get proper information before choosing one service or another (and to avoid surprises later). A good way to get informed is to check the cable or IPTV reviews of the provider you are going to hire.
You can find more interesting information on this subject in our news section (in this link). If you want, you can learn more about the variety of content of IPTV services by clicking here. You will find out why this is the best way to watch TV!
The best IPTV service with Boom TV!
If you have come this far, you have been able to learn a lot about the differences, advantages and disadvantages of two of the most popular services. So, if suddenly a conflict arises in your head between IPTV vs cable services and you don’t know which one to choose, you have a wider criteria and a possibility to choose according to your needs.
We hope we have helped to clarify all your possible doubts. Do you want to hire a TV service at a good price? Don’t think twice and opt for the best IPTV services with Boom TV! We offer more than 2000 channels (including locals and internationals) with varied programming and multiplatform compatibility at an incredible price.If you have any questions or comments, you can contact our team, (you can find the contact options in the bottom right corner of this site), we will be happy to assist you. It will be a pleasure to assist you, so dare to enjoy your favorite content in the best way! You can also check our reseller options here.