FREE Satellite TV Offers from DirecTV & DISH Network

Where is the Catch?

The present free satellite TV service offers from the two major US satellite TV service providers - DISH Network and DirecTV, have made digital satellite television even more appealing than ever, but... is there a catch?

Free Satellite TV:
A myth or a reality?

If there is one thing that is constantly being advertised on the net, it is FREE satellite television.

This can take various forms, from 'free' satellite TV access via your broadband internet connection, access via hacked satellite TV cards, or the free offers as advertised by DirecTV and DISH Network.

Free Satellite TV access via internet - often referred to as free satellite television for PC, is nothing more than TV streaming via internet. You pay a one-time fee to get 'free' unlimited access to some +3000 stations from all over the world and in all languages, but...

Do not even think about it! Apart from a TV picture quality that has nothing to do with 'real' TV, only a small fraction of the stations available would appeal to your TV viewing habits. Equally important, you are paying a one-time access fee for something that is in reality, often available for free on the internet - all you need is to know the TV station URL used to stream live TV content.

A hacked satellite DirecTV or DISH Network card would surely enable you to access all channels for what is supposed to be free access - but is it really so? 

At face value, you are supposed to pay a one time fee to some hacker for an illegal access card, plus you will also have to buy all related satellite TV system hardware. But the hacker fee would soon turn out to be a recurrent expense. To fight pirated cards, both TV operators check for illegal access and shut all hacked cards once to three times a week. And whenever you get hit, you have to visit your hacker and pay whatever he asks to re-open your card.

Free satellite TV System Hardware Offers: The third form of 'free satellite TV' refers to the various offers from the two leaders in the field - DirecTV and DISH Network - which as we will soon see further on in this article, mainly consist of free setup and free equipment. But once the system is installed for you for free, you must pay a monthly fee for a minimum subscription period - the duration of which can be anything between 12 and 24 months, depending on the package on offer.

So... No matter how you look at it, there is no such thing as 'free satellite TV'. Within this context, there is only one thing worth considering - if eligible - the offers from the two leaders in the field: DirecTV and Dish Network.

Free Satellite TV Offers

Both DirecTV and DISH Network have come up with a number of 'innovative' FREE offers in an attempt to get an even bigger market share. These free satellite TV systems are available from a number of DirecTV and DISH Network dealers.

The offers would normally include not only the satellite TV receiver, but also any additional equipment required to connect multiple televisions in different rooms, as well as the satellite dish and system installation by a professional.

But there is more: Often, both digital satellite TV service providers will throw in a few months of free programming as well, but...

In reality, these free offers are the result of the fierce competition that exists between these two major US satellite TV service providers - offers that are worth a couple of hundred dollars in free equipment and system installation.

What is included in these free offers?

The 'free' satellite TV offers from both DirecTV and DISH Network are very similar in content. As a new satellite TV service customer, you will get for free all of the following:

		An appropriate satellite dish
		Typically, up to four receivers, so a maximum of four rooms in your house can watch different channels.
		Professional installation of your new equipment - just schedule your installation online, and your service provider will do the rest.
		Often, these will include a few months of free programming
		Also, depending on the service package you are opting for, you may also get a PVR equipped satellite TV receiver as part of the free equipment package.
		Possible other freebies as well.

However, each additional option you get hold of with your 'free' offer, will eventually translate into additional monthly fees. These normally start at around $20 a month for the very basic standard TV pack and one satellite TV receiver. You will have to pay extra for HDTV access as further detailed in the second part of our Guide to Satellite HDTV. A full premium programming bundle may go up to around $100 a month.

For more information about DirecTV, DISH Network, the AT&T-DISH Network alliance, and the main differences between these two major digital satellite TV service providers, just follow the links below:

		What is DirecTV?
		What is DISH Network?
		What is the SBC|DISH Network Alliance - now AT&T|DISH?
		DirecTV vs. DISH Network

 

Remember that these free satellite TV offers apply to customers in the US only. For information on the latest offers from DirecTV and DISH Network, please visit one of their authorized retails like VMC Satellite and AllSat for DISH Network, and including Circuit City and Best Buy  for DirecTV

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