DISH Network has once again switched up the names on their packages, and at the same time tweaked their pricing structure. For 2010, Dish has gone back to naming the “America’s Top” name for their lower priced packages, and as part of that the Classic Bronze package has been renamed the America’s Top 120.

Why should you consider the America’s Top 120 package? What does it offer when compared to DIRECTV or your local cable TV company? Lets review this bundle and see what satellite TV can offer.

The Classic Bronze 100 and the Classic Bronze 100 plus were the 2009 titles for what is now called the Americas Top 120. The base pricing is going to stay the same for 2010, meaning DISH Network is still the low price choice for plenty of cable channels. As the name implies, there will be right around 120 channels in the package in 2010, and this includes both video and music stations, all of which are 100% digital. About 35 of the 120 channels are music stations.

The DISH Network deals offered on this package will also continue. What that means is that a new customer will be able to get into the America’s Top 120 for $24.99 a month for the first year, which is a $15 discount from the $39.99 a month price. If you are a big sports fan, you probably want to go with the America’s Top 120 Plus package. For $5 more per month, you get all of the basic channels plus any of the regional sports networks in your area. RSN’s include the Fox Sports Networks, the YES Network in the New York area, and others depending on where you live. Regional sports networks bring hundreds of games right into your living room.

If you are looking at pricing on this package in comparison to DIRECTV, the Choice package is the one that lines up closely. DIRECTV offer the Choice package for $58.99 a month for 150+ channels. Discounts from DIRECTV amount to $26 a month for one year, bringing the price down to $32.99 a month. Both Dish and DIRECTV charge $10 a month for HD access, and they also both charge a DVR service fee, so those factors will be about the same if you are comparing Dish to DIRECTV.

The America’s Top 120 package should also compare well with your local cable TV company. Basic cable usually runs at least $50 a month with most providers, and digital cable usually runs in the area of $70 or more. Many cable TV companies also charge an install fee for the cable technician to come out and hook you up, while free installation is included for up to four rooms with the America’s Top 120 bundle.

If you are in the market for a new pay television provider in 2010, then you may want to take a close look at the DISH Network bundles that are available to you.  With DISH Network, you can enjoy all of the local and national networks that you get from your local cable TV company, and in most cases at a lower price overall.

DISH Network Bundles

If you are currently subscribing to basic cable, you are probably paying at least $60 a month.  For digital or premium cable through a provider like Comcast, the bill moves into the $80 to $150 a month range depending on how many premium channels you have.  While a DIRECTV bundle may save you some over cable TV, their overall pricing structure is a bit more than with DISH Network.  With a DISH Network bundle, you can start with a package as low as $19.99 a month for the Dish Family package, but since very few subscribe to this package, we will start off with the Dish Classic Bronze bundle, and consider how it compares to cable.

The DISH Network Classic Bronze bundle is a great choice if you are currently a basic cable customer. Depending on your cable company, you probably pay anywhere from $50 to $75 a month for basic cable, and for that you probably get around 100 channels.  With the Classic Bronze bundle, you will get 120 channels total, of which around 25 are music stations.   Current pricing is $24.99 a month, which is a $15 discount from the regular price during the first year.  After that you are looking at $40 a month.  DVR service is another $6 per month, but even at the regular price this bundle compares well against basic cable.

The Classic Silver bundle is next up from DISH Network.  With more than 200 all digital channels, this package matches up well against digital cable or the DIRECTV Choice Xtra bundle.  This package is priced at $37.99 a month when considering the $15 first year discount.  Regular pricing is $52.99, which again compares well with something like your typical digital cable bundle.

The DISH Network Classic Gold bundle is next on the list, and comes in at $47.99 a month, or $62.99 a month if you are considering the price once the promotional period is over.   Here you will find over 260 all-digital channels when you count both audio and video.  Quite a few of these are Sirius satellite radio stations, so if those are not high on your list, the Silver 200 bundle may be a better choice.

Finally, the America’s Everything Bundle is the all inclusive choice available from DISH Network.  Everything in the Classic Gold package is included, plus more than 30 premium movie channels like HBO and Showtime are included.  This Dish bundle is just under $100 a month, and is also eligible for the new customer discount for 12 months.

A few additional factors to consider when looking at a DISH Network bundle.  All of the above packages include local channels where available.  DISH Network reaches more than 95% of the country with local channel programming, so this shouldn’t be much of an issue.  If you want high definition content with your DISH Network package, then you will be paying an additional $10 a month.   The number of HD channels you get depends on the bundle you pick, obviously the bundles with more channels overall also offer more HD channels.

Finally, none of the DISH Network bundles include the monthly fee for DVR service.  Right now, DISH Network charges $6 a month per DVR, though there are rumors circulating that Dish may be raising rates on their HD DVR service.  This does compare well with cable TV providers, some of whom charge upwards of $15 a month for DVR service.

The Classic Bronze 100 package is the entry level offer from Dish Network satellite TV. Maybe you have hesitated when considering the satellite television option for a couple of reasons. One could be signal reliability, as there is a myth out there that satellite service always drops out during bad weather. Another is that satellite is not as reliable when compared to cable. Lets review the Classic Bronze package in comparison to cable TV offers.

As you can probably figure out by the name, the Dish Classic Bronze 100 package offers more than 100 channels. Not all are video though, as about 25 of the channels are commercial free music stations. Like your typical cable package from Comcast or Time Warner, this satellite TV package has local channels and all of the most popular cable networks like TNT and ESPN.

The package is equal to most cable companies though in it offers the same amount of content. The advantage come into play in that it comes in at a lower price point. Both Dish Network and cable companies offer promotional rates for the first year, but when normal prices are lined up side by side, Dish usually comes in about 15 to 20% lower on a monthly basis.

What about reliability? Often cable TV slams satellite reliability, claiming service outages are annoying and excessive. While you may lose service during a strong rain or snow storm, these of course depend on the area you live in. Sometimes its just a matter of a bit of snow on the satellite dish that has to be brushed off. Overall signal and service reliability for Dish and DirecTV is more than 99.9% of the time. Cable TV outages can affect you for days at a time, and their overall reliability rate falls below satellite service.

Another thing to remember when comparing the Classic Bronze 100 package vs. cable is the number of HD channels available. Dish Network currently leads the nation with upwards of 150 HD channels, a number most cable companies fall far short of reaching. Keep in mind, Dish TV does charge and extra $10 a month for HD access, so add that in when comparing service to your local cable operator.

With folks looking to save money in today’s economy, this Dish Network package offers an affordable alternative to your cable bundle.

In reviewing what we have discussed:

• You can save 15 to 20% monthly over cable with a Dish Network Package
• Dish Network service is just as reliable when compared to Cablevision service

Update: Classic Bronze 100 has been renamed Americas Top 120

The DISH Network Classic Bronze 100 package is probably one of the best packages for you if you are looking for a good sized channel lineup at a very low price. Why pick the Classic Bronze 100 bundle over your cable television company? How does the Classic Bronze package compare with DIRECTV offers? Lets take a closer look at this package as we review the pricing and details.

As you can probably figure, the Classic Bronze 100 package carries around 100 channels total, and was formerly called the America’s Top 100 bundle.  Not all of these are video though, as the package tops 100 when the audio channels are added into this bundle from DISH Network.   If you are interested in seeing the actual Classic Bronze 100 channel lineup, scroll to the end of this article and you will find a list of channels.

Priced to compete with basic cable offers from Comcast and Time Warner, as well as with the DIRECTV Choice package, the Classic Bronze offer has most of the popular cable TV networks. Some of the recognizable cable networks you will find in this package include CNN, Fox News Channel, ESPN, TNT, USA Network and TBS. DISH Network local channel programming where available is also now part of the channel lineup, so you can expect to see ABC, NBC, FOX and CBS in most markets. DISH Network has deployed local HD programming to more than 90% of the country so you can also watch most of the popular shows in high definition if you pay for DISH Network HD.

Now as mentioned at the outset, the Classic Bronze 100 package is a great deal when looking the price in comparison to cable. The regular price for from DISH Network is $39.99 a month for this package, which is probably at least 15% lower than most comparable cable television packages that carry the same amount of content. If comparing to a like DIRECTV package, then the Choice bundle is probably closest to the Classic Bronze. The DIRECTV Choice package is normally priced at $55.99 a month, though there is a $26 dollar discount for the first year. Choice does have 150+ channels, so you can understand why it is higher than this DISH Network package.  If you are looking for a bit more content from DISH Network, consider the Classic Silver 200 or the Classic Gold 250 as alternatives.

Now if you are wondering what kind of Bronze package deal you can get right now, DISH Network is currently running a promotion that will discount this offer by $15 a month for the first 12 months of service, bringing your monthly price down to $24.99. In addition, you can get three months free of HBO and Showtime, which add another 20 premium movie channels for free. Remember that these channels continue at regular charge if you do not call to cancel them when the three month promotion is over. Free activation and free installation in up to four different rooms is also included.

While $24.99 a month is a great price for the Classic Bronze package, it is the absolute bottom line price for one connection of a standard definition TV. If you want HD, or have mulitple TV’s, you will have some extra charges. In addition, if you want DVR service, there is also a monthly charge for that. Lets review some of the extra fees that can affect the Classic Bronze price.

DISH Network is generous in providing you with the hardware needed at no extra upfront charge, but there are monthly fees involved. One charge that most will face is the $10 a month HD access charge. If you have one a new plasma screen or LCD HDTV, no doubt you want the best picture quality. Any DISH Network channel in the Bronze package that has an HD feed will be included for this price. Another addition that is almost a must these days is a digital video recorder, or DVR. The HD DuoDVR receive will allow you to hook up one TV in HD and one in standard definition. The monthly DVR service fee is $5.98 a month. If you are looking to connect more than two television sets, there is a $7.00 a month charge for additional receivers.

Finally, there is an upgraded Classic Bronze package for sports fans. The DISH Network Classic Bronze 100 Plus includes all of the channels listed below, plus any regional sports channels that are prominent in your area. These of course vary depending on your market, but generally you will get at least the regional Fox Sports Network in your particular region.

As mentioned earlier, here is a complete list of the channels included here. Toward the end of the list are the commercial free audio channels provided in this DISH Network package.

A&E
ReelzChannel
Sci-Fi Channel
TNT
CCTV-9
CCTV-E&F
Spike TV
TV Guide Channel
Comedy Central
E! Entertainment Television
USA Network
Lifetime
TBS
Mens Outdoor & Recreation
C-Span
Disney Channel (East)
Nickelodeon / Nick at Night (East)
TV Land
Cartoon Network
Disney Channel (West)
Nickelodeon / Nick at Nite (West)
ESPN
CNBC
CNN Headline News
The Weather Channel
C-Span2
CNN
NASA
The Pentagon Channel
ABC Family
ESPN2
ESPNews
Horse Racing TV
TVG – Horse Racing TV
The Water Channel
ESPNU
Discovery Channel
History Channel
The Learning Channel
The Travel Channel
Food Network
Home & Garden Television
BYUTV
Good Samaritan Network
Documentary Channel
University of California
Classic Arts Showcase
HITN
Florida Education Channel
University House
University of Washington TV
Country Music Television
MTV
MTV2
VH1
Research Channel
Free Speech TV
Colours TV
LINK TV
Angel One
Daystar
Eternal Word Television Network
Trinity Broadcasting Network
Beauty & Fashion Channel
iDrive Men’s Channel
ShopNBC
Home Shopping Network
ISHOP
QVC
Resort & Residence Channel
Healthy Living Channel
Jewelry Television

AUDIO Channels

CD-ACOUSTIC CROSSROADS
CD-ESTILOS
CD-JAZZ TRADITIONS
CD-RAWHIDE
CD-AURA
CD-FEEDBACK
CD-JUKEBOX GOLD
CD-ROCK SHOW
CD-BACKPAGES
CD-FIESTA MEXICANA
CD-KIDTUNES
CD-SCREEN DOOR
CD-BYU RADIO NETWORK
CD-FREQUENCY
CD-KINGSTON
CD-SONGBOOK
CD-CASHMERE
CD-HAWAIIAN MUSIC
CD-LUCILLE
CD-STROBE
CD-CONCRETE BEATS
CD-IMPRESSIONS
CD-NASHVILLE USA
CD-SWING KINGS
CD-EASY INSTRUMENTALS
CD-INK’D
CD-NUJAZZ
CD-THE LIGHT
CD-ENSEMBLE
CD-INTERMEZZO
CD-PLAZA
CD-UNFORGETTABLE

For the latest deals available on the Classic Bronze package, call DISH Network customer service to find out what is being offered at this time.

One of the best things about satellite television is that you can subscribe to foreign language programming. No matter where in the world you come from, DISH Network and DIRECTV offer terrific packages that bring programming to you in your native tongue. This hold true with the DISH Network Filipino package, which offers programming in the Tagalog language in the United States.

So why consider the DISH Network Tagalog language package? While many cable companies carry plenty of Spanish language programming, even Chinese in some parts of the country, you won’t find much Filipino programming on cable. With either DIRECTV or DISH Network, you have access to this programming in your language, and best of all it is affordable. No need to spend and arm and a leg to get quality Filipino TV, no matter where you live in America.

DISH Network international programming allows you to either subscribe to a stand alone Filipino package, or add the package to one of the DISH Network packages like the Classic Gold 250.  Most folks first get an English package, as many in the home already speak English or are in the process of learning the language. The main DISH Network Filipino package is the Pinoy Mega Pack, which is offered for $24.99 a month. Lets consider the 7 popular channels in this package.

GMA Pinoy TV heads up the Dish Filipino package, and airs on channel 717. This channel broadcast top Filipino programming, including top rated shows. Pinoy TV caters to the whole family, offering the latest news, variety shows, sitcoms, soap operas, and talk shows from the Philippines.

RPN USA is found on DISH Network channel 715 and carries a variety of programs. This Filipino language channel features travel, lifestyle, drama, and comedy shows. RPN USA also brings top rated shows from the Philippines to the United States.

DZBB is GMA Network’s AM radio station in the Philippines. One of the top rated AM stations in Manilla, no video is offered here, but the content certainly keeps you “on the ground” with the latest from home. Broadcast on Dish channel 722.

VIVA TV can be found in DISH Network channel 713, and is broadcast from Manilla as well. This 24 hour a day Filipino channel feature the latest and best movie selections. Other programming includes concerts, music videos, sports, and TV series.

NBN America is up next, and can be found on DISH Network channel 714. This is your top source for news and sports in the Tagalog language. Coverage of the Philippine Basketball Association can be found here, along with boxing and motorsports as well. Filipino news and political coverage can be found here as well.

GMA Life TV is on channel 720 and is the second international channel from GMA. Here you will find programs featuring the Filipino people and lifestyle.

DWLS is the final channel found in the Pinoy Mega Pack and is on DISH Network satellite TV channel 723. This is an audio station, and broadcasts Barangay LS, an FM radio station. Formerly known as Campus Radio, popular songs and Filipino music head up the programming.

Now if you don’t want or need all of the channels in the Pino Mega pack, there are two alternatives which cost less. First, the GMA Pinoy pack is $19.99 per month, and offers four Filipino TV channels. DWLS and DZBB, the two audio channels are included, as are GMA Life TV and GMA Pinoy TV. The Viva Pinoy pack offers three Filipino TV channels which are NBN America, Viva TV, and RPN USA. This package is $16.99 a month on a stand alone basis. If you subscribe to the DISH Network Classic Bronze 100 or higher, you can get this Filipino bundle for the discounted price of $11.99 a month. Right now, there are not any Filipino channels available on an a-la-carte basis through DISH Network.

As mentioned earlier, all of the DISH Network Filipino packages are available in conjunction with the standard DISH Network packages. While Filipino programming is not yet in HD, Dish does offer more than 100 English HD channels at this time. You also can get a free DISH Network DVR as a new customer, simply pay $5.98 a month for DVR service. If you do select the stand alone Filipino package, there is an additional $9.99 a month charge for DISH Network local channels. So how does DISH Network Filipino programming and pricing compare to the DIRECTV alternative? Check back soon as we review the DIRECTV Filipino package options.

In recent years, ties between the United States and India have grown closer. Today, there are millions of individuals living in the United State that hail from the South Asian region. Fortunately, with the invention of satellite TV, these individuals have access to entertainment in their native tongue with the DISH Network South Asian programming packages now available.

DISH Network South Asian programming comes in a number of languages including the most popular, Hindi and Bengali (or Bangla) The nice thing about DISH Network is that you can specifically design a programming package which meets the needs of your family. If you need or want English programming, you can start with one of their basic package, like the Classic Bronze 100, then add on the South Asian package of your choice.

On the other hand, if you are just interested in a DISH Network South Asian package, you can sign up for on of the Hindi programming options, then add channels from there. Lets review what exactly is available when it comes to South Asian programming on satellite television, and for comparison purposes you may also want to review the DIRECTV South Asian packages as well.

The Hindi Mega pack, the Hindi Super pack, and the Hindi Elite pack are the main options available from DISH Network. First, the Hindi Mega pack has a monthly price of $59.99 per month, and includes 16 different channels. Here you can keep up with all of the Cricket action, family entertainment, variety programs, serials and movies from South Asia. Take a look at all of the Hindi language programming you will get with this package.

AAJ TAK
B4U Movies
B4U Music
Headlines Today
NDTV Imagine
Radio City
SAB
SAHARA ONE
SAHARA
Set Max
SONY Entertainment Television Asia
STAR India One
STAR India Plus
TV ASIA
ZEE Cinema
ZEE TV

Now if the Hindi Mega Pack is a bit too pricey, or you don’t want all of these channels, you can go with the Hindi Super Pack for a monthly price of $44.99, or the Hindi Elite pack for $34.99 per month. Your best source for channel availability and pricing is the DISH Network South Asian website. Several choices are available there for those who just want certain South Asian channels.

The other major DISH Network South Asian programming package is the Bangla language option. Here you can either go with the Bangla Mega Pack or the Bangla Elite Pack. The Bangla Mega package is $34.99 per month, and includes the following channels:

ATN BANGLA
BANGLAVISION
CHANNEL-I
EKHUSHEY
NTV BANGLA
RTV
ZEE TV

The Bangla Elite package is a little less, priced at $29.99 per month, and does not have the ATN Bangla and the ZEE TV channels that are in the Mega pack. There are also a la carte options available through DISH Network if you are interested in specific South Asian channels, and currently you will pay around $15 a month for each channel you add.

In addition, there are several additional DISH Network South Asian language packages available. These can be added in addition to the Hindi language option, or in addition to one of the base English language packages. Here is a brief overview of the additional package options.

DISH Network Punjabi package- $19.99 per month. Offers the following four channels:

ALPHA ETC PUNJABI
JUS Punjabi TV
MH1
PUNJJABI TV

DISH Network Malayalam package – $24.99 per month. Includes two channels:

KAIRALI TV
SURYA TV

DISH Network Telugu package- $29.99 per month. Include four channels in the Telugu language:

GEMINI TV
Maa TV
TEJA TV
TV9 TELUGU

DISH Network Tamil bundle- $24.99 per month. Two Tamil language channels included here:

KTV
Sun TV

Finally, DISH Network South Asian programming also offers a la carte channels in Gujarati and Kannada languages.

Now if you decide to subscribe to DISH Network South Asian programming, what all is included? As long as you subscribe to one of the base English language packages, or the Hindi Mega pack along with a 24 month commitment, you will get the following as a new subscriber.

Free activation ($99 value)
Free standard professional installation in up to four rooms.
No equipment to buy
Free HBO and Showtime for three months
Free Dish Home protection plan for 9 months.

Promotions change from time to time, so be sure to ask about any DISH Network offers so that you get the best value on your South Asian programming package.

Update: DISH Network 2011 price increase

DISH Network is greeting their customer base this February with a hefty price increase which may have customers looking to DIRECTV or other cable TV providers. The Dish TV price increase takes effect today, though the news first broke back in December of last year.

So how will you be affected by DISH Network raising rates? Lets take a look at how DISH Network has arranged its pricing for 2009.

First, DISH Network has eliminated the package names that have been around for years, such as the Americas Top 100, or AT100 as it is often referred to. Gone as well are the America’s Top 200, America’s Top 250, and the America’s Everything Pack. DISH Network has renamed these packages to match the Turbo HD names that came out last summer. Here is how the DISH Network packages transition.

America’s Top 100 is now the DISH Network Classic Bronze 100. This package is moving up from $32.99 to $34.99. With local service it moves from $34.99 to $39.99. Price increase of $2.00 a month. Add $10 per month for the Turbo HD Bronze addition.

America’s Top 200 is now the DISH Network Classic Silver 200. This bundle is increasing in price from $44.99 to $47.99 per month. With local channels, it increased from $49.99 to $52.99 per month. Overall an increase of $3.00 over 2008 prices. Add $10 for the Turbo HD Silver package.

America’s Top 250 is now the DISH Network Classic Gold 250. The base package increases from $54.99 to $57.99 per month. With locals, the price of $59.99 goes up to $62.99 per month. Overall, prices increase $3 a month for the 250 channel lineup. Add $10 for the Turbo HD Gold package.

Lastly, the all inclusive DISH Network America’s Everything Pak is renamed the Classic Everything Pak. This was $94.98 last year, and will be $97.98 in 2009. With local channels, the price increases from $99.98 to $102.98. Overall, a $3 per month increase here. Again, the Turbo HD Gold addition can be had for another $10 per month.

One area where DISH Network is making up some lost ground is on their DishDVR Advantage packages. Last year, DISH Network made a big deal over the fact that they were freezing prices on several of their packages. In actuality, they only held the line on the DishDVR Advantage packages, and the Dish Family package. But DISH Network is making up for that with this year’s price increase.

The DishDVR Advantage Classic Bronze will move from $39.99 a month up to $44.99 a month, a $5 increase. DishDVR Classic Silver will increase from $49.99 up to $57.99 a month. Finally, the DishDVR Classic Gold 250 will increase from $59.99 up to $67.99 a month. Thus the Silver and Gold DishDVR packages will both increase $8 per month. So DISH Network customers may have enjoyed lower prices in 2008, they are basically being hit with a double increase in 2009 to make up for DISH Network’s lost revenue, and to bring prices more in line with DIRECTV and cable television.

If you are one of the new subscribers to the DISH Network Turbo HD only packages, you will also encounter a price increase. Turbo HD Bronze is jumping $5 per month, from $24.99 up to $29.99 a month. Turbo HD Silver customers will see their prices move up from $32.99 to $39.99, an increase of $7 a month. Finally the Turbo HD Gold package will increase a whopping $10 per month, from $39.99 up to $49.99 a month. Turbo HD came into the market last summer with extremely low prices for the all high definition channel lineups, but those low prices are quickly disappearing. Rumors of new HD channels have been floating across message boards, but nothing has come of yet for the new Turbo HD packages.

As far as good news, while there isn’t much, current DishLATINO customers won’t feel as much pain. Several Dish Latino packages including the DishLatino Plus, DishLatino Dos, and DishLatino Max will actually decrease slightly if you already have local channels, but will slightly increase without local channels. The pricing is actually the same with or without locals for most DishLATINO packages, so customers may as well sign up for them.

Premium movie channels also remain fairly stable with the latest DISH Network price increase, with HBO going up a buck, and no change to Cinemax, Starz, and Showtime.

Overall, the price increases look to be standard for the course, as Comcast, Time Warner, and DIRECTV all are doing the same. 2009 will certainly be difficult for both satellite TV companies, as DISH Network and DIRECTV fight to maintain and grow their respective subscriber bases. The one disappointment for DishDVR and Turbo HD customers is that their great 2008 rates have basically been thrown out the window.