For many years, people who wanted cable TV only had one source, the old cable television company. In the mid 90’s, satellite TV companies Dish Network and DIRECTV were finally able to break the cable monopoly. Now in many areas, consumers have a third option, as Verizon and AT&T have rolled out new technology allowing cable TV service to be delivered through the phone network. In this article, we will compare two of these relative newcomers:

Dish Network vs. AT&T U-verse

Dish Network and AT&T have a bit of history, as in the past they used to be business partners.  AT&T used to sell Dish Network satellite TV until early 2009.  So you might wonder, why did AT&T sell Dish Network and now DIRECTV service when they have their video service?

The reason for this is because U-verse is still in the early stages of deployment. AT&T cable packages are introduced slowly as the needed technology is deployed from city to city. Plenty of red tape must be overcome by AT&T in applying for a cable TV franchise for every area they intend to serve with U-verse.

This of course is the first major difference when comparing U-verse vs Dish Network. AT&T uses their existing network of copper lines to deliver U-verse, while DISH Network of course installs a small satellite dish unit to deliver content. AT&T does have fiber optic lines going to the neighborhoods it that have U-verse, then the signal travels the rest of the way to each hope on copper pairs.  Many are under the impression that U-verse uses a satellite dish, but this is not the case.

If you are concerned about reliability, you should be fine with both U-verse and Dish Network.  Satellite TV has been around now for more than 15 years, and usually only goes out during very intense storms.  With AT&T U-verse, the issues usually only come up during installation.  Once the U-verse installer has you up and running, you shouldn’t have any significant downtime.

So how do Dish Network and U-verse compare when it comes to pricing and programming options?   Of course AT&T wants you to buy more than one product when you are buying their U-verse TV option, so if you are in the market for high speed internet or home phone service it is a good idea to price out the U-verse bundle options.  AT&T U-verse now offers a triple play package which also combines U-verse voice along with your cable  TV and internet service, so you don’t have to have a home phone line if you don’t need or want it.

There was a small U-verse price increase in February 2009, so these prices reflect the current pricing for just U-verse TV service with one receiver.

The U-verse Family and the U100 packages are both quoted at $49 per month.  This is a $5 increase over the price in 2008 which was $44 per month.  The U-verse family package has 70 channels, and the U100 has 130 channels, so why you would select the U-family package at the same price is quite a mystery.  The U-100 package is comparable to the Dish Network Classic Bronze 100 package, which has around a hundred channels total, and regularly priced at $39.99 per month.

The AT&T U-200 package is next up, and has up to 230 channels of programming depending on your area.  Currently priced at $64 per month, the U-200 increased $5 from last years price of $59 per month.  Here you will find all of the major cable channels, but no premium movie networks.  There is also a U-200 Latino package which adds quite a bit of Spanish language programming for an extra $10 per month.  The comparable Dish Network package would be the Classic Silver 200, which has in the area of 200 all digital video and audio channels.  The Classic Silver 200 is regularly priced at $52.99 per month.

The next offer from U-verse is the AT&T U-300 bundle for $79 per month.  Here you will basically find the U-200 package with the AT&T Movie package added on to bring the channel count up to nearly 300 networks.  The movie package contains 31 commercial free feeds from Starz, Showtime, Encore and Flix.  You won’t get HBO or Cinemax channels here though.  The closest comparision to this from Dish Network is probably the Classic Gold 250 package which is offered at $62.99 per month, though is does not contain the premium movie channels like the U-300.  With Dish Network, you can add on premium movie channel feeds and get discounts based on the number of channels you want.  For example, you can get two premiums for $22 a month, or three premiums for $31 per month.

Finally, we come to the all inclusive packages offered by U-verse and Dish Network.  The U-450 offers nearly 400 channels for $109 per month on a stand alone basis.  In addition to all of the channels in the U300 package, the U-450 adds several HBO and Cinemax channels.  It also adds the Sports pack, which carries dozens of regional sports networks from around the country.  The U-450 compares to the Dish Network America’s Everything Pack, which has over 280 channels of service for $102.98 per month.  This Dish Network package does include several feeds of the premium movie channels like HBO and Showtime.

Now if you are a big sports fan, there may be some things to factor in when comparing Dish TV vs U-verse.  While both Dish Network and U-verse carry the main sports channels like ESPN and Fox Sports, they aren’t equal when it comes to premium sports packages.  Both are locked out of the NFL Sunday Ticket package which is only on DIRECTV.  But when it comes to the NBA League Pass or the NHL Center Ice packages, you won’t find them on U-verse yet.   Dish Network does offer both of these packages, which currently run in the area of $200 per season.   ESPN Gameplan is available through both Dish Network and Uverse.

Now when it comes to promotional deals, you should closely compare Dish Network vs AT&T U-verse and see what they are willing to offer you.  Currently, both Dish Network and U-verse offer free installation, so you don’t have to worry about having a big upfront cost with either service.  They also will throw in equipment such as the U-verse Total Home DVR or the Dish Network ViP 722 DVR.   These advanced DVR devices allow you to watch and record television programming on your terms, and save you plenty of time as you can skip through commercials on programs already recorded.  Keep in mind, you do have to pay additional monthly service fees for DVR service with Dish Network, which is about $6 per month.  AT&T includes DVR service for the first unit in the package price.

U-verse and Dish Network do offer other deals though to entice you to subscribe.  AT&T has been big on their “cash back” offers with U-verse, which can net you anywhere from $50 to $250 back when you subscribe as a new customer.  One thing U-verse has been pushing is the online ordering process, so if you decide to go with U-verse, you can usually get a bigger check back in the mail by ordering U-verse service online.  Dish Network deals currently offer a monthly discount on programming during the first year of service, which is $15 off of any programming package except for the DishFamily package.  So basically you will save $180 during the first year with Dish Network, while you will get a nice check within a few months if you go with AT&T U-verse.

If you are looking for lots of high definition content, you really can’t go wrong with either Dish Network or AT&T U-verse.  Right now, Dish Network offers 140 national HD channels, though they do count pay per view HD in there so it is a bit inflated.  AT&T HD currently offers more than 110 channels in almost all areas that have U-verse.  One thing you will find is that if you are a premium movie channel fan, U-verse has quite a few movie channels in HD than are not yet deployed by Dish Network HD.  As far as cost goes, right now Dish Network and U-verse charge a $10 fee for access to HD channel content.  The only exception to this is the U-450 package, which currently includes HD access in the package price.  Dish Network Turbo HD used to be an option for those who only wanted HD content, but it looks like this has been eliminated for new customers.

Both U-verse and Dish Network offer DVR service, though depending on your situation you may want to go with one company over another.  AT&T U-verse offers a fairly unique device called the Total Home DVR.  Basically, the unit allows you to move from room to room and still watch the content saved on your DVR device.  The AT&T DVR also allows you to record up to four shows at one time, while with Dish Network you can only save two shows at a time on the ViP 722 DVR.  Dish Network’s DVR does offer Duo DVR service, which allow you to save and watch content on two different TV’s in your home.  As far as storage capacity goes, the AT&T DVR can hold up to 133 hours of SD content or 37 hours of HD programming.  The Dish Network ViP 722 holds 350 hours of SD or 55 hours of HD content.  U-verse does have an offer for their higher end customers that promises a DVR with larger capacity.  Customers subscribing to the U450 can get 233 hours SD/65 hours high definition DVR device from AT&T.

Remember when considering Dish Network vs U-verse your personal situation.  Research each company and get a price quote based on the number of HDTV’s and regular TV’s you want hooked up.  Additional charges will apply based on the number of receivers needed, so keep that in mind when reviewing the prices here. For addition information, we invite you to read our AT&T U-verse review, and our collection of Dish Network articles.

DISH Network has rolled out their latest special in response to the new NFL Sunday Ticket offer from DIRECTV. So what can you get as a new subscriber to the latest DISH Network offer?

First, lets look at the monthly price discounts. The new DISH Network offer gives the customer a $15 dollar per month discount for the first 12 months of service. This is a bit of an improvement over the last DISH Network deal, which offered a $25 discount during the first six months of service. So basically you will save $180 total instead of $150 on programming costs during your first year of DISH Network service.

The DISH Network offer applies to all packages except the Dish Family bundle. So you are looking at a price of $24.99 per month for the Classic Bronze 100 package or $29.99 for the Classic Bronze 100+ bundle. The Bronze 100+ adds your regional sports programming to the regular Bronze package. As mentioned, this DISH Network offer locks in these prices for one full year.

If you are looking for a medium tier package with DISH Network, the offer provides new subscribers with the DISH Network Classic Silver 200 package at a reduced price of $37.99 a month. This special offer includes all of the Bronze 100 channels, plus channels like Speed, Animal Planet and Bravo. Also included are dozens of Sirius Music stations in addition.

The next DISH Network offer is the Classic Gold 250 package. For this package, new customers will be looking at a monthly rate of $47.99 for the first year. After that, the price goes up to the regular rate of $62.99 per month. Additional channels here beyond the Silver 200 package are the Tennis channel, Fuel TV, ESPNU, and the Fox Soccer channel.

The final DISH Network discounted offer is the America’s Everything package. This bundle includes every cable network you can imagine, including dozens of commercial free movie channels like HBO. This package is priced at $87.98 for one year, then moves up to $102.98 after one year.

Now another consideration for most folks is high definition, or HD content. All of the above packages do not include HD channels, but they can be added for $10 per month. The number of HD channels your receive depends on the package. For example, the HD add on for the Bronze package includes 55 channels, while the add-on for the Gold package includes 80 HD channels.

If you are looking at the prices for the new DISH Network deal and they look a little higher than prior offers, you are right. It looks as if DISH Network packages are now including the local channels in the price, when in the past they were a bit lower and you would have to add on the local channels for $5 per month.

DISH Network has also eliminated the DishDVR advantage bundle from their lineup. Instead, you can now order the Bronze, Silver, or Gold packages and add a “With DVR” bundle. This charge of $5.98 per month will cover one HDTV and one standard definition TV for the same monthly charge. Unfortunately if you have 2 or more HDTV’s, you will have to pay extra monthly receiver fees for the HD receiver.

Finally, the new DISH Network special provides a few extra goodies for new customers. One extra is free HBO and Starz for three months. If you don’t call to cancel, these premium movie networks will continue at the regular price after three months. Another nice addition is the 3 for free promotion. With this offer you can get HD receivers for up to three of your HDTV’s with no initial equipment cost. Note there is a $7 per month charge for each additional receive after the first one.

Overall, the latest DISH Network offer is an affordable TV package for non-sports fans out there. DIRECTV certainly is the way to go for big time NFL fans, while DISH Network is making a strong play for HD and movie fans.

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.

Time Warner Cable is the second largest cable company in the United States. Only Comcast has more cable TV subscribers. If you live in an area served by Time Warner Cable, you probably have wondered if you can get a better deal, as Time Warner Cable is known as a fairly expensive service. Generally the only other option is satellite TV, so here is a brief comparison.

Time Warner Cable vs. Satellite TV.

As mentioned, Time Warner is an extremely large cable company, boasting over 14 million subscribers currently. Time Warner cable is available across the nation, in fact their cable systems are found in 27 different states. Unlike Charter cable, which struggles with many small and mid-sized markets, Time Warner is more like Comcast, with systems in some major markets. Large population centers served by Time Warner Cable in the northeast include New York City, New Jersey, Cleveland, Columbus and Cincinnati. Other large Time Warner Cable systems include Dallas, Austin, San Diego and Los Angeles. Overall, Time Warner Cable has 56 different cable systems. Time Warner gained about 3 million subscribers a few years back by purchasing some of the old Adelphia Communications Cable systems that were sold during their bankruptcy.

Time Warner has faced increasing pressure from satellite TV companies DIRECTV and DISH Network over the past decade. While in the past, cable companies like Time Warner and Comcast had a virtual monopoly on pay television service, satellite TV and in recent month’s telecom TV like Verizon FiOS and AT&T U-verse mean even more competition for subscribers.

Time Warner Cable has responded to these competitive pressures by branching out to provide video, data, and voice services. These services are available to mainly residential customers, though the business market has also been targeted. Time Warner cable also offers on-demand services, which are superior in most areas to satellite TV. Digital video recorders or DVR service as well as high-definition (HD) television programming is also available. Since DIRECTV and DISH Network only provide video services, we will mainly compare TV services.

So how does Time Warner stack up when comparing their Cable TV vs DIRECTV or DISH Network?

HDTV – This is one area where cable companies like Time Warner and satellite TV providers are battling for the customer’s attention. While the biggest battle continues to be DIRECTV vs Comcast, Time Warner HD has its own battle plan against satellite TV. Time Warner Cable promotes their company as “the Home of Free HD”. Basically, Time Warner says they offer free HD, something that DIRECTV and DISH Network charge their customers extra to have. They have even set up a website called “Don’t Fall For Satellite” encouraging customers to start a relationship with someone they can trust.

Hmmmm…..trust a cable TV company? While that may be a little hard to swallow, the site is fairly amusing as it lampoons satellite TV. While Time Warner may not technically “charge” for HD like DIRECTV and DISH Network, who each charge about $10 a month for HD, you can be sure Time Warner has the cost of providing HD included within their pricing structure. Sorry, the next time a cable TV company gives us something for free will be the first time.

More importantly, how much HD does Time Warner package offer compared with satellite TV? DIRECTV and DISH Network currently have over 100 HD channels each, with promises to expand that to about 150 channels in the near future. Time Warner HD has done better than other cable TV providers like Charter and Comcast, but HD quantity is still a hit or miss proposition with Time Warner Cable. If you live in one of the major markets served by Time Warner Cable, you are much more likely to get a lot of HD content, while if you live in a mid-sized or small market, you will likely be disappointed with your HD selection. Cable networks upgrade areas individually to handle more HD, so check with Time Warner directly if you are wondering how many HD channels are available in your area.

Overall, satellite TV providers DIRECTV and DISH Network still provide more HD content than Time Warner, even if they give you high definition for “free.”
Another thing to consider if you are only interested in HD is that satellite TV provider DISH Network is the only company that currently offers 100% HD packages. Their Turbo HD lineup offers fewer, channels, but much lower pricing if you just want HD channels and nothing else.

Family Programming and Parental Controls – This shouldn’t be an issue with either Time Warner or your satellite TV company. Parental Control locks are easy to setup via your remote control with Time Warner cable, DIRECTV and DISH Network.

DVR – The digital video recorder has changed how we watch television, and given its popularity, it is an important consideration. DVR service from Time Warner is similar to that of satellite TV, in that it lets you record your favorite shows without the mess and trouble of using a VCR. Time Warner cable also offers HD DVR service, so you can record both HD and standard definition programming and play it back on your own schedule. DVR features include the choice of saving movies, record one show while watching another, pausing and rewinding live TV whenever you like, and so on.

While the Time Warner DVR and the DVR’s provided by satellite TV companies offer the same features, their reliability and friendliness to the subscriber differ. DISH Network currently has the best DVR, with their ViP722 often being compared to devices made by TiVo. DIRECTV’s HR20 DVR is adequate, though not as good as the device offered by DISH Network. Time Warner’s current DVR is on the same level as DIRECTV, though complaints continue to come in about the DVR freezing frequently and having to be rebooted.

On Demand – This is an area where cable TV companies like Time Warner have a definite advantage over satellite TV. Comcast and Time Warner Cable have invested millions in their on-demand entertainment delivery systems, and it has made their subscribers very happy. On-demand basically allows the subscriber to sit down and pick from a menu of shows at any time day or night. New shows are constantly added including movies, sports and special events. Satellite TV suffers in the on-demand market because of their one-way delivery system. DIRECTV and DISH Network have set up their own on-demand setups, but these often rely on the customer having their own high speed internet connection in order to download the content. While the setup is workable, it sometimes requires waiting for some the content to download before watching, so it’s not true video-on-demand. Advantage to Time Warner over satellite TV when it comes to on-demand.

Digital Sports Packages – This is an important area for guys (and gals) who are sports fans. One satellite TV company, DIRECTV wins out here, while the other comes in last place, that being DISH Network. Time Warner Cable comes out in the middle when comparing premiums sports packages. DIRECTV is the clear winner, as they basically offer all of the sports packages that are out there. DIRECTV offers the following sports packages:

Nascar Hotpass
NFL SUNDAY Ticket
MLB Extra Innings
NHL Center Ice
Cricket Ticket
NBA League Pass
ESPN Game Plan (College Football)
NCAA Mega March Madness
Setanta Sports (Foreign Soccer and Rugby programming)
ESPN Full Court (College Basketball)
MLS Direct Kick
DirecTV Sports Pack (Regional sports networks like Fox Sports)

Time Warner carries some of these same packages, however they do not have two of the most popular, the NFL Sunday Ticket and the NASCAR HotPass, which are DIRECTV exclusives. DISH Network only carries the NBA League Pass, MLS Direct Kick and the NHL Center Ice packages. If its sports you want, DirecTV is your top choice.

Pay Per View – This is another area that is equal when considering satellite TV versus Time Warner Cable. You can always find PPV movies and sporting events on DirecTV and DISH Network. Time Warner Cable offers boxing, UFC and movie pay-per-view options.

Premium Movie Channels – All of the popular movie channels are available through DIRECTV and Time Warner Cable. If you want all of the premiums, such as Showtime, Cinemax, HBO and Starz, you are better off choosing one of the satellite TV all inclusive packages such as the DIRECTV Premier package or the DISH Network America’s Everything package, as Time Warner Cable charges $50 per month for all of the premium networks. See Time Warner pricing below.

Now everyone these days is concerned about the bottom line, how much will either Time Warner or satellite TV cost per month. Pricing is always subject to change, and the prices below are for one area of Texas with TimeWarner cable. For the most accurate pricing, contact Time Warner cable directly.

Analog Cable Packages Cost Per Month

Basic Service $20.84

Standard Service (Basic and Expanded Basic Service) $47.99

Digital Cable Package $52.99

Digital Premium Services Monthly

Digital HBO Multiplex (15 screens) $12.95

Digital Cinemax Multiplex (12 screens) $12.95

Digital Showtime Multiplex (14 screens) $12.95

Digital TMC Multiplex (4 screens) $12.95

Digital Starz! Multiplex (10 screens) $12.95

Any 2 Premiums (with matching Premiums on Demand) $20.00

Any 3 Premiums (with matching Premiums on Demand) $30.00

Any 4 Premiums (with matching Premiums on Demand) $40.00

All 5 Premiums (with matching Premiums on Demand) $50.00

Time Warner Cable Spanish Programming

Canales Latinos Tier (includes Navigator) $8.95

Canales Latinos Dos Tier (includes Navigator) $14.95

Digital Sports Tier (includes Navigator) $8.95

Digital Video Recorder Service (DVR) $6.95

High Definition DVR Recorder Service (HD DVR) $6.95

Equipment Cost per Month

Addressable Receiver $7.64

Remote $.31

CableCard $2.95

High-Speed Online Services Monthly

High-Speed Online Service (non-cable customer) $54.95

High-Speed Online Service (cable customer) $44.95

Reviewing the prices listed for Time Warner Cable, it doesn’t seem to be out of line in comparison to satellite TV. Comparable packages with DISH Network are lower, in the area of $35-40 per month, and DIRECTV offers a discount on their packages for the first year. I think where many complaints about Time Warner’s cable pricing come in when several TV’s are used, and where the subscriber has premium movie channels. Adding extra cable boxes and HBO, Cinemax and the like can really hike up your cable bill.

To get an idea of how Time Warner Cable stacks up with satellite TV packages, review what DISH Network and DIRECTV currently offer as far as package pricing. One nice thing with satellite TV pricing is that it is uniform across the country, so no matter where you live you can easily find out what satellite TV costs.
Now Time Warner does offer a couple of things that satellite cannot. Because cable operators have wiring to the home in the areas they serve, they can offer so called triple play bundles. These packages include not only cable TV, but also high speed internet and home phone service. Time Warner, like other cable companies has deployed these bundles into the areas they serve in order to increase revenues.

Time Warner cable titles their triple play packages the “all the best” bundle. Generally, you can get a promotional price during the first year of service, which will cover all three services for somewhere between $89-$99 dollars per month. After the first year, though, the price goes up, so be sure to ask what “normal” bundle pricing will be. While DIRECTV and DISH Network do not have triple play bundles, they do team with local phone providers A&T, Verizon, and Qwest to offer packages in conjunction with your local phone company.

Time Warner Digital Phone provides dial tone and unlimited calling just like you would expect from the local phone company. For example, the Time Warner Digital Phone Unlimited starts at $44.99 per month, depending on where you live. It is an all-inclusive price for Unlimited Nationwide and Digital Phone Unlimited Local calling. Also included are all of the popular calling features most people want like caller ID, Voice Messaging, call waiting, call forwarding, plus additional calling features. Usually you can now keep your phone number even if you are transferring in from another phone company. Directory assistance and 911 accesses are also included.

TimeWarner Road Runner delivers high speed internet service over its cable network. Road Runner comes in several different flavors, allowing you to pick the speed level you need. The first option is Road Runner Lite, which offers speeds up to 1.5 Mbps on the download side. If you need something a little faster, Road Runner Basic doubles the speed, up to about 3 Megs per second. Next is the Road Runner High Speed Online package, offering speeds up to 7.0 Mbps, Road Runner Standard is more than 4 times faster than Road Runner Lite. Finally, if you do a lot of downloading or are running multiple computers the Road Runner Turbo with PowerBoost offers download speeds up to 10 Mbps, and PowerBoost can give you speeds approaching 16 Mbps when downloading large items.

So which is best when considering Time Warner vs Satellite TV?  Our recommendation is DIRECTV for their pricing, sports programming and DVR service. If on-demand is your top priority, Time Warner should be given consideration. Also Time Warner cable may be best for a triple-play bundle, at least for one year, just be aware of a probable price increase after that first year of service. For lower pricing without premium sports packages, or an HD only bundle, DISH Network should be your choice.

Comcast is the largest cable television company in the United States. DIRECTV is the biggest satellite company. So if you live in an area served by Comcast, you probably have wondered how the two pay television providers stack up against each other:

DIRECTV vs Comcast

Comcast has over 25 million subscribers, and is based out of Philadelphia, PA. The current CEO is Brian Roberts, who is the son of Ralph J. Roberts who was one of the co-founders of Comcast.

Comcast has a huge presence of course in cable TV, and in recent years has taken that advantage and extended it out to the high speed internet field. Estimates place the Comcast high speed internet penetration at about 50% of their subscriber base, meaning they probably have 12 million plus cable modem connections. Combine that with phone service and Comcast is a formidable competitor to DIRECTV with their triple play packages of voice, video and internet.

While many certainly look for a package deal when moving into a new house or apartment, is Comcast your best choice when hooking up telephone, cable TV, and internet service? They may be, but customers should certainly have their eyes open to what the real cost of Comcast service is when compared to DIRECTV. Often you can get a good deal on the Comcast triple play bundle for the first three or six months. Sometimes Comcast deals are extended through the first year of service. Often these offers include all three services for $99 dollars a month, but they may be the lower level services, like basic cable and the slowest of the various high speed internet packages.  Similarly, there are DIRECTV deals for new customers which discount the price for one year before it goes up to the regular price during year two.

While getting all three services from one company may seem like a good thing, some Comcast customers have experienced poor service. Often when a company is trying to specialize in several different services, the quality of service can suffer as they are trying to be all things to all people. DIRECTV has an advantage in that they have received higher customer satisfaction ratings, and they concentrate on delivering one service, satellite television. On the other hand, Comcast has to focus on not only their cable TV business, but also the high speed internet and the digital phone services that are offered.

What about price? That is often the main consideration when shoppers compare DIRECTV to Comcast. Cable TV prices can vary based on the area you live in, as Comcast sets different prices for each franchise. For example, the prices pulled off of the Comcast website for the Denver, Colorado area are listed here. This should give you a general idea of what “normal” Comcast pricing will look like.  For more information, please read our review of Comcast cable.

Starter Cable is priced at $53.39 per month and of course includes a wide variety of well known cable networks with sports, music, news, and kids’ programming. Local channels are included as is digital converter box, remote control, On-screen guide, and Digital Music channels. The following Comcast packages include everything in the Starter Cable package, of course adding more channels for the prices you see.

Digital Preferred with ON DEMAND is the next package priced from $68.34.

Preferred Plus with ON DEMAND is $100.99

Digital Premier with ON DEMAND Includes 5 premium movie networks and is $119.99. This it the all inclusive package, comparable with the DIRECTV Premier Package.

Now if you have cable, internet packages can be added, here are the prices for these services with Comcast.

High speed internet is $54.95 for Internet only or $52.95 for Voice Customers and $42.95 for Cable TV customers. As you can see, normal pricing with Comcast TV and internet service easily exceeds $100 per month. This is why many have gone with DIRECTV for their video service, then added phone and internet service through the local telephone company, like Verizon or Qwest.

DIRECTV pricing starts at $29.99 for the Family package, which is a very basic cable setup. A better comparison to the Comcast Starter cable would be the DIRECTV Choice package. That package includes over 150 video and audio channels and is $34.99 for the first year of service.

Beyond that DIRECTV packages such as the Choice Xtra and the Premier packages compare favorably to the Digital Preferred and Digital Premier packages price-wise. Normal pricing, looking beyond the promotional periods have Comcast charging about $20 more per month.

Be sure when getting a price quote from Comcast or DIRECTV to let them know exactly how many TV’s you are connecting, and whether DVR service is something you need. Both companies charge fees for extra DVR’s and receivers for the other television sets in your home.

Now another area where Comcast and DIRECTV are battling it out is in HD, or high definition programming. Over the last year or two, Comcast HD vs DIRECTV HD has been a very public and somewhat messy battle. Charges, claims, accusations, and even a court case have resulted from Comcast and DIRECTV each claiming they have the most HD.

Why so many frayed nerves between Comcast and DIRECTV? Well everybody is of course upgrading their home entertainment system, and HDTV’s are what people are buying. Whether flat-screen plasma or LCD TV’s, they want HD content on that new TV, and they are willing to switch from Comcast to DIRECTV or vice versa if they think the other has the most HD content. Other television providers like DISH Network, Verizon FiOS, and AT&T U-verse are just as adamant that they have the “most” HD.

So where does that leave the consumer? It can be difficult to find the truth when companies are spending millions of dollars claiming they are the best when it comes to HD. For example, earlier this year, Comcast announced a new HD initiative called Project Infinity. The network enhancement announced that Comcast customers would eventually have “1000 HD Choices.” So what exactly is an HD choice, and how does it differentiate from an HD channel?

According to Comcast, if a customer uses the on-demand service provided, they have hundreds of shows they can watch at any given time. Many of those choices are HD shows available from the different cable TV networks. Comcast recently said they had reached the “500 Choices” plateau. So if there are 450 shows available via on-demand, and there are 50 live HD channels available to a subscriber, that totals “500 HD choices.” Math like this allows Comcast to claim they have the most HD, and air commercials saying that they are. The problem with this is that many of those on-demand choices may be duplicates of the same show. For example, there may be 10 different episodes of Mythbusters available through the on demand platform, but that doesn’t do much for the subscriber who is looking for variety in the HD provided by Comcast.

Now that is not to say DIRECTV runs a completely honest campaign in the HD numbers they claim. DIRECTV now offers 130+ HD channels, bumping that number up from around 100 a few months ago. So to most customers that sounds great, 130 high definition channels. Many of those channels though are very rarely used by the customer. DIRECTV counts 20+ of their pay-per-view channels as HD, even though most customers may order one or two PPV movies in a months time. There are also dozens of regional sports networks now broadcast in HD, but those are only available to customers who have the Sports Pack or the DIRECTV Premier package.

Another consideration when comparing Comcast HD and DIRECTV HD is where you live. Now no matter where you live in the United States, you will have access to all of the HD channels offered by DIRECTV. That is because when they introduce national HD channels, they are rolled out to all of their subscribers at once. With Comcast it is much different. Comcast has to have the network bandwidth available in order to deliver the HD channels to each home they serve. That means highly populated areas usually get a lot more HD than areas that have fewer subscribers. Unfortunately every area is different, so in order to find out how many HD channels you can get through Comcast, you have to call them directly and have them look up your particular area. Make sure you ask how many channels, not choices they offer through Project Infinity.

Finally, because of the above referenced bandwidth problem, some Comcast customers have experienced poor HD signal quality. Why? In order to keep pace in the HD channel battle, Comcast has compressed some channels in some areas. By doing this, Comcast can deliver more HD channels through the same delivery mechanism. Unfortunately for subscribers, this often results in a “crunched” or “squashed” picture coming through that new HDTV you just bought. Not Good.

The only way to see if this is being done where you live is to check with a friend who already has Comcast HD, or sign up and see for yourself.

Bottom line comparing the HD available from Comcast and DIRECTV: DIRECTV comes out ahead unless you love on-demand programming. If that is your preference, Comcast is the best choice.

How do DIRECTV and Comcast compare when it comes to sports programming? This is one area where a definite edge goes to the satellite TV provider. DIRECTV offers several premiums sports packages such as the NASCAR Hotpass and the NFL Sunday Ticket. Other packages like NHL Center Ice and the MLB Extra Innings packages are available through both Comcast and DIRECTV. Of course all of these sports packages cost extra, but DIRECTV is the way to go as far as having the widest variety.

Finally, customer service is a final consideration when comparing Comcast vs DIRECTV. How do the companies stack up in this area? While it would be difficult to describe the service level at any pay television company as excellent, DIRECTV currently ranks as the best of the bunch. One recent survey placed DIRECTV first among cable and satellite TV companies, while Comcast brought up the rear.

While problems and unhappy customers can result with either company, as a whole DIRECTV beats Comcast in the customer service department.

Satellite TV companies like DISH Network and DIRECTV have gained millions of subscribers over the past 15 years, in most cases at the expense of cable TV corporations. But new technology has been deployed, allowing telecom players like AT&T and Verizon the ability to enter into this competition. AT&T has been deploying their U-Verse service, but Verizon has been even more aggressive with their FiOS TV. In fact, Verizon now has over 1 million FiOS TV customers.

So with this option now available to many in the Verizon service area, the question begs:

Which service should you go with, DIRECTV or Verizon FiOS?

While comparing technology and prices can be difficult, Verizon has put forward a fairly straightforward pricing strategy, making the comparison a little easier.

Verizon FiOS keeps it pretty simple as far as base pricing. Their website promotes just one package, the FiOS TV Premier package for $47.99 a month. This package includes over 200 all digital channels, including all of the popular networks such as ESPN, TNT, USA, MTV, Discovery, CNN and others. Local channels such as ABC, NBC, and CBS are also in this package.

Verizon also offers a Spanish language package titled La Conexión, for $37.99 per month. This package competes with the Direct TV Mas packages available via satellite dish. La Conexión offers nearly 140 channels including 25 Spanish and 35 English channels. The rest of the programming is made up of digital audio including 47 Music Choice and 48 Urge Radio channels.

Where Verizon FiOS makes their money is in their add-ons. Check out the following charges that can really nickel and dime the customer:

HBO & Movies $25.00/month

Cinemax $11.99/month

Sports $7.99/month. Includes over a dozen different sports channels, Features Fox College Sports, Outdoor Channel, GolTV, The Golf Channel and more

Standard Definition Set Top Box $5.99/month

High Definition Set Top Box $9.99/month

Digital Video Recorder (DVR) $15.99/month

Home Media DVR $19.99/month

HBO & Cinemax $21.99/month for both

HBO $15.99/month

Movies $14.99/month Includes Starz, Showtime, Encore, TMC, Flix and Sundance

From this list, you can see how your Verizon FiOS TV bill could easily exceed $100 per month based on having a couple of HDTV’s and a movie package added to your account. One nice feature is the Verizon FiOS Home Media DVR, which allows all of the TV’s hooked into FiOS service the ability to access the content on the main DVR. DIRECTV does not offer anything like this currently.

What about promotions with Verizon FiOS? As with any cable TV provider, there are always deals out there to try to lure the customer in the door. Verizon FiOS deals are no different, and they have a couple of options right now for the customer.

Current Verizon FiOS promotions include the first month service free and free activation. Verizon is also offering free DVR service for the first 12 months and HBO and Cinemax free for 30 days. Check with Verizon directly to find out the exact terms and conditions.

With DIRECTV you also get free activation and free installation. Depending on the package you select, you will get DVR service included, and there is usually a movie package available free for 3 months or so. DIRECTV does not offer a free month of service to begin, but is currently offering an $18 bill credit for the first 12 months of service, resulting in a $216 savings. To keep all of your options available, you also may want to compare Verizon Fios vs Dish Network to see if the other satellite provider may be best for you.

As far as monthly fees go, with DIRECTV there are several programming package options available, starting from $29.99 per month for the DIRECTV Family package, and going all the way up to the all-inclusive Premier package, which runs in the area of $105 per month.

One thing that Verizon FiOS does offer that you can’t usually find with regular cable TV companies like Comcast and Time Warner is international programming. FiOS bills these channels individually, so there aren’t any bundles packages of international channels. Here are the channels and pricing for international with Verizon FiOS:

SBTN$ 14.99

China Central Television FREE

CTI Zhong Tian Channel $11.99

TV JAPAN $25.00

MBC $12.99

TV Polonia $17.99

The Filipino Channel $11.99

TV Asia $14.99

ART $12.99

RAI $9.99

TV5$9.99

Rang A Rang $14.99

RTN $14.99

Channel One Russia $14.99

DIRECTV offers several different bundles that include international programming, from the DIRECTV Chinese packages to the DIRECTV Mas Spanish language offering. These packages include several channels in the represented language, and can be bought either as stand alone package or as add-on bundles to the base DIRECTV packages.

One area to consider when comparing Verizon FiOS and DIRECTV is HD. Hi definition programming has become more important as homeowners look to hook up their new flat screen and plasma TV’s with the latest technology. DIRECTV currently claims to have 130 HD channels, though most of the recent additions to their HD lineup were pay-per-view channels. Verizon FiOS HD lineup is very competitive with DIRECTV, which is something that can’t be said for other cable TV providers. The fiber optic element of the Verizon FiOS network provides enough bandwidth to deliver the HD content customers want.

That being said, Verizon Fios is behind DIRECTV in most areas as far as the number of HD channels available. In the New York area, FiOS is competitive, but in many other areas, FiOS has not yet added HD channels. Check with Verizon directly to find out how many and what HD channels are available in your particular area.

While most are familiar with satellite TV services like DIRECTV, getting cable TV through your telephone company is a different animal. How does Verizon provide its FiOS TV service?

In order to provide FiOS TV, Verizon has to upgrade an area to fiber optic lines. This deployment is extremely costly and time consuming, remember, every line to every home, apartment, and business has to be switched out to fiber optics. In fact, according to Fortune, the cost for Verizon to do this across half of its network will be an estimated $23 billion dollars.

Once the lines are in place, Verizon can offer the customer voice, video, and high-speed internet all through the same line. These so-called triple play bundles are the holy grail of communications, at least in the eyes of the companies selling such bundles. Verizon gets not only a hefty payday each month from customers subscribing to these packages; they also have a loyal customer who is tied in with multiple services through one provider. This is why Verizon can afford to spend so much money, because they expect to make it back!

Now if you are currently in the Verizon area, you may or may not be able to get FiOS TV. It all depends on if Verizon has upgraded your area with FiOS technology. But if you have a clear unobstructed view of the southern sky, you definitely can get DIRECTV.  So first check if you even have a choice of the two services.

Many parts of the country now have an additional choice when considering their cable TV options. These additional options are coming from the former Bell companies, AT&T and Verizon, as they now offer U-Verse and FiOS service, video services delivered over fiber and copper lines to each home. AT&T is ramping up their U-Verse service, aiming for a million customers by the end of 2008.

So how does AT&T’s U-verse service stack up with a satellite service like DIRECTV?

As with anything, there are several considerations, and it can be difficult to make an across the board comparison, but here are some facts and figures to consider when comparing U-verse to DIRECTV.

First, let’s consider a few of the U-Verse highlights.

U-Verse is a new initiative by AT&T to provide video services to residential customers via their existing network. In most areas, the actual service is delivered by VDSL technology, meaning it is not fiber to the home, (FTTH or FTTP), but is sent to a “node” in the neighborhood, then delivered by your existing copper line to your house.

The service is 100% digital, as is satellite service through DIRECTV. But since it is delivered by hard line, you can expect a little more reliability overall. While satellite TV has made vast improvements in delivering signal, it still goes out occasionally during intense weather.

AT&T U-verse service is available in four different programming package levels. They are the U100, U200, U300, and U400 packages. While DIRECTV offers television programming and that’s it, AT&T has bundle packages, which combine the cable TV product with your choice of U-verse internet and/or a Uverse home phone line. So while the prices quoted here for AT&T U-Verse service may seem a bit high, remember if you combine them with other  services, you will obviously get some sort of U-verse bundle discount. Every area can be different, so you will have to contact AT&T directly to get a quote on U-verse and other services combined.

First off, AT&T U-verse TVservice currently includes the following when you start up. Professional installation is included of course, and also one month free TV service.  Another promotion to consider it their $200 cash back deal. While the details seem long winded and extensive on this program, you basically have to sign up for U-verse and their high speed internet, fill out all the forms, and wait for your check in the mail. Check with AT&T for the exact details.

UVerse service currently has the following pricing tiers:

U100 – $69 for TV and high-speed internet, $44 for TV only. This package is the only AT&T package that does not include a HD receiver with a DVR. Package includes up to 100 channels and Video on Demand.

U200 – $84 for TV and internet, $59 for TV only. The U200 includes “up to 200 channels,” digital music channels, VOD, but no movie channels

U300 – $104 for combination TV and high speed internet, $79 for TV only. Package includes “up to 260 channels,” HD receiver, DVR, music channels, and Movie Package which has 30 premium channels of Starz, Showtime, Encore, and the Movie Channel.

U400 – $124 for combination, $99 for U-verse television only. This package includes up to 320 channels. Everything in the U300 plus all of the HBO and Cinemax channels, as well as extra regional sports networks are included here. This is the all-inclusive, all you can eat buffet package from AT&T.

As you can see, pricing on AT&T U-Verse is much higher than the promotional pricing you can receive from DIRECTV. Here are the current prices for DIRECTV packages, which reflect a discount of $18 a month for the first year. The only exception on this pricing is the Premier package, which has a discount tied in with the NFL Sunday Ticket package. Even after the first year discount, DIRECTV pricing is still lower than the U-verse pricing on the AT&T website.

How does U-verse from AT&T stack up with DIRECTV in other areas?

High definition programming is something most people are looking for today. HD access on the U-verse service is $10.00, and is $9.99 from DIRECTV. The big difference here is in the number of HD channels available. DIRECTV offers 95 national HD channels, as well as local HD in almost all major markets. AT&T U-verse offers 41 HD channels, and twelve of those are premium movie channels, so obviously quite a difference in this area.

Comparing DVR services is often difficult unless you can use each service for a period of time, then report back on what you like. As far as specifications go for the U-verse Digital Video Recorder, probably the most amazing thing is that it can record up to 4 shows at one time – wait, who needs to record 4 shows at the same time. Anyhow, it is there if you need it. One frustrating aspect of U-Verse is that there is a one DVR per household policy, and additional receivers cost $5 for the other TV’s in the house. With DIRECTV, you have the same fee for each additional receiver, but you can pay just $1 extra per month and get DVR service on every receiver as well.

As far as capacity, the U-verse DVR can hold up to 133 hours of SD programming, and 37 hours of HD programming, while the Direct TV DVR goes 200 and 50 hours respectively. Advantage to DIRECTV as far as DVR capacity goes. Other than that, the DVR’s have similar features such as programming menus, parental locks, and the ability to pause live TV and skip commercials on previously recorded shows.

Installation of U-verse and DIRECTV is one of those things that can go either way. Everyone has their horror story and wants to share it with the world, so individual experiences will of course vary. UVerse is in its infancy, so there is a learning curve going on in many areas, and AT&T has brought on board quite a few technicians in order to meet demand for U-verse. The AT&T website says installation will generally take 4-6 hours, and recommends setting a morning appointment. This of course would also include setting up your high speed internet connection as well.

In general, DIRECTV installations take between 2-3 hours. Work is often done by contractors, who are paid by the job, so they may work a little faster that the phone company. Expect to spend at least a half a day at home, whether you have either company hooking up your service.

AT&T currently has a resale agreement with DISH Network. If you call in to order U-verse and it is not currently available in your area, they will offer you DISH Network service, so if you want DIRECTV, you will have to order it separately from AT&T. This may change in 2009, as AT&T is evaluating who they will partner with in the future.

Finally, picture quality is the last item we will consider. This is no doubt highest on the list of those who have HD television sets, and the question they want answered first.

Who has the better picture? While wholly unscientific, browsing through the reviews you can find through a Google search can give you a general idea of what people think.   Most report that DIRECTV still offers better HD picture quality than AT&T U-Verse.

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.

Somewhat lost among the salvos being launched between DIRECTV and DISH Network this week was a significant expansion announces in the local HD market. DIRECTV announced that they would be adding 44 additional television markets to their local HD lineup.

DIRECTV will be able to add the new market with the increased capacity that will soon be available on their new satellite. Their recently launched DIRECTV 11 satellite will soon be fully operational, allowing them the capacity for up to 150 National HD channels as well as additional local HD programming. Their next satellite, DIRECTV 12 is scheduled to launch in early 2009, expanding capacity up to 200 national high definition channels and up to 1,500 local HD and digital channels.

Here is the list released by DIRECTV on the markets expected to have local HD programming in the months ahead. We will update this site as the actual HD programming begins.

Augusta, Georgia

Harrisonburg, VA

Bangor, Maine

La Crosse-Eau Claire, Wisconsin

Baton Rouge, LA

Little Rock-Pine Bluff, AR

Beaumont-Port Arthur, TX

Lincoln-Hastings, Nebraska

Boise, ID

Macon, GA

Burlington, Vt.-Plattsburgh, New York

Mobile AL-Pensacola, FL

Butte-Bozeman, Montana

Myrtle Beach-Florence, S.C.

Champaign-Springfield-Decatur, Illinios

Norfolk-Newport News, Virginai

Charleston, S.C.

Palm Springs, California

Chattanooga, Tennessee

Peoria-Bloomington, Illinois

Colorado Springs-Pueblo, Colorado

Richmond-Petersburg, Virginia

Columbia-Jefferson City, Missouri

Rockford, Illinois

Davenport, Iowa-Rock Island, Ill., Moline, Ill.

Rochester, N.Y.

Dayton, Ohio

Savannah, Georgia

Des Moines-Ames, Iowa

Sioux Falls, S.D.

Dothan, Alabama

South Bend-Elkhart, Indiana

El Paso, Texas

Springfield-Holyoke, Mass

Evansville, Indiana

Syracuse, N.Y.

Fort Smith, Arkansas

Tallahassee, Florida

Fort Wayne, Indiana

Toledo, Ohio

Greenville-New Bern-Washington, N.C.

Traverse City-Cadillac, Mich.

Harlingen-Brownsville, Texas

Youngstown, Ohio

With the expansion listed above, DIRECTV will have a local HD reach in 121 markets representing 88 percent of US television household.  There is a $9.99 HD access fee per month to receive DIRECTV HD, and other equipment requirements apply as well.