Home : Related readings for satellite TV shoppers

Dish Network Articles: Satellite TV in United States

Want to know more about United States satellite TV business despite getting your free satellite TV dish?

As you all may already known, satellite TV business in United States are mainly dominated by two companies, Dish Network and DirecTV. If you would like to have a satellite TV in your home, your choices are mostly limited to the free satellite TV packages that offered by either one Dish Network or DirecTV.

Here's a quick view on United States satellite TV industry: Hughes's DirecTV, the first high-powered DBS system, went online in 1994 and was the first North American DBS service. In 1996, Echostar's Dish Network went online in the United States and has gone on to similar success.

You can get more free satellite TV information through out our website (satellite TV history in United States, Satellite HDTV, free satellite TV deals offered by Dish Network and DirecTV, etc.). But here, we will concentrate on these two U.S. satellite TV giants:Dish Network and DirecTV.

And as you can see now DirecTV and Dish Network, grew up to be the top satellite TV provider, offering their free satellite TV system everywhere. Apparently, with these free satellite TV deals, Dish Network and DirecTV are the primary competition of cable TV service in United States. These two satellite TV providers actually had blown up a "cut cable wave" in some of the states in U.S.

Now, lets have a closer look on these two famous free satellite TV providers: Dish Network and DirecTV.

Dish Network

The Dish Network satellite TV is a direct broadcast satellite (DBS) service that broadcasts digital satellite television and audio to households in the United States. Owned by Echostar, Dish Network was launched in March, 1996 and is DirecTV's primary competitor in the United States.

Dish Network originally used an 18-inch satellite dish called DISH 300 which allowed subscribers to receive a signal from one satellite location. Nowadays, Dish Network uses 20-inch satellite dishes called DISH 500, which allows subscribers to receive satellite TV signals from two satellite locations simultaneously. Slightly larger, 36"x20" dishes (called SuperDISH) are being introduced with capability to receive satellite signals from three satellite locations simultaneously.

Both DISH 500 and SuperDISH are becoming more common as Dish Network (as well as other DBS services) are attempting to squeeze more programming onto their growing systems, particularly local American television network affiliates stations, and foreign programming.

In 2003, Dish Network began providing in-flight satellite TV service to the U.S. airline Song. In 2004, selected music channels from Sirius satellite radio were added to DISH Network's lineup of audio-only channels. Dish Network is also partnered with Starband to deliver broadband satellite Internet service along with it's television service.

All selected music channels from Music Choice were added to Dish Network's lineup of audio-only channels, as well as America's Top 240 and Dish Latino Gold.
Every month, Dish Network has a show called Charlie Chat which features news about upcoming hardware, programming events, and new channels. Charlie Ergen and Jim De Franco host the show and take questions from e-mail and live callers.

DirecTV

DirecTV is a direct broadcast satellite (DBS) service that broadcasts digital satellite television and audio to households in the United States.

Owned by DirecTV Group, a subsidiary of News Corporation's Fox Entertainment Group, DirecTV was launched in 1994 and was the first high-powered DBS service in the world. DirecTV typically uses smaller 18-inch satellite dishes to receive its signals. Slightly larger, 18 x 24-inch oval antennas to access multi-satellites are becoming more common as DirecTV (as well as other DBS services) are attempting to squeeze more programming onto their growing systems, particularly local television network affiliates stations as well as hybrid systems that also receive broadband satellite Internet service.

In 1998 DirecTV acquired its partner, USSB for $1.3 billion. In 1999 DirecTV acquired PrimeStar for $1.83 billion. In 2003, a merger with EchoStar, owner of DISH Network, fell through. On December 22, 2003, controlling interest in Hughes Electronics was sold by General Motors to News Corporation.

DirecTV is often abbreviated as "DTV". However, DTV has recently been used to refer to digital television, giving rise to the unofficial acronym "D*".

DirecTV receivers (television set-top boxes) were originally referred to as "Digital Satellite Service", or DSS, so that services being broadcast by both DirecTV and USSB would appear to be received by generic equipment. In 1998, after the acquisition of USSB, an American court ruled that the term "DSS" was an already trademarked term that could not be used by DirecTV.
DirecTV offers standard television including local channels in most markets. Local channels are transmitted over terrestrial optical fiber networks to the Castle Rock Broadcast Center, in Castle Rock, Colorado, where they are uplinked.

DirecTV also offers high definition (HDTV); and a digital video recorder (DVR) service in partnership with TiVo. It has now more than 12 million customers in the US and 1.5 million in Latin America. 2002 revenues were USD 8.9 billion.

More info on free Dish Network deals

• Dish Network overview
• Dish Network frequent asked questions (FAQ)
• Dish Network vs DirecTV (Direct TV)
• Dish Network vs cable TV
• Recommended Dish Network dealers
• Dish Network seasonal promotions
• Dish Network programming packages

About the author:

Claudia Walters, expert writter on consumer products reviews. Check out his latest satellite TV related website and get recommendations on DirecTV or Dish Network dealers, <a href="http://www.sunsatellites.com/dishnetwork/directtv.html">compare Dish Network with DirecTV's</a> and other issues on <a href="http://www.sunsatellites.com">satellite TV deals</a>

More readings at: Dish Network offers

Featured Articles

Article index
Dish Network 101
Dish vs DirecTV
Free satellite TV

Advertisement

www.sunsatellites.com © 2005 - 2007 | Be a smart satellite TV shoppers!