Satellite TV Information - What You Should Know Before You Order

Finally decided to make the switch from outdated over-the-air TV to satellite TV? Looking for an alternative to high-priced cable TV? Here's the information you need to know before you make the switch.

How does satellite TV work?

There are two major providers of satellite TV - DISH Network and DIRECTV. These providers operate satellite uplink stations that receive programs from networks like CNN, HBO, and ABC, then broadcast their programs to a satellite thousands of miles above the earth.

The satellite beams those programs back down to earth where they are picked up be a satellite dish. The dish sends the signal to a receiver which decodes the signal and sends it to a TV set.

What's on satellite TV?

DISH Network and DIRECT offer more than 350 channels of satellite TV programming. Their programming includes:

* Movie channels - With movies channels like HBO, Showtime, Cinemax, Starz, and TMC, broadcasting movies 24 hours a day, you can watch movies all day long and never see the same one twice.

* Sports channels - Both satellite TV providers offer a host of sports programming packages that include football, baseball, basketball, motor sports, golf, tennis, hockey, soccer, skating, outdoor sports, and track and field.

* Special interest channels - There are hundreds of channels including travel channels, news channels, science channels, nature channels, Disney channels, weather channels, cooking channels, how-to channels, and even a channel devoted to babies.

* Satellite radio - You can get commercial-free radio programming that features music, news, weather, sports, special interest, and talk radio programs. DISH Network offers 60 Sirius satellite radio channels, and DIRECTV offers 67 XM satellite radio channels.

* International channels - If it's foreign-language programming you want, DISH Network offers 20 international channels broadcast in African, Arabic, Armenian, Asian, Chinese, Farsi, French, German, Greek, Israeli, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Polish, Portuguese, Russian, South Asian, Spanish, Tagalog, Urdu. DIRECTV offers 10 international channels.

* Local channels - In most areas of the country you can get your local channels through DISH Network or DIRECTV.

NOTE: Click on the links below for more information on programming and prices.

Where can I get satellite TV service?

DISH Network and DIRECTV offer satellite TV service through their online dealers.

DISH Network programming starts at $19.99 a month for their 40-channel Dish Family package, and goes up to $74.99 for their 350-channel "Everything" package.

DIRECTV programming starts at $29.99 for their 155-channel Total Choice package, and goes up to $96.99 for their Total Choice Premier package

NOTE: Click on the links below for more information on DISH Network or DIRECTV services and ordering information.

What equipment do I need to get satellite TV?

To receive satellite TV programming you need a satellite TV dish and receivers for each of your TVs.

When you subscribe to either DISH Network or DIRECTV you'll get a free dish, a free four-television receiver system, and free remotes. In addition, your satellite TV system will be installed free of charge and your installer will even show you how to operate your system.

What about customer service?

DISH Network and DIRECTV offer customer service 24 hours a day, seven days a week through their toll-free hotlines and their Internet websites.

Which provider has the best service?

When it comes to customer satisfaction, J.D.Power and Associates gives both DISH Network and DIRECTV the highest ratings among satellite and cable TV companies.

When it comes to programming, DISH Network has the cheapest program packages, the most channels, the most HD programs, the most pay-per-view movies, the most game channels, and the most music channels.

DIRECTV has the most sports packages, including the popular NFL Sunday Ticket.

Visit http://www.TheSatelliteTVGuide.com for more information, ordering information, plus the latest special offers from DISH Network or DIRECTV.

The author, Brian Stevens, is the senior editor for TheSatelliteTVGuide.com and has written numerous articles on satellite TV information.