Monday, June 16, 2008
Discovering Pay Per View Channels Posted By : Jim Williams
DirecTV vs. Dish Network and Satellite TV vs. Cable TV
With so many satellite TV providers competing for your business, how do you know who to choose from? Let's take a look at two of the more popular satellite TV service providers, DirecTV and Dish Network for an apple to apples comparison.
Dish Network
Dish Network Satellite is the nation's second largest provider of satellite TV. Does that mean that Dish Network offers better service? Not necessarily.
Dish Network does provide most of the satellite TV resources other providers do, including a satellite TV guide, free satelite TV dishes, free dish network deals and more. Dish Network also offers customers the option of purchasing HDTV equipment and service packages, giving viewers access to 8 high definition channels, a bonus for consumers with high definition TV sets.
In addition Dish Network does have a slightly larger channel selection that DirecTV which is a benefit to some customers.
Here is a summary of the major services offered by Dish Network:
- More than 180 channels
- HDTV for up to 8 channels
- More than 30 sports dedicated networks including subscription options to NBA League Pass, and NHL Center Ice
- Foreign Language Programming in many languages
- More than 103 local channels available
- Monthly cost generally less than $100
- Available in all 50 states
DirecTV
DirecTV is the nation's largest provider. Like Dish Network, DirecTV is available in all 50 states. DirecTV's claim to fame is that they offer more channels dollar for dollar than other satellite TV providers.
So how do you know whether DirecTV or Dish Network is right for you? Let's look at some of the specifics of DirecTV. DirecTV does offer fewer overall channels than Dish Network satellite (but not much fewer) but it does feature exclusive sports packages including NFL Sunday Ticket, which are a bonus for avid sports fans.
DirecTV also offers a high definition package including four feature high definition channels. DirecTV also offers many of the same freebies Dish Network does, including free Direct TV receivers, free satelite TV dishes and satellite TV resources.
A summary of the benefits of DirecTV is as follows:
- More than 150 channels
- More than 30 sports networks including special and exclusive sports package deals
- Foreign language programming in Spanish and Chinese
- Up to 8 HDVT channels
- Approximately 126 local channels
- Monthly costs less than $100
- Available in all 50 states
DirecTV or Dish Network Satellite
So, with an apple to apples comparison, you can see that you get most of the same benefits regardless of which provider you choose. There are some subtle differences between the two, Dish Network offers slightly more overall channels and a larger foreign language programming selection. DirecTV offers some exclusive sports networks and greater access to local channels. DirecTV Tivo is an added benefit for DirecTV consumers, which providers channel recording capability to consumers.
Which provider you select may depend on your location. Some may offer better deals or service in some areas than others.
Satellite TV vs. Cable TV
The question of satellite TV vs. Cable TV is an age old one. How do you know which to choose?
Thus the two also deserve a comparison.
Cable TV
- Equipment - Requires a TV set top box in order to access digital services
Transmission - Usually Analog but consumers have the option of upgrading to digital for a higher premium. Analog channels don't convert to digital in this situation. - Programming - Supports more than 260 channels and offers options such as pay per view, where viewers can buy movies for a small fee. Usually cable TV offers more local channel options than satellite. Offers fewer HDTV services
- Pricing - Cable is usually more expensive, in part due to additional costs added onto monthly premium, which may include fees, taxes, pay per view and equipment
Satellite TV
- Equipment - Requires use of satellite dish and receivers. Many providers offer free satelite TV systems, free satelite TV dishes to entice customers.
- Transmission - Satellite TV services are all digital, which consumers usually translate to mean better quality reception. TV reception can be subject to interference during inclement weather, but this happens with cable service too.
- Programming - Usually offers 200 or more channels, including more international and sports channels than cable. High definition channels are more easily accessed through satellite
- Pricing - Satellite TV can be less expensive than cable particularly if equipment is thrown in for free. Local channel packages are usually extra with satellite, but over time the expense is less.
So which do you choose?
For many it's a matter of price, and satellite TV seems to be at an advantage here. Both cable and satellite offer similar channel line ups, though if you plan on watching a lot of foreign or international films you might opt for a satellite provider such as Dish Network or DirecTV.
That said most consumers just end up getting whichever is convenient at the time they are setting up home. No matter your choice, you'll end up with decent service and a wide channel range which is all most consumers are looking for in the end. Buyer beware, you should know that cable TV fans are very strictly cable, and satellite TV fans very strictly satellite.
You could literally cause an argument between two otherwise friendly neighbors simply by asking them to rate satellite TV vs. cable. That said, you'll probably find that once you make your selection, you too begin an avid supporter of one vs. the other.
About The Author:
Antigone Arthur is a successful freelance writer with 10 years of professional experience providing consumers with informative articles on such topics as DirectTV vs Dish Network, Free Satellite TV Systems, and Satellite System Tv.
The 2 Different Types of Satellite TV and One is Way Cheaper (Sarah McAllister)
Your Watch Television on PC set is broken, there is no satellite signal due to bad weather, or you are missing your favorite sports team game because of work or travel - and you must be thinking how great it would be to watch sports TV online. Imagine catching on sporting events during a lunch break in the office. Or, filling up the normally boring waiting time, with something as exciting as the latest Watch Tv On Your Pc Today match. As long as your laptop is with you and there is an Internet connection available, you can do just that - watch sports TV online whenever and wherever you want.
One of the biggest advantages of watching sports and other satellite channels online is that this method eliminates the need of any hardware installation. In other words, no satellite dish, no PCTV card, no upgrades to your computer are needed. Count how much time, effort and money it could save you! And by the way, there is no monthly payment for the service as well!
Various software available on many websites today enable you to watch sports TV online at a one-time fee which is far less than the amount you pay your satellite or cable provider each month. But you need to know that the software differ a lot, varying in the number of channels, price, customer support, etc. Therefore, you need to choose Watch TV carefully in order to get the best value for your money.
If sports are your primary interest, you will be tempted by what some websites offer - and that is, hundreds of sports channels alone from around the world. But think logically. Isn't it a much better deal to get thousands of worldwide channels that cover practically every interest - from movies and serials to shopping to news, etc.?
Of course, your favorite sports channels are included as well. A small difference in price is really nothing if you assess the entire huge lot of TV and radio stations that come with it.
Once you have so much more than what regular satellite and cable TV providers offer, nothing stops you from canceling your monthly subscription, which is too costly anyway. You and your family can enjoy watching your favorite programs online, and no weather nuisance, no bill in the mail box will spoil this experience.
The only adjustment that might be needed is your Internet connection speed. Though even dial-up connection will do, good broadband connection would be ideal, delivering a smooth uninterrupted picture. This is especially important to ensure that you can watch sports TV online (live games in particular) with digital quality.
Check out my entertainment blog and use the software to watch sports TV online today.
Davion is a self-proclaimed TV fanatic. Grab the software needed to watch satellite TV on PC, tuning into hundreds of LIVE world channels of sports, news, movies, music and kids program. Also read his popular article on how to watch satellite TV online for free.
Cable, Satellite Or Antenna (Jim Williams)
With TV on Your PC scheduled February 17, 2009 deadline for conversion from the old fashioned analog TV signal to the newer and more efficient digital TV signal less than two years away now, there's a fair amount of confusion in the press about the issue. It all began back in the late nineties when Congress- under lobbying pressure from consumer electronics manufacturers- mandated that all over the air analog TV transmissions would cease and be replaced by analog TV signals. So far that mandatory date of the transmission has been pushed back from 2006 to 2009 because of objections from TV stations that don't want to shell out the money for new transmission equipment and from TV owners who don't want to shell out the money either for a new TV set or a special set top box that will allow their old analog TV sets to display the digitally transmitted television.
When discussing all of these issues, it's important to keep a few things in mind. First of all, digital TV is a relatively new way of transmitting video that takes advantage of computer technology to send a signal that can easily be cleansed of any interference by special receiver hardware, thereby providing a TV picture of incredible clarity. All satellite TV companies already use this format on all of their programming and many cable TV companies use it on most of their programming.
One of the reasons that this whole thing is such a fuss is that analog TV signals take up more of the over the air electromagnetic bandwidth than the equivalent TV programming does in digital format. This fact, combined with the fact that many TV stations are transmitting their content simultaneously in both analog and digital formats, means that there's a lot of electromagnetic bandwidth being wasted on unnecessary TV transmissions. That bandwidth could be used for numerous other things like emergency services communications and wide spread wireless Internet access. That's a large part of the incentive to completely change over to digital TV.
Another major reason to change over to digital TV is that there's a lot of money for consumer electronics makers to rake in when all of the analog signals go off the air because TV on my PC that point analog TV sets will be obsolete- at least when it comes to being used to watch TV directly off of the air. At that point, consumers will either need to buy special converter boxes to make their old TV sets work or buy completely new TV's. Of course, their are plans for the government to subsidize purchase of those converter boxes, but no matter where the money comes from, it still means plenty of profit for the consumer electronics industry.
Now, there are plenty of mixed signals about the coming transition. For example, every TV set now on the market has to have a digital tuner that will allow it to pick up the digital over the air signals. Also a coalition of broadcasters and electronics manufacturers has formed in order to educate the public about the impending transition. But at the same time these positive steps are being TV on my PC some politicians are saying that the transition might have to be pushed back again and some analysts are saying that it will have to be pushed back again. Only time will tell how any of this will play out.
E.Sanderson writes articles about the latest developments in technology, electronics, and satellite TV. She'd like to inform you about the latest Dish TV services and how you can find the best Dishnet HD Promotions.
