Why is it a woman can do so well at being a grandma and yet be so lousy as a mother in law? A perfect example is my wife’s mother, Dolores. She’s a terrific grandmother to our kids, doting on...

So, you're thinking of plunking down the four monthly payments of 60 bucks and change for Direct TV NFL Sunday Ticket. I bet you want to know if it's worth it. Well, I can't really tell you whether it is or...

Congratulations on moving into the 21st century! Pretty simple decision, right?

After all, there are really only two major contenders in the arena of satellite television providers: Direct TV and Dish Network.

Oh, but that’s only the beginning.

Here’s where the fun really starts.

Now all you have to do is wade through the seemingly endless variety of package choices available, compare prices between similar packages offered by both providers, determine if it’s worth the money to include High Definition and local channels, decide whether to opt for the internet services, add a DVR, put the system in more than one room, and figure out which satellite provider is offering the best promotion right now.

Actually, we’re making it sound a bit harder than it is. Finding the best deals on both Dish Network and Direct TV does require a little bit of homework, but it’s ultra-simple if you just know where to look.

For example, both companies will have tremendous deals when you order online, but finding the pages on the site where those deals are can be tricky.

So, what we’ve done is to put both deals side by side here so you can see exactly what the latest most up-to-date (and best) offers are:

Click here to see Direct TV’s latest Deal

Click here to see Dish Network’s latest deal

Sometimes the decisions required to make the switch from cable to satellite TV can seem so overwhelming that you begin to think it would be easier to keep what you’ve already got.

But consider these facts:

• Since the passing of the Telecommunications Act in 1996, cable prices have risen 59%-three times the rate of inflation!
• 98% of all Americans have no choice in which cable company they use
• Cable’s rigid bundling packages mean you pay for channels you don’t watch
• Only 6 major media companies control most of cable programming
• As cable companies grow larger, cable prices rise faster

Okay, so you decide that it’s definitely in your best interest to switch to satellite TV. Why not just flip a coin?

Dish Network and Direct TV Updated Their Latest Deals TODAY. Click Here to Check Them Out!

Heads, it’s Dish Network, tails, go with Direct TV. Truthfully, that wouldn’t be a bad idea.

Here’s why:

Both providers offer basic packages of 40-50 channels from $20-30 per month, mid-price packages from $40-60 (usually 100-150 channels) and high-end deals of 200+ channels for $70-90. Dish Network also offers Sirius music with some of its’ packages.

Both providers offer Latino and International programming, High Definition, local channels, pay-per-view and are available to 100% of homes, even those in outlying rural areas with no access to cable.

It should be noted that both Dish Network and Direct TV have tons of HD channels and are adding more and more all the time — Dish, for what it’s worth, also more Latino and International programming than any other provider. For their part, Direct TV is constantly rolling out new HD channels, and is the undisputed leader in sports programming with packages like the NFL Sunday Ticket, MLB Extra Innings, NASCAR HotPass and more. Compare the packages here:

Click here to see what you get with Direct TV’s best package

Click here to see what you get with Dish Network’s best package

Now, as mentioned above, when it comes to sports, the satellite providers beat the cable company, hands down.

Both Dish Network and Direct TV offer over 30 sports channels and multiple sports packages.

Not only the most watched sports, like football, baseball and basketball, but also hockey, soccer, rugby, cricket, golf, boxing, fishing, hunting, racing…the list is almost endless and comprehensive enough to satisfy the biggest sports fanatic!

Direct TV also offers Nascar Hotpass, a season ticket that includes 5 driver channels, 3 different camera angles, real-time stats and live audio between the driver, crew chief and spotter that allows you to get in on all the racing action, up close and personal.

Then there’s NFL Sunday Ticket, which brings you all the out-of-market football games every Sunday, which is exclusive to Direct TV. And MLB Extra Innings, which will give you more baseball than you could possibly handle.

For the super-fan, Direct TV offers the option of watching multiple games on a single screen as well.

For those on the go, Dish Network has PocketDish, a portable, TV/video, music, game and photo device.

Direct TV gives you satellite TV wherever you are with Sat-Go, a combination receiver, antenna and TV in one portable unit.

What if you want Internet service? Dish Network offers DSL, through your existing phone line, as well as satellite-based access. Direct TV doesn’t offer Internet service directly, but has partnered with local providers to give their customers high-speed broadband service.

So how do you choose? Click here to see that latest satellite TV deals updated today!

Both Direct TV and Dish Network are heavily equipped to handle your TV needs. You can either plan to do some homework to see which one provides what’s most important to you, or you can take the easy way out…and flip that coin!

First, Dish now has both CNN and the Sci-Fi Channel in HD. I would assume that most of you guys will be more excited about the Sci-Fi stuff than the CNN news. I mean really, who needs to see those talking heads in HD?

Also, there was a big announcement from Dish about new markets that have gotten, or will soon get, HD service. Here’s the list:

* Now Available
o Flint, MI (March 27th)
o Orlando, FL (March 27th)
o West Palm Beach, FL (March 27th)
o Cleveland, OH (April 10th)
o Milwaukee, WI (April 10th)
o Richmond, VA (April 10th)
o Tampa, FL (April 10th)
o Baltimore, MD (April 17th)
o Columbia, SC (April 17th)
o Green Bay, WI (April 17th)
o Burlington, VT (April 24th)
o Greensboro, NC (April 24th)
o Greenville, SC (April 24th)
o Huntsville, AL (April 24th)
o Jackson, MS (April 24th)
o Knoxville, TN (April 24th)
o Mobile, AL (April 24th)
o Providence, RI (April 24th)
o Norfolk, VA (April 24th)
* Coming in Summer, 2008
o Abilene, TX
o Buffalo, NY
o Des Moines, IA
o Ft. Myers, FL
o Grand Rapids, MI
o Hartford, CT
o Memphis, TN
o Omaha, NE
o Portland, ME

Cheers!

I just read a great story over on Tradingmarkets.com that highlights the problem. It tells the story of a Green Bay Packers fan who, thanks to the bizarre territorial blackout rules and the cable company’s even more bizarre refusal to carry the NFL Network, is basically forbidden from watching tonight’s big match up between the Packers and Cowboys.

As this cable customer says, he’s paying over $700 for a cable subscription every year. The least he should get out of that is the right to watch a single Thursday night football game. I couldn’t agree more.

Look, here’s the bottom line. I’ve said this before and I’ll continue saying it until things change — the cable industry just doesn’t get it. Their constant bickering with sports leagues and baseless attacks against satellite TV are just plain stupid. Improve your product, cut your price, and maybe people won’t be hitting you so hard. Watch what Dish Network and Direct TV do. And instead of trying to knock them down a peg, try emulating how they treat their customers. It’s much more constructive.

Now, normally this might not be such a big deal. But what makes it newsworthy is the NFL’s shrewd move to start putting prime-time Thursday night games from now until the end of the season on the league’s own channel. That means that some fans who have cable, and whose cable company doesn’t offer the NFL Network, can’t watch the games.

Surprise, surprise, what’s been happening as a result? A mass migration from cable to satellite TV, since both Dish Network and Direct TV carry the network. I wrote a few days ago about how I simply didn’t understand cable’s stance over these issues. It’s so obvious that the satellite carriers really do bend over backwards to offer value, while cable just seems to be shooting itself in the foot over sports time and time again. We’ll see if this gets worked out the same way the Extra Innings fiasco did, but I doubt it this time.

The other day the company announced a few new shows that will be coming to 101. These will debut early next year. Here’s what they are:

* The Supreme Court of Comedy: Sounds to me like this is basically a comedy version of Judge Judy. Small claims courts in California get the treatment from Dom Irrera as the judge, and “counselors” who are also going to be comedians. Sounds interesting.

* Rock & a Hard Place: A game show hosted by Meatloaf that will feature recording artists competing against one another for charity.

* DirecTV Hometown Heroes: Basically a feel-good show that will showcase the good deeds of Direct TV subscribers across the country.

If you haven’t checked out Direct TV 101 yet, you really should. It has some pretty entertaining and cutting edge stuff up there. Let everyone know what you think by leaving your comments below.

By the way, just as a side note, what I always recommend people do FIRST is to really do some investigation into how to find amazing deals on HDTVs. One of the very best techniques I’ve found is to do some serious thinking about a refurbished model. You can literally save thousands. I’m so excited about it that I wrote up a special report that walks you through everything you need to know. You can download it for free here ==>> Digital TV Dojo’s Guide to Buying a Refurbished LCD TV. Definitely spend five minutes and take a look.

Anyway, back to my main point. The AZ Republic story made the point that, no matter how great your HDTV is, if you don’t have a provider that’s committed to improving and expanding its HD lineup, you’re just wasting money. If you’re upgrading to HD, I’d recommend going with one of the satellite providers — Dish Network or Direct TV — over cable. Either one of these is definitely more proactive with their HD offerings than most cable companies. And they’re probably cheaper, too. (I’d say definitely, but obviously what you pay depends on the package you choose.)

I’ve put together two guides that break down the HD offerings from both Dish and Direct. I highly recommend you check them out. Here’s where you can find the Dish Network HD guide, and here’s where you’ll find our Direct TV HD piece. Take a look. You’ll be glad you did.

Anyway, this story goes to show just what a high premium Direct TV puts on satisfying diehard fans. You know how frustrating it is when you want to watch a particular game, but thanks to some stupid blackout rules you don’t understand, and that are no good for anyone, you can’t get it in your area? I hate that. It sucks.

Here’s a cool solution. When you have Direct TV and you tune into a channel where a game is blacked out, the box will automatically scan the entire Direct TV channel lineup to try and find the game that may be broadcast on another channel. Cool huh? Then, if it finds it, it’ll pop up a little window and let you switch right over to it.

And here’s another cool feature — let’s say you’ve set up your DVR to record the game so you can watch it later. If you have that set up, even the DVR will do the automatic searching to find the channel the game is on and record it for you.

I’ve said it before, I’m saying it now, and I’ll say it again. Satellite TV companies just seem to care a heck of a lot more about their customers than cable. Just my two cents.

Quick update today. We just got word from Direct TV that they plan on introducing local HD coverage in 76 new markets by the middle of 2008, which would give them coverage in 75% of US households. Remember, we’re talking LOCAL HD here, so this is kind of big deal. A lot of people have written to us asking about the ability of Direct TV to deliver their local channels in HD, and this announcement would seem to cover that. Hope this helps you make a decision as you choose a provider this holiday season.

I just read over at TVPredictions.com that the success and popularity of HD programming on satellite TV carriers Dish Network and Direct TV is leading many networks to plan and launch high definition versions of their programming. Of course all of the major networks and most major cable channels have already done so, but now there’s a prediction that we could see as many as 63 new HD channels come online in 2008.

If that’s true, that would mean DirecTV and Dish Network would be closing in on 200 (if I could capitalize a number, I would capitalize that) HD channels by the end of next year. When I was a kid, we have four channels. And let’s just say they were less than high def. Sweet.