What Is A Satellite TV Provider?

When you receive satellite TV the signal must come from somewhere. But where? It comes from satellite dishes rotating the earth that companies and other people paid for to put up there for you to watch these shows regardless of where you live. The people that provide you with these channels and movies are called satellite TV service providers. These men and women work day and night to bring you high quality analog and digital cable and only ask for a small amount of money in return.

In the next few minutes you will have learned what a satellite service provider is and isn't and how that moving picture gets to your television screen.

What does a satellite TV provider do?

A satellite TV provider, as a person, runs a network in which their main purpose is to bring you a high quality broadcasted show or movie to your living room without you having to be in Mexico where they filmed it at. These men and women bring to you what you think the shows bring to you. Entertainment. And I believe these people need more credit because there job isn't so easy.

A satellite TV provider as a whole is the business in whole. It's all the people involved in bringing you the entertainment you so enjoy on your Friday nights, right before your weekend starts. These services provide the general cable to your TV. Like basic, basic extended, cable, or HDTV. They broadcast the signal from there building to a satellite up in the sky that then broadcasts it to the whole world or its designated locations.

Why do satellite TV providers charge so much?

When the first satellites were placed in the air it was a lot of money. It still costs a lot to develop, build, and launch one of these babies into orbit in space. The monthly charge you get charged with every month is to help pay for the costs of employees and the cost of having a satellite in orbit. These things can run a bit costly at some times and that is why channel packages can be more expensive to buy. The more people that buy these channels the less it will cost. This is because more people will be paying the price for the satellite in space and so they can drop the price as more people start becoming subscribers.

Christopher Buckley is owner of one of the internet's largest Satellite TV resources. To learn more about satellite TV provider, visit Satellite TV Blog

Satellite TV FAQ

As the owner of a satellite TV website I get asked a lot of questions, so I decided to write a satellite TV FAQ (frequently asked questions) article to answer the most commonly asked questions.

If you have questions I haven't answered in this satellite TV FAQ, you can visit my website to get more satellite TV information by clicking on one of the links below this article.

1. What is satellite TV and how does it work?

A satellite TV center broadcasts a TV signal to a satellite in the sky. The satellite sends the signal back to earth, where it is picked up by a satellite dish, converted to a TV picture by a receiver, and displayed on a TV screen.

2. I've heard you can get satellite TV for free. Is this true?

Yes, you really can get a satellite TV system for free. However, you do have to pay for satellite TV programming service in order to get a free system.

3. Where can I get a satellite TV cost comparison?

Programming service from DISH Network starts at $31.99 a month, while service from DIRECTV starts at $41.99 a month. You can get a complete cost comparison between DIRECTV and DISH Network by clicking on the links below.

4. Can I get my local channels on satellite TV?

You can get your local channels in most areas of the USA included at no charge. In the few areas where you can't get local channels you can hook up an antenna to your satellite TV receiver to get them.

5. Can I record my favorite programs with satellite TV?

You can record satellite TV programs with the DVR (digital video recording) receiver you can get from your satellite TV dealer, or with your VCR. Both DISH Network and DIRECTV offer free DVR receivers when you order one of their program packages.

6. What's on satellite TV?

Satellite TV providers offer more than 250 channels of television programming including movie channels, sports packages, pay-per-view movies and events, commercial-free music, adult programming, and international programming. For more information on what's available, click on the links below.

7.Can I get a satellite dish for TV and the Internet?

Yes, DIRECTV offers a satellite dish for TV and the Internet through DirecWay. Click on the links below for more information.

8. How soon can I get a free satellite TV system installed?

Installation times for DIRECTV and DISH Network vary depending on your location, but you can usually get a satellite TV system installed in your home within one to five days from the time your order your service.

9. Can I get satellite TV if I live in an apartment or condo?

Yes. Many apartment and condo residents install their satellite TV dish on their balcony or patio. You can also install your satellite dish on a movable stand if permanent mounting is not allowed.

10. Does satellite TV offer international programming?

DISH Network offers Armenian, Asian, Chinese, Farsi, French, German, Greek, Israeli, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Polish, Portuguese, Russian, South Asian, Spanish, Tagalog, and Urdu program channels.

DIRECTV offers Chinese, Filipino, Italian, South Asian, Spanish, and Vietnamese program channels.

11. Does satellite TV have parental locks?

DISH Network and DIRECTV offer parental locks to block your children from viewing programs you feel are unsuitable for them.

12. Can I get HDTV with satellite TV?

Yes. Both DISH Network and DIRECTV offer HD (high definition) TV. DISH Network will give you two free HDTV receivers when you order their HDTV programming. DIRECTV receivers cost $199 per receiver.

13. Does satellite TV have TiVo and DVR (digital video recording)?

DIRECTV offers DVR with TiVo service, while DISH Network offers DVR with Video-On-Demand which is similar to TiVo.

14. Can I get DIRECTV or DISH Network outside the U.S.A.?

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

Brian Stevens is a professional freelance writer and webmaster who has written extensively on satellite TV FAQs.

Satellite TV - Whats The Options?

Well, there are several options available to viewers, depending on your requirements. You have the choice of Sky Digital, Fixed European Satellite & Motorised Satellite Systems. But in this article, were going to cover Sky Digital and the benefits it provides the viewer compared to the old analogue.

So, Why Sky Digital:
As opposed to the old analogue system, where you had to have a 60cm satellite dish installed, Sky Digital is now available through what is called a ?mini-dish?, which is much less of an eyesore as the conventional system.

Furthermore, Sky digital will cater for all audiences, from entertainment channels with comedy and drama?s, movies including latest releases, music channels for you to keep up to date with the latest chart releases, or listen to your favourite genre, then there?s the radio stations, cartoon channels and news/documentary stations. There is a whole list of channels, available on different packages ranging from ?15 to ?42.50 (not including additional premium channels) per month.

What else can Sky do? Well, there?s

The Interactive Services:
The interactive services provided by Sky (telephone connection required and charged at a per minute rate) give the viewer the option to purchase goods through their Sky Digital Receiver.

By pressing a button on their controller, you will access the interactive services page, and then can choose whether to go shopping for goods, from a range of stores you can find on the high street and online, so you?ll never have to leave your sofa again!

If your not interested in shopping but after entertainment, there are a range of games available to play, as well as competitions to participate in, a friends & dating section, and also a health and lifestyle section providing information on a wide range of related issues. You can also check availability and what?s on at your local cinema!

The Sky+ & Multi Room Systems:
Ever wanted to watch a film when another film you wanted is being shown at the same time on a separate channel? We all have, and it is frustrating, having to choose which of the two your going to watch.

Well, with Sky+, you?ll have that problem no more. You can keep up-to-date with your favourite soap, and record another programme at the same time, and it will be stored in your Sky+ receiver?s Hard Drive for viewing later. No more will you and your partner have to argue on who is going to miss their programme this week!

Sky+ also gives the viewer the ability to pause what you?re watching. No, not just the recording, but what your watching in ?real time? can be stopped. So, when you receive those annoying sales calls in the middle of the night, and your just getting into your film and don?t want to miss any of it, you can now hit pause, answer the call then get back to film and carry on where you left of! Then when the film is ended, switch back to real-time to carry on viewing as normal.

With Sky+, an upgrade to your dish will have to me made, and a new receiver will have to be installed, which will have an integrated hard drive to record your programmes.

With the dish upgraded, you will also be able to have your existing box moved to another room in your property, so if your family want to watch cartoons, and your more interested in a film or the news, you can watch both, at the same time, in separate rooms (additional monthly fee?s will apply). This is called Sky Multiroom.

This can be extended as much as you want, providing you have the correct equipment installed.

Freesat From Sky:
Not want to pay a subscription, but still want Digital TV channels? Why not opt for the Freesat service available from Sky.

Very similar to a normal Sky system, but you don?t have to pay a monthly subscription, and will get a number of free digital channels (approximately 200) for your viewing pleasure.

Sky HD:
Sky HD is ?High Definition? Television broadcast from Sky. Not familiar with HD?

HD or HDTV is the latest generation of digital TV, providing life-like picture quality, at least four times superior to current standards. It will provide extremely clear and fine picture detail with richer colours, improving the visual experience.

At launch, HDTV is thought to be available from Sky. In order to view programmes broadcast in 'High Definition', a soon to be released HDTV Sky Receiver with Sky+ technology will be required. In addition, the benefit of High Definition will only be apparent through a HDTV television (ideally plasma or LCD).

Please note, not all Plasma & LCD televisions currently available are HDTV compatible. It is expected to become available in the first quarter of 2006. http://www.aerial-satellites.co.uk One of the UK's largest independant TV Aerial & Satellite TV Installation Companies.

The Great Migration From Cable To Satellite TV

What you are about to read should not come as a shock to you, especially if you are a subscriber of cable TV.

Comcast Corp, the dominant cable provider in the nation, has raised cable TV rates for the third time in three years The rates will go up about 6 to 7 percent, depending upon where you live. Other cable providers, like RCN, have also raised rates by about 8 percent.

7 percent is double the rate of inflation. Comcast's prices have risen three times faster than inflation since 2000.

Although cable price increases have moderated in recent years from the double-digit hikes of the 1990s, many research analysts predict that costs will keep going up.

"Operational costs" are the culprits for the rate hikes. "Operational costs" include energy costs, improvements in customer service and network maintenance. Cable companies have millions of miles of outdated lines buried below ground, and are in the process of converting their technology to digital, which will be expensive. Comcast spent nearly $200 million in the past year to maintain and enhance its fiber-optic network in the Bay Area alone.

More Facts

Cable rates have climbed 40 percent in the past six years, from an average $34.40 in 2000 to the $47.93 just announced for 2006. During that same period, inflation increased 14.3 percent, according to the federal Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Is it any wonder why the sale of satellite tv is increasing?

There are about 65 million homes nationwide with cable TV, a number expected to decline to 61 million by 2008. DirecTV accounts for 15 million subscribers and EchoStar's Dish Network for 12 million.

Because satellite providers don't have to pay taxes levied by local governments and feature smaller infrastructures, consumers get more bang for the buck with satellite.

With cable, additional charges are typically assessed for installation and equipment. These charges range from $30 to $80. Satellite Tv offers free instulation, free movie channels, and free upgrades, usually as an incentive to get customers to sign up for their services.

More pros of a satellite dish.

* Digital picture means better quality
* More flexible programming options
* Cost is cheaper per channel
* Good solution for those living in rural areas

According to a J.D. Power study, the average cost of satellite service is about 4% less than cable. Satellite subscribers
save an average of about $2.00 monthly compared to cable.


So, as the rates for the cable companies continue to rise,
you can expect comsumers to continue the migration to
satellite tv. Van Whitsett has published a number of articles, both online and off. For more information about satellite tv, please visit: Discount Dish Network.

The Plus Point Of Free Satellite TV Deals

If you still have not subscribe to DirecTV or Dish Network deals, maybe you should take a look on this as satellite TV becomes the fastest selling products in U.S. history. The plus point of free satellite TV deals offered by Dish Network or DirecTV:

More alternatives: Lots of satellite TV dealers are promoting their satellite TV deals aggressively. High competition leads to better quality and more options. You can always compare satellite packages offered from different retailers to find the finest satellite systems set up and service for your needs.

Programming: A basic 256 channels from Dish Network satellite or 255 channels from DirecTV satellite are commonly subscribed by satellite TV users. TV channels received might differ between Dish Network and DirecTV, but the major channels provided by them are almost the same. Regardless on the satellite TV dealers you pick, the subscription fees are fixed. Thus, subscription fees shouldn't be an issue when you are selecting your satellite dealers.

Click here to view Dish Network programmings http://www.satellitetvissue.com/DishNetwork/DishNetworkPackages.htm

Click here to view DirecTV programmings choice http://www.satellitetvissue.com/DirecTV/DirecTVPackages.htm

Satellite TV systems: When you control your satellite TV systems, you control your TV service. Satellite TV systems are commonly provided by branded names such as Hughes, RCA, Philips, Panasonic and Sony. The same type of satellite systems is also available at local retailers, like Best Buy and Circuit City. The differences are only the price tag and the brand name.

Upgrades & Add-Ons: Both Dish Network and DirecTV enable you to upgrade the satellite TV systems to include features like high definition (HD), digital video recorder (DVR, for DirecTV TiVo.), interactive TV, and more. Currently, some of the satellite TV dealers are offering HD systems and DVR upgrading are free currently for some of the satellite TV dealers.

Subscriber Promotions: These promotions vary from time to time. Dish Network and DirecTV are normally rewarding their customers by waiving subscription fees for a few months. For example, DirecTV regularly offers 3 to 4 months of premium channels like HBO and Cinemax channels for free; while Dish Network normally credit back certain amount on your first bill, which equal roughly to two months subscription fees.

Satellite TV Installation: Satellite TV systems are all installed by certified professionals (unless you insist to do it by your own). Most satellite TV dealers offered free installations where they will set up the satellite dish, satellite signals encoder, and satellite TV program card. Most installations of satellite TV systems are done after 3-5 days you placed your order.

Looking at all the good points listed above, you can see that satellite TV deals clearly are quite some bargains. If you feel that a satellite TV will fit your entertainments-needs, I highly recommend this site: http://www.satellitetvissue.com cause I am seeing them offering great satellite TV deals for Dish Network and DirecTV.Teddy L.Cc., an experienced freelance internet webmaster/writer, frequent writter on issue regarding satellite TV deals, call alert services, electronics goods as well as web hosting. You can find more of his writings at http://www.satellitetvissue.com.