| The move is on. Last year millions of Americans | | | | recorder, you'll have to pay an extra fee. |
| switched from cable TV to satellite TV. | | | | With satellite TV you need a satellite TV dish and |
| Why? When you compare satellite TV to cable | | | | TV receivers. Both Dish Network and DirecTV |
| TV you'll discover the main reasons are cost, | | | | offer that equipment, plus installation, for free. |
| picture quality, program choices, and customer | | | | Dish Network will give you a DVR (digital video |
| satisfaction. | | | | recording) receiver or an HDTV receiver at no |
| Let's check out the differences ... | | | | charge, while DirecTV charges $49.99 for DVR |
| Cable vs. Satellite TV Fees | | | | receivers and $299 for HDTV receivers. |
| Cable TV fees across the country average | | | | Cable and Satellite TV Reliability and Customer |
| $39.99 per month. In our area the cost for cable | | | | Satisfaction |
| TV is $37.30 a month for 64 channels, plus $10.95 | | | | Cable TV outages average 3% to 5% per year. |
| a month to add digital channels. Installation in one | | | | J.D. Powers and Associates ranks cable companies |
| room is $39.95, plus $9.95 for each additional | | | | as good to poor in customer satisfaction. |
| room. | | | | Satellite TV outages average about 1%. J.D. |
| Satellite TV fees from Dish Network are $31.99 | | | | Power and Associates has ranked the two |
| per month for 60 channels, while DirecTV charges | | | | satellite TV providers -- Dish Network and |
| $41.99 per month for 115 channels. Both satellite | | | | DirecTV -- higher in customer satisfaction than |
| TV providers currently offer free satellite TV | | | | any of the cable TV companies for the last five |
| equipment and free installation in up to four | | | | years. |
| rooms. | | | | The Bottom Line |
| Cable vs. Satellite TV Programming | | | | If you only watch a couple of shows a week, and |
| Cable TV in most areas offers almost as many | | | | you live in an area where you can't get |
| channels as satellite TV, and is broadcast in analog | | | | over-the-air TV and cable TV costs less than $20 |
| (over-the-air) format. If you want to have digital | | | | per month, then cable may be your best option. |
| picture and sound you'll have to pay an additional | | | | If, on the other hand, you want the biggest |
| fee, usually $10 to $15 a month. | | | | variety of shows, movies, sports, and news for |
| Satellite TV offers more channels than cable TV | | | | the least amount of money ... you want to watch |
| (more than 250 channels), and more HDTV (high | | | | your all your shows in digital video and sound ... |
| definition TV) programming. All satellite TV | | | | and you want the option of watching them in HD |
| channels are broadcast in digital format for the | | | | format and recording them on a DVR receiver, |
| highest quality picture and sound. | | | | then satellite TV is what you're looking for. |
| Cable vs. Satellite TV Equipment | | | | Click on the following link for more information on |
| With cable you only need cable boxes that | | | | free satellite TV systems and service, or these |
| connect the incoming cable line to your televisions. | | | | links for ordering information, the latest offers, |
| There is usually no charge or rental fees for cable | | | | and free bonuses from DISH Network satellite |
| boxes, however, If you want a digital video | | | | TV or DIRECTV satellite TV. |