Check the user manual of your television set. Because most basic cable does not use an actual cable receiver, but instead enters your TV through a coaxial cable from the wall, you must have a digital television set. If you have an older TV that is analog (the manual states if it is digital or not) no programming is going to load onto the screen. Using a digital to analog converter box corrects this problem. Connect the coaxial cable running from the wall, then attach a second coaxial cable into the "Out" port on the converter. Then plug the opposite end of the cable into the "In" port on the TV.
Check the cable connection. The coaxial cable must connect to the television on the "In" port. If it is connected to the "Out" connection the television is unable to receive either video or audio signal.
Disconnect the coaxial cable from the TV and inspect the cable. There is a small pin connector in the middle of the cable. If this pin is bent you are not going to receive any audio or video signals. Straighten the connection with a pair of needle-nose pliers.
Contact your local cable company. If the cable is hooked up properly and you are using a digital-to-analog converter box you should not have any connection issues. The signal might have dropped on their end, or the company might not have received your latest payment, so contacting the company often corrects the issues.