Satellite TV is delivered by communications satellites, as opposed to conventional terrestrial and cable television. In many areas of the world satellite television services supplement older terrestrial signals, providing a wider range of channels and services, including subscription-only services.

Standards

Analogue television is usually sent (scrambled or unscrambled) in PAL, NTSC, or SECAM television satellite broadcast standards. Digital television, including that transmitted via satellites, is generally based upon open standards such as MPEG and DVB-S. Some of the encryption/scrambling methods include BISS, Conax, CryptoWorks, DigiCipher, DreamCrypt, Irdeto, MediaGuard, NagraVision, PowerVu, SHL, Sidsa, Viaccess, Videocipher, VideoGuard and XCrypt.

Satellite Television – A Look At Some Of The Available Services

Canada
In Canada, the two legal DBS services available are Bell Canada’s ExpressVu and StarChoice. Hundreds of thousands (up to a million by some estimates) of Canadians access or have accessed American services – usually these services have to be billed to an American address and are paid for in U.S. dollars.

United States
DirecTV, the first high-powered DBS system, went online in 1994 and was the first North American DBS service; it is now owned by News Corporation.
In 1996, EchoStar’s Dish Network went online in the United States and has gone on to similar success as DirecTV’s primary competitor.
The majority of ethnic-language broadcasts to North America are carried on Ku band free-to-air; the largest concentration of ethnic programming is on Intelsat Americas 5 at 97° W. GlobeCast World TV offers a mix of free and pay-TV ethnic channels in the internationally-standard DVB-S format, as do others. Home2US Communications Inc. also offers ethnic programming, the platform is on AMC-4 at 101° W, with several ethnic channels as well as free and pay-TV. Several U.S.-English language network affiliates (representing CBS, NBC, ABC, PBS, Fox, WB, i and UPN) are available as free-to-air broadcasts, as are the three U.S.-Spanish language networks (Univisión, Telefutura and Telemundo). The number of free-to-air specialty channels is otherwise rather limited…..

Continental Western Europe
In Europe, DBS satellite services are found mainly on Astra satellites and Hotbird (operated by Eutelsat), with Sky Italia, Canal Digitaal and UPC being the main providers in Italy, Western Europe and Central Europe.
BSkyB (known as Sky) also serves Northern Europe and many channels can be received as far away as Cyprus.

United Kingdom
Other than the satellite companies mentioned above, there is Sky Digital – a closed network requiring the companies licensed set top boxes

Satellite Dish companies are stepping up the war for new customers on the airwaves and the cable companies are answering with their own advertising campaigns. It seems like we are bombarded every day with advertisements from the television providers asking for our money and trust in their product. So who has the best deals? Let’s look at the individual players in this “war”.

Satellite Dish providers sell you a dish that attaches to the roof of your house (or some other convenient location) that can “track” the provider’s satellite and bring the signal into your home. Most of the dish companies are offering the dish as a free incentive to subscribing to their service so this cost is absorbed by them, which is very nice. The usually ask you to sign a contract for 18 months and they offer a relative low monthly payment for basic channels. (I am old enough to remember the only thing available was black and white reception and only 3 channels. Now you have several hundred channels available to watch. It must take hours just to find out what is on them all).

If you want the other extra nice program packages it is an additional monthly cost. The addition of what you really want, movies, sports, etc. These can really bring the monthly cost up to the point of threatening your budget. Additional incentives to get your business are: Lower monthly charges for the first couple of months, DVD and HDTV. Some of these add-ons are only offered free for the first couple of months and then their charges are added to you monthly payment. Watch these as they will add up quickly. Is it really necessary to have everything? Just order what you can afford.

. If you should want to move during your contract period it is nice to know that they will move your equipment to your new residence and you do not have to go through all the trouble of starting over. There may be a fee for this service but you never have to worry about moving to an area where you cannot get reception and that is really nice. They frown on your trying to cancel the contract and there is usually a stiff penalty so be sure that you want to pay the monthly fees before you sign up.

The Satellite Dish programs are all very good and offer installation for several rooms, free installation, free upgrade and outstanding customer service.

Cable providers offer pretty much the same packages but there are some draw backs to their offers. The most disturbing is the lack of coverage in large parts of the country. I live in an area where the cable is available across the street but not on my side of the street. That seems a little strange to me but that is the way it is and nothing I can do or say will change it. Cable offers to relocate your service if you move within their territory for coverage and they will “refer” you to another cable company if you move out of their territory, but not all cable companies are the same and you may be looking at higher costs and fees that are not in your best interests.

Let me ask you a question, where does the cable company get their signal? Answer, from satellite dish companies. Now it seems reasonable to me that if you cut out the middle man and go straight to the provider you should save money. What happens if the satellite dish companies decide to raise the rates for the cable company? Your rates go up. (I think that the government has a control on this so it is unlikely that it will happen, but then I thought the government had control over the rates of the phone and utilities companies and my rates seem to go up every year anyway).

The good old fashion antenna in the attic is another choice, reception is not very good, no additional perks like DVD or HDTV but the cost is right. ZERO Cost.

If you grab hold of the antenna wire, stand on one foot with your thumb in your mouth and turn just the right way reception will improve, but it is hard to watch the TV and stand on one foot very long so maybe you can wire up the dog.

So what is the conclusion here? Which is better for you? As always it comes down to what you can deal with. Maybe our parents were right after all. We watch too much TV, go outside and play. Costs less and is better for us, but since that is not going to happen I think the best option is Satellite Dish. Reasonable cost, good program selection, good incentive offers and can be moved to any location in the world.

About the Author

Jerry Hubbard is an Internet Marketing Consultant and Business owner. Jerry resides just outside of Boulder Colorado at the foot of the Colorado Rockies. He has authored many articles to help and encourage the “Newbie” Internet Marketeer to succeed. He maybe reached at ipower@agoldenbiz.com Yahoo messenger: jhub56 Skype: hubgl59 http://urltrak.com/?531:IPP:

Written By: Jerry Hubbard

If you have taken sane decision to replace your cable TV with the Satellite TV, one thing is sure that you wont look back in regret. In fact you would regret for depriving yourself of this modern technology for so long. No doubt, more and more people are adding to the Satellite fold and enjoying this new dimension of the entertainment.

The choice of over 150 channels covering all hues of life from classical music to rock music, premium movie channels, sports channels, informative channels and lots more will change the way you used to watch your TV. So be ready to enthrall you with the amazing picture quality and digital sound and feel the difference in the entertainment world.

Undoubtedly, two Satellite TV providers, which make their presence felt in the heart of US people, are DirecTV and Dish Network. They cover all the 50 States and are ready to change your lives irrespective of your location. Get the best satellite TV deal over Internet. Why Internet? Since it is cheaper and convenient to apply for connection online.

These two Satellite TV providers will offer you value for money and the service beyond your expectations. But you have to make up your mind on any one and even the comparison is not easy considering so many things involved and the difference is so subtle that you will end up straining your eyes and mind. But here we are giving some tips, which you can use for taking the final decision.

DirecTV started in 1994 and has the largest base in United States but giving it tough competition is Dish Network, dazzling its viewers with its largest number of channels. The Dish Network bringing more sharpness to the picture and clarity to the sound by digitalizing the TV programming pioneers the concept of HD TV. Today Dish Network caters to more than 10 million satellite TV consumers and its consumer base is just widening.

People with foreign origin can heave a sigh of relief as Dish Network provides you host of foreign programming and channels. You get to see a lot of channels in Spanish and Mandarin. Recently they have come up with Bridges TV Network targeting American Muslim population covering Muslim cultural programs besides usual package of cartoons, news, and music and movie channels.

Viewers of Dish Network have another reason to smile as it has acquired various Voom HD channels which will not only provide better quality of picture and sound but will offer them more variety to choose from. Karaoke channel is going to add another feather to its cap. This is going to be another first from Dish Network in the interactive channel segment.

Dish Network is the first choice for those who spend most of the time in their homes. Elderly people and housewives can kill their boredom with Dish Network Satellite TV package that includes your favorite movie channels, news coverage, informative channels etc. However, if sports are your great past time and if you follow the sports religiously, choosing DirecTV will be a better choice.

People whose job requires frequent shifting should opt for Dish Network for its easy mobility. Dish Network provides its own equipment and Satellite TV connection making smooth transition from your cable TV to Satellite TV. In contrast DirecTV respects your freedom of choice and allows you to purchase the equipment from anywhere else.

If you compare the monthly subscription charges of these two Satellite TV providers, you would find Dish Network slightly cheaper than its rival. The same is true in the HD TV segments as well. Here Dish Network has not only edge over pricing but also on the number of HD channels which are almost double than the number of HD channels provided by DirecTV.

These Satellite TV providers offer very attractive package to their potential customers in the form of free satellite TV equipments, free satellite TV installation, free HDTV upgrades, free DVD player, subscription waiver etc. While Dish Network gives you free dish network programming for one or two month besides free dish network guide and other gifts, DirecTV lures you with free premium movie channels for first few months to catch your attention.
About the Author

You can find more information about DirecTV and Dish Network here. Learn more about DirecTV and Dish Network programming guide, equipment, and best deals.

Written By: Al Falaq Arsendatama

Dish network service is offered all over the U.S. including Hawaii, Alaska and Puerto Rico. It is not viewable outside US. To catch the proper signal for Dish network proper size of dish is required. Usually a local retailer is able to help the consumer for suggesting the correct size of the dish required to catch proper signals in the local area.

Dish network broadcasts mostly all types of sports channels that show baseball, basket ball, college football, soccer, English Premier League. It also broadcasts all national channels such as ESPN, ESPN2, Fox Sports World, ESPN Classic, USA, WGN, TBS or TNT, etc. Dish network also offers pay-per-view option for various sports channels. It also offers Horse racing TV and TV games. All premier American track races are available on TVG featured by Dish network. Along with the interactive and sports program, dish network also airs regular HDTV Channels under the HD Pak. This pack includes HDNET, HDNET Movies, ESPN HD, Discovery Theater and TNT HD, for $9.99 per month. The VOOM original pack offers Rush HD, HD News, Gallery HD, Rave HD, Animania HD, Ultra HD, Equator HD, Monsters HD, Guy TV HD, and The Majestic HD.

The price reception and channel selection is better than cable but in some area customer service and access to local channels can cause problems. Dish network offers wide range of channels to select from their laid out menu. The TV comes in quick with excellent reception of channels without any snow or fuzz.

Dish network offers one year warranty on their products. The receiver and the remotes also works in superb manner. Remote is capable of multi-tasking. The picture quality and the reception of the signals are unprecedented as compared to the cable network. The satellite TV offers DVD quality of picture and perfect sound quality as well.

Dish network offers a wide variety of channels to view. It is suggested to activate the parental lock immediately after the purchase of the dish network system. Dish network also offers various shopping channels for the ones who love shopping from home. It has lesser commercials to air which is quite pleasant as compared to the cable TV network.

Dish network allows you to watch separate programming on two televisions with one Dish TV network receiver. This can be achieved with the help of dual-tuner Dish player that allows watching programming on two televisions. It also allows to record, pause and replay live TV. Some of the Dish players also support Picture-in-Picture support.

Some people do not like the steel colored dish and like to paint the dish to blend with the color of the house. It is definitely not at all recommended as painting the dish results in loss of signals. Moreover, obstruction due to building, trees, mountains, high tension power lines also result in loss of signals. Dish should be installed in such a place where it receives clear signals free from any obstruction.

About the Author:

James Croydon, Satellite Installation Engineer and DirecTV Offer advisor – focusing on Dish Network Offer and DirecTV DVR

Written By: James Croydon

There was a point in time when cable was the most popular way to watch television; however, that is beginning to change. Each day more individuals make the switch from cable to satellite TV. If you are interesting in making the switch to satellite TV then you have a number of options when it comes to selecting a satellite TV provider.

When it comes to selecting a satellite TV provider there are many individuals who do not carefully think out their decision. It is possible that you could select a provider without doing any research, but doing so may put yourself at risk for unnecessary expenses.

When searching for a satellite provider there are a number of important factors that you should consider before paying for the service or signing a contact.

The channels offered by a satellite TV provider should be one of the first things you look at. There are many individuals who search for a provider based on the cost of their service. The cost of a particular service will not matter if your favorite channel is not even offered as programming.

Once you have determined that the television stations you are most likely to tune into are offered by a particular satellite provider, you should then start examining their costs.

Satellite TV providers tend to group specific channels into packages. Each package will have a set price. The price of a specific package can often be determined by visiting the providers online website or by contacting their customer service department.

The average starting cost for a satellite package begins at around thirty dollars. The price that you will have to pay will all depend on how many channels you want.

The cost of equipment needed to become a satellite TV customer should also be examined. It is not uncommon to find special deals or discounts on satellite dishes and receivers; however, you may end up paying full price for the equipment.

It may be in your best interest to examine satellite TV providers that let you purchase their equipment from a local or online retail store. Outright purchasing satellite equipment means that it is yours to keep instead of leasing it from a provider.

Before you become a customer of a particular satellite TV provider you may wish to determine the reliability of that provider. Speaking to friends, family, or coworkers who are current subscribers can help you make your choices.

Feedback on just about anything, including satellite TV providers, can also be found online. Feedback and recommendations will give you a good idea as to the type of service you should expect to receive.

In todays world, many families have multiple television sets in their household; have a home phone and an internet connection. Satellite TV providers and other companies know this and that has led to the combination of many entertainment companies.

You are encouraged to inquire about bundle packages with your television, phone, and internet. There are many companies who offer valuable discounts if you also become a customer of one of their partners.

If satellite TV is on your wish list then you are encouraged to take the above mentioned factors into consideration. Simply by comparing services and prices you can be on your way to watching satellite TV without going broke.

About the Author:

D. David Dugan is a support of the computer support forum at http://forum.dugancom.com and recommends purchasing your satellite service from http://www.divinfo.com/dishnetwork.php.

Written By: D. David Dugan

In the USA there are 2 types of satellite TV systems. The first is TVRO which stands for TeleVision Receive Only. The second is DBS which stands for Direct Broadcast Satellite.

TVRO – TeleVision Receive Only

TVRO was the first satellite system available for home viewing of satellite TV. It required a relatively big dish of 3 to 6 feet in diameter and worked in C-Band. Frequencies of around 4 G Hertz are called C-Band and require bigger dishes because the wave length of these frequencies is longer than in Ku-Band which requires a much smaller dish of about 18 inches. Ku-Band is at 12 to 14 G Hertz.

TVRO systems also need a movable dish because it needs to get all the channels of many satellites. C-Band satellites have much less channels available than Ku-Band satellites and therefore more satellites are needed to provide enough channels. Possibilities that exist with TVRO systems is that you can also receive free channels and independent feeds from for instance news companies. You could for instance receive the unedited material that is broadcasted from a news crew somewhere in the coverage area of the satellite. They transmit their materials to their headquarters using a C-Band satellite. Many of these types of feeds are not scrambled and are available to everyone with the proper equipment.

TVRO systems are often referred to as Big Dish TV, C-Band Satellite TV and BUD (Big Ugly Dish).

DBS – Direct Broadcast Satellite

Satellite TV via DBS is done in the Ku-Band. These satellites work on higher frequencies and can transmit higher power signals. This means that much smaller dishes can be used to receive the signal. A small dish of 18 inches is already enough to receive all satellite TV by Satellite TV. This makes it possible to have satellite TV from an apartment on the 10th floor, if you have a clear line of sight to the south.

DBS is for everyone. The satellite dish is so small that it is not an obstacle like with for instance the TVRO dishes of 3 to 6 feet. Once installed the dish needs no maintenance since it is aimed at just one satellite. Some dishes actually have 2 or more feeds which makes it possible to receive the signals from more than 1 satellite.

There are no free channels available on DBS satellites as these are often owned and used by the satellite TV provider it self, while TVRO satellites often are used by those who rent space on the satellite for a limited time. TVRO systems are meant for, for instance, transport of unedited materials between continents, but also within one continent.

DBS is meant for everyone with a simple, low cost installation of the system. Often the installation is for free as it really is very easy to do. The only thing that is needed is a bit of knowledge of where to find the satellite and the tools that make this even easier. A qualified installer will find the satellite and point it to maximum reception within minutes.

By Gary Davis
Dish-Network-Satellite-TV.ws

Webmasters: You may reprint this article in its entirety, providing you leave the Byline and About the Author sections intact, including the links to Dish Network Satellite TV.

About The Author

Gary Davis is the owner of Dish Network Satellite TV, has several years experience in the Satellite TV Industry and has written numerous articles about satellite TV.

Dish-Network-Satellite-TV.ws

Email: customerservice@dish-network-satellite-tv.ws

Written By: Gary Davis

Satellite TV is still a somewhat new concept to many, while most people have been subscribed to cable service. Gone are the days of poor reception and antenna feeds, which were once both a part of the television watching experience. Satellite TV is very similar to the concept of pay-per-view television. In exchange for a membership fee, you receive specific programming but, whereas pay-per-view relates to only one channel, satellite TV offers a broad range of channels with each viewing package.

Satellite TV companies operate with the use of rights to air certain content, including everything that is found on cable television and more. Membership fees range from several dollars per month to several hundred dollars depending on the channel package that the homeowner chooses for their viewing pleasure. Most customers pay a monthly bill, but others opt to pay for their service in one lump sum as a yearly payment. In most instances, customers can cancel their service at any time providing their account is up-to-date.

With the concept of satellite TV growing in popularity, there are several main players in the dish industry that are actively competing against one another for the title of most popular. As such, they each try to entice customers with promotional packages, free months of service or channels, low pricing, etc.

In order to have satellite TV, the homeowner must call a local dish installer and have a satellite dish brought to their home and installed outside. The installation team will then come inside the home to set up and program the receiver, explain how it works and provide the homeowner with a user manual and remote control. Before leaving the home, the installation team will confirm that the satellite is working properly and that all paid channels are accessible by the homeowner. In addition, they will likely require that a contract of service be signed prior to leaving. The homeowner should keep a copy of all signed contracts, documents and any warranties that accompany their new satellite.

Satellite TV was once a new trend that has since become a permanent fixture in the industry. With technology making new advancements at every turn, more and more people will look to satellite TV for their viewing pleasure. With costs that nearly match that of cable, but with so many more channels, homeowners are beginning to see a whole new world when it comes to television.

About the Author:

For more information about satellite tv, click the link to visit our website at www.onlinesatellitetvguide.info . We have some great free articles and resources about satellite tv.

Written By: Michael Perry

What is the problem with most television viewers in continuing on with the same old television viewing habits? Apathy in home entertainment is the problem. I am teasing, of course, but I think that many viewers are just accustomed to their usual every day routine and don’t like ‘change’. Change always meets with resistance until convincing proof is produced and made evident. And even then, many people make changes for the better in their lives quite reluctantly. The change from cable to digital high definition satellite programming is a most definitely a once in a lifetime experience, and Dish Network TV has made such a change possible easy and affordable for everyone.

Most all of us can remember when a satellite dish was so big and awkward. It detracted from the beauty of a home but was sort of a symbol of status in the neighborhood. Adjustments were a hassle and assistance was always required. Times have changed with advanced technology in communications and so, too, have peoples life-styles changed, and the dish on today’s market is much smaller, sleeker in design, and fits well on the roof or side of a house. Satellite TV programming is popular and inexpensive with subscribers having the same programming choices as cable TV as well as many more selections from all over the world. Dish Network offers 5 programming packages with diverse selections, including multi-cultural international selections as well as Sirius music channels in CD-quality sound.

Many of the die-hard cable TV fans are giving in to advanced technology and becoming subscribers. Dishnetwork Satellite TV now has a subscriber base of over 12 million with the number increasing daily. Most viewers are changing because of the best quality in programming, digitally delivered crystal-clear high definition imaging, and digital sound. Customer service also is a factor in switching from cable to satellite, and Dish Network has a toll-free, 24-hour customer service availability. With signals being received from satellites in space, it is less likely interruptions in service will be encountered. Another factor, and perhaps the primary factor, is cost. Dish Network offers promotional free equipment, free installation, and some services free for a limited time to new subscribers. Dishnetwork Satellite TV also gifts new customers with a DVR (Digital Video Recorder) to further enhance home entertainment systems. The only payment is for your choice in programming services, and many times, this is cheaper than those provided by cable.

The most difficult part is deciding to make the change. Check with Dish Network Satellite TV now for complete listings of programming and pricing information or telephone their toll-free, 24-hour phone number. A friendly and courteous Dish Network representative will answer any questions you may have as well as be ready to take your order and schedule installation for a time convenient to you. A certified Dishnetwork Satellite TV technician will install your equipment and service and answer any questions and instruct you in the operations and functions of all equipment and features. It is so easy – make the decision and program selections and let Dish Network TV do the rest. Then all you need to do is sit down, relax, pick up the remote, and watch your favorite programs.

About The Author

Mitchell Medford is a popular reviewer of consumer electronics and has served as a product development consultant for several consumer electronics.

mitchell@newtechnologytv.com

Written By: Mitchell Medford

(Find the Best Deals by Avoiding Potential Pitfalls and Fraudulent Websites.)
Submitted by: John Lee
WorldWideReviews

http://entertainment.worldwidereviews.com/satellite_tv.htm

Recent popularity.

The last few years have seen an explosion of people choosing satellite over cable or network Tv. Recent polls show some common reasons being superior picture quality, larger selection of channels and programs, increased availability, good customer service and the continuing drop in price.

This has been accompanied by large advertising campaigns from satellite Tv retailers. This has no doubt succeeded in demystifying the technology.

DIRECTV or DISH Network?

Though there are other satellite TV systems (ie; Sky Angel), DIRECTV and DISH Network are the twin giants in the industry. Between them they claim the overwhelming majority of all satellite TV systems sold in the United States.

Interestingly, the satellite system services offered by both DIRECTV and DISH Network are practically interchangeable — both offer more than 200 program channels, integrated digital video recording (DVR) capabilities, high definition TV (HDTV) capabilities, stunning picture and sound quality and award-winning 24-hour customer service departments.

Where they differ is in pricing and programming. DIRECTV’s packages are a little more expensive, however they do normally include more channels. DISH Network offers more International and movie channels.

How the legitimate online retailers work.

You place an order with an online satellite TV system retailer. Some actually have tools on their webpage that allows customers to design systems perfectly matched to their home. At the time of ordering you will schedule a time that a local professional installer can come to your home and install the system. The satellite system will either be shipped to your home before the installation date or the installer will bring it with them.

It is really that easy. The retailers that have been around a few years have this process streamlined for efficiency. All the customer needs to do is be at home during the installation.

Fraudulent websites & potential pitfalls.

Unfortunately, with any hot product come the scammers. Hundreds of “Satellite TV” websites have popped up, claiming to offer the best satellite dish deals and promotions. Their websites look slick to lure unsuspecting customers. Many promise monthly subscription rates under $10 and next-day installation. But once a customer signs up they find:

* Hidden “activation” and “usage” fees * High shipping costs for “free” extras * Installation dates continuously missed or pushed back * Shoddy installations performed by cheap, inexperienced contractors * Zero help or customer service * Outrageous cancellation fees

Most of these SCAM sites won’t even respond to customer issues. Eventually they get shut down due to too many customer complaints, or the State Attorney General forces them out of business. But the customer has already lost their money, and the SCAMMERS just open another satellite TV website under a different name in a different state. It’s definitely “buyer beware”.

Yes, you can find good deals on Satellite TV systems.

If you can stay away from the SCAM websites, it is possible to find authentic good … even great … deals on Satellite TV systems.

Before signing up for satellite TV through an online retailer, you should be sure that it satisfies the following minimum requirements:

* In business for at least 1 year. * Must be certified by the network. * Have at least 1000 installations. * No “hidden” fees. * Customer service available via phone, chat or email. * 100% guaranteed. (full refund if installation fails)

For more information or resources pertaining to this article, please visit WorldWideReviews Satellite TV Systems at http://entertainment.worldwidereviews.com/satellite_tv.htm

Copyright by John Lee
Staff@WORLDWIDEREVIEWS.COM

About the Author

John Lee is owner and publisher of the acclaimed consumer reporting website WorldWideReviews. A free product review and watchdog service. Satellite TV System http://entertainment.worldwidereviews.com/satellite_tv.htm

Written By: John Lee

The history of portable satellite radios is short compared to traditional over-the-air radio, but it has rapidly changed the face of radio listening like no other technology in recent memory. The two major satellite radio services, XM Satellite Radio and SIRIUS Satellite Radio, offer a stunning array of programming and compete fiercely for customers.

Their popularity has stunned many in the radio industry and with the advent of new, smaller, more convenient portable satellite radios, some industry veterans worry about the future viability of traditional broadcast radio.

How did satellite radio get started and what is its future? Lets take a look.

The Beginnings of Satellite Radio

The history of satellite radio begins in 1992, when the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) decided to set aside a portion of spectrum to be devoted to nationwide distribution of digital radio service via satellite. SIRIUS Satellite Radio and XM Satellite Radio bid huge amounts of money (at least $80 million each) for licenses to use this new allocation of spectrum, which were eventually awarded to them by the FCC.

Owning the right to use the spectrum, though, was only the first step. Even if they could start delivering satellite radio signals right away, there were no consumer-accessible portable satellite radios to receive the signal. Additionally, there was substantial debate within the radio industry about whether consumers would be willing to pay for new hardware and then pay a monthly subscription fee for radio service. After all, AM and FM radio broadcasts were available free all over the country.

Making a Business out of Satellite Radio

XM Satellite Radio and SIRIUS Satellite Radio set out to overcome these obstacles and make a real business out of portable satellite radios and satellite radio programming. They knew that to attract the most consumers they needed to offer a variety of hardware components that could be used in a variety of locations home, work, and especially the car, where most radio listening occurs.

Working with electronics manufacturers already trusted and recognized by consumers (Sanyo, Panasonic, JVC, Kenwood, etc.), hardware development got underway. The results included portable satellite radios, receivers, and plug and play components for nearly every consumer application. Manufacturers built satellite radio receivers for cars, homes, offices, trucks, RVs, boats, and even airplanes.

On the programming side, XM and SIRUS put together an assortment of niche music stations that would have something to offer consumers with nearly any musical taste. Each station was programmed to appeal to a specific type of listener, and most were commercial-free. Programming originated primarily from New York, but also from other locations, plus XM and SIRIUS entered into collaborative agreements that would allow popular musicians, entertainers, personalities and others to perform live from the originating locations. This would give the services another unique selling point to attract consumers.

Dealing with resistance to a monthly fee, though, required a broader array of marketing, public relations, and strategies to communicate the benefits and advantages of portable satellite radios. XM and SIRIUS knew that the key to their success would lie in convincing consumers of the value they would receive while making the hardware widely available and affordable.

Spreading the Word

Portable satellite radios began to show up in a variety of places where consumers would find it easy to use them. One of the most important places for XM and SIRIUS to gain entry for the hardware was in cars and trucks, where consumers do the vast majority of their radio listening.

They collaborated with car and truck manufacturers to make portable satellite radios standard on many high-end luxury vehicles, and an affordable option on most other mid-range vehicles. For most of these consumers, the cost of a monthly subscription would not be prohibitive and by making it easy for them to access their services, XM and SIRIUS could entice consumers to try it out and start spreading the word about its value.

Portable satellite radios were also placed in boats and RVs, and standard receivers were heavily marketed for use in homes and businesses. Another innovation, introduced in November 2004, is the handheld version of XM Radio and SIRIUS Satellite Radio receivers. These devices were designed to appeal to people who want access to satellite radio services while running, walking, or otherwise moving out and about in locations other than their cars, trucks, homes or offices.

Another important component of spreading the word was establishing partnerships and marketing agreements with electronics retailers such as Circuit City, Best Buy, Target, Wal-Mart, and other well-known names. Working closely with retailers, XM and SIRIUS have greatly increased their presence with consumers and sales have steadily increased.

Why Pay for Radio?

Still, the bottom line question for most people is why pay for radio? The answer is in the benefits received with a subscription to satellite radio. Some of the most popular benefits include:

More channel choices (up to 150)
Commercial-free (music channels)
Live audio streaming of sporting events
Weather and traffic information (in major markets)
Clear, crisp digital signal
Signal available with no fading when driving long distances
Niche music stations to suit any musical taste
Assortment of sports, talk, and news stations

Coming Soon

Satellite radio service is in its infancy so it is inevitable that the technology and the features will continue to develop. XM Radio and SIRIUS Satellite Radio will have to devote resources to such innovations if they are to attract enough subscribers to become profitable.

For example, one feature that will soon be available in some areas real time traffic information delivered via satellite directly to the navigation system in the car. This information will appear as color-coded displays of the average speed of vehicles on specific roads, allowing the driver to select the travel route that is least congested at any particular time.

Other new options and ideas are inevitable over the next few years, so it is likely that portable satellite radios will continue to grow in popularity and become more common in vehicles, homes, offices, boats, RVs, and just about any other location that can be imagined.

About the Author: Julie-Ann Amos is a successful writer for http://www.1st-Dish-TV.net, a consumer guide to free Dish Network satellite TV systems. Copyright 2005 1st-Dish-TV.net

Written By: J. Amos