| , television is all about choices. There are hundreds | | | | With satellite TV, you will have to buy equipment. |
| of channels from which a person can choose, | | | | This includes a satellite dish, and one or more |
| many of them geared toward specific interests | | | | receivers, depending on how many rooms you |
| such as history, sports, news, golf, cooking, and | | | | want to be able to view the satellite channels in. |
| the list goes on. In the infancy of TV, this was | | | | Often, a satellite TV provider will offer freebies, |
| certainly not the case, where there was one, | | | | such as a free dish or free two-room receiver |
| maybe two channels to watch. But now, with the | | | | for signing up, or even free channels for a limited |
| cable TV and satellite provider vying for | | | | time. Before you make a choice, look for sales |
| customers, the options are vast. | | | | and offers just like those. And now, satellite TV |
| Satellite TV comes into your home via | | | | providers might even offer HDTV receivers at no |
| communications satellites up in the atmosphere. | | | | cost as well. The incentives can be quite |
| You are required to have your own smaller | | | | attractive. |
| satellite dish, aimed at the southern sky, and a | | | | You should be aware that there are certain |
| receiver box (much like a cable box) connected to | | | | drawbacks to satellite TV. Although you will find |
| your TV. Satellite TV service first began in the | | | | that your TV picture is often much clearer than |
| early 1980's. These early systems were | | | | with regular cable TV, a satellite TV signal is |
| expensive, and required a rather large satellite | | | | subject to interference in the atmosphere that |
| dish. It wasn't until the 1990's when the systems | | | | can cause an outage of service temporarily. Such |
| became more manageable and affordable, and a | | | | things as bad weather and sunspots will give you |
| popular option to cable TV, which had its own little | | | | nothing but a blank screen. This is not something |
| monopoly going at the time. But that quickly | | | | that can be fixed by a satellite TV provider, |
| began to change. | | | | unfortunately. Another drawback is that you |
| For a moment, it looked like satellite TV had an | | | | might not have access to your local stations, |
| edge over cable TV. But, with the onslaught of | | | | especially if you live in a smaller town or a remote |
| digital cable, companies are neck and neck, and | | | | area. In order to get those, you will then either |
| provide very equivalent services. The type of | | | | have to subscribe to basic cable, or try to get an |
| service you want is up to you. If you decide to | | | | antenna to pick up local TV channels. |
| go with a satellite TV provider, you will have the | | | | Yet another downside to satellite TV is that a |
| option of going with either the DISH Network, or | | | | provider will require you to sign a lengthy |
| DirecTV. Both offer a variety of packages and | | | | agreement, sometimes as much as two years, |
| options (or programming tiers) that you can use | | | | especially if you want to take advantage of the |
| to cater to your television viewing level and | | | | incentives they offer. You can get out of it, but |
| lifestyle. | | | | for a very hefty fee. This differs from cable in |
| When choosing a satellite TV provider, you will | | | | that you can cancel your cable TV service at any |
| want to look at the channels they each offer, the | | | | time with no extra penalties. |
| prices for the different levels of programming, the | | | | If you want to use satellite TV, or you have to |
| equipment costs, and the contract specifics. More | | | | due to living in a remote area without access to |
| than likely, there will be little discrepancy in the | | | | cable TV, you will want to make sure you choose |
| channels offered by either provider. They both | | | | the right satellite TV provider for you. The best |
| offer all of the basic channels, in addition to a | | | | way to do that is by visiting their websites, and |
| large amount of movie, sports, and music | | | | by asking people that you know who use satellite |
| channels. The prices for the programming | | | | TV. Satellite TV is still an affordable option, with |
| packages will likely be equivalent as well. This is | | | | many choices available to the customer. And a |
| for your benefit in that the competition will help | | | | satellite TV provider will likely offer many |
| keep costs relatively reasonable for the customer. | | | | incentives to get you to sign on the dotted line. |