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

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

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

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

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

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

When looking at satellite TV service, no doubt you will want to consider the DIRECTV pros and cons and compare them with either your cable company or Dish Network. Also if you have an HDTV, you no doubt want a provider that can give you plenty of content at an affordable price.  Does DIRECTV HD have what you want?  Lets consider a few of the DIRECTV Pros and Cons in order to help you make an educated decision about satellite service.

DIRECTV Pros

1.) Content – DIRECTV generally has more content for a lower price when comparing it to you cable television company.  Now of course this will vary in different parts of the United States, so you have to get in touch with your local cable carrier to see what they have to offer.  But as a general rule, DIRECTV will give you more channels for the money when comparing their channel lineups with cable.

2.) Sports- DIRECTV has become the leading satellite TV company when counting subscriber numbers because of their commitment to sports programming.  Their big draw is the NFL Sunday Ticket package, which is a DIRECTV exclusive.  Other sports packages available include the NBA League Pass, MLB Extra Innings, and the NHL Center Ice bundle.  Some of these are found on cable and Dish Network, but often they are not, leaving DIRECTV as your best option for sports programming

3.) HD Content – While DIRECTV has slipped a bit in the last year, falling behind competitors like Dish Network and Verizon Fios, they still offer a fairly hefty HD lineup.  While DIRECTV promotes having more than HD channels, the actual number is closer to 90 when pay per view and video on demand offerings are subtracted.  Still, they come out ahead of most cable TV companies who offer between 20 and 70 hi def channels depending on the carrier and city you live in.  DIRECTV has announced their new satellite will allow them to offer up to 200 HD channels, but whether they will actually have this number is up for debate.

4.) Price – Because satellite TV companies have lower costs than cable, their packages are generally lower overall.  DIRECTV deals can get you into a fairly robust programming package for about $35 a month to start, though that price does increase to the regular rate after the first year of service.  Monthly DVR fees are lower than cable, though they do charge $10 a month for HD access.

So there are a few of the positives when looking at DIRECTV, lets take a look at the other side of the coin.

DIRECTV Cons

1.) Satellite Dish Installation – In order to get DIRECTV service, you of course have to have a satellite dish installed to receive the signals.  This works ok if you are a homeowner, or rent a home and you landlord is fine with this situation.  But if you live in an apartment or condo, your options may be limited.  Apartments and condos that face north are oftentimes unable to get service, and even if you face south you may have problems.  Usually a private balcony or deck area is needed where you can have the satellite put on a tripod.  The future may be brighter though, as DIRECTV and Dish Network are placing receiving units on large apartment buildings that can be shared by the tenants inside.

2. ) Contract – DIRECTV generally requires a two year contract for those subscribing for the first time.  This insures they can recoup the costs involved in having the satellite TV system installed, and in providing the equipment necessary.  If you are moving soon, you may want to wait to have DIRECTV installed until you know you can fulfill your end of the contract without interruption.

3.) Bundled service – Satellite TV is set up to provide you with one service, video entertainment.  Cable television companies have expanded over the past 10 years by offering not only video service, but high speed internet and voice service as well.   DIRECTV internet service is offered through partners such as Verizon, AT&T, and Qwest, who can provide you with a DSL line where available.  Other DIRECTV internet service is resold through WildBlue, which offers their own satellite internet service.  While these solutions may be workable depending on your situation, they are not really triple play bundles like your cable company offers.

4.)  Weather – So how about the question of weather.  Everyone seems to have their DIRECTV horror story about how they lost service during a snowstorm.  And of course it was during the 4th quarter of the Super Bowl and the fifty people at their house didn’t get to see the end of the game.  Well, there certainly is the danger of losing service during a heavy rainstorm or if excess snow gets on your satellite dish.  Personally, I have lost service twice during 18 months of DIRECTV service, both times for about 30 minutes and both times during very heavy rain.   Yes it happens, and yes you will be affected if there are lots of heavy storms in the area you live in.  That being said, you won’t have 100% uptime with you cable company either, its just something that happens from time to time no matter which provider you choose.

So there are a few of the pros and cons of DIRECTV.  If you are looking for current deals and offers on satellite service, check out the latest DIRECTV promotional offers and save yourself some cash.

If you are moving into your first home, you may finally have an additional choice when it comes to your cable provider. Generally, those who live in apartments have to obtain service from the local cable TV company, unless they have a private balcony where they can put a satellite dish. But when you move into your own home, you have the choice of getting either cable or satellite TV. In this article, we will review your options when it comes to comparing pay television providers.

DISH Network vs Cable

DISH Network is of course one of the pioneers when it comes to challenging the old cable TV monopoly. After starting operations in the early 1990’s, DISH Network has grown to serve nearly 14 million customers in the United States today. The combination of low rates and high quality HD content makes DISH Network a company you should consider when looking at your satellite and cable TV options.

Cable television has its own advantages. Whether you are served by one of the large cable companies like Comcast or Time Warner, or one of the smaller cable operators, there is quite a bit to consider when considering what cable TV can offer. Most cable TV companies offer triple play bundles of service, allowing you to deal with one company for your voice, high speed internet, and video service. Oftentimes you can get is bundled discount when you have all of these services through your cable company. Cable TV companies also offer great On demand content, giving you literally hundreds of options when you sit down to watch a little TV. Alternatively, cable TV is generally more expensive than the satellite TV companies, DISH Network and DIRECTV.

Because channel lineups and content is fairly similar when comparing DISH Network vs. cable, lets first look at the pricing of these two options. Usually, if you are a new customer you can strike a good deal with either Dish TV or your local cable company. Because companies are always looking for ways to increase their subscriber base, they are willing to offer discounted rates, free premium channels, and free equipment in order to entice people to subscribe. This is true with satellite TV, as DIRECTV and DISH Network deals are always available to new subscribers.

The regular DISH Network prices are what you should consider if you plan on keeping satellite TV service for the long term. Packages like the Classic Bronze 100 are regularly priced at around $45 per month, while the Classic Gold 250 is about $63 a month. Add $10 per month if you want HD content and you have a starting point to compare DISH Network to cable TV in your area. Right now, the current DISH Network offer discounts the package you select by $15 for the first 12 months of service, so you can save $180 overall in programming costs.

Cable TV prices of course vary quite a bit depending on the area you live in and what other services you take from your local cable company. We have provided reviews on Charter cable and Cox Communications, but your best way to determine what rates prevail in your area is to call your local cable television company. Be sure to ask what the cable rates are after any promotional period, as they are often deeply discounted during the first year of service for new customers.

While cable TV is often more expensive than DISH Network when looking at video service, you can get a better deal with cable triple play offers. Usually, you will get a basic cable package, high speed cable service, and local phone service for around $100 per month. After a year though, the price usually goes up, so be aware of any deals like this when comparing the overall price against Dish TV.

Next, an important consideration when comparing cable TV vs. DISH Network is picture quality, and HD content. This has become even more important over the past year, as millions of Americans have gone out and purchased HDTV’s and want the best content for these expensive television sets. You probably won’t notice much of a difference when comparing cable TV against DISH Network when you are watching standard definition programming. Where most notice a difference is when it comes to HD content. In this area, DISH Network beats most cable providers in both the picture quality, and in the number of HD channels available.

Right now, DISH Network Turbo HD has more than 140 national HD channels, recently passing DIRECTV for the most HD content. Now you really won’t get that many HD channels depending on the package you select. For example, the Classic Gold 250 package actually has 80 HD channels. Where are the rest? Basically there are quite a few PPV channels in HD, and also premium movie channels in HD like the various Starz and HBO feeds.

On the other hand, you won’t find nearly as many HD channels with your local cable TV company. Only the Verizon FiOS and AT&T U-verse cable options are going to come close to the HD content offered by DISH Network. Most cable companies are still struggling to upgrade their networks to provide more HD content, so the number of HD channels available from area to area can vary quite a bit. Also, some cable companies like Time Warner have been better about HD deployment, while Charter cable has been one of the worst when it comes to providing subscribers with high definition.

When it comes to getting your local channels in HD, you will probably find that both DISH Network and your cable TV company are able to do this. DISH Network now covers more than 90% of U.S. households when it comes to local HD programming. Check with your local cable company and DISH Network if this is a high priority for you.

Going in a different direction, on-demand programming is an area that has grown significantly in the last few years. Cable TV companies have pioneered on demand access, setting up huge server farms in order to provide subscribers with 24/7 access to all kinds of programming. Most of the big companies like Cox, Comcast, Brighthouse, and Time Warner cable (TWC) offer On-demand at no extra charge. Usually you have to have a digital cable package or higher for free On-demand access.

With DISH Network, they have made a big push in promoting their Movies On Demand offer. While you can watch pay per view movies at any time, you still have the fees associated with VOD, usually $5-6 per movie. Dish TV does offer many of their titles in 1080p, which is the best video quality available today. When it comes to regular TV programming, there is not much at all with DISH Network compared to cable TV, as DISH Network has to push the content to your DVR and there is limited space available. A definite edge goes to cable TV if you use On-demand frequently.

Another consideration for many when comparing DISH Network vs. cable TV is the availability of sports programming. Here you will find things to be fairly similar between your local cable TV company and DISH Network TV. The major sports networks like ESPN, ESPN2, and your regional sports networks are usually there with either provider. On most of the higher tiers you will also find the NFL Network, Speed, and a few other sports networks. One network you won’t currently find on DISH Network though is the MLB Channel. They have yet to strike a deal with Major League Baseball to carry the network, and they also do not carry the MLB Extra Innings package, which is on DIRECTV and most cable TV carriers.

DISH Network does carry the NBA League Pass and the NHL Center Ice package, which usually run about $200 extra per year. Both of these packages are also on most cable TV carriers. Where cable television and DISH Network both come up short is when it comes to the NFL Sunday Ticket. This package remains an exclusive of DIRECTV, which recently extended their contract with the NFL for carriage through the year 2014. DIRECTV has stated that it will be making the Red Zone channel available to Dish TV and cable companies, but it is unclear if any other pay television companies will take DIRECTV up on the offer.

If customer service is a concern for you, then comparing DISH Network against cable TV on this subject is another important consideration. Last year, DIRECTV had the highest customer satisfaction rating, while DISH Network came in second place. Big cable companies fell far behind both satellite TV companies, including Comcast, Time Warner, and Charter cable, which posted the lowest score ever measured in the 2009 University of Michigan American Customer Satisfaction Index (ASCI). While these scores are of course averages and each customer experience is different, you probably will have fewer issues with DISH Network customer service compared to cable.

If you have used a DVR, or digital video recorder, you know how handy these devices are in helping you watch TV. Both DISH Network and cable TV companies have adopted DVR technology today. While you won’t notice a huge difference when comparing the Dish DVR with cable TV DVR units, there are some advantages that go to the satellite TV provider. DISH Network offers their DuoDVR device which can connect one HDTV and one standard definition TV through the same box. DVR service with DISH Network runs about $6 per month, per DVR.   Many cable companies charge extremely high rates on their DVR units, an example being Comcast cable which charges more than $15 per month for DVR service. Be sure to check out how much your cable company charges for DVR service before committing.

In conclusion, a side by side comparison of DISH Network vs cable TV is the smart thing to do before committing to one or the other. Closely evaluate your personal needs when it comes to a pay television provider, then see which company can meet those needs at a price you can live with.

DIRECTV and Cablevision are two of the biggest players in the pay television market. DIRECTV of course is the largest satellite television company in America, and is only second to Comcast in total subscribers. Cablevision is a big cable player in the Northeast, and is the 5th largest cable TV company in America today. How do they compare? In this article, we will compare Cablevision vs DIRECTV satellite.

The major difference when comparing Cablevision to DIRECTV is of course how the signal gets to your home. With Cablevision, the signal comes in via last mile technology, an actual hard line from the cable company into your home. DIRECTV satellite signal is of course sent from outer space to a small satellite dish mounted on your home. While some don’t like the fact that they have to have a satellite dish on their house, they of course love the programming available via satellite service.

As mentioned earlier, Cablevision is one of the big cable TV players in America today. Based out of New York, Cablevision serves some of the most populated areas in the Northeast. In New York, the cable TV operator has franchises in the Bronx, and Brooklyn. Other large areas in New York served by Cablevision include Long Island and much of the Westchester area. Cablevision also serves large areas in Connecticut, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania.

Cablevision markets their services under the Optimum brand name. Their cable service is known as iO TV, short for “It’s Optimum”. Other services such as “Optimum Online” and “Optimum Voice” round out the offerings from Cablevision, allowing customers to subscribe to a triple play bundle of voice, video, and internet service. You certainly may find that subscribing to all three services through Cablevision might be right for your family, but for an accurate comparison with DIRECTV, let’s look at the prices and programming for just iO TV, lining them up against the satellite programming from DIRECTV.  One thing to remember is that new customers often get the best deals.  DIRECTV deals for new customers should be compared against their Cablevision counterpart to get an accurate picture of what each company offers.

Pricing can vary a little in the different areas served by Cablevision, as each area has specific rates. The prices reviewed here are from the Cablevision website using zip code 10012, an area in New York.

Cablevision does offer a very low priced entry package with their Broadcast Basic package, which is only about $11 per month. This package though is basically your local channels delivered through the cable company. A more realistic entry level package is the Family Cable package, offered at $52.95 per month. This is comparable to the DIRECTV Choice package, which is $55.99 per month; though you can get a $21 per month discount during the first year of service bringing the price to $34.99 a month for that period.To give you an idea of what channels are in the Cablevision Family package, here is a current channel lineup:

A&E
A&E HD
ABC Family
AMC
AMC HD
Animal Planet
Animal Planet HD
BET
BET HD
Bravo
Bravo HD
Cartoon Network
CNBC
CNBC HD
CNN
CNN HD
CNN Headline News
Comedy Central
Comedy Central HD
C-SPAN2
Discovery Channel
Discovery Channel HD
Disney Channel
E!
E! HD
ESPN
ESPN2
ESPN2 HD
ESPN HD
Food Network
Food Network HD
FOX News Channel
FOX News HD
fuse
fuse HD
FX
FX HD
GSN
HDNews
HD Theater
HGTV
HGTV HD
History
History Channel HD
Lifetime
MSG
MSG HD
MSG Plus
MSG Plus HD
MSNBC
MTV
MTV2
MTV HD
News 12 Traffic & Weather
Nickelodeon
Nickelodeon HD
Oxygen
Religious Programming
Sci-Fi Channel
Sci-Fi HD
SoapNet
Speed Channel
Speed Channel HD
Spike HD
Spike TV
SportsNet New York
SportsNet New York HD
TBS
TBS in HD
The Learning Channel
TLC HD
TNT
TNT in HD
Travel Channel
Travel Channel HD
truTV
Turner Classic Movies
TV Land
Universal HD
USA HD
USA Network
VH1
VH1 HD
The Weather Channel
The Weather Channel HD
WE HD
WE tv
YES HD
YES Network

The next TV package from Cablevision is the iO package, and is comparable to the digital cable packages you will find with Comcast or Time Warner. Here you will find about 50 additional channels as compared to the Family cable package. Comparable to the DIRECTV Choice Xtra package which offers about 200 video and audio channels, the iO TV package is $63.80 per month compared to the DIRECTV Choice Xtra price of $60.99 per month.

You do pay $6.51 per month for the first Cablevision digital box or DVR unit, while with DIRECTV the first unit is included.DIRECTV charges $5.00 per month for each additional receiver, while you will find the same $6.51 charge for each digital cable box, or $2.00 a month for Cablevision cable cards.

Cablevision does offer two additional packages, which are the iO Silver and the iO TV Gold packages. These build off of the iO package and add a number of premium movie channels. The iO Silver package adds quite a few HBO, Encore and Starz channels and is priced at $75.95 per month. The Cablevision iO Gold package has everything in the Silver package plus another 25+ Cinemax and Showtime channels. Overall, the all inclusive package from Cablevision compares well with the DIRECTV Premier package, which currently runs about $110 per month.

If you are looking for foreign language programming, usually your best bet would be something like the DIRECTV Mas package, or one of the other foreign language satellite TV packages. Cablevision does offer the iO en Espanol package, priced at $14.95 a month above your regular cable package price. The Cablevision Spanish package has about 35 channels, so it falls short in comparison to the nearly 50 Spanish channels available in the DIRECTV Mas package.

With DIRECTV, you can select from literally dozens of foreign language packages, including popular options like Spanish, Chinese, and Russian. Cablevision does offer a few foreign packages, such as the South Asian package for $19.95 a month and a Korean package for $14.95 per month. With Cablevision you do have to pay extra on top of your regular digital cable package for foreign channels. Some DIRECTV foreign language packages can be bought on their own, resulting in big savings vs. Cablevision.

Now when it comes to high definition content, this is an important thing to evaluate, DIRECTV HD vs. Cablevision HD. Most Americans have made the move by purchasing a new HDTV, so of course they want as many channels in HD as possible. Again there will be slight variations in each area served by Cablevision as far as the number of HD channels you will get.iO claims to offer more than 100 HD channels, with a “where available” disclaimer posted on the Cablevision website.They do have HD broadcast of all 9 major New York sports teams, which is great for fans.DIRECTV HD currently claims more than 130 channels, but again those numbers are inflated by pay per view channels and regional sports networks that aren’t always available to all customers.

Check for the HD channels you want with both providers, comparing DISH Network satellite as well,  to be sure you are getting what you want. Unfortunately, neither Cablevision nor DIRECTV offer 100% HD only packages, like those offered by DISH Network Turbo HD.

A couple of final considerations when comparing DIRECTV vs Cablevision are DVR services and on-demand offerings.DVR service is virtually a must have these days, with the network and cable channels clogged up with commercials every ten minutes.DIRECTV offers DVR units that can hold up to 50 hours of HD content, or 200 hours of standard definition content.The Cablevision DVR for iO holds up to 24 hours of HD content, and 100 hours of SD content.

So DIRECTV has an advantage here with more capacity.DIRECTV also beats Cablevision on price when it comes to the monthly DVR service fee.With DIRECTV, you will pay $6.00 per month for DVR service, unless you subscribe to either the Plus DVR package or the Plus HD DVR packages, where the fee is built into the package prices.With Cablevision iO, the monthly DVR service fee is $9.95, so you can save a few bucks here with DIRECTV satellite.

On the other hand, Cablevision has the advantage over DIRECTV when it comes to their on-demand programming. Big cable companies like Cablevision, Time Warner Cable, and Comcast have upgraded their networks to offer thousands of programs at the touch of a button to their subscribers.Cablevision offers on-demand pay per view, allowing you to watch a movie at any time for a small charge.They also offer Free movies on-demand, which come from the libraries of the cable networks that are carried in your iO TV packages.

DIRECTV offers on-demand programming as well, but it isn’t as robust as the platform used by cable TV companies.Basically, you have to hook your DVR up to a high speed internet connection, either from the phone or cable TV company.Then you can access a wide variety of programming and download it into your DVR.The bad thing about DIRECTV on demand is that you usually have to wait at least a few minutes for some of the programming to download before your can watch.Plus, if your high speed connection isn’t all that fast, it can literally take hours to download a movie.

One final thing to look at when comparing DIRECTV to Cablevision is the potential triple-play savings that may come from Cablevision.Most households today do in fact use voice, video, and high speed internet service, and having them all through the same provider can be a convenience.Just keep an eye on the promotional period, as after one year the price for the Cablevision triple play bundle can jump significantly.

DIRECTV HD vs. DISH Network Turbo HD is the question on many minds in 2009.   As prices continue to fall on plasma and HDTV’s, more homeowners are looking to hook up to the best HD content, whether that be with the local cable TV company,  DIRECTV or Dish Network.  In this article, we will compare Dish Network Turbo HD vs. DIRECTV HD in order to help you compare the options available today.

Today both DIRECTV and Dish Network claim to offer more than 100 high definition channels.  While this is technically true, both companies pad their numbers by using pay per view, regional sports networks, and even on-demand channels to reach their numbers.  The marketing of satellite TV, as well as cable television is big business, and all of the players involved certainly stretch the truth in order to put their best foot forward.  While this may just be playing the game in their eyes, the customers suffers as they have to wade through all of the information from DIRECTV and DISH Network in order to really find out how many HD channels they will actually receive as a subscriber.

Another factor when comparing Dish Network Turbo HD to DIRECTV is the number of premium channels that are also counted by both companies.  If you subscribe to all of the premiums such as HBO, Starz, Showtime and Cinemax, you will of course receive them in HD if they are carried in that format.  But the fact is not many people subscribe to all of the premium movie channels, as they are quite costly.  Most subscribers take one or two premium movie channels, or none at all if they just want basic cable-like service.

So what is the bottom line when you subscribe to DIRECTV HD or DISH Network Turbo HD?  Generally you will get between 40 and 60 national HD channels.  Most areas now also have local HD coverage, but you will have to check directly with either Dish TV or DIRECTV to find out if they have local HD in your area.   Both companies are quickly expanding their local HD reach with new satellites, so it won’t be too much longer until almost everyone will have local HD access.

Now when considering Dish Network Turbo HD vs. DIRECTV HD, you should always keep in mind your local cable TV company, whether it be Comcast, Time Warner Cable, Cox cable or some other provider.   In some areas, telecom companies now offer HD channels and their own version of cable, such as AT&T U-Verse HD or Verizon Fios HD.    Generally speaking, Dish Network and DIRECTV offer more HD when it comes to channel count than cable TV providers.

This is because the delivery method involved with satellite TV allows for quicker delivery of HD channels than that of cable or telecom networks that rely on last mile technology.  With a provider like Comcast HD for example, the company must have the proper network structure in place before they can add a significant number of HD channels.  With DIRECTV HD, its simply a matter of having the satellite capacity available, then they can deliver the signal to every subscriber across America once the signal is turned on.

Time Warner Cable, Cox, Charter cable and others continue to struggle when it comes to HD content.  If you live in a big metropolitan area, you may be able to get close to the number of channels offered by satellite TV from your cable company.  But if you are in a rural area,  Dish Network Turbo and DIRECTV HD are definitely head and shoulders above cable when comparing the number of HD channels.

Cable companies have been fighting back using their on-demand platforms.  These menus allow customers to start a program at any time.  Often these are in high definition, so the cable company may make a claim that they have a certain number of HD choices.  Comcast for example claims that they have 1,000 or more HD choices, so you have to comparison shop, such as lining up Comcast vs. DIRECTV when trying to figure out exactly what you want.

One way satellite TV companies compete against on-demand is with their DVR capabilities.  Of course Dish Network and DIRECTV both offer their own DVR systems for subscribers.  Generally, you can get a Dish Network ViP722 DVR or a DIRECTV DVR for free when you sign up for new service, but if you want more than one, be ready to make an investment.  DVR service usually runs about $6 per DVR box, but that beats cable TV companies that usually charge anywhere from $10-15 a month for DVR service.  Newer HD DVR models can record all of your favorite high definition content for playback later.

Now there is one significant factor to consider when comparing DIRECTV HD vs. DISH Network Turbo HD.  That factor is pricing, as Dish Network has rolled out a special group of packages that are 100% HD.
In the past with either Dish Network or DIRECTV you would subscribe first to a base package, then add on your HD package if you even wanted it.  This option is still the route most customers take, adding DIRECTV HD access costs $9.99 per month, and with DISH Network, its about the same, costing $10 per month.  Now when you add HD access with Dish TV or DIRECTV this way, the number of channels you will get is dependent on which base package you subscribe to.  For example, if you get the entry level package from DIRECTV, which is the Choice package you will receive less HD then if you subscribe to the DIRECTV Premier package.  Basically, whichever channels that are included in SD will also be delivered in HD for that particular package.

Unfortunately for satellite TV subscribers, not every HD channel that is out there is accessible with the basic HD tier.  Both DIRECTV and DISH Network have created mini-packages including some of the better HD channels, and then offered them as premium HD tier packages.  DIRECTV has the HD Extra Pack, which includes these channels:

MHD

Universal HD

HDNet Movies

Smithsonian HD

MGM HD

Dish Network has their own premium pack of HD channels under the title Turbo HD Platinum, which runs an extra $10 per month.  These channels are included:

HD Net Movies
NBA TV
Smithsonian HD
World Fishing Network
MGM HD
NHL Network
Universal HD

Now as mentioned earlier, Dish Network also offers the option of subscribing to just the HD content.  Dish Network Turbo HD comes in several different flavors so to speak.  The entry level price point is the Dish Network Turbo HD Bronze package, for $24.99 a month.  Of course this doesn’t have local channels or a DVR, so add another $11-12 per month for those features, but it is still a great package for someone who doesn’t need a lot of TV channels for less than $40 a month.

From there, Dish Network offers the Turbo HD Silver and the Turbo HD Gold packages for those who need more channels.  Overall, the Turbo HD packages from Dish are a good way to get the best content, as long as you aren’t interested in all of the shopping and religious channels that round out most cable TV packages.

DIRECTV does not currently offer an HD only package, so you have to first subscribe to a base package, then add on the HD access from there.  So if you are interested in HD only, DISH Network Turbo HD is the way to go.

Another consideration is the content, or the actual channels when you compare Dish Network Turbo HD against DIRECTV HD.  As a general rule, you will find most of the major channels on both Dish Network and DIRECTV.   ESPN, CNN, TNT and TBS in HD can be found on both satellite TV providers, as are many other major channels.   What is interesting is when you look for other channels that may be of interest.  Satellite TV companies are always involved in various disputes with content providers, so you may not find the HD version of some channels on DIRECTV or DISH Network.  For example, Dish Network does not have the Fox News Channel in HD.  DIRECTV does not currently carry the Travel Channel in HD, while Dish Network does.  If there is a particular channel you must have in HD, be sure to check things out before you sign up for a satellite TV subscription.

One final thing to consider for sports fans is the large advantage that DIRECTV has over Dish Network when it comes to certain sports programming.  A recent example of this is the recently launched MLB Channel HD.  DIRECTV is a partial owner in the MLB Channel, thus they began broadcasting the network on January 1, 2009.   DIRECTV also carries the MLB Extra Innings package, though this bundle costs around $200 per year extra.   Cable TV companies like Comcast and Verizon Fios also are carrying the MLB channel, but it is nowhere to be found on Dish Network.
This follows a typical pattern with DISH Network and DIRECTV.  There is a decided split between the two when it comes to dealing with premium sports programming.   DIRECTV offers the NFL Sunday Ticket in HD, as well as the NASCAR Hotpass in HD as well, while you cannot even get these packages through Dish Network.  In addition, DIRECTV has begun offing mini-packages covering the Masters and Grand Slam tennis tournaments at no additional cost to their subscribers.

Overall, if sports programming is high on your priority list, DIRECTV HD trumps DISH Network Turbo HD.

DISH Network TurboHD service made its debut on August 1^st, generating quite a splash with television advertising touting the availability of the only 100% HD service. Is Turbo HD all it claims to be? More importantly, is it worth it when comparing prices with either Direct TV or other DISH Network packages?

After reviewing the packages and pricing for Turbo HD, it looks more like marketing fluff than a viable alternative to programming and packages already available in the market today. DISH Network has fallen behind DirecTV’s lead in a big way over the past year, and obviously they feel TurboHD was a necessary step to help them get back in the HD game.

So what exactly is wrong with the whole TurboHD setup? First off, if a customer actually selects the HD only package, either Bronze, Silver, or Gold, they don’t get many channels to work with.

TurboHD Bronze contains 24 HD channels, six HD PPV channels, and 14 HD VOD channels. For $24.99 per month, that is probably all you should expect. Add locals for $5 and you may get them in HD if DISH Network has them in your area.

TurboHD Silver has 32 HD channels, the six pay-per-views, and again the 14 HD Video-on-demand channels. This package also includes regional sports networks where available, so you may get 2-3 channels there. Cost on this is $32.99 or $37.99 with locals added.

TurboHD Gold includes 40 HD channels, six PPV, 14 HD VOD and regional sports networks, all for $39.99 per month, or $44.99 with locals. Here are the 40 National HD channels in the Gold package, fewer channels are in the Bronze and Silver packages of course:

A&E HD

Discovery Channel HD

HDNet

Sci Fi Channel HD

ABC Family

Disney (E)

HGTV HD

TBS in HD

Animal Planet HD

Encore (E)

History Channel HD

Tennis Channel

Big Ten Network HD

ESPN HD

Lifetime HD

TLC HD

Biography

ESPN 2 HD

Lifetime Movie Network HD

TNT HD

Bravo

ESPNews

MHD

Toon Disney

Cartoon Network

Food Network HD

National Geographic HD

Travel Channel

CBS College Sports

Golf Channel/Versus HD

NFL Network HD

USA HD

CNBC

Hallmark Movie Channel

Planet Green

Weather Channel

CNN HD

HD Theater

Science Channel HD

WGN America

Finally, DISH Network offers the Turbo HD Platinum package. This stand alone package adds the following 7 channels on to any TurboHD package for $10 a month.

HD Net Movies

NBA TV

Smithsonian HD

World Fishing Network

MGM HD

NHL Network

Universal HD

So how does this compare with traditional packages, either with DISH Network, DirecTV, or even cable companies like Comcast, Time Warner Cable, or Cox communications?

As far as content goes, it doesn’t. Even with the Gold package, you are looking at a total of only 50 channels of programming once you toss out the PPV and HD VOD channels, which shouldn’t be counted in the first place.

Why only 50 channels, even when DISH Network is now claiming over 100 HD channels? None of these packages include premium movie channels, such as HBO, Showtime, Starz, and Cinemax. Then add all of the regional sports networks (RSN) that are not available nationwide, but are still claimed by DISH Network as HD channels, and you will finally get close the the 100 HD channels they claim to have.

DISH Network also continues to insist on charging an extra $10 for all of the available HD content that it carries.

These channels are the better channels available on cable TV, but they certainly don’t cover nearly enough of the pay television universe.

Now of course you don’t have to subscribe to just the TurboHD package. Any of these tiers can be added to DISH Network’s existing programming packages: America’s Top 100, America’s Top 200, America’s Top 250, or the America’s Everything package.

What this results in, however, is an almost unlimited number of combinations regarding standard packages, HD packages, and DVR additions. I fear for the DISH Network customer service representative, manning the phones and trying to explain all of the standard packages, along with the multitude of Turbo HD offerings available in addition.

Overall, I understand why DISH Network is promoting the heck out of Turbo HD, it is an attempt to level the playing field with DirecTV. The problem with their HD only packages is that ordering and understanding satellite TV may take longer than you ever thought possible.

DIRECTV, not to be outdone by DISH Network’s recent announcement that they would be adding 17 HD channels on August 1^st, fired back with their own HD expansion announcement today.

While more HD is always a good thing, this latest round of HD programming probably won’t really add much to your current channel lineup.

The announcement, made in a press release today, touts the addition on August 14^th of “more than 30 HD channels, bringing the total HD lineup to 130.” If that number is precise, DIRECTV will have to add 35 HD channels, as they currently carry 95. So what exactly will be offered?

The new channels that will be of interest to the widest audience will be:

Showtime Extreme HD

Showtime Showcase HD

Planet Green HD

ABC Family HD

So really only 4 new national HD channels are being added, with two of those being for Showtime subscribers only.

Next up, DIRECTV promises additional HD pay per view channels. No specific numbers were given here, but not really a big deal considering they already have 15 HD PPV channels already.

Finally, DIRECTV says they will be adding 23 Regional Sports Networks in HD 24 hours a day. For most areas, this will mean between one and three additional RSN HD channels, as certain regional sports networks only go to certain areas where the hometown teams compete.

More surprising in this announcement were some of the channels left off of the list. Many DIRECTV customers have been waiting for Travel Channel HD, Fox News HD, WGN HD, and Lifetime Networks in HD. None of these were listed on the release, leaving customers disappointed.

DIRECTV has stated that with the DIRECTV 11 satellite, they will have capacity for up to 150 HD channels, so hopefully some of these and others will be added by year-end. The release also continued on to promote the wide variety of sports programming in HD, including the NFL Sunday Ticket, well of course if you pay for the Superfan add-on. Promises were also made as far as video on demand, as DIRECTV will continue to add HD content to the on-demand lineup.

DISH Network has to be happy today, as their Echostar XI satellite was launched successfully late last night and is on its way to becoming fully operational.

Echostar XI was sent up to provide the much needed capacity DISH Network needs to continue their HD expansion. After falling behind Direct TV significantly in the high definition marketplace, DISH Network is making a strong comeback, announcing the addition of quite a few new HD channels in early August which should put their channel count at about 100.

Yesterdays launch of Echostar XI was contracted to Sea Launch, an independent launch and delivery company that earlier this year delivered a new satellite into orbit for Direct TV. The DirecTV 11 satellite is expected to become operational by September, and should allow DirecTV to expand their HD channel capacity up to 150. Whether there actually will be 150 HD channels is another matter.

Sea Launch reported that contact with the satellite was made about 70 minutes into the mission from Perth, Australia indicating that things are on track with Echostar 11. It generally takes several month of testing after the satellite reaches its orbiting position before the satellite actually begins transmitting programming back to DISH Network subscribers.

The mission is critical for DISH Network after the failure of the AMC-14 satellite earlier this year. That satellite made it out of the atmosphere, but then had a secondary burn failure, and the satellite did not reach its intended orbit position. While DISH Network did not own that satellite, it was planning on leasing the entire capacity. SES Americom was the owner, and filed a claim with insurers on the loss.

In a SEC filing today, DISH Network verified the successful launch of Echostar 11. In the same filing, DISH Network said their Echostar 2 satellite had a substantial failure yesterday and was considering that satellite to be a total loss. Echostar 2 was launch all the way back in September in 1996, and was primarily being used as a backup satellite.