For quite some time, cable television companies held a monopoly on the pay television market in the United States.  Sure you could get a dish TV system installed if you had a huge backyard with space for a six foot wide satellite.   For obvious reasons these were not very popular in cities or the suburbs, though if you lived in a rural area it was pretty much the only way to receive cable television channels.  When the size of the dish shrunk, the popularity of these TV systems took off and customers quickly accepted this new technology.

Today satellite TV remains an extremely popular option for both city dwellers and rural customers alike.  But how exactly do dish TV systems work?  What factors come into play for the homeowner or the apartment dweller when looking at this option as an alternative to cable service?  Lets consider what is involved in getting dish TV installed in your home or apartment, and what equipment is needed to make your system bring those channels into the home.

When looking at a dish system, it all starts with the satellite unit that is mounted outside of your home.  These small satellite dish units are really what powered the growth of satellite service in the 1990′s.  No longer did the customer have to pour a concrete pad in their backyard and have a massive satellite dish placed out there to receive signal, instead small units were deployed by Dish Network, DIRECTV, and PrimeStar.  Eventually Primestar was sold and became a part of DIRECTV.

Because of the location of the satellites in space, your satellite dish has to be placed facing south or southwest depending on your location.  This of course can present problems for some homeowners with large trees or those who have buildings that may interfere with your line of sight.  Those in apartments may also be locked out of the satellite game if they face north.  But if your home allows installation of a dish TV system, the next step is routing that signal into the home in to the viewing areas.

Traditional coaxial cables that are used by cable television now take over.  Depending on what is already in place, the dish system installer may run additional cable to areas where it is needed.  Most satellite TV packages include setup to one television in the home, but there are generally charges for additional receivers each month for your other TV sets.  Most today opt to have one of the new HD DVR receivers on their primary television, allowing them to record and playback content at their convenience rathter that always being locked into live TV broadcasts.  Dish Network has had an advantage over the past few years in that their DuoDVR series allows two different feeds with independent remote controls.  DIRECTV is though bringing out their own multi-room DVR in 2010.

Most dish television systems can be customized fairly closely to your needs.  While free installation in up to four rooms is generally included, if you have a special situation and need more rooms connected, either company will help you out.  Just be aware that a custom dish system like this will in all likelihood have up front installation charges and may also require a second satellite dish.

Mediacom is a medium sized cable TV company serving customers in 22 states, and the 8th largest cable company in America. If they happen to be the company that serves your community, then you may be looking to compare Mediacom vs DIRECTV. With satellite service, you of course have to have a dish mounted somewhere at your home, while with a cable company like Mediacom, the coaxial cable used to deliver service is not as intrusive. But what about other factors such as price, bundling options, and HD channel selection.

DIRECTV vs Mediacom

Mediacom, like their larger cable television cousins like Comcast offers new customers the best deals. This is to entice people who already have satellite and people who have just moved into an area served by Mediacom. The current Mediacom deal is called the VIP pak, and offers three different services for $29.95 a month. Those services are Mediacom digital cable, Mediacom Online 12 Mbps, and Mediacom phone. A couple of things to consider if you are going with the Mediacom triple play.

One requirement is that you have to subscribe to all three services to get the $29.95 a month price on each service. Many today have cut off their home phone and just use their wireless phone, but with this particular Mediacom offer you do have to get all of the services. Another factor to consider at this price is good for one year, then it goes up to regular pricing. This can vary depending on where you live, so call Mediacom customer service to get an accurate quote on what the price will be after one year.

If you are comparing Mediacom vs DIRECTV when it comes to promotional deals, you will find a similar story with the satellite TV provider. DIRECTV offers are out there mainly to entice current cable TV customers and new movers to try out the service. Right now, DIRECTV will discount your package for 12 months by $29 a month. Other incentives include free HD equipment, both the HD DVR and HD receiver can be yours at no up front cost. Two year contracts are also a part of DIRECTV’s offer, so they are assured of getting at least one year of full monthly payments from their subscriber.

Sports fans will also want to compare Mediacom to DIRECTV as there are certain advantages with satellite television. The primary advantage is the NFL packages available on DIRECTV. NFL Sunday Ticket is of course only on DIRECTV, but also the NFL Network is not on Mediacom. Other premium sports packages found on DIRECTV but not Mediacom include the NBA League Pass and MLB Extra Innings. Mediacom does offer a sports pack for $3.95 a month, and also the Big 10 Network in states where those colleges have a presence.

Another consideration when comparing these companies is the amount of HD content available. While DIRECTV commercials are claiming they have the “capacity” for 200 HD channels, they actually have far fewer. DIRECTV’s HD count is at about 85 national channels including premiums, plus quite a few pay per view and regional sports networks. Mediacom covers about 45 HD channels in some areas. Not all areas will have the same amount of HD content with Mediacom due to network limitations. The nod goes to DIRECTV for more HD, though there is an additional $10 a month fee.

A final consideration when comparing DIRECTV vs Mediacom is access to On-demand programming. With Mediacom, you have access to 3,000 plus titles through their on demand platform. Like Comcast and Cox cable, the On-demand setup offered by cable television companies is superior to that offered by DIRECTV. You can get DIRECTV on demand, but you have to have a separate high speed internet connection from either your phone or cable company to access the content.

The latest DIRECTV promotional offers were introduced earlier this month, and as part of the revamped offer there is a new package available. The DIRECTV Choice Ultimate package is now available to both new and existing satellite TV customers. Lets take a closer look at this satellite TV package and see what it has to offer.

This new package from DIRECTV takes the popular Choice Xtra package and adds in about 11 new channels. If you are not familiar with this package, here is an overview of the Choice Xtra bundle. Over the past year, this package has become extremely popular in that it offers over 200 audio and video channels at a price that is cheaper than most digital cable packages. One thing was missing though, and that was access to commercial free movie channels.

That has been solved to some degree with the Choice Ultimate package. For $5 more per month, you will get access to 11 commercial free movie channels in addition to the 200 plus channels in the ChoiceXtra package. Here are the channels included:

Encore Action
Encore Drama
Encore East
Encore Love
Encore Mystery
Encore WAM
Encore West
Encore Westerns
The Movie Channel -East
The Movie Channel -West
Sundance

So you unfortunately won’t find any of the big name premium channels like HBO or Showtime. On the other hand, it is nice to have access to at least some movie channels that are uncut and uninterrupted. This new package lines up well with the Dish Network America’s Top 250 bundle, which is priced at $62.99 a month as the regular price.

The DIRECTV Choice Ultimate package is priced at $68.99 a month, $5 higher than the Choice Xtra package. New subscribers to the package can get a $29 a month discount, bringing the price down to a very reasonable $39.99 a month for the first year. If you are wanting HD access with the Chioce Ultimate package, add another $10 a month to the price.

DIRECTV is also now offering two HD upgrades with the Choice Ultimate and Premier packages. While in the past you could get one HD DVR, you would have to pay an upfront charge if you wanted another HD receiver. Now you can get both an HD DVR and an HD receiver at no upfront charge with the latest DIRECTV deal. This is a savings of $298 total according to regular DIRECTV retail pricing.

If you live in one of the areas served by Cox cable, you are probably interested in what the Cox cable DVR can do for you. How much is the Cox DVR? How does it match up with competitors like the satellite TV DVRs from Dish Network and DIRECTV?

The Cox digital video recorder works just like a TiVo device. You can pause live TV, record individual shows or a whole series, and skip through commercials on a show that you have already recorder. Cox DVRs are also integrated with the Cox Digital cable channel lineup, so you can easily navigate from the on screen menu and figure out exactly what you want to record or delete. If you are watching a show, the DVR automatically saves the last 15 minutes, so if someone else comes into the room, you can get them up to speed on what is going on.

With HD, or high definition content being so important today, its also good to know that you can record Cox HD content on to your DVR as well. Because HD content takes up more hard drive space, you need to be aware that your DVR fills up much more quickly when recording high definition shows. Another great feature with Cox is the ability to record two shows at once on the digital recorder, or record one while watching another.

The Cox DVR price consists of the regular set top box price, which for example is $5.25 in the Oklahoma City area, plus the DVR service fee. The DVR charge is currently $11.99 a month. These may be slightly different depending on which Cox cable area you live in, but overall you are looking at around $17 a month total for each TV set where you want DVR service.

If you have Cox basic cable, you do have to upgrade that to Cox digital cable. Because the technology involved with DVR service is advanced, a digital set-top box is needed to allow full functionality.

How does the Cox DVR compare to the completion, namely DIRECTV and Dish Network DVRs? Overall, while they work in basically the same way, you will find much more storage capacity on a satellite TV DVR. Both Dish and DIRECTV offer units that will hold more than 20 hours of standard definition content, which the Cox unit currently tops out at 50 hours of SD.

Satellite TV DVR service is also cheaper than the Cox DVR. Dish Network and DIRECTV currently charge around $7 per month, per DVR connected. Generally, you will pay more up front with your satellite TV provider if you are interested in having multiple HD DVR units, so factor that in if doing some comparison shopping against the Cox cable DVR.

The DIRECTV DVR is the perfect tool to fully utilize your satellite TV subscription. While you will have a monthly fee for each DVR you have in use, it more than pays for itself in the time you will save. Another great selling point is that the DIRECTV DVR has a large hard drive, meaning you can save a lot more recorded content when compared to cable TV digital video recorders.

The two main DIRECTV units that are offered to new customers today are the DIRECTV HD DVR, also known as the HR series (HR20, HR21, HR22 and HR23) and the DIRECTV Plus DVR which is the R22 model. Both of these devices will do all of the things you expect from a digital video recorder, such as pause live TV, rewind and fast forward through recorder shows, and allow you to record series and shows individually at the touch of the button.

The DIRECTV HR20 series is of course designed for those who have a high definition TV set, such as a plasma or LCD. This DIRECTV DVR will record both HD and SD (standard definition) content at your direction. The latest models will hold up to 100 hours of HD content, and up to 400 hours of SD. The capacity here is nice, in that it holds more than most cable DVRs. This also compares well with Dish Network DVR units. If you need more room, you can add something like a Western Digital 1TB external hard drive to your DIRECTV DVR, allowing storage of up to 200 hours of HD programming.

The DIRECTV Plus DVR is designed for customers that still have standard definition TV sets in their home. This device will hold up to 100 hours of SD content for you. Programming is done with your DIRECTV remote control, or you can now program either on of these DVR devices through your computer, cell phone or the iPhone app designed for DIRECTV.

Now if you are looking at the costs involved in getting a digital video recorder, and the ongoing monthly fees, here is a brief breakdown.   Generally, DIRECTV runs a promotion that will get you into the DIRECTV HD DVR at no charge if you sign up for the Choice Xtra package or higher. The normal retail price quoted on this unit is $199, though keep in mind you don’t actually own the DVR.   DIRECTV considers it to be leased equipment, so if you discontinue your subscription be sure you send it back or you will probably face additional charges. If you want additional HD DVR units beyond the first, be prepared to pay for those when you set up service.

Now the monthly DIRECTV DVR fee is right now $6, but that will be going up shortly to $7 a month. Considering the time savings you will enjoy skipping through hours of commercials, this fee is actually one you won’t mind paying.

DIRECTV DVR units have also been integrated into the DIRECTV on Demand platform. Pay per view movies can be accessed on demand without difficulty. If you want full access to all of the on demand programming offered, you will need to hook your DIRECTV DVR into a high speed internet connection. Doing this will allow you access to thousands of titles, many of which are free.

If you are looking into satellite TV, then you will want to strongly consider a satellite TV DVR. What is a satellite TV digital video recorder? How much is it going to cost? Why should you get a satellite TV instead of one from your cable company?

Satellite TV DVR devices are available from both big providers, Dish Network and DIRECTV. Both Dish and DIRECTV offer dual-tuner DVR receivers, meaning you can record two shows at the same time if you want. You can watch a recorded show while recording two other shows, but you cannot watch a different live show if you already have two recordings going. If you have one of the newer high definition television sets that have come on the market during the past five years, you can record content in HD as long as you have an HD subscription with your satellite dish subscription.

If you are a new customer to either of these companies, you can usually get either a DVR or HD DVR at no charge, though you will have a monthly charge for each device you have in your home. Right now, the pricing for service with a satellite TV DVR is $6 per month, per box. That price is set to go up shortly though, so expect to pay a buck or two more a month from either company. That being said a satellite television DVR is probably one of the best values for the money you spend. Why?

Basically because the DVR with satellite TV is such a time saver. As the saying goes “Time is Money” and with a digital video recorder you can save time by utilizing technology to your benefit. Here are a couple of ways to save time with your DVR.

1.) Record you favorite shows and either watch them later, or start watching them after they have been recording for a while. If you watch after the show has been completed, you can breeze through the commercials with the skip feature.

2.) Save time watching sports. With your favorite sporting event, begin recording but don’t start watching for 30 minutes to an hour after it has started. You will be able to skip the commercials and halftime, and will catch up to live action fairly close to the end of the game.

Satellite TV DVR units also have large recording capacities. Generally, you can record in the area of 50 hours of HD content, and around 300 hours of SD content. This varies depending on the latest model, so do a little research to find the latest numbers. If you want to hold onto more content, then consider buying an external drive to hold the your personal movie library.

Finally, controlling your satellite TV DVR is simple to do with your remote control. On screen programming guides go a week out or more, allowing you to search for and find the shows you want to record. In addition, new software allows most satellite TV DVR units to be programmed from the internet or even your cell phone.

While DIRECTV was making 3D news at the Consumer Electronics Show last weekend in Las Vegas, Dish Network introduced their own product with TV Everywhere.  The latest innovation from the satellite TV company is designed to give subscribers access to their Dish Network content anytime and anywhere.

TV Everywhere from Dish Network will allow customers to not only access content recorded on their DVR, but also watch live TV from a variety of devices.  Dish Network is using technology developed by their sister corporation, Echostar Technologies and its affiliate Sling Media to push “TV Everywhere” into homes across America.  Several different options will be available to Dish subscribers which will give them additional access to live and recorded television programming.

Remote access to your Dish Network content will be available through several mediums, all designed to transmit programming to the device you want to watch TV on.  Among the technology used will be the new Dish HD DuoDVR ViP922, the TV Everywhere Adapter, the Dish Remote Access Mobile App, and the new Dish Network WiFi monitor.  Lets see how these integrate with your satellite TV package.

The much anticipated ViP922 DVR will finally be available in the second quarter of 2010 according to Dish Network.  This “Sling Loaded” device will allow you to access your TV like the original Slingbox, remotely from any internet connected device such as a laptop or mobile phone.  Pricing for new and existing Dish Network customers is still up in the air, so stay tuned if this is of interest.

Now if you are already a Dish Network customer and have something like the ViP 722 DVR, then there is a new device that will convert your current device to be Sling capable.   The TV Everywhere Adapter takes your current HD DVR receiver from Dish Network and allows you to watch content like a full featured Slingbox.  The TV Everywhere Adapter connects with a simple USB cable, meaning less mess when it comes to cords and power supply issues.  Once connected, you can enjoy your Dish content on a mobile phone or laptop as long as you are connected to the internet.

Now if you have ever wanted to have some flexibility in watching TV at home, the next product from Dish Network will be of interest to you.   Called the Dish Network WiFi Monitor, this compact device is a free standing monitor that will deliver 720p HD content anywhere in your home.   Signals are delivered through your home WiFi network, with the aid of either TV Everywhere Adapter or the ViP 922 HD DVR.   This looks to be a pretty slick device for guys who want to keep one eye on the game while still being able to take care of chores around the house.

Finally, Dish Network has also created an App to manage your TV Everywhere technology.  The Dish Remote Access App will allow subscribers to control their satellite TV service from the palm of their hand.  Of course, to do so you will have to have either an iPhone or an iTouch initially, though you can still remotely control your DishDVR through the internet.   The Dish iPhone app will also allow your iPhone or iTouch to double as a remote control unit.

So will TV Everywhere be the big hit of 2010? Or will DIRECTV’s rollout of 3DTV be the big draw for television subscribers.  It will certainly be another interesting year as these two satellite TV heavyweights slug it out in an effort to gain and retain subscribers.

Now that the NFL season is in full swing, this year’s Sunday Ticket offer is off the table.   But that doesn’t mean that DIRECTV has stopped offering great deals on satellite television.  In fact, the latest DIRECTV offer gives new customers a larger discount on the most popular packages.

Before the latest Sunday Ticket promotion, DIRECTV was offering a $21 discount on most packages.  The new DIRECTV offer has been increased to a $26 savings on these packages for the first year.  That results in a $312 savings on your satellite TV programming during the first 12 months after you sign up.   Now to get that $26 savings, you have to do two things.  First, fill out either the online or mail in rebate form.  This is simple to do and once processed by DIRECTV, you will get a $21 discount on your package.  Next, register your account at directv.com.  When you do this, you will get another $5 discount each month.  Registering is a fairly simple process, the only requirement is an e-mail address.  This also allows you to manage your DIRECTV account online, adding and removing services is a snap.

The $312 savings that you get with the latest DIRECTV offer beats the $180 in savings you currently get if you go with the latest Dish Network deal.  In addition, new customers are eligible to receive the DIRECTV HD DVR unit, a $199 value at no upfront cost.  In order to get the free HD DVR, you have to subscribe to the DIRECTV ChoiceXtra package or higher.  If you go with the Choice or the DIRECTV Family options, the HD DVR upgrade is not included.

So what sort of pricing will you pay with this DIRECTV deal?  Here is a brief breakdown of the pricing, with all applicable discounts factored in:

DIRECTV Family – $29.99 per month (No promotional discount)

DIRECTV Choice – $29.99 per month  (No HD DVR upgrade)

DIRECTV ChoiceXtra – $34.99 per month

DIRECTV Plus DVR -$39.99 per month

DIRECTV Plus HD DVR $49.99 per month

DIRECTV Premier Package – $59.99 per month for three months.

So is the current DIRECTV offer better than the Dish Network offer currently available?  You probably need to do a little research to determine which one is right for your situation.  While you do get a free HD DVR with DIRECTV, you can get two HD DVR units with Dish Network which will allow you to watch shows in up to four rooms.

The current DIRECTV deal will be available for quite some time, right now it is scheduled to end on 2/8/2010.  So if you are thinking of signing up, you have some time to evaluate DIRECTV against Dish Network or your local cable company.

If you haven’t bought a high definition television yet, then you probably are not worried about getting HD channel content from your cable or satellite TV provider.  If that is the case, then the DIRECTV Choice Xtra package might be a good alternative to consider if you want something different than traditional cable TV.

Choice Xtra Package Review

The DIRECTV Choice Xtra package is one step up from the Choice package.   You will get 200+ channels, compared to the 150 that are in the Choice package, and the price is only $5 more.  Right now, the regular price fof the Choice Xtra package is $60.99 per month, but there is a nice discount for new DIRECTV customers.

If you are a new subscriber, DIRECTV offers you a $21 discount for the first year of service on this package. You do have to commite to DIRECTV for a 24 month period in order to get free installation and this reduced price.  That brings the price down to a very affordable $39.99 per month for the first year.  Be sure to go the rebate site in order to get the full DIRECTV deal you are entitled to as a new subscriber.

What else can you expect with the DIRECTV Choice Xtra package?   As mentioned, 200+ channels are included and among them are your local channels in almost all areas.  ABC, CBS, NBC and FOX will all be delivered in 100% digital quality.   Music channels are a big part of this DIRECTV bundle as well, as 68 XM satellite radio channels are part of the package.

When you sign up for the DIRECTV Choice Xtra package, you will get professional installation in up to 4 rooms of your home.  If you do get service in more than one room, there will be additional monthly charges for each DIRECTV receiver, similar to the charge you would get for additional digital cable TV boxes.  Current promotions offer the subscriber a free HD DVR upgrade,.  Even if you don’t have a plasma screen TV at this time, it would be smart to get the HD DVR in case you do buy a new HDTV in the months ahead.  That way you will have the right DIRECTV equipment for HD access.

Another potential monthly fee with the Choice Extra package is for the digital video recorder, or DVR.  As mentioned, you can get a free HD DVR device as a new subscriber, but there is a monthly  fee of $6 to make that DVR work.  Once you have used a DVR to watch TV, you won’t ever want to go back, and $6 per month is a small price to pay for the time you will save skipping through commercials.

A brief note if you are comparison shopping between the two satellite TV providers, Dish Network vs DIRECTV.  The Choice Xtra bundle is probably closest to the Classic Silver 200 package.  This package offered by Dish Network also has 200+ channels, and the regular price is $52.99 per month currently, with a $15 discount per month for the first year.

Finally, as discussed earlier the DIRECTV Choice Xtra package is designed for people who do not want HD access.  But if you do at some point want to add high definition channels to the package, you can do so by simply calling DIRECTV.  The monthly charge is currently $10 for HD.

If you are interested in the exact content offered in the Choice Xtra package, here is a channel lineup showing you what to expect with this particular bundle.  (XM satellite radio channels not listed)

A&E

ABC Family

America’s Store

American Movie Classics (AMC)

Animal Planet

The 101

BBC America

Black Entertainment Television (BET)

BET J

The Big Ten Network

The Biography Channel

Bloomberg Television

Boomerang

Bravo

BYU TV

C-SPAN

C-SPAN2

Comedy Central

Country Music Television (CMT)

Court TV

CSTV

Current TV

Cartoon Network

CCTV-9 (Chinese language)

The Church Channel

CNBC

CNBC World

CNN

Daystar

Discovery Channel

Discovery Health Channel

Discovery Home

Discovery Kids Channel

Discovery Times Channel

ESPN

ESPN2

ESPN Classic

ESPNEWS

EWTN

Disney Channel (East)

Disney Channel (West)

DIY Network

E! Entertainment Television

FINE LIVING

FitTV

Food Network

Fox Business Network

Fox Movie Channel

Fox News Channel

Fox Reality

Fuel TV

Fuse

FX

GEMS TV

GOD TV

The Golf Channel

Great American Country

G4 videogame tv

Galavisión

GSN, the network for games

Hallmark Channel

HDNet

HD Theater

Headline News

Home & Garden Television (HGTV)

Home Shopping Network

i Independent TV

Independent Film Channel

The History Channel

History International

HITN-TV

The Learning Channel (TLC)

Lifetime

Lifetime Movie Network

Lifetime Real Women

Link TV

Logo

National Geographic

NFL Network

Nickelodeon/Nick at Nite (East)

Nickelodeon/Nick at Nite (West)

Military Channel

MSNBC

MTV

MTV2

NASA TV

Nicktoons Network

Noggin/The N

NRB

ONCE México

Oxygen

RFD-TV

The Science Channel

SCI FI Channel

PBS Kids Sprout

QVC

REELZ Channel

ShopNBC

Sleuth

SOAPnet

Speed Channel

Spike TV

Sport South

Style

Superstation WGN

The Tennis Channel

TBS

TCT Network

TNT

TV Guide Channel

TV Land

TV One

Toon Disney

Travel Channel

Trinity Broadcasting Network (TBN)

Turner Classic Movies (TCM)

Univision

USA Network

Versus

VH1

VH1 Classic

WE: Women’s Entertainment

The Weather Channel

The Word

World Harvest Television (WHT)

Update: Classic Gold 250 has been re-titled Americas Top 250

Picking a satellite TV package can be a difficult decision.  Between channel counts, HD access and  DVR devices, the customer sometimes doesn’t know what is true when claims are being made by satellite and cable television companies.  That is why we provide you comprehensive reviews of different packages, such as the DIRECTV Premier package and the Turbo HD Gold offer from DISH Network.  In this article, we will review the Classic Gold 250 package which is also a DISH Network offering.

The DISH Network Classic Gold 250 was formerly the America’s Top 250 package before DISH Network renamed their programming packages last year.  As the name implies, it contains 250 plus audio and video networks.  When you subscribe to a package like this from Dish TV, you can expect 100% digital and audio quality, free installation in up to four different areas of your home, and access to one of the best DVR units out there today, the Dish ViP722 device.

Now if you are either a cable TV or DIRECTV customer and are thinking of switching over to DISH Network, you might wonder where the Classic Gold 250 package falls as far as comparing it to your current provider.   When comparing this with DIRECTV, it probably falls closest to the Choice Xtra package.  That package offers 200+ channels and the regular price is $60.99 a month, while the Classic Gold 250 package is $57.99 per month.   When comparing it to your cable company, it is probably comparable to a Premium Digital cable package, though what is offered in these can vary depending on providers.  For example, the Comcast Digitial Preferred runs $72.94 per month in the Denver, Colorado area and includes 150 audio and video channels.  It also includes Comcast HD, which is not included in the Classic Gold 250 and will cost you an additional $10 per month.

Now the Dish Classic Gold 250 currently runs $57.99 per month.  But because Dish TV prices things on an a la carte basis, you should be aware of the extras that will bring you bill up a bit.  Local channels like CBS, NBC and ABC in addition to this package will cost an extra $5.00 per month.  As mentioned earlier, to receive the DISH Network HD feeds that are available will also cost another $10 per month.

Another monthly charge to be aware of is for the DVR that is provided when your DISH Network satellite service is installed.  While DishNetwork will provide you with a new, top of the line ViP 722 DVR when you set up service, you do have to pay monthly for the DVR to be operational.  Current pricing is $5.98 per month for each DVR that you have in use in your home.

So what can you expect when it comes to programming content with the Dish Classic Gold package?  Of course all of the major cable network are to be found here like ESPN, CNN, TBS and TNT.  Quite a few movie channels are also in this package, such as the Encore lineup, and the Lifetime Movie Network and Turner Classic Movies.

Unfortunately, you won’t find any premium movie channels beyond the Encore channels in this bundle.  To get these, you will either have to go with the America’s Everything package, or add on the premiums that you want individually.   Here is a listing of the channels in the Classic Gold package up and above the DISH Network Classic Silver 200 package.   Channels in the Silver Package can be viewed here.

Biography Channel
Bloomberg Television
Boomerang
CNBC World
Discovery Home
Discovery Kids
Discovery Times
DIY
Encore (West)
Encore Action
Encore Drama
Encore Love
Encore Mystery
Encore WAM
Encore Westerns
ESPNU
Fine Living
Fox Movie Channel
Fox Reality
Fox Soccer
The Golf Channel
GolTV
Great American Country
Hallmark Channel
History International
Lifetime Movie Network
LIME
Military Channel
Mun2
National Geographic
Nickelodeon Games & Sports
Nicktoons Network
The Outdoor Channel
The Science Channel
Sleuth
Style
The Tennis Channel
The Movie Channel (West)
TMC xtra (West)
Versus

So now that you know all the channels available in the Classic Gold 250 package, what kind of DISH Network deals are out there on this bundle.  Promotions are always changing, so its a good idea to check with both satellite TV companies to find out what they are offering.   Currently, the Classic Gold deal gives you a $25 dollar discount on the monthly rate for 6 months, bringing the price down from $57.99 to $32.99 per month.  In addition, you can also get free access to the Turbo HD Gold channels.  As mentioned earlier, free professional installation and one HD DVR box is also included to you can watch everything in crystal clear HD.

Of course with the NFL season starting soon, the  DISH Network Classic 250 may not fit your needs as there is no NFL Sunday Ticket availability here.  Our recommended alternative if you are looking to try out the Sunday Ticket package is the Choice Xtra package or the DIRECTV Plus HD DVR offer with a $21 discount for the first year.