Compare the different satellite TV services.

If you're in the market for a new satellite system, read over these descriptions of the different types of service available.  There's more out there than just the 18" dishes you see around town, but in many cases, an 18" dish system is all you'll need.

Read on to compare satellite TV services that are available to you.

Satellite TV service from Direct TV

Learn more about the Direct TV free system and service...

Direct TV is a great choice for customers looking to get a small dish system -- especially if you're looking for the best in sport entertainment packages.  Specifically, Direct TV offers the follow advantages to new customers.

• a free satellite system, including a free 18" dish and up to five free receivers
• a free DVR (digital video recorder) in one receiver -- made to work with a TiVo operating system
• a free DVD player (limited time offer)
• free professional installation of your new equipment
• the very best in sport entertainment packages, including:
• NFL Sunday Ticket - watch 14 games every Sunday
• MLB Extra Innings - get up to 60 games every week
• MLS Direct Kick - see regular-season and certain playoff soccer games
• NBA League Pass - see up to 40 games every week
• NHL Center Ice - get up to 40 regular season matches each week
• ESPN College Grand Slam - extra ESPN coverage of the NCAA Baseball Championship
• ESPN Game Plan - see up to 12 NCAA football games each week
• ESPN Full Court - get 30 NCAA basketball games every week
• Mega March Madness - get extended coverage of the Final Four tourney
• Euro 2004 - catch 31 matches from the UEFA Euro 2004 tournament
• Barclaycard English Premier League - world-class soccer action

Satellite service from the Dish Network

Learn more about the free Dish Network system and service...

The main difference on which you should compare the Dish Network and Direct TV service is the programming packages that are available.  If you want great sports programming, then get Direct TV, but if you want satellite TV service for international programming then you should get a Dish Network system.

The Dish Network also offers a free system (including a free dish and up to four free receivers) for new customers.  You'll get all this as a new customer:

• Not a piece of equipment to buy: this includes your free dish and receivers
• You don't have to make a Dish Network commitment
• You'll receive 100% digital broadcasts
• A free DVR (this stands for digital video recorder) and HDTV options
• Cheaper service than cable TV
• Free pro-installation of the equipment (for up to four TVs)
• Unbelievable channel choices

C-band and Free-to-air satellite service

Learn more about C-band satellite TV or Free-to-Air satellite TV service

And finally, for the adventurous types, there is a type of satellite service that is free to receive but you have to figure out yourself.  It is called free-to-air (FTA) satellite service and is received with a larger-sized satellite dish antenna and a FTA receiver.

C-band programming refers to all the satellite programming that is broadcast in the C-band range of the electromagnetic spectrum, and it is received with a dish over 6 ft. in diameter.  There is also Ku-band programming available, and it can be received with a 3 ft. dish.

Here are the following advantages of free-to-air and C-band programming.

• You will pay much less for your programming
• There are 200 free satellite TV channels and 100 free radio channels, and you can subscribe to all sorts of programming packages
• You can receive broadcasts from many satellites in the sky
• New C-band channels are always added
• There is international, sports, and adult satellite programming from all over the globe

With C-band, you must, of course, buy all of your own equipment, but if you're up for it, the small dish channel options don't compare.