Cable TV packages have evolved quite a bit over the last 10 years. Before the year 2000, you pretty much just had to pick from either a basic cable package or a digital cable package. Now there are literally dozens of choices when it comes to your cable package, as they offer multiple levels of service, and also high speed internet connectivity along with voice service. What are some of the important things to consider when shopping for a cable TV package? Are cable packages competitive with the alternatives, satellite and telco TV?

One of the important things to realize if you are served by one of the big cable companies like Comcast or Time Warner is that they want you to subscribe to multiple services. The cable TV network is already there, so for the company to make a greater return on their investment they need their subscribers to order and pay for multiple services. Thus, cable TV packages are designed to give you greater discounts based on the number of services you order.

Most people in America today have some sort of cable or satellite TV. More and more are ordering high speed internet service as computers make their way into almost every home. Telephone service in the home is on the decline though, as cell phones have taken over as a more convenient way to keep in touch. Thus, the cable TV packages you can get primarily focus on video and internet service. At minimum, you should be able to get a cable double play deal that gives you a nice discount on video and internet service. Oftentimes, the cable deal you get will last for six months or one year. Lately though, some offers have extended discounts for as long as two years, but you may have to sign a contract to get a discounted rate for that period of time.  Offers like the Comcast triple play can be enticing, especially when they are throwing in a $200 Visa card with certain cable packages.  Make sure you get full details on the cable TV package you are interested in, especially any contractual information.

Another consideration with cable TV packages is the price they charge you for DVR service. If you order a satellite TV package, you can expect to pay around $6 or $7 a month for satellite DVR service with Dish Network or DIRECTV. This fee applies for each TV you have connected to a DVR with DIRECTV. Dish Network offers DuoDVR devices which can connect two TV sets. Some cable companies have hike their DVR prices up to $15 a month or more. That can be quite an expense, especially if you want more than one DVR with your cable TV bundle.

The main advantage of a cable television package when compared to satellite is that you can deal with one company for all of your communication services. DIRECTV and DISH Network only offer video, so they have to partner with local telecom companies like Qwest, Verizon and AT&T to offer phone service and DSL. Cable TV packages usually cost a more overall than satellite and telecom providers, but most cable operators also offer On-demand programming for free, which gives you a lot of flexibility in watching TV on your own time schedule.

In many states served by Verizon communications, homeowners are having to consider another option when it comes to their cable TV. Rather than just looking at either satellite TV or the local cable company, there is a third option. This comes in the form of Verizon Fios TV, which offers not only voice and internet service, but also crystal clear TV content through their new fiber optic network. So what should you look at if you’re are comparing Verizon Fios vs satellite TV?

One of the first things to remember is that Verizon Fios service is the latest technological advancement. While satellite TV had an advantage over old cable networks when it was first deployed, Fios enjoys a similar advantage over satellite TV today in that the signal is delivered over a 100% fiber optic network.

Now that is not to say that Verizon Fios picture quality is automatically better than the HD channels offered by both DIRECTV and Dish Network. Most reviews comparing Fios HD against satellite TV rate the picture quality about the same. On the other hand, Verizon Fios has deployed more HD channel content then satellite, even though Dish and DIRECTV are always bragging in their commercials about the number of HD channels they have. In reality, Fios has over 115 total HD channels not counting pay per view HD, while satellite TV companies top out around 100 real HD channels.

The big problem for most is the availability of Verizon Fios. While it was technically introduced about five years ago, getting the service is wholly dependent on if the Telco has upgraded your particular area. On the other hand, satellite TV is available to virtually anyone who can see the southern sky. Only those in high rise apartments are usually locked out from satellite TV service.

Bundled packages is another factor if you are shopping Fios vs satellite TV service. Verizon of course wants you to subscribe to the whole package if you are getting Fios, with high speed internet and voice service rounding out your home communications package. This can get expensive, but it is nice if you want all of these services to only deal with one company. Satellite TV is usually sold on a stand alone basis, and the prices are very low, especially during your first year with Dish Network and DIRECTV deals. If Fios isn’t available in your area yet, you may be able to bundle other Verizon services with DIRECTV satellite as they companies have a reseller agreement.

A final factor to consider when comparing satellite TV vs Verizon Fios is the possibility of being locked into a contract. Both satellite companies require a 24 month commitment in order to hook you up. Fios TV has also has contract commitments, and fees to terminate those contracts were increased in 2010. Be sure you understand your end of the bargain with either Fios or satellite TV service.

With the 2010 Winter Olympic games just a few weeks off, the question you may want to ask yourself is whether your TV set is fully prepared to bring you all of the action. Many cable TV customers continue to be frustrated with the lack of HD content available. NBC and their family of networks will carry more than 800 hours of coverage from Vancouver starting February 12th.

If you are looking to make the switch to satellite TV before the 2010 Winter Games start, what can you expect from DISH Network as far as coverage? Which package do you need to get as much coverage as possible?

NBC will be carrying the bulk of the coverage, and your local NBC affiliate is carried to more than 95% of the country with DISH Network. Only in a few limited rural areas will you not find your local channels on Dish TV. Top events that you will find on your local NBC channel include Figure Skating, Skiing, and the Ice Hockey finals. With the games taking place in Vancouver, America will be able to enjoy many of the events live in 2010.

DISH Network will also provide extensive coverage on three additional channels that are also owned by Universal/NBC. These are the USA Network, CNBC, and MSNBC. Lets review what will be found on these networks.

MSNBC is on DISH Network channel 209 and is also available in HD. MSNBC will kick off coverage on February, 14th with Women’s Hockey. Men’s Hockey competition and Curling matches will also be found here. Note that MSNBC is not in the Americas’ Top 120 package, so you do have to have America’s Top 200 or higher if you want to catch the action found here.

CNBC is on DISH Network channel 208 and will feature similar action to that found on MSNBC. CNBC is on all Dish packages from America’s Top 120 through the America’s Everything package, and is also in HD for those who subscribe to hi def.

The USA Network is on DISH Network channel 105 and is also carried in HD by Dish. This will primarily be the home of Winter Games Curling action, and USA Network is available in all DISH Network packages.

Finally, Universal HD is the highlight channel for the 2010 Winter Games, so you won’t find any live action. Keep up on anything you may have missed, but you do need the DISH Network Platinum package to see Universal HD on channels 366. DISH Network is running a promotion offering the Platinum package for free right now for new customers who order high definition along with a regular programming package.

Overall, DISH Network will keep you in touch with everything going on during the 2010 Winter Games. If you are on the other side, here is where to find out the latest on DIRECTV’s Winter Olympics coverage.

The 2010 Winter Olympic Games begin in a few weeks, and this year there will be more than 800 hours of coverage.  If you have DIRECTV, or are thinking about ordering satellite TV service, here is a brief review of where and when you will find your favorite Olympic competition.

DIRECTV’s 2010 Winter Olympic coverage will come from NBC, and will not only be found on the flagship network but also on several secondary cable channels.  This year’s games are taking place in Vancouver Canada, which means many of main events will take place in primetime viewing hours in the United States.  All events will be broadcast in HD as well, another advantage for customers of DIRECTV and Dish Network where plenty of channels are delivered in high definition.

The Winter Games kick off with the Opening Ceremonies on February 12th, which will be carried on your local NBC affiliate.  A nice resource for finding all of the 2010 Olympic games on DIRECTV, Dish Network, Comcast, or any other provider can be found at the NBC Olympics site.  Here you can find full schedules for all of the upcoming Olympic events.

In addition to more than 200 hours of coverage on NBC, DIRECTV customers will be able to see 2010 Olympic action on 5 additional channels.  USA, MSNBC, CNBC, Universal HD, and Universal Sports will cover different sports from start to finish.  Here is a brief rundown on what you can find on each.

Your local NBC station will carry the big events like Figure Skating, Speed Skating, and Skiiing.  Nightly primetime coverage will feature the top events, and late night coverage will interrupt the current Tonight Show controversy between Jay Leno and Conan O’brien.  NBC will also broadcast several events during daytime hours on both weekdays and weekends.

The USA Network is found on DIRECTV channel 242, and will be the home of the U.S. Olympic Team.  More than 40 hours of Winter Olympic coverage will be on USA, and the featured events will be Ice Hockey and Curling.  All Team USA Hockey games will be on USA, and most of them will be live broadcasts.

MSNBC is on DIRECTV channel 356, and will feature about 100 hours of the 2010 Olympic Games.  Again, Ice Hockey competition and Curling will be the main events here.   In addition, figure skating and speed skating competition will be found on MSNBC.  Late round hockey and the US-Canada hockey game will also be found here.

CNBC, normally the 24 hour business channel is on DIRECTV channel 355.   About 100 hours of coverage will be on CNBC, including both the men’s and women’s Curling gold medal matchups.

Universal HD is not widely available yet, but it is available through DIRECTV on channel 259.  This channel is not in any of the regular DIRECTV packages, you have to subscribe to the HD Extra Pack, which runs $4.99 a month.  Olympic coverage here consists of highlights only, broadcast in HD of course.

As mentioned earlier, all of the combined coverage totals more than 800 hours.  NBC is certainly betting that the 2010 Olympic games will bring them millions in advertising revenue and a big win in the February sweeps period.  If you are with the other satellite TV company, here is a rundown of the Dish Network 2010 Olympic coverage.