Directv was the first satellite TV services offered for home users in United States. It was launched in 1994 by General Motors subsidiary Hughes Electronics. DirecTV gained about 320,000 subsribers within a year and the number had increased nearly 50 folds 12 years later as they are now serving more than 1,500, 000 customers now in Untied States.
What you can get from DirecTV offers?
Often you will find DirecTV dealers offer free satellite TV system free up to four rooms. This means that they are going to provide you four satellite signal decoders, four remote control, and a 18 inches satellite dish to receive satellite signals. Some dealers also offer free incentive gifts such as DVD players, home theater system, digital camera, and free movie channels. However, to get these free gifts and free satellite systems, you must be the first time customer for DirecTV and must be willing to sign up a 12-18 months of service contract.
As for the monthly programming charges, DirecTV basic programming package cost starts at $31.99 per month. Extra fees are charged if you order extra sport channels or International channels packages.
DirecTV programming
One of the reasons why DirecTV is so successful is because it offers a wide range of programming selections to the users. DirecTV users can get up to 225 standard channels in normal programming packages. On top of that, users still can enjoy wider range of non-English programming choice such like Spanish and Chinese programming. The DirecTV Para Todos service features more than 45 Spanish-language channels, including sports, movies, news, music and educational networks; while Phoenix TV is offer where you can get 24-hour Mandarin programming.
DirecTV also gives a better option to sport fans that wish to enjoy live sport event at home. It has exclusive rights to lots of sports channels. Famous DirecTV sports packages like NHL Center Ice, MLB Extra Innings, NY Yankee Games, NBA League Pass and NFL Sunday Ticket allow you access to almost every NFL or NBA game. The sport coverage is so wide that you will not even miss a game in the league with DirecTV services.
HD channels
Like its competitor Dish Network, DirecTV also provides high-definition television (HDTV) and interactive services through TiVo technologies. Through partnership with TiVo, DirecTV are now offering their HD channels through their own DVR systems produced by News Corporation-owned NDS.
Currently there are 10 major HD channels offered by DirecTV, local HD channels are provided whenever its available. HD channels provided by DirecTV are Channel 70 HBO HD, Channel 71 Showtime HD, Channel 72 ESPN 2 HD, Channel 73 ESPN HD, Channel 74 Universal, Channel 75 TNT HD, Channel 76 Discovery HD, Channel 78 HDNet Movies, Channel 79 HDNet, and Channel 101 CD USA.
How do DirecTV and Dish Network stack up?
Interestingly, the satellite system services offered by both DirecTV and Dish Network are practically more or less the same -- both satellite services offer more than 200 program channels, integrated digital video recording (DVR) capabilities, high definition TV (HDTV) capabilities, digital quality picture and sound, and 24-hour customer supports.
The slight differences between Dish Network and DirecTV are the pricing and programming. DirecTV's packages are a little more expensive, but they do normally include more channels. As mentioned earlier, DirecTV has exclusive right on certain sport channel packages thus they offer better sport events coverage compare to Dish Network. Dish Network, on the other hand, have more International (non English) channels and movie channels.
DirecTV vs. cables
Often when people are shopping for TV entertainment services, they stuck choosing the right deals between satellite TV and cable TV. Most feels the 'old-school' cable TV is more reliable; while at the same time get much attracted by the lucrative offers by satellite TV companies.
Cable TV is the pioneer in paid TV services; while satellite TV considered relative new in the business as Dish Network and DirecTV came in to the market during early 90s. Cable TVs are still a head of satellite TVs in term of popularity. On the other hand, DirecTV offers 100% digital audio and picture quality, wide selection on programming choices, HD ready channels, and low monthly cost. These advantages are something that cable TV cannot compare with.
Generally DirecTV are giving much better services compare cable services. The only advantage that we see from cable TV is that you can access Internet via cable services. The Internet connection thru cable is faster and more stable compare to satellite Internet, which sometimes will be affected by the weather condition.
Order DirecTV online or offline?
Ordering DirecTV online is recommended based on two reasons: the ease of online shopping and cost savings.
Reason one, hassles free ordering environment. DirecTV retailers websites provide clear package information stated and normally tools provided in the website allows you to sum up the money you are paying. You can thus choose the optimum package for yourself by comparing the package price and programming choices as much as you want.
Reason two, better bargains. Online DirecTV retailers are those who can afford the extra bargains as online retailers have extremely low start up cost. Get more free gifts that you can ever imagine through ordering online. The competition on the Internet is so steep where online retailers are now loosing the up front money to win their market share in the satellite business.
nternet scams in satellite TV business
Unfortunately, with hot product come the scammers. Hundreds of "Satellite TV" websites, offering DirecTV or Dish Network, have popped up, claiming to offer the best satellite dish deals and promotions. They give fake promises and often lure unaware customer with their nicely designed site presentation. Many promise monthly subscription rates under $10 and next-day installation. But once a customer signs up they find hidden "activation" fees, high shipping costs for "free" extras, installation dates continuously missed or pushed back, and poor installation works performed by cheap, inexperienced contractors.
Most of these fraudulent 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.
So can we still get good satellite TV deals online?
Yes, you still can find good deals on Satellite TV services... If you can stay away from the SCAM websites, it is possible to find real good offers on satellite services. Before signing up for satellite TV through an online retailer, you should be sure that it satisfies some basic requirements such as the duration in business (Are they in the business long enough?), official certification (Are they authorized retailers from DirecTV), completeness of the Internet business model (Do they provide customer service and secure shopping environment? Do they provide physical mailing address?)
Installing DirecTV satellite system
Most users worry about the DirecTV system installation. In fact, the installation processs is actually pretty simple and fast. You can install your DirecTV system to your TV regardless that at the type of building you are installing. Landed or terrace house, condominium or shop lot - DirecTV can be installed in all these type of buildings. To install personally, users can setup the DirecTV satellite system by referring user manual guides. However professional installation is recommended because it is FREE. Why take the hassles? Standard installation is provided free by most of the DirecTV dealers, users actually do not need to worry about this issue.
Teddy LC.-- experienced writter on consumer products reviews. Check out his latest satellite TV related website and get the best DirecTV satellite TV deals.
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