Satellite and Cable TV is what is considered “Traditional TV” and also known as Linear Television. Linear TV means your TV programs run in a straight line on a schedule. Meaning the viewer must watch a scheduled TV program at the actual time of broadcast.
Although satellite and cable subscriptions have been falling off due to other media alternatives such as Netflix, HULU and other choices, the video industry as a whole has only grown. This is because there are more ways than ever to check out your favorite shows than ever before in history.
4 Different Types Of Television
1. Cable TV – TV that comes through a cable wire into your home. Common cable providers are AT&T, Comcast, Charter and so on…..
2. Satellite TV – TV that is beamed down to a dish from a satellite. Providers like Dish and Direct TV are some of the most popular here in the USA.
3. Broadcast TV – TV that comes through your antenna
4. Internet TV AKA OTT – TV delivered through the internet to different platforms like the web, Roku, Apple TV and more.
There are basically two ways to get video content into your living room: You can tune in through a satellite, cable or antenna, or it can be streamed through the internet.
Broadcast TV includes Satellite, cable and Antenna reception. Broadcast networks essentially operate by broadcasting video content from a central location. For cable it is broadcast and delivered to your home through a coaxial cable.
Satellite it comes from radio waves that you pick up with your satellite dish attached to your home.
Cable and satellite both work by allowing you to “tune in” to specific channels within that signal. The big difference is that cable comes into your home through a wire and satellite through the air.
What Is Internet TV?
Internet TV accomplishes the same goal (to put content on your TV) but is delivered through the internet either to your Smart TV (Via a smart TV app) or connected TV device (Roku, FireTV, Apple TV etc…).
Internet TV can also be delivered to your mobile phone or desktop either through an app (like YouTube) or a browser.
Pros & Cons for Consumers
Cable TV Pros & Cons
Pros:
- Quality: No buffering and a dedicated line for video. Video is always high quality.
- Hundreds of channels to choose from with a dedicated program guide.
Cons:
- It’s only available in areas in which cable has been run.
- Cost is typically high
- Requires a cable box and can be a mess of wires in the home.
Satellite TV Pros & Cons
- Programming is very similar to cable.
- It’s available nationwide
- Video quality is generally good.
Cons:
- You must have a large box attached to your TV’s
- You must have a dish attached to your home
- Storms can cause outages.
- It’s generally expensive.
Broadcast TV Pros & Cons
- No subscription fees
- Local news and sports coverage
Cons:
- Limited channel selection
- It needs an antenna for better reception
Internet TV Pros & Cons
Pros:
- Price can be quite a bit lower.
- You only pay for what you want to watch and many channels are free.
- No need to install anything (no dish or cable wires to run)
- There are many choices to pick from.
- You can offer VOD (does not have to be Linear)
- Is available globally
Cons:
- Video quality can suffer if connection speeds drop.
- You may not have access to some of your favorite shows that are only broadcast on cable/satellite.
How Video Creators Can Benefit from Internet TV?
One of the most promising opportunities today is Internet TV—a platform that allows creators to distribute their content on major streaming services like Roku, Fire TV, Apple TV, and Android TV. Unlike traditional social media platforms, Internet TV offers video creators a more stable, scalable, and profitable environment.
1. Greater Audience Reach
Traditional platforms like YouTube and TikTok have millions of users, but Internet TV allows you to tap into millions of households who prefer watching content on smart TVs rather than mobile devices or desktops.
By launching your channel on platforms such as Roku, Fire TV, and Apple TV, you can reach a global audience that actively consumes long-form content on-demand.
2. Higher Monetization Potential
Unlike social media platforms where monetization is limited to ad revenue and brand deals, Internet TV provides multiple income streams:
- Subscription streaming (SVOD) – Charge audiences a monthly fee for exclusive content.
- Ad-supported streaming (AVOD) – Gain revenue by adding in-stream ads.
- Pay-per-watch (TVOD) – Sell special content or organized events.
- Sponsorships & partnerships – Join up with entrepreneurs who are endorsing products on the web-based channels of entertainment.
3. Creative Freedom & Control
One of the biggest challenges for video creators on platforms like YouTube and Facebook is censorship and algorithm changes. With Internet TV, you have full control over your content without worrying about sudden demonetization or restrictions.
No community guidelines restricting creative expression.
You own your audience and content, reducing dependency on third-party platforms.
Custom branding and design allows you to build a professional channel that reflects your unique identity.
4. Brand Authority & Credibility
Having a presence on major Internet TV platforms positions you as a serious content creator or media company.
Unlike social media, which is flooded with user-generated content, streaming TV platforms cater to high-quality, professional content, making your brand appear more authoritative and premium.
How to Start Your Own Internet TV Channel
The popularity of digital streaming has changed the game in creating your channel on the Internet. One of the advantages of an Internet TV channel is that it is not only for creators but also for entrepreneurs or business owners to be able to introduce and keep a loyal audience.
Step 1: Choose the Right Streaming Platform
The first step in starting your own web-based TV channel consists of picking the right streaming service. Platforms such as Roku, Fire TV, Apple TV, and Android TV ease the initiation of the channels, enabling creators to launch their own brands.
These services allow you to get in touch with millions of consumers from all over the world, giving the opportunity to anyone to expand their content distribution.
Step 2: Create & Upload High-Quality Content
Content rules the world. If you want your Internet TV channel to be successful, you will have to create quality, efficient, and dynamic videos which will both entertain and educate your viewers and thus add value to your audience. These are a few tips:
- Know your niche – Find your niche and produce the content according to that particular target group.
- Invest in quality production – High-quality images and crystal-clear sound will make the viewer’s experience better.
- Be consistent – Post regularly new material to make your audience interested.
- Use SEO-friendly titles and descriptions – Get the search engine love for your videos by optimizing them with the right keywords and searching them out by optimizing keyword placement.
Step 3: Use a Channel Management System
Managing an Internet TV channel requires a reliable system to organize and distribute content effectively. Channel Manager allows you to schedule, categorize, and monetize your videos with ease.
At TvStartup, we offer a custom-built Channel Manager that mimics traditional TV distribution while operating entirely online. The system is designed to give video creators complete control over their content, making it accessible anytime, anywhere.
Step 4: Monetize Your Channel
Several ways can be adopted to make a profit from your online TV channel:
- Subscription Model (SVOD) – Request the viewers to pay a monthly or yearly subscription fee to have access to special content.
- Advertising (AVOD) – Make money with ad placements that take place before, during, or after videos.
- Pay-Per-View (TVOD) – Sell the individual episodes or special content for a one-time fee.
- Sponsorships & Partnerships – The collaboration with brands and companies which suits the specific field of your content.
Build Your Internet Network with Ease
So as a broadcaster the obvious choice today is starting your network via the internet. You can literally start your network for just a few hundred dollars on the internet vs millions it takes to acquire your own satellite or cable channel.
When I first started back in 2004 all we did was satellite channels. However, as technology evolved we quickly adapted to help our satellite customers get their network onto the internet.
We had to “mimic” the same type of quality and system that our customers had on satellite and duplicate that onto the internet. This led us to develop our “Channel Manager” which was built from the ground up with TV distribution in mind for our satellite TV clients.
It’s now available to the general public and if you would like to try it you can check it out here. Our channel manager is the first step in starting your internet TV network.