The NCAA Basketball Tournament kicks off next week, and if you are looking for the most action, then coverage from DIRECTV is your best bet. While your local sports bar may be an attractive option, the DIRECTV Mega March Madness package will once again be the only option for watching every game from the comfort of your own living room.

While the Dish Network March Madness coverage will give you access to portions of just about every game, DIRECTV offers more in this area. The reason why? DIRECTV has once again cornered the market on a sports package. Similar to the NFL Sunday Ticket, DIRECTV currently holds an exclusive contract to carry the NCAA Mega March Madness package. DIRECTV will of course also carry the regular CBS coverage of the NCAA Tournament just like Dish Network.

So what if you are into the NCAA bracket bigtime and need to keep up on every game? This year it will cost you an extra $69 dollars for the Mega March Madness package through DIRECTV. Only by purchasing this package will you be able to see every game in full, although that is still kind of an impossibility as games overlap during early round action. Subscribers to the DIRECTV March Madness package will be able to watch the Game Mix channel on 701, which will show up to four different games at the same time on one screen.

With the NCAA Mix channel on channel 701, you can hear audio on the game of your choice by selecting it with your remote control. If you want to move to full screen action, select the game again with your remote and you will be taken to the game. DIRECTV channels 702 through 705 will carry the games on full screen. Other features of the Mega March Madness bundle include Scoreguide integration which will allow you to see scores from around the country with the touch of a button and an interactive bracket which shows results and the latest matchups.

Tuning DIRECTV channel 700 will give you access to the interactive bracket and the latest tournament news. March Madness shortcuts are also a part of the package, so if you miss a game you can see a commercial free recap of the game in less than 20 minutes. Shortcuts will not air during live tournament action. All games will again be in HD as well.

Getting the most out the Mega March Madness package requires some serious couch time, as most of the games are played during the 1st and 2nd rounds. If you can’t commit to watching most of the first weeekend, you are better off just watching the free DIRECTV March Madness coverage through your local CBS affiliate.

As part of the recent name change on Dish Network packages, the Classic Gold 250 has gone by the wayside. In its place comes the America’s Top 250 package by Dish Network satellite TV. What can you expect if you are a new satellite subscriber and sign up for the America’s Top 250 bundle?

Not a lot has changed when compared to last year’s version of this package. The Classic Gold 250 bundle was the top package Dish Network offers with the exception of the America’s Everything package. The America’s Top 250 adopts the same channel lineup from the Classic Gold, and will offer you almost all of the basic cable channels, plus local programming in most of the United States. When compared to the America’s Top 200 package, the 250 adds in channels like Chiller, Fuel TV, the Tennis Channel, and the Hallmark Movie channel among others.

This Dish Network bundle will be priced at $62.99 a month for 2010, which is a very good price when compared to your typical digital cable lineup. With Comcast or Time Warner, you will pay in the area of $75 to $80 a month for a comparable channel lineup. If you are comparing to DIRECTV, then the Choice Xtra package is probably what you will want to compare to, and that is priced at $63.99 a month in 2010, but does not have as many channels.

If you are switching over to satellite TV from cable or some other provider, you can also get some discounts and freebies as a new customer. Dish TV offers a $15 savings per month for one year, meaning you will save $180 total on the America’s Top 250. There is a 24 month commitment, so you will be locked into regular prices for the second year, but can leave without penalty after that time. Additional incentives offered with this package include free Showtime and HBO for three months, as well as free installation and activation.

While this package does include quite a bit of content, one thing to keep in mind is that there aren’t any many premium movie channels included. There are a few Encore channels but not any Showtime, Starz or HBO channels unless you want to add them on as premiums. If you are interested in adding movie channels to the Top 250 package, the prices are as follows. HBO is $15.99 a month, Starz is $12.99, Cinemax is $12.99, Showtime is $12.99, and the Playboy channel is $15.99 a month. If you order multiple channels, you get a discount on more than one premium, with all 5 premiums offered for $50 a month.

Other charges you can expect with the Dish Network America’s Top 250 include $10 for access to 80 HD channels, and a $6 a month DVR fee if you have either a DVR or an HD DVR.

It is back to the future this year for DISH Network, as they are leaving their 2009 package names behind, and returning to the America’s Top series. No longer will they refer to their packages as the Bronze, Silver, and Gold, instead returning to numbers which reflect the approximate number of channels in the lineup. In this article, we will review a mid-tier package, the America’s Top 200.

The DISH Network America’s Top 200 package provides the subscriber quite a bit of content for the monthly fee. Overall, you and your family will enjoy more than 120 digital video channels, and more than 80 digital audio channels. Quite a few Sirius satellite radio stations are found in this package which are not found in the America’s Top 120.

One nice feature with looking at the Americas Top 200 for 2010 is that DISH Network has held the line on the package pricing. The normal DISH price for this package is $52.99 a month, and that price includes local channels and regional sports networks in your area. If you are considering DISH Network as a new subscriber, you can get a $15 a month reduction on that price, dropping it down to $37.99 a month for the first year of service.

To get an idea of all of the channels available in this bundle, check our Classic Silver 200 review for everything included.

As far as comparing the America’s Top 200 with DIRECTV, this package aligns most closely with the Choice Xtra package. That bundle from DIRECTV satellite includes around 200 channels total, and is regularly priced at $63.99 for 2010. Discounts for new customers drop that package into the same range as the America’s Top 200 for the first year, but you will pay more with DIRECTV starting in year two.

Additional offers on the DISH Network America’s Top 200 for 2010 include free HBO and Showtime for three months, free installation in four rooms, and 6 months free of the DISH Network service plan. If you want to continue with the DishHome protection plan after the six month promotion, is is $5.99 per month.

Additional fees to consider with this DISH Network package include HD access and digital video recorder charges. For $10 a month, you will get access to 55 full time HD channels with the America’s Top 200, as well as plenty of PPV high definition channels. If you want a DISH Network DVR, that will cost $6 a month for the first unit. While DISH Network did not raise package prices in 2010, they did add some hefty charges on additional DVR units, which can range from $10 to $17 a month depending on the unit you select. Be sure you have an accurate quote from either DISH Network or an authorized retailer if you need more than one DVR so there won’t be any surprises.

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

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

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

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

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

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

Charter cable is one of the big players in the United States today. But while big cable companies like Comcast and Time Warner cable seem to be in the news quite a bit, Charter cable seems to fly under the radar. That may be due to the territory covered by Charter, which is generally more in the mid-to-small markets cities. What should you look for if you are comparing satellite TV vs Charter cable?

Price is of course a primary consideration, especially as many Americans are still struggling in a down economy. Charter cable does follow in the footsteps of their big cable TV brothers, in that their cable TV rates are fairly high once you get past any promotional specials. Charter cable TV rates vary from area to area, so its best to either call or visit the Charter cable site to get specific rates for your area.

Satellite TV rates have also gone up in the past few years, but overall remain between 10 to 20% lower than Charter TV prices. Promotional offers from Dish Network and DIRECTV can usually get you into a satellite TV package for around $40 a month for the first year. Be aware though that both companies require a 24 month commitment as part of the Dish TV package, so you want to be sure you can live up to that otherwise you may face an early termination fee.

Comparing satellite TV HD vs Charter HD is also important if you have recently gone out and bought either a plasma screen or LCD television. Both Dish Network and DIRECTV charge an additional $10 a month fee for HD channels. While they also claim to have between 140 and 150 HD channels, the actual count is closer to 100 once the pay per view and on demand HD channels are removed. Still, satellite HD is far in front of Charter high definition. Your mileage may vary with Charter HD depending on the area, but consider yourself lucky if you can get 50 HD channels with Charter cable TV.

Another consideration when comparing Charter vs satellite is whether you have a place for a satellite dish. If you are a homeowner, then usually a satellite TV installer can find an acceptable place to mount the dish facing the southern sky. But if you live in an apartment or condo, things can get sticky and you may only have one choice – Charter cable. Some areas served by Charter are facing additional competition with AT&T U-verse and Verizon Fios deploying new technology to compete against cable.

A final factor when comparing Charter to satellite TV is the Triple play bundle. Satellite providers don’t really have an answer when it comes to providing high speed internet and voice services. The Charter Triple play can offer you multiple services at a discounted bundled rate, something you may want to factor in when comparison shopping.

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

DISH Network Bundles

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

DIRECTV customers may be in line for and HD upgrade in 2010, as the latest satellite that sends signals to subscribers successfully launched yesterday.

DIRECTV 12, a Boeing 702 commercial grade satellite made its way into space on Monday, launching from Kazakhstan.  International Launch Services, or ILS, successfully carried the satellite into orbit marking their 7th commercial launch of 2009.   Operations from ground stations have confirmed contact with the satellite, and report that DIRECTV 12 is operating correctly so far.  Once the satellite becomes fully operational, probably in the 2nd quarter of 2010, DIRECTV will have the capability of offering more than 200 HD channels.  But will they really beef up their HD lineup and cross the 200 HD channel marker?

That seems unlikely.  Criticism of DIRECTV in 2008 and 2009 has continued, as the satellite TV operator has been slow in deploying new HD channels.  DIRECTV made huge news a few years ago, expanding their HD lineup to nearly 100 channels by the end of 2007.  Since then, it has been slim pickings for HD gurus, as Dish Network and Verizon Fios have surpassed DIRECTV in HD channel counts.

DIRECTV currently claims to offer 130 HD channels though the last round of HD expansion was mainly filler, composed mainly of regional sports networks and pay per view channels.   Press releases from the company state that the DIRECTV 12 satellite will allow them to increase their high definition capacity by 50%, equaling the 200 HD channel count mentioned earlier.

While the DIRECTV 12 satellite may not fully deliver the HD content so sought after by subscribers, it could offer a look into the future.  Rumors of DIRECTV deploying 3DTV have hit the internet in the past few days, with speculation the 3D sports programming could be on the horizon.  An all 3D channel offering sports, movies and other programming could be in the works, and the Consumer Electronics Show being held in Las Vegas next week could be the forum DIRECTV uses to unfurl their plans for DIRECTV 12.

Update: Classic Bronze 100 has been renamed Americas Top 120

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

AUDIO Channels

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

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

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.

Dish Network and Verizon are large pay TV companies that provide television service via satellite or cable. With so many offers available from so many companies, it can be very difficult to make a decision regarding which service to use, which service provides the best value for money. In this article we will provide you with the information you need to make an informed decision regarding which service to go with.

DISH Network vs Verizon Fios

Verizon is the first communications service provider to offer fiber optic connections directly into your home. While AT&T U-verse offers fiber to the node, Verizon is running fiber to every location it serves.  Generally, fiber optic connections are used only up to the network backbone, with a copper or coax infrastructure for the end-user. At present, 12.7 million households have Fios access, and Verizon is rapidly expanding their FiOS service to many new areas.

Verizon Fios has of course tons of HD, extremely fast upload speeds and great features, delivered to your home on a 100% fiber optic line. Fios also offers a home media multi-room DVR unit that can record up to 80 hours of SD programming and 20 hours of HD. It allows you to record in one room and watch in any room of the house, thus reducing the cost of having multiple DVR units in your home. The unit comes with a media manager software that lets you play music and slideshows from your PC on your TV.

If you’re a sports fan, then Fios is ideal for you, because every Sunday afternoon, you can see all the touchdowns, and most exciting sports moments in HD on NFL RedZone.  Fios also has TV widgets that are small applications that run on the Fios TV set-top box, which for example, will alert you on your TV when a team enters the RedZone, and you can switch directly to the game. It also provides football scores, schedules and standings in real time. There are also a Twitter and Facebook widgets, so you can tweet, while you’re right in the action.

Verizon also offers an excellent feature if you want to record a show but are away from home. You have three options, namely to logon directly onto the website, download a special application for your mobile phone, or use your mobile phone to navigate to a special webpage from where you can view listings, browse movies, change your subscription, manage your account and schedule recordings for your DVR.

The fact that Verizon uses fiber-optic technology to deliver the best quality HD directly into your home means that the service is more reliable and less affected by weather, plus performance can be monitored at all times and repairs conducted, even before the customer is aware of a problem. Another advantage of this technology is that it offers a number of uses such as interactive content, home shopping, telecommuting and audio video-on-demand. The interactive media guide allows you to search for shows and movies by title, actor, director and genre, plus it offers you the ability to manage your own photos, videos and music.

Verizon Fios offers over 115 HD channels, 320 overall channels, 16,000 video-on-demand titles and pay-per-view. As with other providers, Verizon has taken advantage of its existing customer base and added to its service portfolio both an Internet service as well as a phone service.

Verizon claims its service will be available in all Verizon territories all over the United States, but some areas will not be able to receive TV and phone services due to various franchise agreements.

Verizon offers two Internet services, the first one, which includes a fiber optics connection right to your home with the fastest speed available, is known as Fios Internet, and the second is a dedicated high-speed connection which is far better than cable. Verizon provides 24 / 7 phone support as well as excellent online support for your Internet service. You’ll also receive personal web space, e-mail features and premium installation, provided by experienced technicians, who will install all the equipment and make sure everything is running smoothly.

Verizon’s landline phone services are highly reliable, with over 1 billion calls made every day with a 99.9% network reliability, secure lines, which work even during emergencies and power failures, good quality sound and great value for money, because you have unlimited calling.

Verizon has a variety of packages to suit any household, as well as various price ranges to fit in any budget. Verizon has plenty of offers all the time so should check out their website to see what discounts and package deals are available.

Dish Network prides itself on offering the best quality at excellent prices, providing real value for money. As Verizon, Dish Networks offers HD content, but it has the largest selection of HD channels with 140 available. The main difference when comparing FiOS vs Dish Network, is that Dish Network’s delivery system is via satellite dish and Verizon uses fiber optic lines. Dish Network also offers video on demand, premium movie channels and DVR receivers. DVR receivers, also known as dish DVR’s, offer all the advantages of digital video recording combined with powerful satellite receivers. Your DVR unit will allow you to record all your favorite shows, so that you can watch them when you have free time.

Another important difference between the two companies, which could be a decisive factor for you, is the number of HD channels offered by both companies, in which case Dish Network ranks first, with over 140 channels available. It also offers a variety of packages, premium content, sports and international programming. You can also contact your DVR receiver via your mobile phone or a network computer station, which will give you access to the web, and set your unit to record even in your absence, so that you don’t miss any of your favorite shows. There are also special HDTV receivers available, which help in promoting the quality of the signal, as well as standard definition receivers.

Dish Network also offers you the possibility to expand your HD DVR storage by using an external hard drive, which is a service that requires a onetime $ 39.99 activation fee.

Dish Network provides both English as well as Spanish TV packages like the Dish Latino lineup.  Other options like the Dish Family that provides more than 55 channels of sports, news, children’s programs and more, at $24.99 per month. The most popular package is Classic Silver 200, which includes over 220 channels at $37.99 a month, and for only an extra $10 every month you can add over 70 HD channels.  This price is the current Dish Network offer, which discounts the price $15 for the first year.

When comparing Dish Network versus Verizon Fios, choosing one or the other is based on your own subjective view, on what you require in entertainment as well as related services. Both companies offer various excellent packages, at various prices, although price should not be the only factor in determining which operator you prefer. You should carefully check the level of Verizon services in your area, because in some areas, Internet speed is not as fast as it should be.

One advantage Dish Network has over Verizon is that a satellite will permit those who do not have access to cable television, to receive excellent entertainment via the satellite dish that is mounted. Although, Dish Network has a drawback like DIRECTV in that the position of the satellite must be such that it has exposure to the southern sky, which means that some apartments, or other households that have large trees or buildings blocking the way, will not have access to this service. In this case, Verizon may be your only choice, because it uses a fiber-optic ground cable.

In terms of pricing strategy, Fios TV essentials in the Verizon package with over 250 channels available and up to 14 HD channels, is priced at $47.99 per month, while Fios TV extreme HD offers over 320 channels with up to 65 of them being HD, at $57.99 per month. Of course there are always bundle offers, for example, if you subscribe to phone, Internet and TV services you get $150 back.

Dish Network’s price ranges start at $24.99 and go up to $87.98, thus having an added advantage over Verizon in terms of the number of packages available and their flexibility. To be able to adequately compare, Classic Silver 200 is the closest in terms of available channels to the Verizon offer, with over 220 channels available at $37.99 a month and you can get over 70 HD channels for an extra $10 every month.

In the case of both companies, the DVR service is available for an extra charge. Dish Network offers their Classic Silver 200 package bundled with a DVR service at $57.99 a month, again with the option of adding over 70 HD channels for an extra $10 per month.

If both services are available in your area, choosing Dish Network vs Verizon Fios is based mostly on what you and your family prefer in terms of entertainment, since one company may have a package that suits your lifestyle better, or a better price for the same package.  If you are wondering about how Fios stacks up against the other big satellite company, review our DIRECTV vs Verizon FiOS article.  They are both excellent services, but again it’s up to your personal preferences, which service you choose and what delivery method you prefer, be it fiber optics or a satellite service.