Cable of TV: Understanding TV Cables, Connections & Alternatives (2026)

What Is TV Cable?

When people talk about the "cable of TV," they generally mean one of two things: the physical coaxial cable that carries a cable TV signal into your home, or the cable TV industry as a whole. In the physical sense, cable TV relies on a coaxial cable — a round, shielded wire with a single copper conductor at its core — to carry broadband RF (radio frequency) signals from the cable company's distribution network into your home and to your TV or cable box.

How the Signal Works

The cable company transmits hundreds of channels simultaneously as separate RF signals across a wide frequency spectrum. The coaxial cable carries all of these signals at once. Your cable box (or a CableCARD tuner) is a receiver that decodes and separates whichever channel you select. From the cable box, the video and audio are then passed to your TV — traditionally via HDMI or composite cables.

RG6 vs RG59 Coaxial Cable

RG6 is the current standard for residential cable TV and over-the-air antenna installations. It has a thicker conductor and better shielding than the older RG59, which reduces signal loss over longer cable runs and supports the higher frequencies used by modern digital cable and satellite services. If your home has older RG59 coax, upgrading to RG6 can improve picture quality and signal reliability, especially on longer cable runs over 50 feet.

Types of TV Cables

There are several cable types you might encounter when connecting TV equipment. Which one you need depends entirely on what you are connecting.

Coaxial Cable (for Cable TV and Antennas)

Coaxial cable (RG6) connects your home to the cable TV network and carries the RF signal to your cable box. It is also used to connect an over-the-air antenna to a TV or tuner. Coaxial cable uses a screw-on F-connector and is identifiable by its round shape with a small pin in the center. It is not used for any streaming device connections.

HDMI (for Streaming Devices and Modern TVs)

HDMI (High-Definition Multimedia Interface) is the standard connection between a streaming device (Roku, Fire Stick, Apple TV, Chromecast) and a television. It carries both digital video (up to 4K) and audio over a single cable. HDMI 2.0 supports 4K at 60fps; HDMI 2.1 supports 4K at 120fps and 8K. Every modern TV has at least one — usually three or more — HDMI ports.

Component and Composite Cables (Legacy)

Component cables (the red/green/blue set) and composite cables (the yellow/white/red set) are legacy analog connections found on older TVs and DVD players. Component supports HD resolutions; composite is SD-only. Neither is used for cable TV or streaming on modern equipment. If your TV only has these connections, it is time for an upgrade.

Optical Audio (TOSLINK)

Optical audio cables carry digital audio from a TV or cable box to a soundbar or AV receiver. They do not carry video. This connection type is still common on mid-range soundbars and older AV receivers that lack HDMI ARC. It supports Dolby Digital 5.1 but not the higher-quality formats (Dolby Atmos, DTS:X) that HDMI ARC/eARC supports.

Do You Still Need a Cable for TV in 2026?

For most people switching to streaming, the answer is: barely. A streaming-only setup requires just two cables — an HDMI cable from your streaming device to your TV, and a power cable for the TV. There is no coaxial cable, no cable box, and no installer visit required. You only need additional cables if you are adding a soundbar (HDMI ARC or optical) or if you use an over-the-air antenna.

Streaming devices like the Amazon Fire Stick and Roku Streaming Stick plug directly into an HDMI port with no cable at all — they draw power from a USB port on the TV or a wall outlet via a small cable. The internet connection is handled entirely over Wi-Fi.

Coaxial Cable for OTA (Over-the-Air) TV

If you want free local channels — ABC, NBC, CBS, Fox, PBS, and dozens of subchannels — an over-the-air antenna is the most cost-effective option. OTA still relies on a coaxial cable to connect your antenna to the TV's built-in tuner (the coax/antenna input port found on virtually every TV sold today).

How to Set Up an OTA Antenna

1. Choose your antenna type. Indoor flat antennas work in areas within 25–35 miles of broadcast towers. Outdoor or attic antennas provide 50–70+ mile range and are better in rural or fringe reception areas.
2. Connect the antenna to your TV. Run an RG6 coaxial cable from the antenna's output to the coaxial input port (labeled "ANT IN" or "RF IN") on the back of your TV.
3. Run a channel scan. On your TV, go to Settings → Channels → Antenna → Auto Scan (menu labels vary by brand). The TV will scan all available frequencies and save every receivable channel.
4. Position the antenna for best signal. Move the antenna near a window or higher on the wall to improve reception. Re-run the channel scan after repositioning.

Once set up, OTA TV is completely free — you receive live HD broadcasts of local news, sports, and network programming with no monthly fee and no subscription required.

Streaming vs Cable TV: Which Connection Is Better?

For most households in 2026, streaming wins decisively on setup simplicity and flexibility. A streaming setup requires no professional installation, no long-term contract, and no coaxial cable runs through walls. You can be watching within minutes of plugging in a streaming stick.