Kapsat asked:


When you set out to select a satellite TV programming service provider there is a lot of information that has to be taken into account before you sign on the dotted line. It is imperative that you read up on as much as you can, because they all will require that you sign onto an extended service agreement and once this is done you will not want to have any regrets.

However; all of the top satellite service providers will allow you to upgrade your programming package and receiver with no extra service charge but there are differences in what they have to offer you the viewer. Right now the top two satellite TV programming service providers are DirecTV and Dish Network and while they both have been recognized by J.D. Power and associates for their records in overall customer service, they do have many differences in the way that they market their programming.

For instance, they both feature high definition programming for their viewers if they choose to add it to their programming package. While Dish Network has the most high definition programming channels with over thirty one in some viewing areas to DirecTVs twelve channels, Dish Network requires that you subscribe to them all if you want them.

DirecTV takes a different approach in that they allow their customers to pick and choose through their high definition programming repertoire and select out only the channels that they want and pay for them separately, even if it is only one channel that they want. As far as maximum channels is concerned, they are both equal with around 250 channels of programming available in their largest package.

Another similarity is that DirecTV and Dish Network both offer free Sirius satellite radio programming with their packages. They do differ however in the way that they compile the programming in their packages. Dish Network features their “Americas Top” series of programming packages that contain 100, 200 and 250 channel packages for you to choose from. They all are built on a foundation of basic popular programming such as MTV, CNN, ESPN and QVC just to name a few but as you move up in their packages you get a more varied choice in programming.

Both Dish network and DirecTV also have a budget entry level programming package as well. DirecTV uses a somewhat different marketing approach with their “Americas Top” programming package series. With Americas Top you select from 140, 185 and 250 channel programming packages. Of course they both have a wide selection of add on programming channels if you chose to build on your programming package as well.

They both also have a broad selection of forign language programming. There are some differences in the type of programming that they both specialize in though, that may influence your final decision. DirecTV specializes in sports programming and does carry more premium sports channels than Dish Network but Dish Network has more premium movie channels to offer their viewers.



MARLON

Kapsat asked:


With all of the new technology being brought on line by satellite TV service providers on almost a daily basis more and more options and deals are being offered by them. Some are better than others and also you may find that other options are more suited to your personal needs. In the early days of satellite service when channel numbers were limited and there was no high definition programming, choosing a provider was a lot more easier then it is now, because you simply went by the number of channels that they offered.

Now however there is far more to consider, including their promotional offers that dangle goods and services that have values that can ad up into the thousands of dollars in front of you. So now more than ever before a person has to do some research and give careful consideration to a multiple of factors before they sign their name to an extended service agreement.

Currently the top two satellite TV service provider are DirecTV and Dish Network and while many of the choices and options that they both offer are very similar they also differ greatly in many area so it realy comes down to personal choice when deciding between the two providers. For instance, DirecTV and Dish Network both differ in the genres of programming that they specialize in.

While DirecTV holds themselves out as the number one provider of premium sports programming, Dish Network is seen as the leader in premium movie programming. While they both have sports and movie programming to offer their viewers, Dish Network carries a total of thirty-one premium movie channels while DirecTV features twenty-five channels of premium sports programming.

DirectTV also carries some sports channels that can’t be had from any other service provider anywhere and they include NFL Sunday Ticket and NCAA Mega March Madness. With regards to high definition programming they also both have similarities and differences that have to be weighed out against each other as well. For instance, while they are both pioneers in this new programming format Dish Network has a distinct numerical edge over DirecTV with thirty channels compared to DirecTVs twelve.

On the surface that might be enough for you to decide if you were only counting the numbers of channels. Dish Network however requires that you purchase all of their high definition channels if you want high definition while DirecTV allows you to pick and choose and select out as few as one high definition channel when you are adding high definition to your programming package.

When it comes to their actual programming packages DirecTV leads the way with foreign language programming with far more choices in several languages including a few dialects of Chinese and twelve Spanish language programming channels while Dish Network has about half that amount.

Both of their standard programming packages are similar although they are offered in packages that contain different numbers of channels. The reason that they are similar even though their actual numbers differ is that both of their largest packages contain some 250 channels. Also, they both allow for a lot of flexibility with regards to adding extra channels.



SYDNEY