How does local channel access compare for satellite versus cable?
Normally, cable companies make arrangements with all local broadcast television stations to carry their signals on cable wherever they offer cable services to their customers. Local access on satellite varies to a great extent, so that you can expect access to local channels in most metropolitan areas, but station availability in rural areas will depend on what stations are active in the broadcast area, and whether or not the satellite company has made arrangements to pick up and include the signal feed from those stations in the satellite feed available through your antenna. Often, local channel access will be same for both systems; in some cases, cable may carry more or all of the local channels, whereas satellite may carry only a few or some of those same channels.
