Satellite TV Review

Satellite TV Review

The following is a satellite TV review that compares the two major satellite TV providers - DISH Network and DIRECTV - so you can decide which provider is right for you.

Who has the most channels?

Currently, DISH Network has 350 channels of satellite TV programming, while DIRECTV has 250 channels.

What kind of programming do DISH Network and DIRECTV provide?

DISH Network and DIRECTV'S programming services include movie channels, sports packages, variety channels, commercial-free music channels, international channels, pay-per-view movies and special events, plus news and weather channels.

DISH Network has the biggest variety of movies, music, international programs, HD programming, and pay-per-view movies and events. DIRECTV carries the most sports packages.

Who has the best programming price?

DISH Network's lowest-priced program package, the DishFamily Pak, is $19.99 per month, while DIRECTV's lowest-priced package is $41.99 per month. DISH Network's top-of-the-line package, which has 350 channels, is $74.99. DIRECTV's top-of-the-line package with 250 channels is $96.99 per month.

Are DIRECTV and DISH Network's equipment really free?

Both DIRECTV and DISH Network will give you the equipment you need – a dish and up to four receivers – plus free installation when you order one of their programming packages. However, DIRECTV charges $19.99 to ship their equipment.

Are DVR's (digital video recorders) extra?

DISH Network will give you a free DVR when you order their service, and DIRECTV will give you a free DVR with their service after a $99 mail-in rebate. DVR's allow you to digitally record, pause, and fast forward live satellite TV shows.

How much does an HD (high definition) receiver cost?

HD receivers are free with DISH Network, and free with DIRECTV after a $99 mail-in rebate. In order to receive HD programming you must have an HDTV.

Can I get my local channels?

Yes. DIRECTV charges $5.00 per month for local channels, and DIRECTV charges $3.00 per month for local channels.

What international channels are available?

DISH Network offers 21 international channels including African, Arabic, Armenian, Caribbean, Chinese, Farsi, French, German, Greek, Israeli, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Polish, Portuguese, Russian, South Asian, Spanish, Tagalog, Ukrainian, and Urdu.

DIRECTV has 11 international channels including Caribbean, Chinese, Korean, Filipino, Italian, South Asian, Russian, Spanish, Tagalog, Ukrainian and Vietnamese.

Do Dish Network and DIRECTV offer music channels?

DISH Network offers commercial-free 52 music channels and 60 Sirius satellite radio channels. DIRECTV has 67 XM satellite radio channels.

What about customer Service?

Both DIRECTV and DISH Network include 24/7 online and toll-free telephone customer service.

Direct TV Review

How long have you been sitting on the fence about satellite TV? Do you have any idea what an awesome TV viewing experience you’re missing out on if you’re still stuck with the limitations of cable? When I decided to go with a satellite TV system, I did it because I wanted a ton of channels. With Direct TV I got exactly that, and much, much more.

(By the way, if after you read this review you want to see what kind of deal you can get on Direct TV service, you have to scroll down to the bottom of this story and check out the sites I list there. These are the only sites I found where you can find the true up-to-the-second deals Direct TV is offering at the moment. More on that later.)

First of all, I’ll tell you upfront that you’ll pay a little more for Direct TV when compared to some of the other satellite TV providers. But that’s comparing apples to oranges, because Direct TV has several benefits that aren’t offered by their competition.

For example, NFL Sunday Ticket is exclusive to Direct TV subscribers and a must-have if you’re into football. Ever heard of interactive mix channels? Probably not. Only Direct TV lets you watch up to 8 live news, sports or kid shows on a single screen, all at the same time.

How would you like to get a sneak peek at new shows before they go on the air? Direct TV has an exclusive agreement with the FX channel that allows you to do that. And if music is what floats your boat, you’ll be thrilled with the musical events on Direct TV that you won’t see aired anywhere else.

HD programming is quite a buzzword these days. If you’re not watching in high definition, you’re missing out on the ultimate experience in TV viewing. Direct TV gives you 900 hours of HD programs every week, with plans to introduce more than 150 HD channels in the near future. Direct TV was the first to offer the History Channel in HD. I can only imagine how much the history buffs must love that.

You may be wondering how I know so much about Direct TV. I’d like to let you think that I’m just that smart, but the truth is I found those three websites I mentioned earlier (and that I list below) that have a mind-boggling amount of information. If you scroll down, you’ll see the links. Having been to so many bogus sites with misinformation and outdated facts, it was a big relief to find a few that were so straightforward and up-to-the-minute with the latest and greatest that Direct TV has to offer.

But back to the review…

If you’re into movies, Direct TV’s got you covered there, too. Over 70 pay-per-view channels and more than 30 premium movie channels guarantee there’s always a movie available whenever you’re in the mood. The best part is you don’t have to leave your living room. 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, movie watching is at your fingertips. Phone in your order, place it online, or use your remote. It just doesn’t get any easier than that.

My in-laws recently moved to the U.S. from Greece. And thanks to Direct TV’s international line-up, they’re still able to watch their favorite shows from their homeland, in the language they’re most familiar with. Direct TV offers programming from around the globe, more than 80 channels in Chinese, Arabic, Vietnamese, Polish, Russian, Greek, Italian and others. That doesn’t include over 55 Spanish language channels.

I don’t see how you could go wrong by choosing Direct TV, but hey, that’s not my call. The decision is yours. Be sure to visit the links below to check out all the information you need to make that decision and, more importantly, to save some cash. You’ll be glad you did.

The Incredible Hulk TV Series

The Incredible Hulk TV Series

When I was a kid, I used to love watching the Incredible Hulk TV series. It was one of my favorite shoes, along with Dr. Who and the A-team. I didn’t watch a lot of television, but when I did, those were the shows that I really loved to see. I used to watch Star Trek too, but you won’t catch me talking about it too much, because I don’t remember much about it. The Hulk, the A-Team, and Dr. Who stuck in my mind for a long time.

There are times when I want to see reruns of the Incredible Hulk TV series, but can never seem to find them on television. They may be there, but I just never see them when I have the rare opportunity to watch what I want on the television. I do remember that for the longest time, I thought the actor that stared in the Incredible Hulk TV series really did turn into that big green guy. I try to remember this when my daughter watches things on television. I guess that’s why she believes that Wags the Dog of the Wiggles is a real dog, and why I delight in watching her when she views the show.

My brother was also a huge fan of the Incredible Hulk TV series, and he even had his very own Hulk stuffed figure. He carried that thing with him everywhere, and for all I know, he still has it. It lost its pants early on, but the rest of the figure remained a fixture in his life for years. There are many pictures of my brother holding that thing, and it was looking pretty ragged after a while. Back then, merchandising wasn’t as big as it is now, and there weren’t many Hulk toys from which to choose. That didn’t matter though, I’m pretty sure he was happy with what he had.

If you are interested in watching reruns of the Incredible Hulk TV series, you can simply do an online search and order the box set. Most of the seasons are available, and all you have to do is put the DVD into your DVD player and you can turn back time. There truly is something magical about a time when you believed a good man can turn into a great big hulking green thing when he gets angry. Funny, when I get angry, I tend to turn purple, but I don’t seem to have the same great adventures that Hulk did.

TV shows online

Most people who have been using the Internet for a while have already heard of different file-sharing venues and peer-to-peer (P2P) downloading sites where you can get virtually any MP3 or audio file that you want. The fact that these music downloads are available is pretty common knowledge. What is perhaps less commonly known, however, is the fact that you can also find a significant number of TV shows online as well.

Downloading television programs is basically the same as downloading other kinds of files. You first need to find a website that contains links to TV shows online, and then you have to make sure that you have some kind of file-sharing client that will allow you to access the files (often called "torrents" after the name of one of the most popular clients out there). Television program files contain both audio and video components, so they are much larger than music files. As a result, it can often take several hours to download a single file.

There are a couple of different ways you can watch the files you've downloaded. First, the most common way to watch TV shows online is to simply view the downloaded file in a media player. You probably already have a media player on your computer; if you don't, there are several different ones that are available for free. You just have to run a search and choose the one that you think will suit you the best. You'll also have to download the appropriate codecs so that you can both see the video and hear the audio of the television program files. Again, a few minutes spent with your favorite search engine can point you in the right direction as far as codecs go.

If you're a bit more comfortable around your computer and know what you're doing, there's another way to watch TV shows online. You can actually burn the MPEG file to a CD-ROM (thus creating a VCD), which you can then watch on your regular DVD player. You should be aware that this extra step takes much longer and that not all DVD players are capable of handling VCDs. But the end result is definitely worth it, so give VCDs a shot.

Even though most television programs are available for free to anyone who owns a TV set, it's also helpful to know where you can find TV shows online. That way, you'll know exactly where to go if you happen to miss an episode of your favorite program or if you suddenly find yourself in a position where you don't have access to regular television options.

TV Reviews - LCD

The popularity of LCD televisions is growing in the market with each passing day. There are a plethora of LCD televisions to choose from. Here are five LCD televisions that cater to all types of consumers, from the lay individual to the high-definition purist. Sharp Aquos LC-45GD4U, a 45-inch LCD HDTV, is one of the select few televisions with a 1920 x 1080 resolution. In other words, this is a television aficionado's delight, in that it displays the minutest detail of high-definition television. For the lay viewer, however, the difference can be minimal. Sharp Aquos LC-45GD4U is perhaps the cheapest HDTV on the market. It is priced around $4700. It is generally agreed that Sharp manufactures the best LCD televisions. Sharp Aquos LC-37GD4U, a 37-inch LCD HDTV is more or less similar to the Sharp Aquos LC-45GD4U, but possesses a slightly lower resolution. Sharp Aquos LC-37GD4U has detachable speakers and light sensors capable of adjusting brightness based on lighting conditions. These two Sharp products are among the very best LCD televisions in the market. Sharp Aquos LC-37GD4U is priced around $3000.

Sharp Aquos LC-32G4U is less expensive than its bigger cousins, but it is generally considered a good buy. However, experts believe that the "black levels" and the quality of image are inferior to that of the other two Sharp products. This 1366 x 768 resolution television comes with an inbuilt analog tuner. Priced at $1800, Sharp Aquos LC-32G4U is a user-friendly model.

Syntax Olevia LT30HV is normally considered pedestrian by other LCD televisions standards. However, it seems to be a great budget pick. With a 1280 x 720 resolution, this television has a bright screen with good color. In comparison to the Sharp Aquos televisions, it has mediocre "black levels." However, it is distinctly better than other LCD televisions of the same price. Syntax Olevia LT30HV comes for about $1000 in the market.

Sony MFM-HT75W, Widescreen LCD monitor with TV tuner, comes with a 17" screen and a 1280 x 768 resolution. It is one of the best products when it comes to the quality of image and color fidelity. It is the ideal choice for photography and graphics. The images look sharp and crisp, though experts opine that it has the propensity to throw back ambient light. It may not be the best suited for a bright place. Sony MFM-HT75W has an analog tuner, so it is possible to watch television with a cable input. Also, it works perfectly well with Macintosh computers. It is priced in the market at about $570.

TV Critic Reviews

As aunt of a preschooler and an aspiring voiceover actress (I knew all those hours of watching Bugs Bunny would come in handy), I know all the kids’ shows as well as every kids’ DVD out there.

In my opinion, there’s no better way celebrities can recoup their outrageous salaries than entertaining and sometimes educating kids. And They Might Be Giants get the “cooler than Elvis” vote for singing the theme song to one of Playhouse Disney’s newest hits, “Higglytown Heroes,” which is also on their CD/DVD for kids, "Here Come the ABCs."

For those of you not familiar with all things Higgly (an adjective used as much as “Smurfy” but not, thank Higgles, as a verb), the series centers on a small town and four tots named Eubie, Kip, and siblings Wayne and Twinkle. Think “South Park” with better art and no foul mouths. The strongest language is, “Aw, pickles,” usually uttered by Twinkle (pinker than Trista Rehn Sutter!) after her fanciful ideas for solving the kids’ dilemmas get gently punctured by Fran, a friendly squirrel voiced by Edie McClurg.

In each two-episode half-hour show, the Higgly Kids experience common, innocent childhood events such as finding a caterpillar, hosting a television party for the Happy Hairy Higgly Monster Primetime Special, losing a tooth, Kip’s Grandpa locked in the bathroom, or caring for an unhappy bird. The kids try to solve their problems, guided by Fran who is the voice of reason, helped by their loving families and the ever-enthusiastic oddly Bill and Ted-ish Pizza Guy…plus someone special. Then comes the inevitable song…

“Someone special, who could it be?
This job’s too big for you and me.
We need some help!
But never fear-o,
It looks like a job for a…Higglytown Hero!
A Higglytown Hero!”

Some of the heroes are natural choices, especially after September 11: Police Woman, Firefighter, etc. But how many of us think of sanitation workers, electricians, plumbers, gardeners, mail carriers (voiced by Kathie Lee Gifford) and farmers as heroes? Or a telephone operator (voiced by Cyndi Lauper)? Although the heroes have celebrity voices, the Higgly Kids discover that the real stars all around them are the people who solve problems every day.

Some of the dilemmas get a little ridiculous from an adult perspective. For example, when Kip climbs a tree to save a beloved neighborhood cat and her kittens, his friends help him. Why, when he gets stuck, can’t they help him back down? Ahem…when was the last time you tripped and panicked? You need help in your own life every day without thinking about it.

The beauty of “Higglytown Heroes” is that it celebrates working together, “having fun together,” and the Higgly Kids as well as their families never take for granted the Heroes in their lives. The Electrician (Lance Bass) gets invited to share in the “Higgly Monsters” TV party after repairing the circuitry for Kip’s house. The Fire Fighter (Donald Faison) who gets Kip out of the tree shares in a birthday party for the neighborhood cat. How many of us go out of our way to thank the people who make our lives easier? Sometimes we forget to see them as people with needs and feelings.

We even forget to see our own families as heroes. Kip’s Grandmama (voice of "Golden Girl" Betty White, with Rose Nylund-like hairdo) knits the kids sweaters. Kip’s real-estate agent Mom, Bitty, acts like the soul of ‘50s domesticity, but gets rewarded when Kip and his friends make her a get-well card. Wayne’s Mom, Plunkie, shows the kids a caterpillar and drives them to the beach, while Wayne and Twinkle's Uncle Lemmo cooks them breakfast at his diner and, in the Christmas special, drives Wayne and Twinkle about in his sleigh.

Interestingly, Higgly families aren’t always nuclear families, something Disney portrays as normal without calling attention to it. Kip’s family is the proverbial nuclear family, with twin sisters, a baby sister, a mom and dad, Fripp, (who operates a hot dog cart), and two grandparents who either live in Kip’s large house or visit constantly. Twinkle and Wayne’s mom seems to be a single parent (although all are African-American, no one has screamed racism yet), and Eubie is apparently being raised by his Southern-accented Aunt Mellie and Uncle Zooter, with visits from his Southern-accented Grandpop Crank (a farmer).

In many ways, Higglytown is idealized. No one really seems to worry about jobs, money or status. People go to the library, and a Librarian is a Higglytown Hero! The kids “work real hard” and take responsibility (gasp) by thinking up ways to help themselves and their families, and in each episode there are little moral lessons and advice (take care of your pets, don’t use too much electricity, make someone smile) to show the kids how they can grow up to be…Higglytown Heroes!

Cynics and naysayers will deride this as kiddie pablum. I call it a refreshing dose of reality and a tribute to the heroes all around us. The Disney animators are Higglytown Heroes for creating this show.

Author's Note: After this review originally made the rounds on the Web, actor Rory Thost, who provides the voice of "Kip," was kind enough to be a "Higglytown Hero" and make my day by telling me how much he and the cast liked the review. For all of those who think our kids are complete troublemakers, young Master Rory Thost is thirteen: http://imdb.com/name/nm1191277/?fr=c2l0ZT1kZnxteD0yMHxzZz0xfGxtPTIwMHx0dD1vbnxwbj0wfHE9cm9yeSB0aG9zdHxodG1sPTF8bm09b24_;fc=1;ft=4. His showbiz career is already longer than mine! More importantly, in a world where bad behavior by celebrities is sadly the norm, this young man remains polite, mature, well-educated and well-grounded.

Author's Note II: This series gets better and better. The continuity is even on a par with most primetime shows. Kip has adopted a dog named "Shadow," who makes guest appearances; we meet Fran's parents after seeing them in the Christmas special; Eubie's Grandpop becomes a Higglytown Hero; Eubie's bird Flappy makes appearances from time to time. The Firefighter returns. The Electrician proposes to the Teacher, and Pizza Guy and Fran get to be Higglytown Heroes!

Author's Note III: Disney has created Higglytown Heroes Toys. This series has, er, legs!