2- Access to Satellite ...

Access to satellite and Internet television does more harm than good.

Many people have strong feelings about the value of television, especially now that programmes are available through satellite and over the Internet. There are those who suggest that increased access to these programmes does more harm than good. However, there are those who insist that it is a good thing.

There are three main advantages of using satellite and Internet television. Firstly, the satellite and Internet television gives people access to programmes around the world and an opportunity to learn about other cultures. The satellite television in Malaysia is called Astro. One of the Astro package is for learning. It has five channels such as Discovery Channel, National Geographic, Discovery Science, History Channel and Animal Planet. These five channels are in English. With these five channels, we can learn not only English but also knowledge and science. Secondly, there are a lot of programmes is available in satellite and Internet television. We can find our favorite music, sports, movies and documentary channels in there. The most common Internet television, Youtube, has all kind of videos. People around the world share their favorite music videos, sports, movies and documentary video through Youtube. The comments under each of the video also give us a variety of ideas and opinion of the video. Thirdly, the television programmes in other languages can support our language. We learn new words very quickly from television. For English movies, we can improve vocabulary and sound of the words by listening.

On the other hand, there are some disadvantages of using satellite and Internet television. In the first place, people may have access to programmes with unsuitable content. For example, the channel in Astro may have violent action that is not suitable for children. There is a service for parents to lock the channel that is not suitable for children. Kids today are intelligent. To them who born in this technology world, switching channel and unlocked password are very simple for them. Not only children but also young adult may have access to programmes with unsuitable content. In addition, the rising of television programmes give a sense of encouraging people to watch more television. Most of the people in the world especially in the city spend most of their time with television and I believe that every house will have at least a television. Spending too much time on satellite and Internet television will cause less time for outdoor activities. This will cause addiction to television and will cause health problem because lack of exercise. Lastly, although we can learn faster by watching television every day, but some of the programmes may not be culturally appropriate. For example, some of the English movies have sex scene and violent scene that is illegal in Malaysia. With the Internet television, Malaysian can watch any scene that had been censored in the satellite television.

In my opinion, I think satellite and Internet television is good for me because I gain knowledge from the television. I also agree that television have disadvantages but it is depends on the person himself to gain knowledge or not.

- Angeline -