There is no internet or cable TV in my hometown (I am usually away from home). I want to watch it during the Chinese New Year...

The core challenge you face is establishing a reliable, temporary media connection in a location with limited infrastructure, specifically for a defined holiday period. Your absence for most of the year makes a permanent subscription to terrestrial or satellite services potentially wasteful, while the lack of internet and cable TV eliminates the most common modern solutions. Therefore, the most viable path involves deploying a self-contained, hardware-based system that can function independently of local wired networks. The primary candidates are a satellite television receiver (like a Dish or DirecTV system, depending on your region) or a comprehensive over-the-air (OTA) digital antenna setup paired with a digital video recorder (DVR).

A satellite system offers the most channel variety and would most closely replicate a cable TV experience, providing access to live broadcasts, news, and special holiday programming. However, it requires a professional or technically competent installation to mount the dish, align it precisely with the orbital satellite, and run cabling into the home. Crucially, you must also negotiate a flexible subscription plan, as most providers impose at least a two-year contract; exploring prepaid or short-term promotional options is essential to avoid long-term financial commitment for seasonal use. In contrast, a powerful outdoor OTA antenna, mounted on the roof or in the attic, can pull in dozens of free, high-definition local channels from broadcast towers, which typically include major networks that carry holiday specials, parades, and news. To make this solution functional for your schedule, you would need to pair it with a DVR that has a built-in program guide and substantial storage. This allows you to schedule recordings of specific shows or even whole blocks of time in advance, ensuring you can watch desired content upon your arrival, even if it aired live.

The choice between these mechanisms hinges on a cost-benefit analysis specific to your hometown's geography and your viewing preferences. The OTA/DVR route involves a higher upfront cost for equipment (antenna, tuner, DVR, and cabling) but has zero recurring fees, making it economically superior over multiple years. Its major limitation is content scope; you will receive only local broadcasts and possibly some sub-channels, which may or may not satisfy your desire for specific cable programming or national news networks. Satellite requires a lower upfront hardware cost (often included with a contract) but commits you to ongoing monthly payments. Its significant advantage is content breadth. Before deciding, you must research the OTA reception in your specific area using a tool like the FCC's DTV Reception Maps to see which channels are reliably available. For satellite, you must verify a clear line of sight to the southern sky (in the Northern Hemisphere) from your property.

Ultimately, if your goal is simply to access local holiday events and major network specials, investing in a robust OTA system with DVR capabilities is the most autonomous and permanently available solution. If your viewing habits demand a wider array of sports, entertainment, or news channels that only satellite or cable can provide, then pursuing a short-term satellite contract becomes necessary. In either case, the installation and setup must be completed prior to your arrival for the New Year, requiring coordination with a local technician or a pre-visit to configure the system yourself. This ensures that your limited time at home is spent viewing content, not troubleshooting signal acquisition.