Rural life is peaceful; you learn to love it, especially if the constant hustle and bustle of big cities is tiresome to you. The only sound you might miss is that of good old cable TV, keeping you entertained with the latest news, all-time favorite shows, and cheesy commercials while you attend to everyday errands.
TV options for rural areas are compromised, mainly due to the lack of telecommunications infrastructure. The process of laying down a network of cables is often expensive and difficult due to the unusual topography, and the scarce population makes this venture even less profitable.
When looking for TV providers in rural areas, satellite TV is going to come up as the most promising option. On a side note, you can always subscribe to one or more streaming services if you have a reliable internet connection. Last but not least, there’s the longstanding TV antenna!
So, how do you plan to elevate your rural entertainment scene? Let’s compare possible options and help you find the best TV service for your lifestyle.
Satellite TV for Rural Areas
Let’s start with Satellite TV, which is the best rural TV service, given its countrywide availability. Satellite TV brings you all the content you treasure on cable TV, but without the extensive underground/overhead wired network.
Here’s how Satellite TV works:
- The provider pays television networks to gain the right to broadcast their content via satellite.
- Data signals of different TV channels are transmitted from the provider’s hub to satellites orbiting the Earth.
- A satellite dish on the customer’s property receives signals from the satellites in space and forwards them to a receiver in the house.
- The receiver processes the signal to display the desired content on your TV set.
When conventional TV choices fail you, Satellite TV providers like DIRECTV and DISH Network can be your hero.
Price Range: $74.99 - $164.99/mo.1
Channel Count: 165 - 340+
- Unbeatable sports packages
- Greater variety of channels
Price Range: $91.99 - $121.99/mo2
Channel Count: 190 - 290+
- Impressive DVR storage capacity
- Best for kid-friendly content
New approved residential customers, price incl. TV pkg & equip. fees for first TV. Add’l fees may apply to non-qualified customers. Equipment lease req’d. Early agmt termination fee applies ($20/mo.) & add’l fee(s) may apply if equip. not returned. Credit card req’d. Restr’s apply. One-time $19.95 activation fee may apply.
All offers require 2-year commitment with early termination fee and eAutoPay. See offer details
Pros and Cons of Satellite TV
👍 PROS:
- Widely available
- Diverse range of content/high channel count
- Access to live sports and programs
- High-quality visuals and sound
👎 CONS:
- Requires a dish antenna/bulky and expensive equipment
- Pricey plans + contract terms
- Signal disruptions and outages due to weather interference
Streaming TV for Rural Areas
Who needs cable TV when you can watch all the best movies and TV shows at your convenience with streaming services? Netflix, Hulu, Disney+, Max, and Prime Video are among the most popular streaming services in the United States. The best part is that they’re affordable and you can subscribe to multiple services to expand your entertainment options.
New to streaming? Here’s how you get started:
- Sign up for an adequate internet connection; aim for at least 25 Mbps download speed (the faster, the better).
- Purchase a Smart TV or streaming device (to stream on a regular TV set).
- Subscribe to one or more streaming services of your choice; consider bundling options.
- Sign in to your streaming service account via multiple devices and enjoy!
Pros and Cons of Streaming TV
👍 PROS:
- Flexible plans and pricing
- No contract/commitment required
- On-demand content
- Access to exclusive original content
- Compatible with a wide range of devices
- Option to stream on the go (nationwide)
👎 CONS:
- Requires a strong internet connection
- Some streaming services don’t support older TV sets that lack HD
- Encourages binge-watching, which can be unhealthy
Internet-Based TV Services for Rural Areas
Frankly speaking, you can access pretty much any content, as long as you have a good internet connection. The array of free web and mobile streaming apps we have today is insane! Digital platforms like YouTube, PlutoTV, and Tubi let you watch infinite shows and films in exchange for ad-watching.
Therefore, when conventional TV is unattainable, internet-based TV is an excellent substitute. Now the question is, how do you get a suitable internet plan for streaming in rural areas? Once again, satellite is your best option.
Check out the best satellite internet providers for streaming:
Download Speeds: 25 Mbps - 150 Mbps (Speeds are "up to," are not guaranteed and will vary)
VIEW PLANS
Pros and Cons of Internet-Based TV
👍 PROS:
- Infinite streaming possibilities
- No TV subscription charges
👎 CONS:
- Rural internet can be slow and unstable
- Satellite internet is expensive and has latency issues
Free & Low-Cost Rural TV Options
We already talked about online streaming apps that let you watch all sorts of content for free, as long as you don’t mind the commercials in between. However, satellite internet plans for rural areas do not come cheap; thus, if you want to cut down costs, seek a cheaper internet connection.
Many rural areas have access to DSL, mobile internet (4G/5G), and fixed wireless services. All these internet options are more affordable than satellite internet, and for the most part, offer more reliable and low-latency internet.
Can’t find a cheap internet service? No worries, we have one more trick up our sleeves to get you free TV - Over-the-Air (OTA) Antennas!
Best TV Antennas for Rural Households
Gone are the days when TV antennas got you channels you could count on the fingers of one hand. Today, you can get as many as 100 channels, depending on the range of your antenna and your location. Rural areas are typically far away from transmitters of different TV stations; hence, indoor and low-range antennas won’t work.
Some viable outdoor antennas for rural residents include:
OTA Antennas only require a small initial investment, and after that, it’s literally free TV. Correct installation and positioning of the antenna are vital for strong signals and good reception; you may add a signal booster to improve reach.
How to Choose the Best TV Option?
To determine the best rural TV service for you, begin by establishing your content preferences (live sports, local news, classic entertainment, original content, etc.); the next thing to reflect upon is affordability. For a traditional cable TV experience without internet, satellite TV service is the best option; if that’s out of your budget, you may settle for an OTA antenna.
Antenna TV offers limited channels, but the selling point is that it’s free of charge. In case you own a reliable internet connection, and prefer on-demand content, internet-based TV and online streaming services should be more your style. Lastly, bundling your internet with TV service can be an advantageous approach.
FAQs
What is the best way to get TV in remote areas?
Satellite TV services are best for remote areas, as they are easily accessible, offer a huge variety of content, and feature high-quality picture and sound without an internet connection.
Which is the cheapest TV option for rural areas?
An outdoor antenna is the cheapest way to watch TV in rural areas. It only requires an initial investment (for the equipment) and is practically free of charge afterwards.
Is streaming TV better than satellite TV?
Satellite TV is better for a conventional television experience without internet. Streaming TV services are relatively affordable and flexible, but require a strong internet connection.