Between the two satellite TV providers — DISH Network and DIRECTV — you can get more than 256 different channels of TV programming, pay-per-view movies and events, your local channels, and commercial-free music channels.

Satellite TV channels are bundled into various packages. Here’s a rundown on what satellite TV packages are available:

Dish Network Satellite TV Packages

Dish Family Pak — 40 program channels for $19.99 per month.

America’s Top 60 — 85 program channels for $29.99 per month.

America’s Top 120 — 175 program channels including 60 Sirius satellite radio channels for $39.99 per month.

America’s Top 180 — 232 program channels including 60 Sirius satellite radio channels for $39.99 per month.

America’s “Everything” Pak — 375 program channels including 60 channels of Sirius satellite radio, premium movie channels from Showtime, Starz!, HBO and Cinemax, and DISH Network HDTV programming for $74.99 per month.

DISH Network Movie Channel Packages

10 Showtime Channels, 8 Starz Channels, 8 HBO Channels, 5 Cinemax Channels, Showtime Unlimited/Starz Super Pak, HBO The Works/MultiMAX from Cinemax, HBO The Works/Showtime Unlimited, HBO The Works/Starz Super Pak.

DISH Network Sports Packages

Multi-Regional Sport, The Outdoor Channel, MLB Extra Innings, ESPN College Grand Slam, NBA League Pass, ESPN Full Court, ESPN Game Plan, NHL Center Ice, MLS Direct Kick, English Premier League.

DISH Network International Programming Packages

Dish Latino, Dish Latino Dos, Dish Latino Max, Chinese Great Wall Package, African, Arabic, Armenian, Farsi, French, German, Greek, Israeli, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Polish, Portuguese, Russian, South Asian, Tagalog, and Urdu.

DISH Network Adult Channels

Playboy, Spice Ultimate, TENClips, TENXtsy, Private Fantasy (note: all DISH Network satellite TV systems include parental locks.

Note: For more information on current DISH Network programming and subscription fees, or to order satellite TV service with a free satellite TV system, click on the links below.

DIRECTV Satellite TV Packages

Total Choice — 155 program channels, including 50 XM radio channels for $41,99 per month.

Total Choice Plus — 185 program channels, including 50 XM radio channels for $46.88 per month.

Total Choice Premier — 250 program channels, including 67 XM radio channels for $96 .99 per month.

DIRECTV Premium Services Packages

HBO7 HBO channels (including HBO HD), STARZ (4 STARZ channels, 2 Encore channels, and 6 EncoreSM Theme channels), Showtime Unlimited (5 Showtime channels, 2 channels of The Movie Channel, 1 FLIX channel, and 1 Sundance channel), Cinemax (3 Cinemax channels),

Sports Pack (more than 25 specialty and regional sports networks, plus NBA.com, Fox Sports World, and The Golf Channel).

DIRECTV Sports Subscriptions

NFL Sunday Ticket, NBA League Pass, ESPN Game Plan, MLB Extra Innings, NHL Center Ice, ESPN Full Court, MLS Direct Kick, Barclays English Premier League, Mega March Madness, Cricket Ticket

Additional Programming Packages

HD Package (ESPN HD, ESPN2 HD, Discovery HD Theater, HDNet, HDNet Movies, TNT HD, Universal HD, and Pay-Per-View.

International Program Packages

Para Todos, Phoenix TV, Jade World, Filipino, South Asian, Vietnamese, and Italian programming.

DIRECTV Adult Programming

A Taste of Spice, Playboy TV, Spice Platinum, The Hot Network, The Hot Zone, and Spice HD.

Note: For more information on current DIRECTV programming and subscription fees, or to order satellite TV service with a free satellite TV system, click on the links below.

Click on the following link for more information on free satellite TV systems and service, or these links for ordering information, plus the latest satellite TV packages information and free offers from DISH Network satellite TV or DIRECTV satellite TV.

Brian Stevens is the senior editor for www.TheSatelliteTVGuide.com. and has written extensively on satellite TV packages.

Written By: Brian Stevens

(ARA) – With over 100 channels of music, news, sports, and entertainment, satellite radio is shaping up to be one of the hottest gifts.

Best Buy, the nations largest electronics retail chain, recently declared that the XM satellite radio was one of the most wanted mobile electronics gifts. Business Week magazine named the Roady satellite radio one of the best products of the year alongside the new $20 bill and the AIDS medicine Fuzeon.

Satellite radio aims to offer programming to satisfy most every taste, from classical music to hip hop, bluegrass to blues, underground rock to contemporary hits. Non-music channels include Fox News, BBC Radio, ESPN Radio, and audio books.

Unlike typical FM and AM radio stations, satellite radio channels play few or no commercials. Listeners can tune into a favorite station in one city and keep listening as they travel from coast to coast without interruption. The sound is static-free and sharper than traditional radio. Satellite radios also have a display screen that shows the name of the artist and song playing on each channel.

XM, the leading provider of satellite radio, can be played on a car radio, home stereo, or computer. It offers a portable boombox that can be carried most places, indoors or outdoors. Listeners pay a monthly subscription fee of $9.99 a month.

When satellite radio was first introduced in 2001, there were plenty of skeptics. Many questioned whether a subscription radio service could compete with free radio.

But with over 1 million subscribers in less than two years of business, XM says the service has struck a chord with the public. Hugh Panero, the company president and CEO, says the primary appeal to shoppers is the variety of programming. Satellite radio has something that appeals to most anyone, whether you like jazz, stand-up comedy, or NASCAR racing, said Panero.

Some of the more unique channels offer childrens music and storytelling, old-time radio shows like The Shadow and The Lone Ranger, and music that gets scant airplay on FM and AM, such as reggae, tejano, and folk music.

There are several kinds of satellite radios at prices ranging from $50 to $300. The newest model for the car and home is the Delphi Roady. It comes with a radio receiver, micro antenna, and car adapters for $119.99.

Another option is the portable SKYFI audio system, which retails for $229.99.

Satellite radios are available at most retail stores that sell consumer electronics. You can also get it as a feature in several models of new cars.

For more information about XM Radio, you can visit its Web site at www.xmradio.com. Fans of XM have their own, independent Web site at www.xmfan.com.

Courtesy of ARA Content

Want to know which satellite TV provider has the best satellite TV offer and will give you the programs and the equipment you really want? Here’s a rundown on the current satellite TV offers from DISH Network and DIRECTV.

Best Satellite TV Offer

Due to the fierce competition between DISH Network and DIRECTV, both providers are promoting satellite TV offers that include free equipment, free installation, and free HD and DVR receivers in order to get your business. In addition they’re also offering cheap introductory programming rates.

Here’s a rundown on what DISH Network and DIRECTV have to offer …

Best Equipment Offer

DISH Network

Acquiring a complete satellite system from DISH Network won’t cost you a penny.

They’re currently giving away everything you need to receive DISH Network programming – the dish, up to four receivers, and remote controls.

In addition, DISH Network is offering their HD (high definition) receivers and DVR (digital video recording) receivers free of charge too.

Installation also is free, and you can have a system installed in as little as 24 hours after you order a programming package from DISH Network.

DIRECTV

DIRECTV is offering a free dish and up to four free receivers with remote controls when you sign up for one of their programming packages.

HD receivers and DVR receivers are free after a $99 mail-in rebate.

Installation of the system is also free and takes anywhere from one to five days after you sign up with them.

Note: For the latest information on DIRECTV and DISH Network equipment offers click on the links below.

Best Programming Offer

DISH Network

When it comes to the lowest-priced satellite TV package, DISH Network is the hands-down winner, offering their Dish Family Pak for $19.99 per month. This package includes 40 channels of family-oriented programming, plus the Starz movie Pak (8 movie channels).

DISH Network’s most popular programming package, America’s Top 120, includes 230 channels of programming including 60 Sirius radio channels, and three months of Starz Movie Pak for $29.99 a month.

DISH Network’s top-of-the-line package, America’s — Everything — Pak, consists of 350 program channels including, 60 Sirius radio channels, and 31 movie channels from HBO, Showtime, Cinemaz, and Starz, for $74.99 per month.

DISH Network also offers a variety of sports programming packages, international programming packages, plus pay-per-view movies and special events.

DIRECTV

DIRECTV programming starts with their Total Choice package which has 155 program channels, 50 XM satellite radio channels, and three months of HBO, Showtime, and Starz (31 movie channels), for $29.99 per month.

Their midline package, Total Choice Plus, comes with 185 program channels, including 67 XM radio channels, for $46.99 per month.

DIRECTV’s top-of-the-line Total Choice Premier package includes 250 program channels, three months of HBO, Showtime, and Starz, and 67 XM radio channels for $96.99 per month.

In addition, DIRECTV offers sports programming packages, international programming packages, plus pay-per-view movies and special events.

Note: For the latest information on DISH Network and DIRECTV programming offers click on the links below.

Bottom Line

As far as the best equipment offer goes, DISH Network has the slight edge over DIRECTV. Both company’s equipment is pretty much the same — high tech and high quality — but DIRECTV charges a $19.99 fee to have their equipment delivered.

When it comes to which satellite TV provider has the best programming offer, it depends on what you’re looking for.

If you want the biggest variety of TV shows, movies, and International programming, DISH Network is your best bet with 350 program channels, 31 movie channels, and 91 International channels.

If sports is your thing, DIRECTV has the most sports channels including the ever popular NFL Sunday Ticket package and the NCAA Mega March Madness package.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Click on the following links for more information on the best satellite TV offers from DISH Network satellite TV, or DIRECTV satellite TV. Click on this link for information on free satellite TV systems and service, plus DISH Network and DIRECTV ordering information.

Written By: Brian Stevens