Posts Tagged ‘cable tv’
Comparing Cable TV vs Dish Network
Sunday, February 21st, 2010Cable television deals aren’t hard to find, that is as long as you aren’t already a subscriber to cable TV.
The reason for that is because the cable television company wants to increase their customer base, thus they are willing to offer you a good deal, usually for the first year of service. The cable provider understands if you get service from them, you probably will set up a so-called bundled packages that includes not only cable television, but also home phone and high speed internet service.
You can almost alway get a triple play bundle for around $100 a month for the first year. Consider the following example with cable company pricing: Basic TV costs $55 a month, high speed internet is $45 per month, and phone service is $30 a month. With prices like this, your overall bill would be $140 per month plus all of the taxes and charges that are tacked on to the cable bill.
But what kind of issues can this lead to? Well consider what the bill will look like once the promo is over. Then you will have all of your TV’s hooked up to cable TV, your high speed internet including your e-mail account through the cable company, and of course your home line through the cable company as well. But suddenly the price goes up almost 40%, from around $100 every month to $145+ each month. Its not alway easy to switch out of your provider?
Maybe, maybe not. The best thing to do ahead of time is compare providers before making your final decision.One would be wise to comparison shop Dish Americas 120 vs cable before making a hasty decision.
While you might say to yourself it is easy to switch to some kind of DirecTV deal or something else from your local phone company like Verizon FiOS. As they say though, easier said than done. Often the time and inconvenience of switching providers makes the customer yield to whatever service they have. Even though the monthly bill is high, the customer stays because they have all the services on the same bill from the same provider. That is what the cable company counts on when offering short term deals to acquire the subscriber.
Getting HD with AT&T U-verse
Monday, January 25th, 2010These days people are looking to maximize their entertainment dollar. Increasing gas prices, a slowing economy, and higher food prices are putting the squeeze on citizens. Fortunately, one of the great buys in entertainment is your cable or satellite television service.
If you stop and think about it, you can get a bundle including over 100 channels including premium movie channels like HBO and Starz for about $100 dollars a month. That is less than you usually will drop for dinner and a movie. The latest and greatest in the pay TV market is HD, or high definition programming. What should you consider when hooking up that new Hi-def TV you just purchased?
Remember that your basic cable television or satellite TV service is not in HD. You must specifically buy a programming package that features this type of programming. So where do you begin?
Call your current provider and find out exactly what they offer as far as HD service. Satellite television companies DISH Network and DirecTV have been leading the pack as far as offering the most high definition when you examine channel counts. Cable television providers like Cox also have some nice offerings, such as HD on-demand. Ask exactly how much upgrading to hi-def will be, and if you need additional equipment.
If what they are offering is not what you need, do a little comparison shopping. The newest offerings include an all hi-def package from DISH Network called TurboHD. Direct TV sells HD service for only $9.99 a month. Charges per month are different with cable television companies across America, so you will have to call your cable operator to see what the cost will be for high definition.
Another factor to consider is that most telecom companies now provide television service. AT&T now provides their U-verse TV service in some areas they cover along with telephone and internet. Verizon is also selling television service, providing their fiber to the home service FiOS in some neighborhoods. It is advisable that you compare services side-by-side, such as Direct TV versus AT&T Uverse. All of this is a great benefit to the consumer, as more competition encourages lower costs in the end.
FAQ’s on U-Verse Service
Friday, January 8th, 2010A third choice is now available in many parts of the United States when it comes to cable television. While in the past you either had to go with whatever local cable company was in the area, or one of the satellite providers, now you may be able to get U-verse services in your neighborhood.Let’s look at a few of the FAQ’s on AT&T U-verse.
Does U-verse use a satellite dish?
No. AT&T is deploying fiber to the node, or FTTN technology to most of the major areas it serves. This fiber is deployed to a large serving terminal in each area, then the existing copper lines deliver the signal the rest of the way to your home. No satellite dish is needed, only the necessary receiving equipment is needed inside. So U-verse is actually more like cable than satellite TV.
What kind of deals is AT&T offering with Uverse service?
These of course change from time to time.Current offers generally match what cable TV companies offer for triple play bundles of voice, video and internet. Generally, you can get all of these services for about 0 a month for the first six months. Sometimes the promotional price can go for as long as a year, but check with AT&T for the current offer.
How quick is the AT&T U-verse download speed?
There are several different levels of service to pick from. The slowest level of service is the U-verse Express, which is 1.5 Mbps, and the highest is the Max18 service, which tops out at 18 Mbps, great for video conferencing or downloading movies.
What are some of the features of the U-verse home phone offer?
The AT&T Voice unlimited plans include all of the local and long distance calling. Other features include voice mail, call forwarding and call waiting ID so you won’t ever miss an important call. So if AT&T is your local phone company, a quick internet search or phone call can alert you to the availability of U-verse. If it is not yet available, you can still bundle your video service with AT&T with one of their Direct TV deals.
FAQ’s on AT&T U-Verse Service
Friday, January 8th, 2010A third option is now available in many parts of the country when it comes to cable TV. While in the past you either had to go with whatever local cable company was in the area, or one of the satellite companies, now you may be able to get U-verse TV services in your neighborhood. Let’s look at a few of the frequently asked questions about U-verse.
Does AT&T U-verse require a satellite dish to be installed?
No. AT&T is deploying fiber to the node, or FTTN technology to most of the major areas it serves. This fiber is deployed to a large serving terminal in each area, then the existing copper lines deliver the signal the rest of the way to your home. No satellite dish is needed, only the necessary receiving equipment is needed inside. So U-verse is actually more like cable TV than satellite.
What kind of discounts is AT&T offering with Uverse service?
These of course switched from time to time. Current offers generally match what cable TV companies offer for triple play bundles of voice, video and high speed internet. Usually, you can get all of these services for about 0 a month for the first year. Sometimes the promotional price can go for as long as a year, but check with AT&T for the current offer.
How quick is the U-verse internet speed?
There are several different levels of service. The slowest level of service is the U-verse Express, which is 1.5 Mbps, and the highest is the Max18 service, which tops out at 18 Mbps, great for downloading movies.
What are some of the features of the digital home phone service?
The AT&T Voice unlimited plans include all of the local and long distance calling. Other features include voice mail, call forwarding and call waiting ID so you won’t ever miss an important call. So if AT&T is your local phone company, a quick internet search or phone call can alert you to the availability of U-verse. If it is not yet available, you can still bundle your video service with AT&T with one of their Direct TV deals.
Current Dish Network Deals
Wednesday, November 18th, 2009In today’s economy, pay television subscribers are looking for any way possible to stretch their dollar. One area you may want to consider is your cable television bill, as rates continue to rise in this industry. One choice to look at is satellite television service, specifically either DIRECTV or Dish Network and the options they offer today.
Dish Network is the second largest satellite TV company, with nearly 14 million subscribers. Because of the heated competition in the pay television market, Dish Network offers great deals to new customers, in the hopes that they will become a long-time subscriber.
So where can you go to find the best satellite television deals? The world wide web of course is a great place to begin researching satellite TV promotions. Right now, Dish Network is offering a special offer which can get you started with satellite television for just 9.99 per month. Of course the customer should be aware that this is a promotional price on the Classic 100 bundle, which is normally priced at 34.99 per month. In addition, local channels are not included in this price, so expect to pay an additional $5 or so for local programming.
What if you are in the market for an all-inclusive satellite TV package? The item that would fit the bill in this case would be the America’s Everything Pak, which is offered at a promotional price of $72.98 for six months, and $97.98 per month after that. Included here is every cable television channel you can think of , including 31 commercial free premium movie channels like HBO. Another great option is the Dish Network Classic 200, offered at around $50 per month, with a $25 discount for the first six months of service.
Another great thing about satellite television is that most of the equipment is provided at no charge. From the satellite dish to the HD DVR, Dish Network will set you up. Generally, you will only incur upfront costs if you desire to have multiple DVR units. In addition, the satellite TV installation process is a snap, offering free installation in up to four rooms in your home.
Why not check out the Dishnetwork TV deals available and compare them with what you currently pay for cable TV. Odds are you will be surprised at how much cheaper satellite TV costs.
Cable TV Versus Dish Network
Wednesday, September 30th, 2009Cable TV deals are easy to find, that is as long as you aren’t already a subscriber to Comcast or Time Warner.
The reason for this is because the cable television company wants to increase their customer base, thus they are willing to give you a good deal, generally for the first six months of your cable service. The cable provider understands if you sign up with them, you probably will set up a with one of their triple play bundle that puts all of your services together like voice, video and internet.
You can usually get a triple play bundle for just $99 per month for the first year. Consider the following example with cable company pricing: Basic TV costs $55 a month, high speed internet is $45 per month, and phone service is $30 a month. Assuming these prices, your overall bill would be $140 per month before taxes and fees that always seem to find their way onto your cable bill.
But it is good to consider how this could turn out down the road Well think about where you will be once the promo is over. You will have all of your television sets hooked up to cable TV, your high speed internet with your e-mail account with the cable company, and of course your home line through the cable company as well. But suddenly the price goes up nearly 45%, from about $100 per month to $145+ per month. Its not alway easy to switch out of your provider?
Maybe, maybe not. The best thing to do ahead of time is compare companies before making your final decision.One would be wise to comparison shop cable TV vs Dish Network before making a hasty decision.
While you might logically say it is easy to switch to some kind of deal from DirecTV or something else from your local phone company like FiOS from Verizon. But that is easier said than done. Usually the time and inconvenience of switching from cable to a different provider makes the customer stay with whatever service they have. Even though the monthly bill is high, the subscriber stays with the company because they have all the services on the same bill from the same provider. That is what the cable television company counts on when giving the subscriber a good short term deal.
Choosing Comcast or DIRECTV
Monday, June 22nd, 2009Ever since the invention of the television, it has been the top media outlet in society today. In the United States alone, there are millions of people who rely on television for both information from news and entertainment from daily scheduled programming. Today, a popular method of television broadcasting is done via cable television.
Cable television or CATV was commonly used in mountainous regions where broadcast signals are weak, so they used coaxial cables to broadcast television programming. Today, it is a common television service and in the United States there are a lot of cable providers to choose from. Unfortunately though in most areas, you will just have one cable TV company serving your area, so if you want something different, you will have to go with satellite TV. This is not always a bad thing, its a good idea to line up the companies side by side, comparing Comcast or Direct TV.
The biggest cable company in the United States is Comcast, it is by far the company with the most subscribers. It also offers high speed internet service and is currently in second place and fourth place in providing telephone service. However, they have a reputation for having some of the worst customer service among any company or government agency in the United States. Next is Cox cable, which is owned by Cox enterprises. They have nearly 6 million customers to their cable service, internet and home phone service. They are currently the third biggest cable company in the country. The third largest in terms of revenue is Charter Cable TV company. In terms of revenue, they are behind only from Time Warner and Comcast. Then we have Bright House cable which is the sixth largest cable company. Most of these companies now also offer local and long distance phone service.
Many are satisfied with the Comcast basic cable packages, however if these do not catch your fancy you can also turn to satellite TV companies like Dish Network who also provides high definition or HD service for those who want it. The only problem being it is sometimes difficult to get satellite TV in your condo
DIRECTV Offers More Than Cable
Friday, June 5th, 2009I’ve been wanting to get away from Comcast for quite a while. The problem is they give you a good deal with their bundles that include telepone, hi speed internet, and cable television service. When you try to remove one, you lose the discounts of the package.
But the cable TV service just has to go, as the channel selection and quality is well below par. There is so much talk today about hi def, there isn’t much choice with Charter cable television. So I started doing a little research on who else was providing service in my neck of the woods.
I am fortunate to be one of the individuals who have been given a few choices. Unlike a few folks who can only pick from just the cable company or Direct TV satellite service, I have a third option in my area. The phone company in this neighborhood has been enhancing their network. So there is an additional consideration with AT&T and their U-Verse service.
That doesn’t mean of course I won’t have similar issues. It would place me in the same boat as with the cable TV company, as the telephone guys want customers to bundle their television service with high speed and voice service. If the deal works out well, customers will be pleased. Then again if the service is poor you’re in the same situation that we all hate, being stuck with cable TV that isn’t all that great.
Some reviews I found on the internet are pretty good on telecom TV service. Because it is new, there is sometimes a risk with a new technology like this, and some people write poor reviews. Those reviews are the quite amusing, simply for the reason people make the decision to write a dissertation on their bad experience and post it on the world wide web. They badmouth the company like it is some huge conspiracy to screw the customer, like the corporation does not want to make money!
Another option I am looking into is of course satellite television. Because we have four television viewers in our house, we usually buy a high end TV bundle. The satellite companies seem to be pretty even, as the Directv Premier Package and the America’s Everything Pack from DISH Network are both right around $105 per month. Sure that’s fairly pricey for cable TV, but when you compare that to taking your family to supper and a show, the entertainment value is comparable. Some of my family speak Spanish, so the DIRECTV Mas bundle looks like a winner. The good thing is that there are lots of Direct TV opinions to help me decide which direction to take.
Five Reasons to Switch to Direct TV Satellite
Sunday, May 31st, 2009100% Hi Definition Service.
If you’re a cable TV subscriber, your service provider most likely carries around 20 to 50 channels in HD. But if you have access to satellite television, chances are you’re enjoying up to 100 channels that have nice crisp pictures and flawless reception.
Currently, not even the biggest cable companies such as Comcast, Time Warner, Brighthouse, Cox Cable and Charter Cable can compare to DirecTV’s 130+ channels you can watch on HD. By the end of the year, DirecTV projects satellite TV subscribers will be watching 100 to 150 channels on HD. Put that HDTV to good use and maximize your viewing experience through satellite television!
View More, Pay Less.
The pro-con list could go on and satellite would still emerge superior to its cable counterpart. However, it all boils down to this: You get to see more for a price that won’t burn a hole in your wallet. With satellite, you get more features, more movies, more music, more cartoons, more sports, more HD! You’ll receive more of almost everything each month. Great sports programming like the NBA League Pass package are also available for an extra fee. What more could you ask for?
Free Installation.
Most cable providers charge you up to $100 for sending out a technician to gear up your television sets. Satellite TV providers Dish Network and DirecTV offer free installation and setup in order to make things easy. You no longer have to worry about reading the fine print or fees that cable companies (over)charge one time or monthly.
Multi-media Experience.
Radio on Your TV?! The limits of media are once again broken, but in a good way for the subscriber. Subscription to Dish Network gives you access to Sirius Satellite Radio to listen to the best music all day long once you’re tired of watching television.
Family Friendly Packages.
With your current cable subscription you get basic packages with channels picked for you. However, satellite TV services from Dish Network and DirecTV program packages that will cater to all members of the family. Everyone should be able to enjoy viewing without worrying what they young ones are seeing. These satellite packages ensure that children access age-appropriate as well as educational shows.
Comparing your local cable company, such as Direct TV vs Comcast might save you some money. Switch now to a great Direct TV deal if you don’t want to regret missing out on anything.
Direct TV Considerations
Monday, May 4th, 2009
In the early 1990s, satellite television was first introduced to the market. It was understandable that only a number of people actually went out of their way to get their hands on a satellite dish. After all, the dish was a lot more expensive just as its size was considered impossible and inconvenient.
At the time, people also used it to have access to networks from different countries or channels that were not meant for mass audiences. The interesting thing though, people did not automaticallyget these channels. They had to look for those signals that is usually by chance alone.
This is not the case these days. If you want a particular channel, all you have to do is subscribe to a direct broadcast satellite provider or DBS provider. A DBS provider, such as Directv and Dish Network, is the one who chooses the channels from the programming sources and brings it to your television sets. Simply sign up, an installer comes out and puts up a satellite dish for you and connects it to all of your television sets inside the home. In most cases, new subscribers can have as many as four different rooms set up to receive satellite TV signals. This is quite an advantage when lining up Direct TV to cable TV.
Satellite TV is not only limited to the number of channels you can have. There is also a satellite HD that feeds apt programs for your hi definition television set. HDTV has a bigger resolution that gives way to maximum viewing pleasure. These shows also comes with surround sound that pretty much takes the cake for television and home theatre enthusiasts alike. Best of all, there are so many DIRECTV deals out there today.
The enjoyment it brings take another turn with the arrival of the technology of a DVR. A DVR is a recording device meant for television shows. This technological marvel gives full control over live television that fanatics no longer have to fret about missing their favorite shows. Truly a great way catch up on what you might miss on DirecTV.
Direct TV vs Time Warner Cable
Wednesday, April 22nd, 2009Today customers of satellite and cable TV have literally hundreds of games they can pick from every month. Pay per view sports packages like ESPN Gameplan give the subscriber access to nearly 20 college football games every weekend. Even the NCAA Men’s tournament has expanded coverage with the Mega March Madness package on Direct TV.
The motto today is “Content is King” and as the saying goes the sports networks of course want to bring as much content as possible to the end user so they can sell more ads. Quite a few brand new all-sports networks have sprung up over the past couple of years. Some of these include Altitude Sports, which carries Denver Nuggets and the NHL’s Colorado Avalanche games, as well as the Big 10 network and the Mtn, the network of the Mountain West conference.
Certainly these new channels are great for fans in certain areas, disagreements between the providers of content and those who deliver the content have brought trouble at times to the customer. Consider what happened last year, the Big Ten Network began broadcasting in 2007, but they were unable to strike a deal with cable TV provider Time Warner. Customers of Time Warner in the midwest were not able to see some of the local teams play due to this dispute. Finally however, the companies involved came to an agreement before the 2008 season, so subscribers could stay with Time Warner rather than having to switch over to one of the satellite TV companies such as DISH Network or Direct TV. An important thing to do when considering providers is to consider all factors, comparing DIRECTV against Time Warner.
Specialized sports programming are another thing sports fans should consider. Many cable customers have switched to DirecTV because the NFL Sunday ticket is exlusively on satellite TV. This has upset some pay television customers, who do not understand why a package like this isn’t available to every provider, especially a big company like Time Warner. Alternative packages though are more fan friendly, like the National Hockey League Center Ice and the NBA League Pass, which are available on almost every cable TV and satellite provider. Direct TV seems to have all of the premium sports packages.