Satellite TV Selector

Technorati Tags: cable versus satellite tv, satellite movie packages, satellite tv, satellite tv international

It is about time, really.  The nation’s leading satellite television provider and Common Sense Media have finally made great information about movies, video games, satellite television shows, web sites, books and music available to parents through your satellite television provider’s website.

Detailed, age-based information on network television shows, pay-per-view options, and “on demand” programming is now at a parent’s fingertips.  Unbiased reviews, which are incredibly hard to come by, are also available for anyone to read.  Common Sense Media is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization whose only interest is providing information on media and entertainment that affects kids and their families.

When you visit the website, click on a television show or movie title in the programming guide.  Look for the “Parental Ratings” tab.  Once you have clicked this tab, you will find up-to-date information on violence, sexual content, hidden and overt messages, and much more. 

The website also provides a handy link to record any program to your DVR without leaving the site.  That is very handy, and makes a busy parent’s life so much easier.

By recording appropriate satellite television shows in advance, the temptation to watch less appropriate programs is removed, because you are choosing in advance what your family will watch. 

No more flipping through the channels – you are already watching the right shows, directly from your DVR.  No more tiresome arguments with the kids and no more keeping an eagle eye on their television viewing – you have arranged everything in advance.

There is work underway to expand these television and movie ratings and reviews to cover every part of your satellite television experience, moving the information from the Internet and into the channel guide.  The major part of the work is done, and moving ratings and reviews to the on screen satellite television guide is the next step.

The partnership bases its unbiased reviews on childhood development criteria.  The recent explosion in the number of supposedly kid-oriented satellite television channels has led to an equal explosion of animated cartoon shows and sitcoms which are not necessarily good for kids to watch. 

Without an extensive background in child development psychology, parents have no idea how damaging some of these shows can be to young children.

All parents know that nudity and swearing is not appropriate for kids, so they can quickly change the channel if it is obvious a show is beyond tolerance.  The new reviews offered through the partnership between your satellite television provider and Common Sense Media also review the sometimes subtle messages many shows have. 

Unless a parent sits down and watches every minute of every show with the kids, those messages may miss the parent’s interpretation, but still lodge in the impressionable young child’s brain.

This wonderful partnership between your satellite television provider and Common Sense Media is one more step by the entertainment industry to protect kids and families, and to provide the highest quality viewing experience possible for everyone.  It’s about time!

Kenneth Mcpherson
http://www.articlesbase.com/television-articles/parents-your-satellite-television-options-just-got-better-845187.html

A recently conducted national survey shows that an average American spends more than 16 percent of his time watching television for the entire year. This is approximately two months for every year, and this is more than the amount of time we spend sleeping.

Each American home is said to own more than one or at least two television sets at one time. As more and more people are hooked on television, it’s no wonder that people also want to tune their computers to get satellite TV on PC.

How You Can Hook Up to Your Favorite Shows on TV

There are actually several ways that you can watch television. You can use Cable TVs, Satellite TVs, or use a software that can help you watch satellite TV on PC.  There are advantages and disadvantages for each type. Cable television can provide a good reception since it is not affected by the terrain or the weather. The only downside is that there are places where there are no cable providers available, like rural areas or some suburban districts.

For instances like these, most people turn to satellite television. Satellite television is a great choice if you cannot subscribe to cable television. All you need is a satellite dish system and you will be able to watch TV on PC from all over the world at high quality. Satellite television is usually appealing to most people all over the world. Lastly, some people who might not have direct access to a television set can use their computers with a special software to watch satellite TV on PC.

Online Streaming

Satellite television is usually a reliable media when watching your favorite shows and programs, as long as you place your satellite dish system at a high place where it can get clear lines through the satellites, you should have no problem with your reception. The only downside to using satellite dishes on televisions is that it is highly subjective to weather conditions and seasons. The clarity of the reception you will get will depend greatly if it’s windy, or if it’s snowing etc.

For scenarios like this, you can use a computer software to watch satellite TV on PC. Streaming satellite television is perfect for bad weather since it relies on your Internet connection. Normally, if you watch satellite television, you have the option to purchase a satellite dish and set it up yourself or you can subscribe to a satellite television provider.

Another, more affordable option, is to purchase a software for your computer that will allow you to watch satellite television. If you go for this, there are several, reliable, and affordable software available for you to choose from. This software does not require monthly subscriptions and the hassle of buying and setting up your own satellite dish. You can just get this software and install it on your computer. Most of them are fairly easy to install and won’t require a genius to figure them out.

Therefore, if you’re looking to save and still enjoy quality time with your favorite television shows, then it’s about time that you hook yourself up to this software so that you can watch satellite TV on PC. So make your choice now.

Vikram kuamr
http://www.articlesbase.com/cable-and-satellite-tv-articles/satellite-television-software-watching-satellite-television-on-your-computer-698758.html

For those who would like a second television in their home, but are reluctant to spend the money, you can consider watching satellite TV on your PC. While it does not take a vast knowledge of computers and satellites, it does take a couple more pieces of hardware.

While some companies are advertising that with a computer and an internet connection, along with their software available for a one-time fee, a person can begin receiving television shows on their computer once the software is installed. There are also many free to air programs available as satellite TV on your PC, however programming may be limited and for some of the programs you may still have to pay a licensing fee.

In order to watch satellite TV on your PC or listen to the radio, all you need as a PCTV card. One kind is installed in the PC while the other is used as an external device and plugs in to a USB port. Using the computer’s built-in circuitry, these cards can decode the satellite signals, enabling users to watch the free-to-air programming. Either type of card can be used to watch a broadband signal, and while some programs may be available by way of a phone line connection, DSL, satellite signals are typically received at 40 megabyte per second.

Using PC Like A Digital Recorder

Your computer will need to have a minimum of a Pentium II, at 333 MHz processor and Windows 98 or higher operating system. You will also need the PCTV card and an open slot in which it is installed or an open USB port to connect the external device for satellite TV on your PC and a CD Rom drive. If your computer has the Windows media player, real player or quick time, your television viewing will be more even and less jumpy.

In order to receive satellite TV on your PC you can run a cable from your satellite dish directly to the computer’s PCTV card or an available satellite box. You can also connect your PC by running a cable from your satellite system receiver’s RF output to the computer. Direct TV and Dish Network both recommend this method for better picture quality.

Many free broadcasts you can receive as satellite TV on your PC are from all over the world and many will be in languages other than English. However, by watching satellite TV on your PC you can save the programs to your hard drive for later viewing.

Andrew Manifield
http://www.articlesbase.com/computers-articles/easy-connections-put-satellite-tv-on-your-pc-143873.html

When you subscribe to satellite TV service with Direct TV, you’re signing up for the best television experience available today. That’s because no one offers more channels with more user friendly technology.

A great example of how far Direct TV goes to please its customers can be seen in how many channels it provides. Right now, the company offers well over eight hundred channels of audio and video programming. That’s a lot more than any other television service provider anywhere.

While Direct TV does offer a lot of channels, it also recognizes that bigger isn’t always better. Sure having over eight hundred channels to choose from would be a surefire way to prevent ever being bored with television programming, but in reality, most people would find it overwhelming. There would simply be to much great programming to choose from. That’s why Direct TV has divided this huge number of channels into smaller programming packages. Besides being more manageable, different programming packages provide choices for different customers who have different television needs and different levels of income.

All you have to do to see the flexibility of this system is to look at the programming packages offered by Direct TV. Family Choice is a good example on the lower end of the spectrum. Family Choice has over forty channels which include a variety of family friendly programming, local channels, and even a few XM satellite radio channels. Best of all, Family Choice is priced so as to be affordable to practically any household.

At the other end of the extreme, you’ll find Direct TV’s flagship programming package which is Total Choice Premier. Total Choice Premier has over two hundred and fifty channels which include local channels, huge variety of network channels, four separate movie packages, and a variety of sports channels including regional sports networks. Total Choice Premier is a great choice for anyone who has to have the absolute best television programming package available.

In between Total Choice Premier and Family Choice are two other options: Total Choice and Total Choice Plus. Total Choice is designed to be the biggest and best entry level programming package available anywhere. It has the majority of the great channels that you’ve come to expect with a mainstream TV programming package. These one hundred and fifty five channels cover music videos, movies, sports, news, home improvement, cartoons, home shopping, and much more. Total Choice Plus is the mid grade programming package offered by Direct TV and has one hundred and eighty five channels. All three packages; Total Choice, Total Choice Plus, and Total Choice Premier; all come with your local channels and a wide variety of XM satellite radio channels. Both of these extras add a lot of value to your programming package because, in the case of the local channels, they provide the programming from the major national networks, and in the case of the XM satellite radio channels, they provide a wide variety of music in CD quality sound that may not be available through your local radio stations. No matter how you look at it. Total Choice, Total Choice Plus, and Total Choice Premier; provide a great selection of entertainment for families in a wide variety of situations.

Direct TV’s technology is truly superior to the technology utilized by the competition. All Direct TV subscriptions are delivered in digital television format which provides a television picture of unparalleled clarity. All subscriptions also come with interactive features like the on screen program guide which help to make even hundreds of channels manageable. All of these great features and programming means that Direct TV is the best television service provider available today.

Julia Hall
http://www.articlesbase.com/cable-and-satellite-tv-articles/direct-tv-leads-the-satellite-tv-industry-102456.html

While almost all households are set up for cable TV, there is a technologically advanced phenomenon – Direct Broadcaste Satellite TV (DBS) that is growing daily.

DBS is more simply referred to as Satellite TV these days, and is proving to be the biggest television breakthrough since Cable.

With newer technologies in satellite broadcast being developed, it may very well be cable’s top future competitor.

There are two sides to satellite TV that you should consider before cutting your ties with your cable provider.

Here are some advantages and disadvantages of satellite TV:

Advantages of Satellite TV

* High-quality audio and picture display. Satellite TV transmits high-quality digital data with the use of MPEG-2 or MPEG-4 compression. MPEG-4 is also known for providing high-definition video streams to computers, cellular phones and PDAs or personal digital assistants. Think crisp and clear and you have Satellite TV.

* Access to hundreds of channels worldwide. Satellite TV providers obtain their line-up of shows from both turnaround channels like HBO, ESPN and CNN as well as from numerous local channels like ABC, CBS, Fox, NBC and PBS.

The ability to receive and send broadcast signals using satellite technology increases the possibilities of gaining access to channels from other countries that utilize similar technology for broadcasting. Thus, one is not confined to the usual channels found in cable networks.

* Choice of programs. A number of unique channel packages are there for the choosing by satellite TV subscribers. You may effectively weed out the channels you don’t need and pick out only the ones that you like.

* Wider geographical coverage. Because of the wider reach of satellite technology, Satellite TV is readily available in far flung areas where cable operators can’t reach.

* Parental lock-out options. Parents need not worry about their children watching programs with objectionable content while they are not around. Most Satellite TV receivers are now able to block certain channels from a television set.

* WebTV option. Because Internet data can also be transmitted wirelessly, your Satellite TV can also receive Internet service from your TV set. If you want an integrated set-up for television and Internet access, then Satellite TV is the solution. A fast internet connection can be combined with your satellite TV service.

* Digital video recorders. With some satellite TV receivers, you can record shows directly to a hard drive for play back later.

Disadvantages of Satellite TV

* Initial investment. The satellite dish and receiver comes with a high price tag. You’ll want to compare prices of various sources before you settle with the right one.

* Multiple TV sets require multiple receivers. Since one will need a separate receiver for each TV set, a homeowner will have to spend more money just to have Satellite TV in every room around the house.

* Can malfunction in bad weather. Since the satellite dish is usually located outdoors, it becomes susceptible to malfunction as a result of weather conditions like snow, very strong winds and lightning. This can be prevented by making sure you get a quality product to begin with.

* Installation required. While one can try installing the Satellite TV equipment by himself, a competent member of the provider’s technical support team can do the job quickly with very little room for error but at an additional service fee.

Janelle Elizabeth
http://www.articlesbase.com/home-and-family-articles/satellite-tv-yes-or-no-749136.html

When you sign up for satellite Television service from Direct TV, you’re getting a lot more than just a television service, you’re taking part in a technological revolution. This revolution in communications technology has been ongoing since the Direct TV was founded back in 1994, with the express purpose of providing people all over the United States with high quality television programming delivered with the consistently high quality picture and sound that are inherent in a digital television signal.

Direct TV consistently offers larger programming packages than any of its competitors. For example, the economy package has over forty channels. The fact that it includes local network channels including CBS, ABC, FOX, PBS, and NBC affiliates means that it provides mainstream programming along with the local news coverage that can be so important when it comes to knowing what’s going on in your community. There are also plenty of channels devoted to children’s programming, general entertainment for the whole family, and religion.

Where you really see a big difference between Direct TV and its competitors though comes with its mainstream programming packages. Directv programming is superior to Cox Communications, Time Warner, Charter Communications, CableVision and other cable television providers. A great example of this is the entry level Total Choice package. Total Choice is very impressive as an entry level package because it has a huge selection of one hundred and fifty channels! That’s more than the intermediate level packages of some of Direct TV’s competitors! The Total Choice Plus programming package adds an additional thirty channels on to the Total Choice Package for one hundred and eighty five channels. The Total Choice Premier programming package adds another sixty five channels onto Total Choice Plus for a total of two hundred and fifty channels, making it the largest standard definition programming package currently offered anywhere!

Each of Direct TV’s programming packages comes with local channels included and provides CD quality music in a number of genres in the form of XM satellite radio channels. Direct TV also provides a variety of additional channels which can be used to customize any of its programming packages to meet your exact needs. For example, you can subscribe to a huge variety of seasonal sports subscriptions covering football, baseball, hockey, soccer, various college sports and more. You can also get a variety of channels in Spanish and other languages besides English. A selections of seven adult channels are also available,as are a variety of High Definition channels.

Direct TV is an industry leader in High Definition Television, also referred to as HDTV for short. High Definition Television is a unique television format that’s much different from the standard definition format that we’re all used to. High Definition is distinguished by a much higher resolution and more detailed picture as well as the 16:9 aspect ration screen which provides a much wider view of the on screen action than standard definition television. Currently, there are seventeen high definition channels to choose from.

Direct TV also offers satellite receivers with built in Digital Video Recorders, or DVR’s as they’re known for short. Digital Video Recorders allow you to time shift you programming, so you can watch it when it’s convenient for you rather than when it’s convenient for the networks. DVR’s do this by recording programming onto their high capacity hard disks. They’re much more user friendly than the old fashioned VCR because they’re easy to program with the help of special software and you won’t have to deal with the inconveniences that are associated with video cassette tapes. A DVR also provides the added convenience of allowing you to pause and replay scenes while watching live TV! This can be a great benefit if you’re in an environment when you’re frequently distracted.

Direct TV has been revolutionizing television from the beginning and it will continue to do so in the years to come. This month there is a terrific FREE HDTV and DVR Promotion. Start today. Switch to the best.

Julia Hall
http://www.articlesbase.com/technology-articles/direct-tv-offers-satellite-receivers-with-built-in-digital-video-recorders-102759.html

Watching satellite TV on PC without a dish is a completely new concept to many people. This article would reveal how you can enjoy satellite TV without any messy satellite dish installation.

For those of us who live in remote parts of the world, we are used to watching satellite television using a dish. This dish basically acts like an antenna to receive/transmit signals to and from satellites, allowing us to watch satellite television. The set up of a satellite television can be laborious for folks who are not too techie. The installation involves getting the satellite dish erected outdoor and fixing a low-noise block converter (LNB) on the dish. A receiver or decoder is also required in order to complete the installation. If this set-up sounds very complicated to you, you would be glad to know that you can now watch satellite TV on PC, without any complex installation.

Here are the basic hardware and computer requirements before you can watch satellite TV on PC:

1. PCTV Card

Your computer can act as a satellite television, with the monitor functioning as the screen. However, you would need to first enable your PC to receive and interpret the satellite TV channel feed using what we call a PCTV card. This card can be installed internally on the Peripheral Component Interconnect (PCI) slot which attaches peripheral devices like the PCTV card to the motherboard of your computer. External PCTV cards are attached to your PC via the USB port. In both cases, please take note that internet connection must be established. If you are using an external card, remember to make sure you have a USB port. Otherwise you may need to purchase an adapter.

2. Internet Connection

Broadband connection at speeds no lesser than 512Kbytes is preferred. I will explain why. The quality of your satellite TV would be clearer and transmission would be faster and smoother with high connection speeds.

3. Computer Configuration

In order to watch satellite TV on PC, your PC has to satisfy some minimum requirements like having a minimum RAM speed of 128Mbytes and the CPU must be at least a Pentium 3. Nowadays, most computers are able to fulfill these conditions so it should bother you too much.

4. Optional Computer Peripherals

There are other optional computer components that would enhance your viewing experience such as installing a top-grade graphics card and sound card. It would be perfect if you can get hold of a sub-woofer or even a theater system that is compatible with your computer.

This may be a good way to watch satellite TV on PC but it is definitely not the best nowadays. With technological advances at such break-neck speeds, we can now access to satellite TV on our PC using software. Read my blog to learn how you can watch satellite TV from any computer installed with this special proprietary software everyone is talking about.

This article may be freely reprinted or distributed in its entirety in any ezine, newsletter, blog or website. The author’s name, bio and website links must remain intact and be included with every reproduction.

Davion W
http://www.articlesbase.com/art-and-entertainment-articles/watch-satellite-tv-on-pc-without-the-dish-93902.html

Satellite television is an extremely popular way to watch an array of hundreds of stations. The one downside to satellite is that it can be pricey depending on the program that you set up. What if there was a way to receive all of the satellite stations without having to pay an expensive bill? To your benefit, with ongoing technological development you can now receive Satellite TV from your PC for a small price to pay.

There now is a way for you to have Satellite TV from your computer without paying a penny for the stations themselves. The only fee to have access to hundreds of channels is the price of software that is required to get them working on your computer. You may think that the software is going to jack the prices up to around the range of Satellite TV, but that is where you are wrong.

For less than the cost of a monthly cable or Satellite TV bill, you can watch Satellite TV on your computer. There are a number of different kinds of software to choose from that work for your computer. The difference between the software is how much range you get and how many stations you have access to. The best Satellite TV software on the market will give you access to over 3000 worldwide channels without a monthly fee.

Another great thing about Satellite TV from your PC is that there are no other parts or hardware required to get it going. All that is needed, aside from the software, is an internet connection of at least 56k. The better the connection is that you have, the better the quality of audio and picture you will receive.

The one downside to getting free Satellite TV from your PC is that your monitor is most times nowhere near the size of your television screen. It also makes it difficult to watch the ballgame with your friends or to watch a family movie. In this case, all you need is a video card of at least S-Video output. This will then allow you to connect it to your TV’s video port and watch from your television set.

After purchasing the best Satellite TV software and an appropriate video card, you can watch Satellite TV from your television screen for far less than the price of an actual subscription. While it is a little extra work than simply setting up a subscription, it will save you a large amount of money over time. As long as you have a fast internet connection, you will be on your way to watching Satellite TV for a cheap price.

Richard Banks
http://www.articlesbase.com/cable-and-satellite-tv-articles/what-you-need-to-watch-satellite-tv-from-your-pc-98590.html

We’ve seen all of the television commercials, heard the radio ads, and gazed upon the billboards as we drive down the highway- the war is on and in high gear between the cable and satellite companies, and then more intensely between DirecTV and Dish Network. Each company is constantly ripping apart the other, making negative claims about the service and/or technology in the process. So whom are we supposed to listen to for the best home television entertainment plan? You’ve got to look at the concrete facts while forgetting about any rumors that you may have heard. To help you out with this, we’ve done the all of the research, so you don’t have to.

Starting with customer satisfaction: according to JD Power and Associates, satellite television is the clear winner with an outage average of only 1%. Cable comes in a surprising second place with an average outage of 3-5%. (Those stats are a bit different than the information you may have heard in the cable television ad campaigns.)

When it comes to the monthly bill, here are the latest stats and you can be the judge and make up your own mind. The average 60-channel satellite television monthly cost, including all televisions hooked up to the system, is roughly $33. Digital programming is included, as this is the only kind of programming that the satellite companies offer. On the other hand, the typical 64-channel analog cable bill will run about $40 per month, with digital programming an extra $11, and additional television hook-ups can cost between $4 and $10 for each set, each month.

In our opinion, satellite is the clear, overall winner.

Next, we’re on to the battle of the 2 top satellite television providers- Dish Network and DirecTV. Each offers something that the other doesn’t. For example, DirecTV is the only satellite with the NFL Sunday Ticket, a subscription channel that grants access to 14 professional football games each week during the season. Both main satellites have a different variety of college football games with add-on programming. But, if you have a high-definition television (HDTV), you’ll be interested to know that Dish Network carries 29 high-def channels compared to the 9 of DirecTV.

International programming, anyone? Dish Network is once again the clear winner here, boasting 30 foreign language/culture channels compared to DirecTV’s 10, with most of them in Spanish.

If you’re more of a homebody that likes to stay on the couch and access Pay-Per-View channels, Dish Network has 60 of these channels while DirecTV falls a bit short with 55. Adult PPV’s are available on 5 DirecTV channels and 6 of Dish Network’s.

Susan Sandler
http://www.articlesbase.com/communication-articles/directv-satellite-dish-network-or-cable-tv-tis-the-question-63493.html