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I mean if you go into a store and buy a TV how many basic channels do you get?
You'll pick up as many stations as your antennae will pick up. If you're lucky, you'll get all of the major networks (ABC, CBS, NBC, FOX, and maybe WB and UPN) along with a PBS (Public Broadcasting) station or other local public access stations which are often non-english language stations.
Or is all TV through cable and you pay more if you want more channels? Things like HBO for example they cost more right?
Cable/satellite is more complicated. Not everyone can afford those things, so many people go without it. That's increasingly rare among the middle class, though. Cable works as a tiered system - there's basic cable, which is the cheapest package and includes the most popular non-premium channels (think: Comedy Central, CNN, Fox News, MSNBC, C-SPAN, ESPN, Food TV, TNT, MTV, Nickelodian, USA, Lifetime, etc). There are other stations that you might get if you paid a little extra for expanded service, and then you have to pay for HBO, Cinemax, Showtime, and Pay-per-view separately. Cable can only give you so many channels, so it's up to your local cable provider what stations you will be able to get. Loads of obscure channels aren't available nationwide.
Satellite/digital cable works in a similar way, but offers a lot more channels. Nevertheless, there's only so much room on the digital or satellite signal, so you still don't get everything, just what's offered on your deal. My parents have satellite tv, and there's loads of channels they can't get, but if they paid a little extra, they could. This is mostly for specific stuff - for example, if my dad was so inclined to get certain sports specialty channels, he could if he wanted to. He does subscribe to a few of them, like a special 24 hour NY Yankees network. |
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