| Anyone who's paid attention to the rise of satellite | | | | in every programming package, while Dish |
| TV over the past decade and a half knows that | | | | Network offers them as optional channels. There |
| Directv and Dish Network are strong companies, | | | | are numerous advantages to getting local channels |
| but considering all of the similarities between the | | | | over a satellite TV signal rather than over the air. |
| two, it can be extremely difficult to decide which | | | | For example, all of the channels will come in with |
| one to get a subscription from. After all, both | | | | the incredible clarity of picture and sound that are |
| companies offer many of the same channels, | | | | hallmarks of digital TV and impossible with analog |
| they both offer programming packages of similar | | | | TV. A satellite transmission also makes it possible |
| sizes, and both have the same great technologies | | | | to get local channels in areas where it's impossible |
| like digital TV and digital video recording (DVR). | | | | to receive over the air transmissions of the same |
| When you dig a little bit deeper into the | | | | channels- no matter how big the antenna is. While |
| information about the two companies though, you | | | | having local channels as part of your satellite TV |
| see that there are some pretty substantial | | | | package is convenient in many ways, it's also nice |
| differences between what they offer. Perhaps | | | | to have the option of saving a little bit of money |
| the biggest difference is the fact that, while they | | | | either by forgoing them completely or setting up |
| both offer High Definition TV channels, Dish | | | | an antenna to get them over the air if you live |
| Network offers a lot more of them. In many | | | | close enough to the TV station. Therefore, purely |
| ways, satellite TV is the perfect technology for | | | | in terms of flexibility, being able to subscribe to |
| delivering HDTV to a huge number of people. | | | | them separately may be the better choice when |
| That's because satellite technology doesn't have | | | | it comes to how you get local channels. |
| the same kind of bandwidth limitations as cable | | | | Of course there are also differences when it |
| TV technology and it makes programming | | | | comes to which channels are offered in which |
| available over a much larger geographic area than | | | | programming packages. Because of this it may be |
| over the air terrestrial TV broadcasting. Because | | | | possible to get the channels that you want from |
| of these technological advantages, you would | | | | one satellite TV company more cheaply than you |
| think that a satellite TV company would be very | | | | could from the other. For example, if all of the |
| aggressive when it comes to translating them into | | | | channels that you want are in one programming |
| a real advantage over the competition- especially | | | | package from one company, but you'd have to |
| when it comes to delivering a data intensive TV | | | | upgrade to a significantly larger programming |
| format like HDTV. Despite that though, at Direct | | | | package in order to get all of the channels that |
| TV's eleven national HDTV channels, Directv | | | | you want from the second company, you'll |
| Satellite TV still offers less HDTV programming | | | | probably save money by going with the first |
| than many cable TV providers. Dish Network, on | | | | company. This will even be true if the first |
| the other hand offers thirty one national HDTV | | | | company happens to be more expensive overall |
| channels. This definitely speaks well for how well | | | | than the second company. In general though, Dish |
| the company embraces new technology when it | | | | Network programming packages tend to be |
| comes to serving its customers. | | | | smaller and therefore cheaper than the equivalent |
| In addition to differences in how both companies | | | | Direct TV packages. |
| offer High Definition Television, there are also | | | | Either way, you're sure to get great service from |
| many more subtle differences. For example, while | | | | either company. It's time to get rid of Cable TV. |
| both companies offer Locals Package in their | | | | Switch now. |
| programming packages, Direct TV includes them | | | | |