Boaters have turned to satellite TV as the go-to means of getting great entertainment on yachts and ships since services like DIRECTV launched in the mid-1990s and KVH introduced high-performance stabilized marine satellite TV antennas shortly thereafter.
But does satellite TV still have a place on boats in the age of cord cutting and streaming content?
After all, traditional cable companies and TV providers are seeing dramatic decreases in their subscriber numbers as people shift to high-speed connections and the apps that deliver exactly what they want to watch. And now, the emergence of Starlink and other new Low Earth Orbit satellite networks are boosting the available data speeds and dramatically reducing the cost for data on boats.
The answer is a definitive YES.
Here’s one big reason…
Did you know that a single HD movie typically requires 4.5 GB of data to download or stream?
Most boaters don’t realize that and are surprised when they spend time streaming videos on their boat and are suddenly out of data after a weekend, especially if they rely on Starlink and a 50 GB per month plan.
Think about it – an hour of full HD (1080 dpi) streaming equals 3 GB of data. Three people on board a boat streaming 1 hour a day each will consume more than 60 GB of data in only 7 days. That’s more than a 50 GB monthly plan and that’s with NO internet use, no social media, no video chats, no gaming, and no remote work. Okay, maybe that last one isn’t so bad!
We’ve been having lots of conversations with boaters on this topic recently. Starlink offers fantastic benefits, but when it comes to entertainment, satellite TV is still a great option thanks to hundreds of HD channels, live entertainment, and no data costs. If someone asks you why they shouldn’t just stream all their content, share these four big reasons:
- Save on streaming costs – Internet at sea is far more affordable than it was even a few years ago, but the economics still don’t add up for exclusively streaming content compared to satellite TV.
- One subscription, unlimited viewing – A single monthly subscription means you and everyone onboard can watch all you want on the go.
- Everyone gets to watch what they want – TracVision® systems can support 100+ receivers so every TV can show something different.
- Easy access to live events and local content – Enjoy your favorite programs and sports at the dock and far offshore, at anchor or on the move.
How can the TV enthusiast choose the best option to watch their favorite programming onboard? Take the satellite TV quiz and discover the options best for you!
