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There is a lot of propaganda out there about the pros and cons of satellite tv versus digital cable. At one time, several years ago, deciding between cable and satellite was a tough choice, but not today. Most of the cons associated with satellite tv no longer exist. The main reason cable companies promoted for years to entice people to choose cable over satellite was that cable carried local channels. Voila, today satellite tv also offers local channels. But what about all of the equipment you have to buy with satellite tv? Another falacy. There is typically about the same amount of equipment with either cable or satellite, it is just different equipment. Right now, there are endless promotions for satellite systems that include free equipment and installation with sign up for services. One of the best available right now, is at www.hdtvdishnetwork.com. You can also find a coupon for free satellite tv equipment and installation on the “sign me up” page at www.getdishdirect.com. So, if you take away the cons associated with satellite tv, you are left with only the pros. Satellite tv offers a wide array of choices. You can usually get a package containing more channels for less than a similar cable package. The digital information is received in full for a crystal clear picture.

The cons associated with cable, however, still exist. In fact, they are becoming more apparent with the onset of high definition television’s popularity. The major benefit of satellite over cable, in my opinion is the bandwidth. The bandwidth of cable television is limited by the size of the cable, generally about RG6. Satellite does not suffer from this limitation. It has full capability of transmitting all the digital information included in high definition television. It is also capable of providing high speed internet connections at very competitive rates.

With the advancement of technology and today’s competitive market satellite tv has emerged as a clear victor over cable television. High definition television is increasing the value of satellite services. Competition is leaving you the consumer at a distinct advantage. Isn’t it time you start enjoying all the benefits of satellite tv? I recommend www.hdtvdishnetwork.com as the absolute best place on the web to get a great deal on satellite tv including free equipment and free installation. You may also want to check out www.getdishdirect.com for some really great package offers.

New technologies such as computers, MP3 players, digital cameras popping up in the high tech electronics market every month with huge price tags. History has shown that once demand grew, and the technology required to create these items will become more commonplace, and hence prices will drop. With direct TV, the prices for satellite TV have started at an affordable rate which has made an instant impact on cable companies.

When comparing one item against another, it’s usual to compare similar items – in this case it’s all about television. But that’s really where the comparison can end. Yes, they both offer television programs. But the cable companies are offering a lesser service for a higher price than offered by the direct TV companies. In some cases, it was at least twice as much!

Direct TV has managed to launch itself on the market with a product which attracts attention because of its quality and versatility. And this high tech satellite technology is offered with very seductive low rates, which appeals to the masses. This will hurt the cable companies who are going to find themselves priced out of the market.

There is very little to actually compare when it comes to the prices offered by the likes of say DirecTV or DISH next to those of cable TV for example. Both of the direct TV companies offer multiple features together with state of the art satellite technology. Their monthly subscription cost amounts to a couple of visits to a certain well-known coffee shop! Now compare this with the price of cable which is more than twice the price and cable is offering less than half the programs and none of the satellite features.

And Direct TV companies just made it easier for everyone, a no brainer by offering free installation and free equipment. You just need to call up. If it’s possible to install to run the equipment in your area, then you just make an appointment for someone to come install your new satellite TV system.

Compare that with cable. Well, you will have to pay for both the equipment and the installation unless you were able to find a company offering a special at the time you needed it.

This means that the Direct TV companies attract existing cable customers easily to move over to a more technologically advanced system without incurring any cost with the new system. AND they also attract those who are moving into their first homes. These new subscribers to the television marketplace will obviously choose the free cheaper to run system, over the more expensive basic one!

Direct TV is proving that it’s possible to do more, with less, and not have to charge the earth to do it. With over two million subscribers between DirecTV and DISH during 2005, it would appear that added value for money is now the way to go. And truth is that they really have made it such a simple decision for the consumers to make.

Question: Is Satellite TV, Such as Dish Network, Really Better Than Cable?

As the war in video entertainment continues, one thing is for sure: satellite television is here to stay.

When the satellite distributors first began marketing to consumers, the cable industry didn’t give their new opponent much thought. Dishes were expensive, they were bulky and their program offerings weren’t all that impressive. Cable on the other hand had been around for more than a decade and offered a familiar and reliable solution to home entertainment.

But oh how things have changed.

The satellite industry quickly replaced those bulky dishes with sleeker, smaller systems that could be mounted just about anywhere. Prices dropped, programming grew and pretty soon, switching from cable to satellite TV wasn’t such a far-fetched idea after all.

Today, the Satellite TV industry and providers, such as Dish Network, enjoy a steady and continued growth in subscribers and services, gradually closing the gap in video entertainment market share. Where the cable industry has reported an annual growth between 10 to 15 percent, top satellite companies, such as Direct TV, boast a market share increase of just under 30% according to a study from The Media Audit.

So is satellite and providers such as Dish Network really better than cable?

Satellite TV customers seem to think so. Studies show that satellite customers pay an average of $10 less per month than their cable counterparts. Satellite programming is also all-digital, meaning the reception and picture quality is much better than that of traditional analog cable. Cable subscribers do have the option of upgrading to digital but this incurs an additional monthly cost and doesn’t guarantee all the channels will be included in the upgrade. And, with the healthy dose of competition in the satellite industry, consumers can be assured of continued competitive pricing. Your cable provider doesn’t have any competition. Do you suppose that affects your rate increases?

Satellite TV subscribers also tout a higher satisfaction rating with customer service issues, one of the primary reasons cited for making the move from cable.

Free is a four letter word in the Satellite TV business. You probably have seen the advertisements for a free satellite TV. Some vendors that carry the top two satellite TV providers – Direct TV and Dish Network – even tout free equipment like a satellite TV receiver and TV satellite dish. The question for many consumers is what really constitutes free satellite TV.

The definition of free can be paraphrased as something that costs nothing or is gratis. In other connotations, free can mean not enslaved or not obstructed. So, if you want to take the meaning of free literally, in regards to free satellite TV, it could be construed as not being enslaved by a price tag. Sounds like a winning plan, does it not? However, the term free can be a bit misleading at first when you are in the market for satellite TV system.

For the most part, the equipment like the TV satellite dish and the satellite TV receiver is free. And depending on the marketing promotions the two major providers have, you may also find that you get the high definition version of the satellite Dish Network or the Directv Tivo for free as well. The holidays are the best times to hook up with one of those sweet deals.

The free part ends with the equipment in many cases. The programming and other services will cost money. For instance, with Directv, you have to pay a deposit, depending on what your credit rating holds. However, that is refunded to you or applied towards the programming package you choose, whether it is a basic Family package or the programming package with all the movie channels included.

With the Dish Network, there is usually a charge for activation. However, as with Direct TV, it is credited towards your desired programming package. Even though Dish Network may have less programming choices for the sports fanatic, they more than make up for it with a free digital recording or high definition satellite TV receiver. They even have a larger, overall selection of HDTV programming.

Directv HDTV receivers cost extra as does the Directv Tivo option, unless of course, you hit upon one of those infrequent marketing promotions offering the option for free, as mentioned previously. With Direct TV, they offer more for the sports fan as far as play-off programming package deals. And music lovers can enjoy over twenty music channels alone!

The bottom line is that the word free basically means the same with both major satellite TV providers – the Dish Network and Direct TV. You have got to research the promotions they both have to offer as well as their programming packages. Just remember, free is a four letter word, one that is spoken, well freely, in the satellite TV market. Ask your questions, read the fine print and find out exactly what their ‘free’ means to you and your pocketbook.

Remember way back when in the caveman days of satellite TV? The TV satellite dish was big and bulky. Really, it was an eyesore in your neighborhood, but also a sort of status symbol. Not everyone at the time could afford one. However, the constant adjustments of the dish were a hindrance. Today, the TV satellite dish is a sleeker, more condensed design that fits well on the roof of a house. Two of the most popular satellite TV providers are Direct TV and Dish network.

“Back in the day”, satellite TV appealed to viewers who were searching for programming that was not mainstream, something that no one else would typically get with traditional local broadcasting. Things like live feeds from foreign news sites were popular. Today, however, plugging in to the satellite dish network of your choice is popular and fairly inexpensive. You have the same programming choices as cable networks as well as a lot more programming from other parts of the world.

Many supposed die hard fans of cable are now quietly signing up for Directv or the Dish Network, the two leading most popular satellite TV companies around. The reason? Better customer service and better overall quality in programming and picture. Now you are probably thinking that your direct satellite TV is cost prohibitive. However, nothing could be further from the truth. Depending on which satellite TV provider you go with, you most likely could receive a free satellite TV system. So that just leaves you with the cost of programming, which is usually cheaper than cable.

The great thing about satellite TV, whether you go with the Dish network or Direct TV, is that you will less likely have occurrences of disrupted service, unlike your standard cable. Signals are sent from the satellites in space and cloud cover, homes and other objects do not alter the signal at all.

So what do you need to get started? First you have to make a choice of which provider you will go with. Unfortunately, you cannot always go and purchase standard equipment like a satellite TV receiver or a TV satellite dish. Both the satellite Dish Network as well as Direct TV has some proprietary components. So once you decide which provider you will go with, then you can purchase the remaining equipment. Just remember, before you buy anything, research local retailers! Sometimes, they offer special promotions where you get a free satellite TV system, including the satellite TV receiver.

You can either install the system yourself or have a technician come to your home and take care of it for you. Now the hardest part of it all will be deciding on whether you should subscribe to one of the extra perks like Directv Tivo or Directv HDTV! Decisions! Decisions!

The move is on. Last year millions of Americans switched from cable TV to satellite TV.

Why? When you compare satellite TV to cable TV you’ll discover the main reasons are cost, picture quality, program choices, and customer satisfaction.

Let’s check out the differences …

Cable vs. Satellite TV Fees

Cable TV fees across the country average $39.99 per month. In our area the cost for cable TV is $37.30 a month for 64 channels, plus $10.95 a month to add digital channels. Installation in one room is $39.95, plus $9.95 for each additional room.

Satellite TV fees from Dish Network are $31.99 per month for 60 channels, while Dirac TV charges $41.99 per month for 115 channels. Both satellite TV providers currently offer free satellite TV equipment and free installation in up to four rooms.

Cable vs. Satellite TV Programming

Cable TV in most areas offers almost as many channels as satellite TV, and is broadcast in analog (over-the-air) format. If you want to have digital picture and sound you’ll have to pay an additional fee, usually $10 to $15 a month.

Satellite TV offers more channels than cable TV (more than 250 channels), and more HDTV (high definition TV) programming. All satellite TV channels are broadcast in digital format for the highest quality picture and sound.

Cable vs. Satellite TV Equipment

With cable you only need cable boxes that connect the incoming cable line to your televisions. There is usually no charge or rental fees for cable boxes, however, If you want a digital video recorder, you’ll have to pay an extra fee.

With satellite TV you need a satellite TV dish and TV receivers. Both Dish Network and DirecTV offer that equipment, plus installation, for free. Dish Network will give you a DVR (digital video recording) receiver or an HDTV receiver at no charge, while DirecTV charges $49.99 for DVR receivers and $299 for HDTV receivers.

Cable and Satellite TV Reliability and Customer Satisfaction

Cable TV outages average 3% to 5% per year. J.D. Powers and Associates ranks cable companies as good to poor in customer satisfaction.

Satellite TV outages average about 1%. J.D. Power and Associates has ranked the two satellite TV providers — Dish Network and DirecTV — higher in customer satisfaction than any of the cable TV companies for the last five years

The Bottom Line

If you only watch a couple of shows a week, and you live in an area where you can’t get over-the-air TV and cable TV costs less than $20 per month, then cable may be your best option.

If, on the other hand, you want the biggest variety of shows, movies, sports, and news for the least amount of money … you want to watch your all your shows in digital video and sound … and you want the option of watching them in HD format and recording them
on a DVR receiver, then satellite TV is what you’re looking for.