TV Chat

Shermann

(8,547 posts) Sat Oct 23, 2021, 10:36 AM Oct 2021

If you had SATV in the 90's, you were somebody!

I was envious of my friends who had DIRECTV back then. The guide was a wonder to behold. Cable TV was reasonably good at the time, too.

Fast-forward to today. SATV is lagging behind in 4K adoption. I believe DISH has like two 4K channels. Blackouts due to carriage disputes are commonplace. In just the past year, DISH has blacked out NBC and FOX in my area. The amount of time devoted to commercials has been steadily increasing, making live TV barely watchable. Many of these OTA/CATV/SATV channels seems to be glorified advertisements for the corresponding streaming services (and prescription drugs). CBS reserves their best shows like Star Trek: Picard for their CBS All Access subscriptions. AMC will broadcast one series of Creepshow, but withhold the others for AMC+. Disney is doing the same with Disney+.

So if you have SATV, you are not watching the premium content any longer. You are not the envy of your friends, and your costs for this service in decline have risen faster than inflation. It's a lose lose lose.

5 replies

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If you had SATV in the 90's, you were somebody! (Original Post) Shermann Oct 2021 OP

The house I brought in 1993 had a massive satellite dish in the back yard kimbutgar Oct 2021 #1

I have DISH now Shermann Oct 2021 #2

I have used both services and Dish is much better than Direct TV kimbutgar Oct 2021 #4

In the end, it will all be delivered via internet, paid by subscription. lastlib Oct 2021 #3

My oldest brother, an electrical engineer, had satellite TV... Buckeye_Democrat Oct 2021 #5

kimbutgar

(23,114 posts)

1. The house I brought in 1993 had a massive satellite dish in the back yard

Reply to Shermann (Original post)

Sat Oct 23, 2021, 10:40 AM

Oct 2021

The previous owner also left us the receiver and we had satellite tv. We used to watch the east coast channels at 5 pm. We got spoiled but eventually networks left the satellite and the satellite broke into pieces during a heavy rainstorm and we were forced to use Dish.

Shermann

(8,547 posts)

2. I have DISH now

Reply to kimbutgar (Reply #1)

Sat Oct 23, 2021, 11:44 AM

Oct 2021

They stack up pretty well against DIRECTV, depending on what package you get. They may have lagged more in the 90's. DIRECTV's 4K selection is a bit better, but nothing to write home about.

I suffer along with my middle-tier package and am subject to the occasional rant.

kimbutgar

(23,114 posts)

4. I have used both services and Dish is much better than Direct TV

Reply to Shermann (Reply #2)

Sat Oct 23, 2021, 12:58 PM

Oct 2021

My mother in law has DirectTv and when we visit I struggle to use it as it is not as user friendly as Dish.

lastlib

(24,740 posts)

3. In the end, it will all be delivered via internet, paid by subscription.

Reply to Shermann (Original post)

Sat Oct 23, 2021, 12:57 PM

Oct 2021

and those with poor internet delivery will be left out.

Buckeye_Democrat

(15,026 posts)

5. My oldest brother, an electrical engineer, had satellite TV...

Reply to Shermann (Original post)

Sat Oct 23, 2021, 01:02 PM

Oct 2021

... in the late-80's while living in Colorado, plus some kind of descrambler to get broadcasts from all over the world.

Lucky for him, he was never caught doing it. I assume it was very illegal anyway.

His satellite dish was NOT through some commercial enterprise like DISH.

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