Satellite Radio is the future of broadcasting

Satellite Radio, in short, can be described as commercial-free music, news, sports and talk shows. Many of the biggest players and events are now available from Sirius radio and XM radio like Howard Stern, Fred Schneider (the B52s), NFL, English Soccer, NBA, NASCAR, NHL, Major League Baseball, INDY, and the PGA.

Satellite radio began in 1992, when the S spectrum was allocated by the FCC to four companies. The two main ones, Sirius and XM paid a pretty penny (in fact almost $80 million dollars worth) to buy a license. Satellite-based radio began on May 15th, 2001 when XM Radio completed their satellite system. Sirius followed shortly when they launched in July, 2001. Since then, expanded products and competition has changed the radio landscape.

While automobile manufacturers started installing satellite radio in 2001 and 2002, most new vehicles come equipped with one now. XM has two satellites (called Rock and Roll) in parallel orbits to cover the mainland US market, while Sirius has three. Both have recently been awarded licenses for the Canadian market.

So what are the differences between the two providers?

XM has a flat $9.99 a month fee with no contracts to sign. They have the latest portable equipment. XM offers some of the best varieties of programming available today. They offer 68 commercial-free music channels; 32 channels of News, Sports, Talk & Entertainment; and 21 channels of instant Traffic & Weather in major metro areas. Here’s the latest information of channels:

15 channels of Rock music

11 News channels (Fox, CNN, ABC, CNBC, MSNBC, BBC, C-SPAN, Bloomberg)

11 Talk & Variety channels (Discovery, E!, Experts & advice, African American Talk, Christian Talk)

10 channels of Pop music & Top Hits

7 Country music choices

7 channels of Blues & Jazz music

7 Hip Hop and Urban music choices

6 different channels of music by the Decades (40′s through 90′s)

5 Sports channels (ESPN, Fox, Sporting News, NASCAR)

4 Dance music channels

4 World music choices

3 Christian music choices

3 Comedy entertainment channels (adult comedy, family comedy)

3 Classical music channels

2 Kids entertainment channels (Disney)

2 Latin music choices

Sirius offers a $12.95 per month fee and you can pre-pay for a full year for a discount (works out to $9.99 per month). They offer better sports coverage with play-by-play of the NBA, NHL, and NFL. Sirius has signed some great talent of celebrity DJs. Sirius offers 60 channels of music with no commercials, 50 channels of News, Sports, Talk and Entertainment; and 20 channels of 24/7 Traffic & Weather in major cities. Here’s how Sirius stack up with their channel line up:

16 Talk & Variety channels (Discovery, E!, Talk for Women, CourtTV, Air America, Gay/Lesbian, Body/Mind/Spirit Talk)

14 channels of Rock music

12 channels of Pop music & Top Hits

10 News channels (CNN, CNBC, Fox, NPR, PRI, C-SPAN, BCC, World Radio, Bloomberg)

9 Hip Hop and Urban music choices

7 Sports channels (ESPN, play-by-play channels)

6 Country music choices

6 Jazz music channels

5 Dance music channels

4 different channels of music by the Decades (50′s through 80′s)

3 Classical music channels

2 Christian music choices (Catholic)

2 channels of Blues & Reggae

2 Latin music choices

2 Comedy entertainment channels (regular and uncensored)

2 World music choices

1 Kids entertainment channels (Disney)

To read more on Satellite TV and Radio, please visit my site: Satellite TV and Radio :: Your #1 Source for Satellite Television and Satellite Radio.

About the Author

Satellite TV and Radio :: Bringing a New World of Digital to You
Satellite TV and Radio :: Your #1 Source for Satellite Television and Satellite Radio.

Written By: Dale L

This article provides useful, detailed information about Free Satellite TV Systems.

A satellite TV system is simple. It consists of a receiving dish that captures signals from a satellite and a receiver that amplifies the signal for transmission to a TV.

Technologically advanced, the new systems include a free satellite TV dish complete with mounting and related hardware, four free receivers with universal remotes, free DVR receiver, HD satellite TV receivers, and in addition freebies like free installation and warrantees.

The systems are state-of-the-art and have fairly advanced features that will delight every electronics buff. One can receive satellite TV even in remote areas, the picture quality is sharp and reception clear, you get live unedited news coverage, access to music services of great quality along with AM and FM services, sports coverage that is live and best of all there are no commercials.

Digital programming brings to your home CD-quality picture and sound along with quality programming services. The systems are sturdy, dependable, and give trouble free operation. Entertainment is reaching out to new horizons and as an introductory offer satellite TV providers are offering the systems absolutely free to new subscribers.

Technically what happens is a ground station receives signals from networks like HBO, ESPN, or CNN. This programming is compressed and then transmitted to a satellite orbiting the earth. The satellites in turn, relay the signals back to earth where it is received by the satellite dishes mounted on homes and other buildings. The dish amplifies the signal and conveys it to the satellite receiver on your TV. This receiver decodes the signal and converts it into images and sound. So, what you get to see is crystal clear images and audio provided you have the right kind of TV.

Before you select a provider make sure their offer includes the dish and receiver units. These can cost upwards of US$ 300,000 when purchased retail. The system must offer free professional installation which is what will get you optimal signal strength and best picture and sound quality. Proper installation will negate reception loss and picture freeze. And, as a wise and knowledgeable consumer you must opt for a system upgrade during the initial order this will include multiple receivers, advanced dish antenna, Dolby sound systems, and digital video recording.

Choose technology with some knowledge and you will get the best.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Free Satellite TV Systems provides detailed information on Free Satellite TV, Free Satellite TV Systems, Free Satellite TV on PC, Free Satellite TV Offers and more. Free Satellite TV Systems is affiliated with Dish Satellite Network.

Written By: Steve Valentino

The Satellite TV industry has made huge gains on the cable tv industry in the past several years. With the price of cable tv skyrocketing every year, many cable subscribers are making the switch over to satellite tv. Okay so you’ve decided to switch to satellite tv; but which satellite tv provider do you choose?

A satellite tv provider is a company that owns and operates satellites in geostationary orbit around the earth. These satellites broadcast the satellite signal down to your satellite dish and from their the signal is transferred to your receiver (black box). The two largest satellite tv providers in the United Sates are DirecTV and DISH Network. The vast majority of satellite tv subscribers in the United States use one or the other so this article will concentrate on comparing the two satellite giants in an attempt to help you decide which of the two is best foryou.

With the almost exponential growth of the satellite tv industry, both DISH Network and DirecTV are now in a position where they can afford to offer the satellite equipment (dish and receivers) free to their subscribers. So for starters both DISH Network and DirecTV offer free satellite equipment. Basically the only qualifiers are that you be a first time subscriber and that you have a credit card for monthly billing purposes. So if the equipment is free how do the two providers make any money? Well, you do have to pay for the monthly programming of course. The price of your monthly programming bill depends on which programming package you choose.

DISH Network’s America Top 60 programming package starts at $24.99 per month and local channels are available. DISH Network presently is not making new subscribers commit to a one year contract. You can end your subscription at any time with no financial penalty to pay. DirecTV’s entry level programming package is called the Total Choice package and comes with local channels and is $39.99 per month. With the Total Choice package you get over 130 channels. DirecTV does require you to sign a one year subscription agreement. If you cancel your service before the year is up, then you have to pay a penalty fee to DirecTV.

As both satellite giants use the very lates technology in their satellites and receiving equipment, what differentiates the two is in the programming options that they provide to their subscribers. I would rate DirecTV somewhat ahead of the DISH Network in their sports packages, as they offer seasonal sports options like the N.F.L. Sunday Ticket that DirecTV has exclusive rights to. Both providers offer tons of premium movie packages to choose from including HBO, Showtime, Starz and Cinemax. All these come with multiple channels per movie package. As DISH Network has more satellites in orbit than DirecTV does they have the capacity to offer up to 500 viewing channels, whereas with DirecTV, you can ‘only’ get 250 channels. Also, DISH Network offers a lot more foreign programming packages than DirecTV does.

Both DISH Network and DirecTV offer 100% digital picture and CD quality sound in all of their programming. So again, they are tied in this important quality. This technology allows for a crystal clear perfect picture that cable tv simply cannot provide.

DISH Network, a subsidiary of EchoStar Communications, was founded in 1996 by Charles Ergan. While not quite as old as DirecTV, DISH Network was the fastest satellite provider to reach the 100,000 subscriber level doing so in just four short months. Presently, DISH Network has over Nine million satellite tv subscribers in the 50 United States and District of Columbia. DISH Network has many ‘firsts’ to its credit, including being the first company to offer a satellite tv receiver that had a built in DVR (digital video recorder).

DirecTV was begun in 1994 and is the largest satellite tv provider in the United States. When it first launched in 1994, Direct TV was the first satellite TV company to offer all digital-quality, multi-channel TV programming through the use of direct broadcast satellite (DBS) technology. DBS technology is now the standard for the satellite tv industry and we have the ingenuity of the DirecTV engineers to thank for it. While DirecTV does not have as large a bandwidth allocation as the DISH Network does, to counter this DirecTV has arranged to have to exclusive deals with programming companies to cater to the programming whims of their subscribers.

In the all important area of customer care, both DirecTV and DISH Network offer outstanding customer care and support. Both offer online Faqs sections and help sections to their websites. You can also call both toll free to get help with any problem you may be having. Pay-Per-View movies may be ordered either by using your remote control or calling the 800 toll free number for either provider.

Both DirecTV and DISH Network offer free professional installation as part of their free satellite tv promotions. One difference is that DirecTV will install your equipment for free in up to five rooms, where DISH Network presently only installs for free in up to four rooms of your home.

FINAL CONCLUSIONS & RECOMMENDATION:

Both DISH Network and DirecTV offer an outstanding television viewing experience. The picture reception for both is far superior to that of cable tv. DISH Network’s entry level package is cheaper than DirecTV’s; but then the Total Choice package comes with alot more channels. DirecTV is stronger in the area of sports coverage, while DISH Network places somewhat more of an emphasis on its premium movie packages and foreign programming options. And both have outstanding customer care, both having won the prestigious J.D. Power Award in recent years for providing the best overall service among satellite and cable subscribers.

Our recommendation is that both DirecTV and DISH Network offer a superior television viewing experience than cable tv. Both are alot cheaper than cable, offer superior picture quality and free equipment and instalation. Both also offer superior customer care service compared to local cable providers. If you’re a big sports fan and just have to have that certain premium sports package, then DirecTV is for you; but if you’re not a huge sports fan and cost is an issue, then you might want to go with DISH Network and it’s entry level America’s Top 60 at just $24.99 a month. Also, remember that DirecTV will require a one year commitment, whereas with the DISH Network there is no contract to sign, meaning you can cancel your service at anytime and not have to pay a penalty.

Whichever satellite provider you choose, you can’t go wrong. As a subscriber of the DISH Network and a sales person that has several years experience in the satellite tv industry (have sold both DirecTV & DISH Network)I highly recommend that you drop cable, stop feeding the pig and switch to satellite tv service today. The vastly superior picture quality alone that DBS satellite technology provides makes it worth the change. It’s like heaven watching tv with no more squiggly lines running across the tv screen!

For more free and helpful information on Satellite TV, how to find the best deal, and how to set it up, visit http://www.dish-n etwork-satellite-tv.ws

Written By: Frank Johnson

When considering cable vs. satellite TV it can be incredibly confusing, especially with so many commercials touting one system over the other. They both promise lots of perks such as pay-per-view and other features, and each service provider declares they are the best buy for your money. But there really is no comparison satellite TV service providers simply give you the best value for your money across the country.

In order to understand what you are getting for your money, make sure you ask plenty of questions when you compare cable TV and satellite TV. Dont simply rely on advertising hype and your local cable service providers promises.

Why is Satellite TV Better Than Cable? So Many Reasons!

Many people dont realize how much is offered with todays satellite TV systems, assuming that they will be expensive or difficult to install. Not so! In fact, most of todays top satellite TV companies such as service providers Dish Network and DirecTV, will come to your home and do the installation at no extra charge once you have a contract.

Your options are also greater with satellite TV vs. cable most of the larger companies offer their services just about anywhere you can imagine, whether you live high in the mountains, remotely located from the world where no cable reaches, or in a crowded city. Being national companies rather than small, locally owned cable services also means you will benefit from quality service at lower prices. It also ensures you are getting the benefit of state-of-the-art technology. Many cable companies today are either replacing old cable or struggling to keep up while satellite TV providers are forging into the future.

Of course, in the final analysis, it all comes down to quality of programming and service reliability when you compare cable and satellite TV providers.

Here are a few things you should know about satellite TV:

FREE Equipment – Take advantage of a free satellite TV system and FREE installation. You can also purchase or lease your equipment depending on what is best for your needs.

TiVo – TiVo is available only through satellite TV providers and enables you to record, rewind and pause your programming.

HDTV – High Definition programming is always available and not dependent on location and company like it is with cable.

Pay-Per-View – There are twice as many Pay-per-View stations and the sports coverage is much more complete with no black-outs for local stations.

Programming – There are more programming packages and options for you to choose from, so you can tailor something that suits your tastes.

Customer Service – Customer service ranks consistently higher than with cable TV.

Value – Value for the money is superior dollar for dollar, youll get more channels and a better variety of options with satellite TV than most other cable service providers can provide.

Cable Television vs. Satellite TV is an easy choice once you compare services and know the facts. Millions of people have switched to satellite TV providers DirecTV and the Dish Network and more sign up every week. The best value for your dollar is clear Satellite TV.

About the Author: Kevin Urban is a freelance writer for http://www.1st-dish-tv.net, a consumer guide to free satellite TV systems. Copyright 2006 http://1st-Dish-TV.net

Written By: Kevin Urban