One major difference in satellite television and cable television is where they are available. In this category, satellite dishes have the clear advantage. Satellite coverage can reach anywhere where there is a clear view of the sky. The satellite signal is beamed up from the company to satellites orbiting in space and the signal comes back down to your dish and television set. Whether you live in an urban area or in the middle of nowhere, you can still get satellite television in high definition with all the same channels available from that service. With cable television, the reach of the service is limited. Although most cities and towns have cable available to the majority of their households, rural homes are unlikely to have access to cable since there must be an actual line run to the residence.
Satellite television and cable television require different equipment. Cable is usually run into the house through the cable and into a small box that sits on the television set. Overall it's a pretty simple installation. Satellite television requires the installation of a dish that points to a specific area of the sky to receive the signal. In addition, a cable then runs inside from the dish and hooks to equipment on the set that is similar to a cable box. Each may require additional equipment for DVR systems or combination television/Internet service.
If you are subscribing to satellite television, there may be a higher upfront cost because of the price of equipment and installation. Sometimes there are incentives for new customers that will include free equipment, but it can be somewhat costly in other situations. For cable there is usually an installation fee that is also often waived for customers switching to the service, but no equipment fees upfront. On the other hand, cable television is subject to several additional taxes put on your bill each month that satellite owners do not have to pay.
If you sign up for cable television, then you pay your bill each month and can have it turned off at any time. Satellite television typically requires a service contract, locking you into a one- or two-year commitment to pay for a certain package each month. It is similar to cell-phone service contracts. If you decide to shut down your satellite service early, you may be charged an early-termination fee.