DISH Network Guide for Dummies

So you are looking for quality satellite television entertainment? The two biggest American Satellite television providers are DirecTV and Dish Network. DirecTV has bigger market portion but in this article we will focus on Dish Network because we believe that Dish Network provides bigger bang for your buck currently.

Dish Network® (Nasdaq:DISH) has more than 13 million satellite TV customers (April 2009 estimate) and is the second largest provider of advanced digital TV services in the US. DISH Network’s services include hundreds of audio and video channels, DISH On Demand, Pay-Per-View, Interactive TV, HDTV, sports and International programming. They also offer free Standard Professional Installation and 24-hour customer service. DISH Network is a Fortune 500 company so it is likely to be around in future.

Dish Network service is offered all over the US including Hawaii, Puerto Rico and Alaska. Outside the continental United States a larger dish will normally be required to pick up a clear satellite signal. The size of the dish may vary from 24-inches to a 1.5 meter dish depending on the location.

Dish Network has a large selection of packages covering all kinds of TV viewing needs. Some examples are:

Standard-Definition Packages:

DishFamily: Over 50 channels of low-priced, family-friendly programming.

Classic Bronze 100: Over 100 channels

Classic Bronze 100+: Over 100 channels. Including Local Channels plus Regional Sports Network(s)

Classic Silver 200: Over 200 channels

DishDVR Advantage: Most popular package! Over 200 channels including SIRIUS music and local channels.

Classic Gold 250: Over 250 channels

America‘s Everything Pak: Best value

High-Definition Packages:

TurboHD Bronze: Over 50 channels

TurboHD Silver: Over 60 channels

TurboHD Gold: Over 65 channels

Available Ad-ons: HD local channels, PlatinumHD, DishDVR Advantage

Spanish Programming (Dish Latino):

DishMexico: 55 channels

DishLatino Clasico: 65 channels

DishLatino Plus: 75 channels

DishLatino Dos: Over 200 channels

DishLatino Max: Over 230 channels

Available Ad-ons: HD Essentials, HD Ultimate

International Programming: Over 150 channels in 28 languages

Dish Network provides free Professional Installation by qualified technicians and can be installed within 24 hours. You have the choice of getting up to 4 rooms connected at no extra cost. A DVR box will be installed in each room if you desire, allowing different channels to be watched at the same time in different rooms.

Movies and events can be watched in HD if you get Dish Network Pay-Per-View. In order to view high definition programs, you must have an HD television in addition to an high definition capable satellite receiver box and a DISH 500 antenna. If you want to watch Pay-Per-View movies than that can be done by following means: Telephone Automated System, Online, Customer Service and Mobile Service.

Ordering online is one of most popular ways to order Pay–Per–View movies and events. You do not have to call in like while using Telephone Automated System but it functions precisely the same otherwise. Dish Network will broadcast the movie or event that you ordered to all the satellite receiver boxes in your house.

For subscribers who are unable to have their satellite receiver box consistently hooked to a phone line, but do not move around, the Telephone Automated System is best option. With this option, there is an extra charge per transaction which is added on to your account.

You can call Customer Support Center and a representative can order a Pay–Per–View for you. Ordering a Pay–Per–View through a representative (sports packages are excluded) incurs an additional cost.

For people on the move, such as truck drivers and RV owners, Mobile Service is the best option. You get smart card that can be used to order a maximum of nine movies. Once your smart card fills up you will need to connect your digital receiver box to a phone line in order to erase the purchases. This service is only available on one receiver per account and attracts a yearly cost (not available monthly).

The features explained above should enable you to choose a package with ad-ons in order to satisfy your viewing requirements.