Do people still watch satellite TV these days

[jack fugo]

Hey everyone, I was just curious about something. The other day I turned on my old satellite box and was surprised that some of the channels were still working fine. It made me wonder do people still actively watch satellite TV, or has everyone moved completely to online streaming now?

I remember back in the day, satellite was the main way to catch international channels, but things have changed a lot with streaming platforms and all the new tech.

What do you guys use mostly now, satellite, cable, or streaming services? And do you think satellite still has a future?

 

[KyL416]

Between Dish and DTV there are still several million satellite subscribers in the USA. And there are multiple national and local channels that are on DTV satellite and not on DTV stream/internet due to various regulatory and contractual issues. While you and others may not personally care for all of them, there have been posts by other users here and other forums and social media complaining about them not being available.

The big market though is commercial accounts including bars, restaraunts and hotels, which are not allowed to use streaming services like Prime Video, Netflix, YouTubeTV, Peacock, ESPN+ and Apple TV for public viewing, so DIRECTV has many of their live sports on dedicated business channels in the 9000s. They also handle the commercial music licensing so stores, restaraunts and waiting rooms can use the Music Choice channels on their speakers.

There's also the whole cloud vs physical DVR thing that's likely going to create a new wave of lost media a few years from now as most streaming MVPDs with cloud DVRs limit how long you can keep recordings and immediately delete recordings from channels they drop due to a dispute or a channel ceasing operations.

 

[Tom Speer]

I use DIRECTV satellite and streaming. Some of the things I want to watch are only on streaming, but I prefer the satellite experience more.

 

[telstar_1]

You can switch quickly & seamlessly between channels/programs rather than haltingly & clunkily between apps.

 

[alnielsen]

I've been using DTV for 25 years. I have a couple streaming services. I can't go full streaming as my internet provider meters my use and I constantly hit my limit.

 

[John2021]

if verizon fios is telling customers to throw cable boxes out after they cancel. these companies know whats coming!!! the days of 400 -500 channels are over. we were getting robbed between the ad's and the same ole sh*t over and over... knowinng how bad there customer service is i wouldn't touch either one with a 10 foot pole!!! no contracts with streaming so when the rates go up you can cancel just not pay the next months bill or do it via your online acct.. no need to call in to cancel and be bothered with an idiot!!! we have a 10 gig internet fiber conn. there's really no need for cable or sat