BDU stands for Broadcasting Distribution Undertaking and it encompasses (I hope I spelled the world properly , lol) every cable, satellite or any other means TV provider. Since the acronym includes everyone who distributes TV signals it is easier for me to refer to cable and satellite operators as such. If I want or need to refer to either service or means of distribution like cable, satellite or any other like wireless microwave links I would refer to them as such , in this case it included everyone that is why BDU is better to refer to them.

also BDU could stand for in some other cases:

Battle Dress Uniform
BDU Business Development Unit (Staffordshire University, UK)
BDU Bharathidasan University (India)
BDU Bone Dry Unit (energy science)
BDU Broadcast Distribution Undertaking
BDU Bomb, Dummy Unit
BDU Befehlshaber Der U-Boote (commander-in-chief of the German submarines in WW-II)
BDU Brain Dead User
BDU Battle Dress Utility
BDU Below-Deck Unit
BDU Bomb Disposal Unit
BDU Bardufoss Airport, Norway (Airport code)
BDU Battery Display Unit
BDU Basic Display Unit
BDU Big Dumb User
BDU Business Dial Up
BDU Blood Donor Unit
BDU Bus Data Unit
BDU Buffy Downunder (website)
BDU Bomb Dispenser Unit
BDU Barking Dogs United (artist duo)
BDU Bundesverbandes Deutscher Unternehmensberater eV