The Cox triple play package is an offered to millions across the country as an alternative to satellite TV and traditional DSL service from your local phone company. Is a triple play bundle from Cox communications right for your situation? Lets briefly review what is included in this package.

The first building block in the Cox triple play is their digital cable TV service. Cox cable offers the Advanced TV with On demand as their entry level package. Here you will get up to 236 channels in digital quality, with 45 of them commercial free Music Choice stations. One TV pack is also included, giving you the choice of additional programming whether it be variety, movies, or Spanish programming if that is your preference.

Next in the Cox communications triple play is the high speed internet service. For the cheap package, the 3 Mbps download and 384k upload speeds are included. With the higher priced Cox packages, you get speeds up to 15 Mbps with the Power Boost service. The Cox security suite is available to all customers with their bundle, as they have partnered with McAfee to keep your computer safe.

The Cox package is completed with the home phone option, which includes unlimited and local calling no matter which tier of service you choose. Cox includes the voice package as part of their cable plus internet packages, but if you do not want both services they charge around $12 a month for the home phone service. If you get the higher prices TV and internet packages, you will also get additional phone features like voice mail and caller ID included at no extra charge.

Three different Cox triple play options are currently available. Here is a brief overview of the Cox prices in the Arizona market, an area where Cox communications is the dominant provider. The Cox standard bundle is the cheapest option, coming in at $98.99 per month, plus receiver charges if you have more than one TV. Also keep in mind that if you want the Cox DVR you will pay more for that as well. The middle tier plan is the Cox Essential bundle, which is currently priced at 113.99 a month. Here you get a few more channels plus another TV pack, as well as faster internet speeds. The final Cox triple play offer is the Deluxe Bundle, priced at 134.99 a month. Three TV packs are included as is one premium movie channel that you pick.

All of the Cox cable deals give you a reduced rate for one year, generally between $10 and $20 off of the normal Cox prices. It is good to look at the normal pricing before you jump in, and compare it to any offers from competitors like Dish Network or DIRECTV.

DIRECTV announced they will be carrying the new ESPN 3D channel from day one, and best of all it won’t cost you anything extra.  That is of course if you don’t count the substantial investment in buying a new 3DTV and the techno-goggles needed to watch 3D content at home.

The move signals that DIRECTV intends to be at the forefront of the 3D battle, as they have already announced they deployment of three other 3D channels.  The other three channels will be a pay per view option, a 3D on demand channel, and the newly named N3D, which will feature content from different providers.  While Comcast and Cox have announced that they will offer 3D coverage of the Masters Golf tournament, only DIRECTV has announced plans to air full time 3D channels in 2010.

ESPN 3D was officially announced in January, and will debut on June 11th at the FIFA World Cup soccer tournament.  Current plans have up to 25 games being broadcast in 3D, and up to 85 events total in 2010.  ESPN is not planning to air their 3D channel full time once broadcasting begins.  Other events set to air on ESPN 3D include the 2011 BCS championship game.

While DIRECTV is not planning to charge subscribers for the 3D version of ESPN, that is where the good news ends.   The bad news is you will still have to find and purchase one of the new 3D TV sets, which are already a hot commodity.   Samsung is brining their 3DTV to market in May, with the lowest priced model starting at $1,700.  High end models from Samsung are running between $6,000 and $7,000.   Panasonic, Sony, and LG also have 3D television sets on their way to market.  Retailers are expecting models from manufacturers to arrive anywhere from May through August, and in limited supply.  That in itself will probably put a damper on both DIRECTV and ESPN as they begin broadcasting in 3D.

If you live in Arizona, no doubt you know a bit about the local cable television companies and what they charge for service.   While cable TV rates can vary depending on the company and package you select, DIRECTV package prices in Arizona are the same as the rest of the United States.   That makes it easy to shop for DIRECTV satellite service online, and be able to find out exactly what the price will be.  Lets take a brief look at the DIRECTV Arizona options available, and see what sort of monthly charges you can expect.

DIRECTV packages start as low as $29.99 for the Family package, and move all the way up to about $115 a month for the Premier package.   Of course there are plenty of options in between these price points, and most people select one of the middle tier DIRECTV bundles.  The Choice Xtra package is a good option compared to the Digital cable options offered by cable companies.  This package offers 200 all digital video and audio channels for around $65 a month.  This is the regular monthly price, but as a new DIRECTV customer in Arizona you can usually get a deal during the first year.   The latest DIRECTV deals can give you the complete rundown.

Generally, you can get DIRECTV in all parts of Arizona, which can be an advantage in rural areas.  Many areas that are sparsely populated do not have any cable television options, meaning you have to go with either Dish or DIRECTV for television service.  The big competition for DIRECTV in Arizona is Cox cable, as they offer service in many areas including Phoenix.   DIRECTV has partnered with Qwest Communications, the dominant telephone and DSL provider in order to provide triple play bundles that compete with Cox cable.

Other big cable television companies in Arizona include Comcast, Cable One, and Time Warner cable.  If you are served by any of these companies, you will want to take your current cable bill and line it up against what DIRECTV offers in Arizona to see which one gives you the most for your money.  Here is a list of cities in Arizona where you can get DIRECTV satellite TV.

Aguila
Ajo
Alpine
Amado
Anthem
Apache Junction
Arivaca
Arizona City
Arlington
Ash Fork
Avondale
Bagdad
Bapchule
Bellemont
Benson
Big Park
Bisbee
Black Canyon City
Blue
Blue Gap
Bouse
Bowie
Buckeye
Bullhead City
Bylas
Cameron
Camp Verde
Carefree
Casa Grande
Cashion
Catalina
Cave Creek
Central
Chambers
Chandler
Chandler Heights
Chinle
Chino Valley
Chloride
Cibecue
Cibola
Clarkdale
Clay Springs
Claypool
Clifton
Cochise
Colorado City
Concho
Congress
Coolidge
Cornville
Cortaro
Cottonwood
Crown King
Dateland
Dennehotso
Dewey
Dolan Springs
Douglas
Dragoon
Duncan
Eagar
Eden
Ehrenberg
El Mirage
Elfrida
Elgin
Eloy
Flagstaff
Florence
Forest Lakes
Fort Apache
Fort Defiance
Fort Huachuca
Fort Mcdowell
Fort Mohave
Fort Thomas
Fountain Hills
Fredonia
Gadsden
Ganado
Gila Bend
Gilbert
Glendale
Globe
Gold Camp
Golden Valley
Goodyear
Grand Canyon
Gray Mountain
Green Valley
Greer
Hackberry
Happy Jack
Hayden
Heber
Hereford
Higley
Holbrook
Hotevilla
Houck
Huachuca City
Hualapai
Humboldt
Indian Wells
Iron Springs
Jerome
Joseph City
Kaibito
Kayenta
Keams Canyon
Kearny
Kingman
Kirkland
Kykotsmovi Village
Lake Havasu City
Lake Montezuma
Lakeside
Laveen
Leupp
Litchfield Park
Littlefield
Lukachukai
Luke AFB
Lukeville
Lupton
Mammoth
Many Farms
Marana
Marble Canyon
Maricopa
Mayer
Mcnary
McNeal
Meadview
Mesa
Mesquite
Miami
Mohave Valley
Monument Valley
Morenci
Mormon Lake
Morristown
Mount Lemmon
Munds Park
Naco
Navajo
Nazlini
New River
Nogales
North Rim
Nutrioso
Oatman
Oracle
Overgaard
Page
Palo Verde
Paradise Valley
Parker
Parks
Patagonia
Paulden
Payson
Peach Springs
Pearce
Peoria
Peridot
Petrified Forest Natl Pk
Phoenix
Picacho
Pima
Pine
Pinedale
Pinetop
Pinon
Pirtleville
Polacca
Pomerene
Poston
Prescott
Prescott Valley
Quartzsite
Queen Creek
Red Rock
Red Valley
Rillito
Rimrock
Rio Rico
Rio Verde
Rock Point
Roll
Roosevelt
Round Rock
Sacaton
Safford
Sahuarita
Saint David
Saint Johns
Saint Michaels
Salome
San Carlos
San Luis
San Manuel
San Simon
Sanders
Sasabe
Sawmill
Scottsdale
Second Mesa
Sedona
Seligman
Sells
Shonto
Show Low
Sierra Vista
Skull Valley
Snowflake
Solomon
Somerton
Sonoita
Springerville
Stanfield
Sun City, Arizona
Sun City West
Sun Valley
Supai
Superior
Surprise
Tacna
Taylor
Teec Nos Pos
Tempe
Temple Bar Marina
Thatcher
Tolleson
Tombstone
Tonalea
Tonopah
Tonto Basin
Topawa
Topock
Tortilla Flat
Tsaile
Tuba City
Tubac
Tucson
Tumacacori
Vail
Valentine
Valley Farms
Vernon
Waddell
Wellton
Wenden
White Mountain Lake
Whiteriver
Wickenburg
Wikieup
Willcox
Williams
Willow Beach
Window Rock
Winkelman
Winslow
Wittmann
Woodruff
Yarnell
Young
Youngtown
Yucca
Yuma, AZ

Getting a free satellite TV system in Arizona is fairly simple, just be aware that there is generally a 24 month contract required with DIRECTV.  Even those who live in apartments and condos can get DIRECTV in Arizona depending on your particular situation.

The NBA season is once again here, and for many die hard fans that means subscribing to the NBA League Pass package. If you are a DISH Network subscriber, or if you are considering signing up with DISH Network satellite, what can you expect with the NBA package?

First a few of the basics on the NBA League Pass programming option. If you are familiar with NFL Sunday Ticket, then it is the same idea applied to the NBA. Of course, each NBA team plays 82 games in each season compared the 16 game football schedule. This means if you subscribe to the League Pass package on DISH Network you will generally be able to see 40 or more games every week, compared to the 12 or so you would find with Sunday Ticket. The NBA regular season also runs about six months, so obviously this package contains a lot of NBA content for the money.

The NBA package on Dish TV will cover almost all of the games that are not on cable or broadcast networks like TNT, ESPN, and ABC. One target market for this package is the fan who is no longer living in his or her local market. If you are a Knicks fan living out in California, you will be able to keep up on all of the New York action with the NBA League Pass. Another group of fans interested is the ever growing group of fantasy basketball players out there. This DISH Network sports package allows them to watch all of the players they have drafted, plus scout out new up and coming talent.

The NBA League Pass on Dish comes with a few extras as well. Games in HD are so much better, and you will find most of the games broadcast in high definition. Not every single game is in HD, but this isn’t the fault of DISH Network, it is dependent on the regional sports network carrying the game. Of course you need the proper equipment, meaning an HDTV and DISH Network HD receiver or DVR to watch the action in high definition.

DISH Network also adds the NBA TV network to those who subscribe to League Pass. This 24 hour a day basketball channel carries a few live games, as well as plenty of NBA highlights and special features.

Finally, another great feature of the NBA League Pass is the added capability to watch live games on your computer.  NBA League Pass Broadband is a free addition to the regular TV package.  Lots of cool features can be found here including the ability to watch all of the TV broadcasts on your computer.  This is nice if you travel a lot, or if you want to catch up on your team over the holidays and you are away from home but have access to a computer with a high speed connection.

Additional features include the ability to watch three games at once through your computer.  The NBA has also added a Live Game DVR function so you have a little more flexibility in watching the games. There will also be an NBA full season archive, giving subscribers access to any game they want to watch after it has been played.  Blackout restrictions can affect the games you watch, so if you are looking for the details on how they work, click here.

NBA League Pass broadband is available at no extra charge if you subscribe to the regular package, but there are also two stand alone packages available if you don’t have DISH Network, DIRECTV, or one of the major cable companies carrying the package.  Full access is available for five monthly payments of $29.99 or one payment of $134.95.  A stripped down version of the package gives you access to any seven NBA teams for $89.95 for the regular season.

For the full package on DISH Network the price for the 2009-2010 season is $167.96 if you subscribe before November 4th, giving you a $20 early bird discount.  The NBA League Pass on DIRECTV is also available for four monthly payments of $41.99 just like on DISH Network.  Other major cable companies carrying the NBA Package include Comcast, Cox cable, Time Warner cable, Brighthouse, RCN and Bresnan cable.

Among telco television companies, Verizon FiOS offers the package, but AT&T U-verse has yet to pick up the NBA League Pass.  Not sure you want to subscribe?  Participating satellite and cable companies will be offering a free NBA preview from October 27th through November 3rd.

In this article, we will compare DIRECTV against Suddenlink cable service. Most people have heard of DIRECTV satellite service, and know a little about what they have to offer. On the other hand, Suddenlink cable is not as well known, unless you live in one of the areas served by the cable operator.

DIRECTV vs Suddenlink cable

Suddenlink serves nearly 1.3 million customers across the country, making it the 8th largest cable operator in the United States. Some of the states served by the cable TV company include Arkansas, California, Louisiana, Kentucky, Missouri, North Carolina, Ohio, Texas, West Virginia, and Oklahoma. With Suddenlink, you will find most of the channels and services that are available through big time cable TV companies like Time Warner and Comcast. Sudden Link also has the advantage of offering triple play bundles of cable TV, voice and high speed internet.

Alternatively, DIRECTV focuses on one product, video service, and has done extremely well in marketing satellite TV service over the past five years. Much of DIRECTV’s success comes from their exclusive NFL Sunday Ticket contract, which was recently extended through the 2014 season. Holding the exclusive rights to this package keeps it away from Suddenlink, DISH Network, and other pay TV companies.

With Suddenlink, you will find the common promotional pricing structure. By that we mean that you will get a Suddenlink deal for the first year of service, just be aware that the price can jump quite a bit after that first year is up. DIRECTV also runs one year discounts for their first time customers, that is unless you are going with the NFL Sunday Ticket promotion that includes five months of the Premier package for free when subscribing.

The current Suddenlink promotion offers digital cable with 200 plus channels for $45 per month. With the SL200 package, you can add one additional service for $35, and a third Suddenlink service for another $20 per month. For example, Suddenlink Digital cable would be $45, Suddenlink high speed internet would be $35, and if you wanted Sudden Link digital phone you could add that for just $20 if you bought the first two services. Overall, this Suddenlink triple play package would be $100 plus tax for the first year.

Now the Suddenlink website isn’t too user friendly in determining prices beyond the first year, so a prospective customer would certainly want to ask what charges will apply after the first year.

If you are considering a triple play bundle, here are few of the features available along with your digital cable package. Suddenlink high speed internet works through the same cable line, and of course delivers lightning fast internet speeds to your home computer or network. As mentioned earlier, Sudden link HIS 8.0 can be added for $35 per month for the first year when added to digital cable. You can expect download speeds of 8 Mbps, 10M webspace, and up to 10 e-mail accounts. Suddenlink will also provide you will with free McAfee Virus scanning software to keep your computer or network running smooth.

If you still want or need home phone service, you can also get the Suddenlink digital phone option. Only $20 for one year when added to Suddenlink cable and high speed internet, the digital phone option will give you unlimited local and long distance calling. Sudden link phone also include popular calling features like call waiting, three way calling, call forwarding, call waiting ID, anonymous call rejection and others. If you already have a home phone with your local company, you can transfer that same number to Suddenlink at no extra charge. Combined billing makes the triple play bundle easy to monitor and pay.

Now when comparing are comparing DIRECTV HD vs Suddenlink HD, you will certainly find more with the satellite TV option. Right now, DIRECTV has more than 130 HD channels, and while that now falls short of what DISH Network offers, it is more than you will find with Suddenlink. The numbers vary as far as what Suddenlink HD offers as far as channel count depending on the area you live in, so it’s a good idea to call them to find out what is in your neighborhood, especially if high definition content is important to you.

One area where Suddenlink has an advantage over DIRECTV is in the on demand area. Like Comcast and Cox cable, Suddenlink offers tons of on-demand content, which customers can access via their remote control. Right now, Suddenlink offers more than 150 On demand programs in HD, and more than 2000 hours of VOD content in their library. The main advantage of Suddenlink’s On demand platform is its ease of use and speed when compared to DIRECTV. You can use DIRECTV on demand as well if you have a high speed internet connection, but you often have to wait for some of the program to download before you can begin watching.

Installation of DIRECTV and Suddenlink is fairly similar. With DIRECTV you have to have a satellite dish mounted outside first, then the technician will hook up the receivers in up to four different places in your home. The first receiver or HD DVR is included in your monthly DIRECTV price, but each additional receiver incurs a $5 per month charge, which is similar to what Sudden link charges for additional cable TV boxes.

As far as DIRECTV pricing vs Suddenlink, you will find promotional prices for the first year with satellite service just like cable. DIRECTV offers a $21 discount per month on most of their packages for the first year before reverting to the regular price. Deals for new DIRECTV customers change from time to time, so its a good idea to call or visit their official website to see what they are offering. What you will also find is more flexibility, as there are several DIRECTV bundles to pick from, and you can move from package to package based on your budget or the types of channels you want to add or remove.

DIRECTV also has the highest customer satisfaction rating among all of the big cable and satellite TV providers. Suddenlink doesn’t have a specific rating according to the University of Michigan survey, as only the biggest companies are measured.

Finally, if sports are high on your list, you may want to avoid Suddenlink.  The cable company is still on the sidelines when it comes to the NFL Network, taking sides with big cable companies like Time Warner and Bright House networks in that dispute.  Suddenlink also does not carry the MLB channel, or the MLB Extra Innings package, both of which are available on DIRECTV.

The NFL RedZone channel will be available for hard core NFL fans this year, and it won’t cost an arm and a leg like the NFL Sunday Ticket package.  Even better, the NFL RedZone channel will be available to nearly 40 million households, as Comcast and DISH Network have jumped on board with the NFL and signed up to carry the new channel.

The NFL originally planned to start its Red Zone channel in 2012, but deals struck with FOX and CBS to extend the current contracts made the network a reality this year.  That is good news for Comcast and DISH Network subscribers, who have balked at switching over to DIRECTV for access the the Sunday Ticket and Superfan packages.  Other cable companies may also be picking up the NFL RedZone channel in the weeks ahead, though they would also have to agree to carry the NFL Network.

The NFL RedZone channel will be completely different then the DIRECTV Red Zone channel that is part of the Superfan package.  The Red Zone channel quickly became a fan favorite as it cut from game to game when teams were threatening to score.  Fantasy football fans and those who had money on NFL games especially enjoyed the non stop action found on DIRECTV’s version of the Red Zone channel, which is hosted by Andrew Siciliano.

While the exact format of the NFL RedZone channel has not been widely publicized, it will probably closely follow the DIRECTV model.  The channel will be produced by the NFL Network, and will be hosted by Scott Hanson who already works for the network.  With deals in place with DIRECTV, FOX, and CBS for coverage, the NFL Red Zone comes to air 3 years earlier than expected.

Both DISH Network and Comcast will offer the NFL RedZone as part of premium sports tier packages.  DISH Network offers a Multi Sport package of regional sports channels for $5.99 per month.   If you subscribe to the Classic Silver 200 or higher and HD access, you will be able to get the NFL RedZone HD channel as well as the standard definition version.

Comcast is also offering the NFL RedZone channel on its Sports Entertainment Package Tier, which also costs customers a few extra bucks each month.  Expect many customers of both DISH Network and Comcast to add the sports tier when the NFL season starts in September, and drop it when the regular season ends in December.

While only Comcast and DISH Network have picked up the NFL RedZone channel so far, expect other cable companies to finally sit down at the bargaining table with the NFL.  Three other big cable companies – Time Warner, Cox, and Cablevision have resisted the leagues asking price for the NFL Network.  Although the NFL RedZone channel will only be on the air for about 8 hours during football season, the product it delivers will have customers calling their cable companies asking for it.  Holdout cable companies would be wise to strike a deal for both networks, thus preventing a mass exit for satellite TV service from Dish or DIRECTV.

DIRECTV will continue to have another strong sales channel, as today they announced that their resale deal with Qwest Communications has been extended for another five years.

The original Qwest-DIRECTV deal was inked in 2004, and is obviously working out well for both companies.  DIRECTV gets an additional sales force covering 14 states spanning from Minnesota to Arizona, and Qwest receives an additional income stream each and every month.   Qwest will continue to provide billing and customer service support to DIRECTV customers who order the service through the local telco.

An extension of the deal was necessary from Qwest’s standpoint.  While they could have hooked up with Dish Network as an alternative, no doubt it was easier to continue doing business with the largest satellite TV company in the United States.  Qwest does not offer any video services of their own, as they have shut down their limited Choice TV offering which was deployed in some areas of Colorado, Arizona and Nebraska.

The continuation of the deal is obviously great for DIRECTV as well.  It solidifies their alliance with all three of the local telecom giants, as they already have a resale deal with Verizon, and began doing business with a new AT&T-DIRECTV deal earlier this year.  While Qwest is much smaller in size when compared to Verizon and AT&T, customers who want a triple play bundle with Qwest basically have to go with DIRECTV.  Alternatively, customers of the other large telcos may have different options as AT&T U-verse and Verizon FiOS services are being pushed heavily in areas where they are available.

Qwest has continued to limp along as the forgotten step-child of the Baby Bell industry.  The company has been crippled by strong competition from Comcast and Cox cable, as well as the insider trading scandal surrounding former CEO Joe Nacchio.  Qwest also failed to get on the wireless bandwagon, shutting down their own regional service in favor of resale agreements with Sprint and now Verizon Wireless.

In announcing the extension of the DIRECTV-Qwest deal, the companies also promised some new integrated features for subscribers.  Remote recording will be available, allowing customers to program their DVR or order Video on Demand programs through their Qwest high speed internet connection.  A group of integrated calling features will also be available in the future, allowing customers to access calling features via their DIRECTV remote control.

So is a DIRECTV deal from Qwest right for you?  Pricing on the packages with DIRECTV and Qwest does not change from standard satellite TV pricing.  The only advantage may come from bundled savings, when you already have several Qwest services.  Beyond that, the online DIRECTV deals are generally just as good if not better than any found with the telecom companies.

Dish Network and Cox cable are two of the big players when it comes to pay television service.  If you are in an area served by Cox cable services, you certainly want to make the right choice when it comes to either selecting cable or satellite TV service.  In this article, we will consider some of the pros and cons of both Dish Network and Cox cable.  Lets take a look at how they stack up against each other.

Cox Communications, or Cox cable as they are often referred to is the third largest cable TV company operating in the United States today.  Only Comcast and Time Warner cable are larger as far as subscribers go in the cable world, though both Dish Network and DIRECTV boast higher subscriber numbers than Cox.

Where will you find Cox cable?  Their largest areas of coverage are in Arizona, Nevada, Louisiana, California, and Florida.  Major cities in these areas served by Cox include Las Vegas, New Orleans, Cleveland, Phoenix, and San Diego.  Other states served by Cox include Idaho, Iowa, Oklahoma, Kansas, Virginia, and Nebraska.

As you can see, Cox serves some fairly populated markets, and they certainly fall into the category of “Big Cable.”  For more information, browse our Cox cable review.  Of course, Dish Network is a powerful entity as well, boasting more than 13 million subscribers and having the ability to serve the entire country.

Cox cable of course offers more than just cable television service.  Like other cable operators, Cox has been able to leverage their existing network and branch into the high speed internet field, as well as offer home telephone service.  These triple play packages are enticing to customers as they offer convenience and a oftentimes a low price when bundled together.  Dish Network on the other hand is primarily a satellite television provider only, thought they do have a few partnership arrangements out there to offer additional services.  For our comparison today, we will focus on video services, then touch on the Cox bundled offers at the end of this article.

Now of course one of the main differences when comparing Cox vs Dish is the delivery method.   Dish Network service requires the installation of a small satellite dish on your home that has exposure to the southern sky.  This rules out service altogether for some in apartments, or others who have large trees or buildings in the way.  Cox cable relies on a cable network, so it may be your only choice in some apartments or condominiums.

Usually when shopping for cable or satellite TV service, most people want to compare Dish Network prices versus Cox cable rates.  While price is certainly important in today’s faltering economy, you want to be sure you are going to get the programming that your family wants from either Dish or Cox.  So decide up front if you want an all inclusive type of package with all of the movie channels like HBO, or something basic which just has the major cable TV channels like ESPN and CNN.

With Cox basic cable, you are looking at a price tag of about $47.95 per month for Expanded cable, and $52.95 a month for Standard digital cable.  Cox cable prices quoted in this article are taken from the Phoenix Arizona region, one of the largest served by Cox.  These packages are comparable to the Dish Network Classic Bronze 100 package, though they do have fewer channels overall.

Now where Cox begins to really nickel and dime their subscriber is in the digital box and HD DVR area.  While charges in this area are standard with any cable and satellite TV company, take a look at what Cox charges for some of their receivers and DVR units:

Digital Box $6.00
DVR/HD Receiver $12.00
HD-DVR Receiver $18.00
Cable Card $1.99

Receivers and digital cable boxes usually run $5 to $7 each from every cable and satellite provider, but the $18.00 monthly fee from Cox for an HD-DVR unit is quite high.  In comparison, Dish Network includes one receiver or DVR free with their programming like the DishDVR, though there is a $10 monthly HD access fee.   Cox by comparison gives you HD free with your package, though you will pay a pretty penny each month to record that type of content, especially if you need more than one HD DVR.

Cox cable is flexible as far as adding on channels once you have digital cable.  While with Dish Network you move from the Classic Bronze 100 up to the Classic Silver 200 then to the Classic Gold 250, with Cox you add on Digital Tiers.  This is kind of nice in that you can add the content that interests you the most, rather than just being given a mix of different channels.  Cox offers the Variety Tier, the Sports and Info Tier, the Movie Tier, and Paquete Latino Spanish language Tier.  Pricing on these start at $11.00 per month for just one digital tier, and moves up to $20 a month if you would like all four Cox digital cable tiers.

To give you an idea of some of the content in these tiers, here is the channel lineup for the Sports and Info Tier, followed by the Variety Tier

NHL Network
NFL Network
Fit TV
ESPNU
ESPNews
ESPN Classic
Fox Soccer Channel
NBA TV
Tennis Channel
Fox College Sports Atlantic
Fox College Sports Central
Fox College Sports Pacific
Fuel
FOX Business News

Variety Tier

Hallmark
Lifetime Movie Netw
DIY
Fine Living
Biography
History International
BBC America
Disney XD
Encore WAM
Nicktoons Network
The N
Boomerang
Oxygen
Fox Reality Channel
GSN
SoapNet
MTV Tr3s
MTV 2
MTV Jams
MTV Hits
VH1 Classics
VH1 Soul
CMT Pure Country
MTVU
BET Jazz
Great American Country
Fuse
G4
Logo
WE tv
Style
PBS Kids Sprout
mun2
Chiller

As you can see, there is quite a bit of content available on these digital tiers, but you won’t find any of the major cable networks here, as they are in the regular package already.  It all depends on if you have a specific interest that could be met by some of these channels, and if the price is right in your eyes.

Next, with so many people buying new HDTV’s in 2009 you should evaluate Dish Network HD vs Cox HD.  With Dish Network, you have access to 140 HD channels at this time, but that number does include pay per view options and regional sports networks so it isn’t 100% accurate.  What you should know is that Dish Network HD is the current national leader as far as channel counts go, and probably will be at least until DIRECTV gets another satellite operational.

With Cox, the number of HD channels will vary depending on the area you live in.  Cable companies like Cox have struggled to keep up with satellite when it comes to HD content.  A current check of the Cox site would not display a specific number of HD channels available in the Phoenix area.  Instead, Cox is relying on the old cable company line of promoting their HD choices rather than HD channels.  This means they add in the number of HD programs available through their on-demand platform, which of course skews the number much higher, as there are usually hundreds of programs available at any given time through on-demand, both in SD and HD.  The good thing with Cox HD is that they currently do not charge extra for high definition channels.

Now that the subject of on-demand programming has been brought up, that is another consideration when comparing Cox with Dish Network.  If you have used on-demand for any period of time, it is an extremely slick feature perfected by big cable companies like Cox and Time Warner.  Basically, you can access thousands of programs through a menu system and watch them on your schedule, rather than waiting for them to come on.  With Cox, you will find a wide variety of regular TV shows available through their on-demand platform.  Dish Network has focused on provides PPV movies on-demand which of course you have to pay for.  This is because the content has to be sent to the customers DVR, not on central servers like with cable TV.  Advantage to Cox cable when it comes to VOD.

Now when is comes to sports programming, Cox and Dish Network are pretty much in the same boat.  Both are shut out from the premium sports package out there, the NFL Sunday Ticket which remains with DIRECTV until 2014.  But you can get all of the basics like ESPN, Fox Sports, and the like with both providers.   A few of the other packages are available through both providers like NHL Center Ice and NBA League pass, but be aware that the MLB Network and the MLB Extra Innings package are only on Cox currently, as Dish Network has not yet struck a deal with Major League Baseball to carry these channels.

A final consideration is the type of deal you can strike when setting up service.  There are always promotions going on with both Dish Network and Cox cable, so some research up front can save you a little cash.  Current Dish Network deals give first time customers a $25 discount on service for the first six months, in addition to free installation and a free HD DVR.   The discount is a little bit less at $20 if you go with one of the new Turbo HD packages.

When it comes to Cox cable deals, the first thing to remember is that they want you to subscribe to more than one service.  So promotional offers for Cox cable are tied in to subscribing to Cox high speed internet and Cox digital phone service in addition.  If you are in the market for all of these services, you probably can strike a pretty good deal, as bundled pricing on the Cox site is quoted from $92.99 a month on up to $129.99 for the Cox Deluxe package.  Check with the cable company directly though to determine exactly how long the promotion pricing lasts for, as often cable TV triple play deals last for 12 months or so.

Overall, when comparing Cox cable vs Dish Network, you will find your personal preference plays a big part in figuring out which provider is best.  On demand and bundled package customers will find Cox is probably the better choice.  When looking at bottom line pricing and superior DVR service, then Dish Network is probably the way to go.   If you still don’t like your choices, hopefully either AT&T U-verse TV or Verizon FiOS are in your neighborhood to offer you a thrid option.

Cox has cable systems spread across the United States, as do their cable TV brethren Charter cable and Comcast. The largest concentration of Cox cable systems are in Arizona, California, and Virginia. In these areas, Cox has a large presence in Phoenix and Tucson areas, as well as Orange County, San Diego, Santa Barbara and Oceanside.

In Virginia, Cox is the cable operator in Roanoke, Fairfax, Fredericksburg, and Hampton Roads. In addition, Cox is big in Las Vegas Nevada, Cleveland Ohio, Baton Rouge Louisiana and New Orleans Louisiana. Smaller Cox cable franchises are in Nebraska, Arkansas, Idaho, Oklahoma, Kansas and Florida. So as you can see, Cox cable is certainly a force to be reckoned with when comparing their services with satellite TV companies Dish Network and DIRECTV. So how does Cox cable compare to satellite TV?

Cox cable of course uses a different delivery method in that they are using last mile technology to deliver signal to the areas they serve. Upgrading and maintaining such a network requires quite a bit of capital, thus usually means higher prices. Cox is fairly competitive price-wise, but is generally a little more expensive monthly that Dish Network and DirecTV. Cox cable certainly has their own point of view, listing several satellite TV myths which they say prove the superiority of their service.

Cox has several levels of cable TV programming, including Cox basic cable, Cox expanded basic cable, and Cox digital cable. The following rates are based on Cox cable pricing in Arizona, one of their largest markets. Basic cable is $21.95 per month, which sounds cheap, but this is the package that only has about 20 channels, and many of those are local or Spanish channels.

The real basic cable from Cox is titled “Expanded cable” and this is currently $47.95 per month in Arizona. Here you will find about 75 channels including popular networks like ESPN, TNT, TBS and CNN. This package will give you service throughout your home for an unlimited amount of television sets, but is not digital cable. This package is comparable to the America’s Top 100 package by Dish Network, or the DIRECTV Choice package.

For digital cable, expect to pay about $5 more in Arizona, or $52.95 for Cox digital cable. This package offers 250 channels, though that number is highly inflated by pay-per-view and music channels. Of course this is for connection to the first television set, expect to pay around $5-6 more for each addition television set where you want to receive digital cable.

In addition, Cox cable of course has premium movie packages available in addition to either basic or digital cable. You can add packages that include multiple channels of HBO, Cinemax, Starz, and Cinemax. Pricing varies based on your state and cable package, so check with Cox cable directly to get a rate quote on premium movie package. A quick review of their premium channels shows the prices to be fairly affordable, so this is an advantage over satellite TV prices for these channels.

The next two areas for comparison are traditional satellite TV strongholds, those being DVR service and HD, or high definition content. Lets first look at the Cox cable DVR.

The Cox digital video recorder will do pretty much the same thing that a DIRECTV DVR will do. If you’re not familiar with DVR’s, you certainly will enjoy it once you start using it. A digital video recorder does everything a VCR does, but faster, quicker, and with additional functionality. You can record programs easily, and then play them back at your convenience. Skip commercials and rewind the program, all without the hassle of dealing with videotape, as everything is saved on a hard drive within the unit.

Additionally, you can pause live TV at any time, and then resume watching the show when you are ready. Cox provides both standard and HD-DVR technology, depending on what kind of TV you have. You do have to subscribe to the Cox digital cable package in order to use their DVR. It is not compatible with Cox basic cable. Reviews of the actual DVR boxes are mixed, with some Cox customers reporting problems with Cox DVR service, while others are quite happy with it.

If you are comparing to satellite TV, Dish Network is recognized as having the best DVR on the market today, with their ViP722 model. DIRECTV’s DVR is rated in the good to average range by most DVR aficionados.

One thing you will find with Cox DVR service is a high price. This is similar to other cable providers like Comcast, Verizon FiOS or AT&T U-Verse, where they take the opportunity to charge a higher rate for DVR service. Cox cable currently charges in the area of $12-14 dollars a month for DVR service, this being in addition to the digital cable box rental fee. With DIRECTV and DISH, you will find several packages that include DVR service, or a fee of around $6 per month for packages that don’t have DVR service included.

Cox cable HD is the next area to consider. Like all cable TV companies such as Time Warner cable and Charter communications, Cox is struggling to keep up with Direct TV and Dish Network when it comes to high definition programming. This is due to the bandwidth restrictions that are a part of any last mile network. Cox cable of course recognizes that HD content is extremely important to customers today, as they want all of the content possible for their new HDTV’s. Unfortunately, if you live in an area served by Cox cable, you may be disappointed with the number of HD channels available.

In most areas served by Cox cable, you can expect anywhere from 40 to 60 channels currently. The variance is due to the fact that Cox cannot roll out HD channels nationally, like DIRECTV and Dish Network. Each area has to have the network capacity on order to carry HD channels, thus oftentimes the physical network has to be upgraded before a significant number of HD channels can be added. Comparing Cox vs DIRECTV or Cox vs Dish Network when it comes to HD, and the competition isn’t even close. Both satellite TV companies now have 130 national HD channels, as well as local HD in all major and mid-sized cities. Dish Network and DIRECTV are targeting 150 HD channels in the near future, while Cox is struggling to even get to 100. Cox cable in San Diego was called out recently by the well respected website tvpredictions.com, for their hyping of minimal content HD on Demand channels.

So if a DVR or HD is your top priority, satellite TV providers Dish Network and DIRECTV compare favorably to Cox cable.  If you want HD only, check out Dish Network Turbo HD, which offers several HD only packages.

A final area to consider with Cox cable is the availability of On-demand programming. Video on demand, or VOD is a new technology that allows the subscriber the ability to tune in to literally thousands of different programs at any given time. While DIRECTV and Dish Network have recently deployed their own VOD alternative, the service pales in comparison to Cox, Time Warner Cable and other cable TV providers.

Cox on demand allows the user to search for shows based on several different filtering options. You can use a menu to select from movies, TV shows, music, kids etc. Or you can select by a particular network. The nice thing is that Cox on demand is free with your Cox cable service, no need to subscribe or pay extra monthly for the service.  The Cox Movies on demand is the exception to this, because it is like pay per view.  The nice thing being you can order a movie anytime and start watching it, you don’t have to wait for a specific start time.

The reason Cox on demand and other cable on demand systems are superior to DIRECTV and Dish Network VOD options are due to the delivery method.  While Cox has a network of servers available to meet on-demand request at any given time, satellite TV on demand relies on a customer owned internet connection in most cases.  The internet connection must be high speed to support the on-demand systems with satellite.

Cox cable also has the ability to bundle multiple services in order to provide the customer with the so called “triple play”.  With a Cox bundle, a customer will get not only Cox cable, but also Cox high speed internet and Cox telephone service.  Cox bundles and Cox packages are fairly flexible, with the subscriber getting the option of selecting from several different levels of service.  First of course, you would select the cable TV package you want, such as Cox basic cable or Cox digital cable.

Next, you would select from the different high speed internet packages.  The high speed choices are the Cox value service (1.5 Mbps), the Cox Preferred high speed (Up to 12 Mbps), or the Cox Premier Service (up to 20 Mbps).  These higher speed packages are with PowerBoost, meaning they are not always that fast.  Cox security suite is also included.

Then you would add your Cox preferred home phone service.  Cox starts with a basic phone line, then you can add in features like voice mail, or a package of other features like caller ID and call waiting.  Cox long distance packages are also available for domestic and international calling.

Picking and choosing from these services will give you one of the Cox bundles.  The Cox basic bundle, the Cox standard bundle, the Cox Preferred bundle, or the Cox Ultimate bundles are the varying packages.  San Diego pricing on these bundles ranges from $89.99 per month, up to $129.99 per month for the Ultimate bundle.  The fine print on the Cox website says these prices are guaranteed to July of 2009, so a smart shopper should inquire if these prices are promotional only, as there is plenty of fine print to consider here.

So thank you for considering a few facts about Cox cable and how their services compare to DIRECTV and DISH Network.  Educating yourself on satellite TV and cable TV before jumping in is certainly important before spending any of your hard earned money.

Cable vs satellite TV. So how do they measure up when doing a side by side comparison? While we are strong believers in satellite TV, there are some areas where cable TV might be the right choice. Let’s review how cable and satellite TV stack up with each other in several areas. We will consider pricing, programming, and convenience, content such as HD, and of course a few other things along the way.

While it is impossible to cover all of the various factors involved when comparing cable vs satellite TV, a brief overview is in order. Most are familiar with satellite TV companies Dish Network and DIRECTV. These companies came on the scene in the early 1990′s when technological advances made it possible to deliver television to the home via small satellite dishes. No doubt some enjoyed satellite TV prior to this, though they probably didn’t enjoy having the eyesore that was a 10 foot satellite dish sitting in their backyard. While DIRECTV and Dish Network have often been the talk of merger activity over the years, both have settled into their respective positions as dominant players in the pay television arena.

Cable TV is quite a different story, as there are literally hundreds of cable operators in existence today. For the purposes of this discussion, we will focus on the main players, the largest cable TV companies in America today. Comcast, Time Warner Cable, Cox Cable, Charter Cable and Bright House Cable are probably the companies that most Americans have experience dealing with, as these serve most of the major metropolitan areas. For now we will leave out Verizon Fios and AT&T U-Verse, telecom operators that are moving into the cable TV business through their network of telephone lines.

When comparing cable TV to satellite, the main consideration on many minds is the price. With the economy like it is today, people are looking to make every dollar count, whether it be with the cable TV company or the satellite TV provider. Fortunately for consumers, both cable and satellite TV companies are doing everything in their power to sign up new subscribers. This means a good deal for the customer who is moving or looking to switch their service. DIRECTV TV deals include discounts for the first year of service, reduced or free equipment such as an HD DVR, and free movie channels like HBO and Starz for at least three months. Dish Network offers similar discounts, free movie channels for a few months along with free DVR equipment. Instead of a monthly discount on the price for the first year, Dish offers a few bill credits as an incentive over the first two years of service.

Cable TV discounts vary based on what promotions the company is running at the time. Most cable TV promotions for new customers involve triple play bundles. These packages include not only digital cable, but also high speed internet and home phone service. Comcast, Time Warner cable, and Charter all offer these types of bundles. While the terms and conditions on these cable TV deals vary, usually you can get all three services for around $99 per month for an introductory period, usually anywhere from six month to a year. While there are certainly pros and cons to consider with this kind of cable TV deal, the price usually can’t be beat for customers who want all three services. If you’re not in the market for phone or internet service though, satellite TV is the better way to go.

What about regular pricing when comparing satellite TV with cable? Most folks who have had cable TV inevitably become frustrated with the high price, and more importantly the constant rate hikes. Overall, Dish Network has the lowest regular prices, followed by DIRECTV. Dish Network also has new all-HD packages that are extremely affordable, though the channel selection is limited with Turbo HD. Cable TV is reasonable when you stick with packages like the Comcast basic cable package. Anytime you get into digital cable without a bundled discount, you will be paying some of the highest prices out there when it comes to pay television.

The next area to consider is content, what sort of channels are available on cable vs those on satellite TV. While both cable and satellite have comparable channel lineups, a big difference can be found in one particular area-HD or high definition. In this area, satellite TV dominates cable TV in most areas of the country. This is due to the delivery mechanisms used by satellite TV, which are much more conducive and flexible when it comes to adding new content like HD channels.

DIRECTV led the pack, with a rapid expansion of their national HD lineup in 2007. While Dish Network was a little late to the party, they have caught up with DIRECTV in 2008, as both satellite TV companies now offer in the area of 130 HD channels. Many of these though are pay-per-view HD channels, so the number is a bit skewed for marketing purposes.

With cable TV, the number of HD channels will vary widely depending on your cable company, and the size of the community you live in. For example, Time Warner Cable has been expanding their HD lineup in the past few months, especially in highly populated areas. If you live in New York, New Jersey, or Dallas, there is a good chance you can get about 100 hi-def channels. The same is true with some areas served by Comcast, such as Atlanta or San Francisco. But if you don’t live in one of the major markets served by one of the big cable TV companies, you will probably be extremely disappointed by the lack of HD content offered. An example of this is Charter cable, where you can consider yourself lucky if you even have 40 HD channels. Overall, if you have a definite desire for HD, satellite TV beats cable in this area.

What sort of equipment considerations are there when considering cable versus satellite TV? Usually you can get set up with either cable or satellite without any out-of-pocket costs. The real consideration is whether there are any monthly fees associated with leasing the equipment. DIRECTV and Dish Network will both set you up with free installation of service in up to four rooms of your home. You may have an upfront cost if you want to have DVR service in more than one room, check with your preferred satellite TV provider to find out exact charges. Usually the monthly cost for DVR service ranges from $5-7 dollars a month, though some satellite TV packages include this fee in the monthly price for the first TV.

With cable TV you will find similar charges. You can save some money monthly if you accept an analog signal instead of a digital cable box. Having digital cable boxes in several rooms in the house can really add up, as the fee is usually $10 or more per month per box. One area where some cable TV companies are really high is for DVR service. With Comcast’s recent price increase, customers are now paying more than $15 a month for DVR service with cable TV, quite a difference than DIRECTV or Dish charge.

As far as the quality of the DVR’s used by cable TV and satellite companies, Dish Network is recognized as having the best DVR units on the market currently, just a step below TiVO devices. The DIRECTV DVR and cable TV DVR units are comparable, but aren’t anything special. TiVO does have agreements in place with some cable TV companies, allowing subscribers to hook up their TiVo’s to cable. Expect an additional monthly fee though for the TiVO service. DIRECTV and TiVO have inked a new agreement, and new HD TiVO devices supported by DIRECTV are expected on the market in 2009.

One final factor when it comes to equipment is the delivery method used. Satellite TV of course uses a dish which has to be mounted outside your home or apartment. Unfortunately, this shuts out completely some individuals who would like to have satellite TV, but can’t because they live in a condo or apartment. Dish Network and DIRECTV are working on new initiatives that will allow more people living in condos and and apartments the ability to subscribe to satellite service. One of these is a multi dwelling unit or MDU system where Dish and DIRECTV will work with building owners, placing the satellite dish units on the roof for the whole building. Another option for those who have their own patio or deck is to have their dish placed out there. Some landlords and condo associations frown on this, but recent FCC rulings have upheld the rights of tenants to have satellite dish units placed or mounted in these areas.

Signal quality and customer service should also be examined when comparing satellite to cable TV. With satellite TV, you have a 100% digital signal. Both Dish Network and DIRECTV offer this, so you are guaranteed to have excellent audio and video quality. With cable TV, you may not have as good of a signal. That is because in many areas, cable TV is not yet digital; they often use analog or a mix of analog and digital in delivering the stations to your home. Ordering digital cable is the solution to this, but of course there is a good chance you will run into additional charges for each digital cable box in your home. If you want guaranteed digital video and audio, the satellite TV is the choice over cable TV.

When it comes to customer service, it seems that almost everyone has their own cable TV horror story. Whether it’s the installer that never shows up, or the endless hold times that have to be endured when you call, cable TV companies certainly aren’t known for great service. Customer satisfaction surveys bear this out as well, as recent surveys places both Comcast and Time Warner cable (TWC) at the bottom of the barrel compared to satellite TV providers. DIRECTV came in 1^st in last year’s survey, while Dish Network came in second place. Customer service is certainly a consideration when comparing satellite to cable, especially if your blood boils when experiencing poor customer service.

Video on demand, or on-demand is another area to look at when judging cable against satellite TV. Here is one place where the big cable companies have really differentiated themselves from the pack. Comcast, Time Warner, Cox cable and Charter all have invested millions in their on-demand lineups in order to attract and retain customers. Comcast has even deployed a project called Project Infinity, which is designed to offer customers 1,000 HD choices at any given time.

Though Comcast may have the most on-demand, other cable TV companies offer plenty of content as well.If you have a premium movie package like HBO or Showtime, you can use the on-demand platforms to watch movies and exclusive series whenever you want with on-demand.

Satellite TV on-demand is still a work in progress. Though DIRECTV has officially launched its own on-demand platform, it is nowhere near as robust as that offered by big cable TV companies.The main problem is that you have to download on-demand content through a high speed internet connection, and high speed internet is often difficult to come by in the areas where satellite TV is popular-rural America.

So there is a brief rundown of the cable vs satellite TV debate.Obviously there are plenty of pros and cons on each side, but it is easy to see why satellite TV has become so popular and has taken away so many cable TV customers in the last 15 years.