How to Choose a Satellite Provider - Part I

Webmasters: You may reprint this article in its entirety, providing you leave Byline and About Author sections intact, including links to Dish Network Satellite TV.

The satellite tv industry has made huge gains on cable tv industry in past several years. With price of cable tv skyrocketing every year, many cable subscribers are making switch over to satellite tv. Okay so you've decided to switch to satellite tv; but which satellite tv provider do you choose? A satellite tv provider is a company that owns and operates satellites in geostationary orbit around earth. These satellites broadcast satellite signal down to your satellite dish and from their signal is transferred to your receiver (black box). The two largest satellite tv providers in United Sates are DirecTV and DISH Network. The vast majority of satellite tv subscribers in United States use one or other so this article will concentrate on comparing two satellite giants in an attempt to help you decide which of two is best foryou.

With almost exponential growth of satellite tv industry, both DISH Network and DirecTV are now in a position where they can afford to offer satellite equipment (dish and receivers) free to their subscribers. So for starters both DISH Network and DirecTV offer free satellite equiipment. Basically only qualifiers are that you be a first time subscriber and that you have a credit card for monthly billing purposes. So if equipment is free how do two providers make any money? Well, you do have to pay for monthly programming of course. The price of your monthly programming bill depends on which programming package you choose.

DISH Network's America Top 60 programmng package starts at $24.99 per month and local channels are available. DISH Network presently is not making new subscribers commit to a one year contract. You can end your subscription at any time with no financial penalty to pay. DirecTV's entry level programming package is called Total Choice package and comes with local channels and is $39.99 per month. With Total Choice package you get over 130 channels. DirecTV does require you to sign a one year subscription agreement. If you cancel your service before year is up, then you have to pay a penalty fee to DirecTV.

As both satellite giants use very lates technology in their satellites and receiving equipment, what differentiates two is in programming options that they provide to their subscribers. I would rate DirecTV somewhat ahead of DISH Network in their sports packages, as they offer seasonal sports options like N.F.L. Sunday Ticket that DirecTV has exclusive rights to. Both providers offer tons of premium movie packages to choose from including HBO, Showtime, Starz and Cinemax. All these come with multiple channels per movie package. As DISH Network has more satellites in orbit than DirecTV does they have capacity to offer up to 500 viewing channels, whereas with DirecTV, you can 'only' get 250 channels. Also, DISH Network offers alot more foreign programming packages than DirecTV does.

How to Choose a Satellite Provider - Part II

Webmasters: You may reprint this article in its entirety, providing you leave Byline and About Author sections intact, including links to Dish Network Satellite TV. RATING DISH NETWORK and DIRECTV POINT by POINT:

• Satellite equipment - DirecTV - FREE DISH Network - FREE
• Satellite Installation - DirecTV - FREE (up to 5 tv's) DISH Network - FREE (up to 4 tv's)
• Picture Quality - DirecTV - Outstanding DISH Network - Outstanding
• Pricing - DirecTV Total Choice Package $39.99 per month DISH Network America's Top 60 Package $24.99 per month
• Programming Quantity - DirecTV offers programming packages up to 250 channels DISH Network has capacity to offer up to 500 channels
• Programming Quality - DirecTV has outstanding programming package options with a heavy emphasis on seasonal sports packages.

DISH Network also has outstanding programming package options with somewhat less of an emphasis on sports.

• Customer Care - DirecTV - Outstanding with both online and 800 toll free support. DISH Network - Outstanding with both online and 800 toll free support.

Both DISH Network and DirecTV offer an outstanding television viewing experience. The picture reception for both is far superior to that of cable tv. DISH Network's entry level package is cheaper than DirecTV's; but then Total Choice package comes with alot more channels. DirecTV is stronger in area of sports coverage, while DISH Network places somewhat more of an emphasis on its premium movie packages and foreign programming options. And both have outstanding customer care, both having won prestigious J.D. Power Award in recent years for providing best overall service among satellite and cable subscribers.