Choosing a TV Antenna Over Satellite or Cable

Cut the cable cord and still watch your favorite shows

By
Matthew Torres
Matthew Torres
Writer
  • Texas State University-San Marcos
Former Lifewire writer Matthew Torres is a journalist who writes about television technology, consumer support articles, and TV-related news.
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Updated on December 2, 2020

You may think of TV antennas as relics of a simpler, less digital time, but today's TV antennas are a great way to access local networks and save money if you want to do away with cable and satellite television. Here are five benefits of using a TV antenna.

You don't have to get rid of your cable or satellite service to install an antenna. Adding an antenna can improve existing signal quality, and they're ideal for users with many broadcast stations in their locality.

Analog, rabbit ear TV with digital code on it representing digital tv antenna
pagadesign / Getty Images

Antennas Save Money

Antennas are, by default, money savers because their job is to receive free TV. If you use a cable or satellite service, you may pay a monthly local service fee to receive local channels. Installing a TV antenna means you can cancel that service fee and enjoy local programming for free, which is how it was meant to be.

Some of your local channels may have moved to a new broadcast frequency. To find your favorite local channels at their new frequencies, rescan your antenna through your TV's settings.

Find Channels Your Provider Doesn't Offer

While your cable, satellite, or streaming service offers a seemingly endless number of channels and entertainment options, many broadcast stations offer at least one subchannel. These subchannels aren't available through your cable or satellite service. Instead, you'll need an antenna to access them.

Subchannels vary depending on your location, but they often include an all-weather station, retro television network, and public television channels.

Receive Out-of-Market Channels

If you live near multiple TV markets, you may be able to receive signals from more than one area. If so, having a TV antenna will allow you to access free stations in multiple markets, along with more subchannels and a wider range of news and sports programming.

Get Peace of Mind

Satellite subscribers understand that their satellite signal may disappear during bad weather, which is a concern in areas that experience tornado warnings or wintry storms. When keeping a signal is critically important, nothing beats a TV antenna.

View Uncompressed High-Definition Signals

It's no secret that broadcast networks deliver an uncompressed signal, and cable and satellite providers compress theirs. Antenna fans say they can detect a quality difference when they receive uncompressed high-definition signals.

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