The ESPN GamePlan package is a college football version of the NFL Sunday Ticket. The nice thing is, it is not an exclusive package, so you can find it not only on DIRECTV, but DISH Network as well. Even some cable outfits carry the package, so you don’t necessarily have to subscribe to satellite TV in order to get this package.

So what exactly does the ESPN Game Plan package include, and how can it benefit the DISH Network satellite TV subscriber? This pay-per-view package is available either on a weekly or yearly subscription basis. Kicking off in early September, and running through the end of November, the ESPN GamePlan package gives the viewer access to 12 out of market games every Saturday.

Since college games often run longer than NFL games, and start at different times throughout the day, some games are joined in progress. Because of this, you will not alway be able to see some ESPN GamePlan games in their entirety. Games are also subject to various blackout rules, so check with your provider to get all of the details.

ESPN GamePlan through DISH Network includes most of the ABC regional games, and may also play games normally available from other syndicators. Pricing for this year has been set at $129 for the whole season, or can be purchased for $21.95 per week. Existing customers can subscribe by calling 1-800-333-DISH. If you are interested in subscribing to DISH Network with ESPN Gameplan, you can get 3 months free with this DISH Network deal. The games are also available to subscribers to ESPN360.com, available on the internet through various service providers.

The ESPN GamePlan is one of the few premium sports packages available through DISH Network. The ESPN Game Plan is also available for the same price through DIRECTV, as well as several cable TV companies such as Comcast, Verizon FiOS, and Cox Cable.

Today’s pay television subscriber is looking for the most bang for the buck. With over 265 channels of programming, one option is an all-inclusive satellite TV bundle which offers all kinds of programming, whether it be sports, movies, drama, or commercial free music for your listening pleasure.

DIRECTV Premier Package Review

So what exactly does DIRECTV give you with the Premier package?   Well, as we have already mentioned, everything is here, but let’s get a little more specific.
You may never go to a movie theater again, as there is a wide selection of premium move channels included in the Premier package. All in all, there are 30 premium movie channels. These would include 7 channels of HBO, 12 channels of Starz, 3 channels of Cinemax, and to round things out 9 Showtime movie channels.
Sports fans will also find anything and everything in this package. In addition to the standards such as ESPN and ESPNEWS, there are 35 additional sports networks included. Included are 3 Comcast regional networks, more than a dozen Fox Sports Net channels, and the YES channel, home of the New York Yankees. The DIRECTV Sports pack is normally an additional $12, but it is included in the Premier package.

Local channels are here also in almost all parts of the country. ABC, NBC, CBS and Fox are the standards, while the CW and PBS stations are available in some areas.
Plenty of audio programming is also accessible in the Premier package as well. XM is the provider, with up to 73 different stations available.
HD programming is about the only thing not available in this package. In order to receive HD channels, there is an addition $9.99 per month HD access fee.

So what will all of this cost? Actually less than you think. The normal price for the DIRECTV Premier package is $104.99 per month, and for new customers there are always promotions available. Once a year, DIRECTV offers the best satellite TV promotion in conjunction with the NFL Sunday Ticket.

This year’s promotion offers new customers the Premier package free for four months when they pay for the NFL Sunday Ticket at the price of $74.99 for four months. In addition, DIRECTV is also offering a free HD DVR receiver upgrade, a $199 value. The current promotion runs through October 31^st, but the NFL season starts in early September, so it makes sense to get on board now in order to see all of the games.

Many considering the switch to DISH Network satellite TV ask if they can get local channels. The answer in most cases is yes, Dish Network can provide you with your local channels in most areas of the country.

Why most areas of the country? Because local channels are delivered differently than national channels, different signals are sent to different areas. Local channels delivered via satellite TV from DISH Network and Direct TV start with the largest areas, and then trickle down to smaller cities from there. Currently about 95% of US households can receive their local channels via DISH Network in 155 cities.

What channels are available? In most markets, all of the majors are available, including ABC, NBC, CBS, PBS, and FOX. In addition, many areas also have UPN and WB stations, though they are not as widespread as the major locals.

How much does it cost? DISH Network’s local channel setup is different than DirecTV. DISH Network packages are generally a little less than Direct TV, but they then charge $5.00 for local channels. This gives the customer the option as to whether they want local channels or not. If you don’t want them, you don’t have to pay for them.

Here is a current list of markets where DISH Network offers local channels, if you don’t see your market, check here for availability.

Abilene, TX
Albany, GA
Albuquerque, NM
Albany, NY
Anchorage, AK
Atlanta, GA
Austin, TX
Baltimore, MD
Bakersfield, CA
Birmingham, AL
Boise,ID
Boston, MA
Burlington, VT
Buffalo, NY
Cedar Rapids, IA
Champaign / Springfield Decatur, IL
Charleston / Huntington, WV
Charlotte, NC
Chattanooga, TN
Chicago, IL
Chico & Redding, CA
Cincinnati, IL
Clarksburg / Weston, WV
Cleveland, OH
Colorado Springs / Pueblo, CO
Columbia, SC
Columbus, OH
Dallas / Ft. Worth, TX
Dayton, OH
Denver, CO
Detroit, MI
Des Moines, IA
Duluth, MN
El Paso, TX
Eugene, OR
Evansville IN
Fresno, CA
Ft. Meyers, FL
Ft. Smith / Fayetteville, AR
Ft. Wayne, IN
Flint / Saginaw / Bay City, MI
Florence, SC
Gainesville, FL
Grand Junction, CO
Grand Rapids, MI
Greensboro, NC
Greenville, NC
Greenville / Spartanburg, SC
Hartford / New Haven, CT
Harlingen, TX
Harrisburg, PA
Honolulu, HI
Houston, TX
Huntsville, AL
Idaho Falls, ID
Indianapolis, IN
Jacksonville, FL
Jackson, MS
Johnstown / Altoona, PA
Kansas City, MO
Knoxville, TN
La Crosse-Eau Claire, WI
Las Vegas, NV
Lansing, MI
Lexington, KY
Lincoln, NE
Little Rock / Pine Bluff, AR
Los Angeles, CA
Louisville, KY
Lubbock, TX
Macon, GA
Madison, WI
Meridian, MS
Memphis, TN
Miami, FL
Milwaukee, WI
Minneapolis / St. Paul, MN
Missoula, MT
Mobile, AL
Monroe / LA-El Dorado, AL
Monterey, CA
Nashville, TN
New York, NY
New Orleans, LA
Norfolk-Portsmouth, VA
Oklahoma City, OK
Omaha, NE
Orlando, FL
Paducah, KY
Panama City, FL
Peoria / Bloomington, IL
Philadelphia, PA
Phoenix, AZ
Pittsburgh, PA
Portland, ME
Portland, OR
Providence, RI
Raleigh / Durham, NC
Reno, NV
Richmond, VA
Roanoke, VA
Rochester, NY
Sacramento, CA
Salt Lake City, UT
San Antonio, TX
San Diego, CA
San Francisco, CA
Santa Barbara, CA
Savannah, GA
Sherman-Ada,TX-OK
Seattle, WA
Shreveport, LA
Sioux City, IA
Sioux Falls(Mitchell)Sioux City, IA
Spokane, WA
Springfield, MO
South Bend, IN
St. Louis, MO
Tallahassee, FL
Tallahassee, FL
Tampa/St. Petersburg, FL
Traverse City / Cadillac, MI
Tulsa, OK
Tucson, AZ
Tyler, TX
Waco, TX
Washington, D.C.
Wausau / Rhinelander, WI
West Palm Beach, FL
Wichita, KS
Wilkes Barre, PA
Yakima, WA
Youngstown, OH

Keep in mind, this list contains markets where standard definition DISH Network local channels are available. Local channels in HD are not as widespread at this time.

DIRECTV is forming another relationship in the sports world, this time inking a deal with the IndyCar Series as the Premier Official Sponsor of the series.

The sponsorship, valued in the area of $2 to 3 million per year for a six-year term by industry analysts, gives DIRECTV yet another platform to push its “High Definition” agenda. The series will now be called “IndyCar Series in DIRECTV HD.” The name itself lets everyone know how Direct TV is positioning itself in the marketplace, and that is:

DIRECTV=HD

The formula seems to be working for the satellite provider. DIRECTV is leaving no stone unturned in its quest to let the consumer know they are all about HD. The new deal with IndyCar will give DIRECTV all the branding and logo placements that come along with auto racing.

A few examples – The deal promises DIRECTV branding placements on all cars and driver uniforms, through pit row, and on camera mountings placed in cars. Kiosks at each race will also feature the DIRECTV brand in areas known as “Fan Zones.” The IndyCar Series logo will also promote the fact the all races are presented in DIRECTV HD. All in all, quite a bit of advertising for the reported price-tag paid by DIRECTV.

While DIRECTV does not currently have any broadcast rights to the race series, it could lead to an agreement in the future similar to the NASCAR HotPass. ABC, ESPN, and ESPN2 will carry the series once again this year, including the Indianapolis 500 over Memorial Day Weekend. ABC’s rights to the IndyCar series currently run through the end of the 2009 season.