28 May 2012

CBS vs ABC: Which TV Network Has the Best Primetime Shows?

Bigstock-metaphor-compare-apples-to-ora-4068188
Television networks offer their best material during primetime, which is the block of broadcasting time that occurs in the middle of the evening. The networks that currently offer the highest rated primetime entertainment are ABC and CBS. However, nearly every network offers at least one good primetime show, and the best network is largely a matter of preference. Below are some of the best primetime shows currently available for viewing with all DISH satellite TV packages.

Top Primetime Shows on CBS

  • NCIS. NCIS is a show that chronicles the activities of a group of special agents who are responsible for investigating crimes connected to the Marine Corps or Navy.
  • 60 Minutes. 60 Minutes is an hour-long news broadcast that focuses on prevalent issues in America. 
  • Two and a Half Men. Two and a Half Men is a comedy that follows the lives of a man, his brother, and his young son.
  • Survivor. Survivor is one of the most popular reality programs on television. It follows the journey of a group of people living in the elements and fighting to survive in order to win 1 million dollars.
  • The Amazing Race. The Amazing Race is another popular reality show. During this program, several teams of two race around the world to win the grand prize of 1 million dollars.
  • The Big Bang Theory. The Big Bang Theory is a sitcom that focuses on the awkward social behaviors of two incredibly intelligent men.

Top Primetime Shows on ABC

  • Dancing with the Stars. Dancing with the Stars is a reality program in which celebrities join with a professional dance partner and compete for the highest title.
  • Castle. Castle is the story of a mystery writer who joins forces with a detective to solve crimes.
  • Modern Family. Modern Family is a fictional documentary of the life of two parents and their three children.
  • Grey's Anatomy. Grey's Anatomy is a medical drama that follows the lives of residents at Seattle Grace Hospital, both professionally and personally.
  • Once Upon a Time. Once Upon a Time is a unique program that joins fairytales and modern life based on the idea that an evil queen has trapped fairytale characters in the modern world using a curse.
  • Desperate Housewives. Desperate Housewives is a funny and dramatic program that focuses on the complicated social lives of several wealthy women living on the same street.

To choose the best primetime shows for your viewing experience, consider your preferences. If you like reality television, two of the most popular programs are offered by CBS: The Amazing Race and Survivor. However, if you enjoy comedy, you can find programs to meet your needs on either network. For drama, ABC has the most to offer with Desperate Housewives, Grey's Anatomy, and Once Upon a Time. Because there are good programs on several different networks, many viewers watch at least one program on each of the major networks during primetime.

13 May 2012

Top 2 Reasons Satellite TV Is The Way To Go

Bigstock-satellite-tv-antenna-1184544
Everyone raves about cable TV. "Oh, you don't have to worry about having a satellite dish mounted on you house." Or they might say, "You'll always get reception even during bad weather."

But Dish Network Satellite TV has many perks over cable television that you may not even consider. In fact, you never really know how good satellite TV is until you don't have it. And while many people concentrate on the negative aesthetics of getting a dish mounted to your home, they never consider the superior satellite reception.

Here are the two things that can make satellite television change your life for the better. You'll never look at your TV screen the same way again.

1: Living The Rural Life Doesn't Mean Sacrificing Television

If your dream is to get away from the city and urban life to find a nice quite home in the country, don't expect to pack up your cable television to take it with you. The farther you travel from a TV station, the less likely you will find cable providers servicing your area.

Hilly places and a large number of trees can also distort normal television signals. Since satellite television relies on signal triangulation from orbiting satellites that send the signal down to your dish, all you need is a clear section of the sky. You don't have to worry about interference from natural or manmade objects.

When living the country life, having a satellite is vital when you want to watch all of your television programs.

2: Multitude of Programming

Satellite television simply has more to offer than what cable television can give. You have hundreds of television stations, music stations, foreign language channels, and audio programs including Sirus. The picture and sound quality are clearer than that of regular cable. When you have HDTV, you can clearly notice the difference in the digital quality.

If you need a reliable Internet connection, you can obtain it through the same signal. So you can get both television and Internet. The prices for television channels and Internet are competitive, so you'll be getting a great deal with even more programming options.

Don't Go Another Day Without Satellite Television

There will always be the lifelong debate on whether cable is better than dish when it comes to great television and even greater prices. But when you break down the facts, you can see that no matter where you live, you can have the television programming you want at the highest quality if you go with satellite TV.

26 Apr 2012

What Features Does The New Hopper From Dish TV Offer?

Have you run into all of the limitations of your DVR? Doesn’t store enough shows? Can’t record HD? It might be time to switch over to the Hopper from DISH TV, which offers technology that's the way you always wished things would work. The Hopper has features you’ve always wanted and that you’ll use time and time again.

1. You can watch from anywhere in your house, which is one of the reasons the device got its name. It allows you to watch anything on your DVR from TVs around your home, giving you access to all the recorded shows with complete DVR functions like rewind and fast forward. This is perfect if you're always on the move and don't have a consistent place where you watch all your shows.You can even watch HDTV programs on up to four TVs at the same time, whether they’re live or recorded.

2. Your Hopper DVR has a 2 TB hard drive, which is one of the biggest on the market. This means you’ll be able to record up to 250 hours of HD programming or almost triple that in standard definition. This lets you save a lot of your favorite programming indefinitely without worrying about whether you'll have space to record upcoming shows.

3. You can store primetime shows in HD for up to eight days after they are on the four major networks with PrimeTime Anytime. You don't have to set timers to record the shows or use your hard drive. All you have to do is turn on your Hopper DVR when you’ve got time to watch the shows you missed.

4. The main Hopper unit has a button that lets you page your remote control.You’ll never have to dig through the couch cushions or try to find those secret hiding spots where the spouse or the kids have hidden the remote.

5. The search system has some great tools to help you find exactly what you're looking for and set your Hopper to record a specific type of programming every time it appears. It doesn’t matter if it’s your favorite show, whether it’s a sporting event or even if you’re looking for a specific actor, searching and locating all the shows for your Hopper to record is a breeze.

6. The SRS TruVolume controls automatically adjust the volume of commercials when they're set to be louder than the shows you're watching. This means you don’t have to make a high dive for the mute button on your remote when some obnoxiously loud commercial comes on.

If your household loves TV, the Hopper is a great way to let technology push you forward instead of holding you back! And right now it's free with certain Dish Hopper deals.

11 Feb 2012

Crazy Last Minute Finishes You Would Have Seen If You Had DISH Sports Package

For avid sports fans there's nothing worse than finding out you've missed exciting, crazy sports endings because your favorite team is located elsewhere in the country and your TV package doesn't provide coverage. When the game is long over, outstanding last minute finishes live on in the annals of sports. Older football fans everywhere still talk about the infamous Heidi Game. During the last minutes of the November 1968 game between the Oakland Raiders and New York Jets the ending was preempted by the movie Heidi. During those last minutes, the Raiders scored two touchdowns for a winning comeback. 

Although television networks don't often make those types of mistakes, the same exciting endings can be missed without a DISH Sports Packages. Here are three examples of seat clenching endings every sports fan wished they had seen in 2011:

  • Denver Broncos Comeback. In October the Denver Broncos trailed the Miami Dolphins, 15-0. In the last minutes of the game it appeared it would be another loss for Denver. Then, stunned and excited fans watched as the Broncos scored two touchdowns, a two-point conversion and one field goal in the last few minutes of the game. The winning comeback is likely to go down in Bronco's history as one of the most exciting last minute wins and crazy sports endings.
  • Morehead Eagles vs. Louisville Cardinals. Without ESPN Full Court, the DISH Sports Package for NCAA-lovers, you're likely to have missed the Eagles winning basket with 4.2 seconds left on the clock. Trailing at 61-59, Eagles guard Demonte Harper swished a perfect three-pointer to put his team in the lead, securing the biggest NCAA upset of the day and, by far, the most exciting last minute win.
  • US Beats Turkey. Those with the Fox Soccer Plus package got to see an exciting last minute victory between the US Men's Under 17 Soccer team and Turkey. Tied at 1-1, the US team turned up the heat and battled it out with Turkey in the last minutes of the game. With two minutes left on the clock, their efforts paid off with a goal that embodied true teamwork and spirit.

With a DISH Sports Package for your favorite sports seasons there's never any worry about missing exciting last minute finishes. Instead of standing around silently while everyone recounts the details of the game, you'll be able to give your own last minute play-by-play. Life's too short not to be able to enjoy watching your favorite teams play. The appropriate DISH multi-sport package helps you enjoy every moment.

 

30 Jan 2012

5 Things You Need to Know About HD Packages Before Choosing a Satellite Provider

Bigstock_two_kids_on_couch_watching_tv_19474616
 

 

When high-definition televisions (HDTV) started coming out in 1998 there was no HD programming to take advantage of their superior viewing quality. How things have changed. In a little over a decade we’ve gone from a great television with nothing great to watch to hundreds of viewing options. If you’ve moved up to HD TV, here are five things you need to know about HD packages before choosing a satellite provider.

  1. 1. Satellite providers carry different HD channels: In the old television days, you turned on your set and had your choice of NBC, CBS, ABC and maybe PBS. Now you can choose which channels you want from the satellite TV packages that are available. Most of your favorite channels are available in high definition, but they are not all included in every provider’s high-definition packages. Ask potential providers for a list of the HD stations they offer, compare them side by side, and you’ll see that DISH Network HD channels far outnumber other cable and satellite providers. 
  2. 2. Satellite providers offer different DVR options: If you like to record a lot of programming for viewing later, or if you like more control when you’re recording, then you’ll want to ask more questions about the Digital Video Recorders that are part of the deal. When you switch to DISH, you are offered a free HD DVR upgrade. You can use one DVR to support up to two TVs and record up to 100 hours of programming in HD.
  3. 3. Pricing packages vary: Once you know what channels you want, you can start narrowing down prices in the satellite provider packages. There are installation costs, DVR costs, and monthly subscription costs to take into consideration. DISH offers free installation for up to six rooms, more HD channels and three free HD receivers along with some of the lowest monthly package prices available. Plus they offer HD free for life which is hard to beat.
  4. 4. Movies make a difference: If you enjoy relaxing at home and watching a movie, then look for satellite TV packages that include HD movie channels like STARZ, MAX, HBO and SHO.
  5. 5. Service counts: If you have a problem or need a question answered, you want great customer service. DISH beats DIRECTV in value, customer satisfaction and loyalty.

If you are interested in HD packages from a satellite provider, think first about what is most important to you, then do your research to find the provider that is best able to meet your HD viewing needs. 

 

7 Sep 2011

Why Dish America's Top 120 Package Is So Popular

When it comes to getting the best value for your dollar you take pains to ensure you’re getting a good deal. You compare gas prices all over town before pumping a gallon, you compare prices at the grocery store, and you clip coupons and even wait for items to go on sale before making a purchase. The same goes for trying to find the best deals for your TV entertainment as well. Going to the DISH blog to see what deals are available will give you a great idea of just how much money you can save and how much you’re actually getting for your dollar.


The DISH blog has info on every aspect of what DISH offers including their most popular channel packages like America’s Top 120. This package isn’t the most basic package available but is still under $30 a month which means it’s an extremely affordable package. However, the quality of channels that are included is amazing since the entire family has channels they’ll enjoy watching.


For those who enjoy sports, you’ve got ESPN, ESPN2 and ESPNU, kids will love the Cartoon network, Disney and ABC Family, the news junkies get CNN, CNBC and FOX News. Other channels the DISH blog lists are the superstations like TNT, TBS and USA as well as other channels like Discovery, FX and HGTV. For those who really love music, DishCD channels are included which gives you 24 hour music from virtually every genre available from classical, kid’s music and even alternative rock.


You’ll find a lot of great info about this package as well as all the other DISH packages on the DISH blog but one thing that really gets highlighted is the fact that any of the channels in any of DISH’s packages are free. You don’t pay any extra for HD programming like you do with other TV providers. You don’t pay anything extra for HD equipment either, There are no hidden fees or tricks that cost you extra like rental fees for set top boxes or remotes.


The DISH blog will explain that DISH gives you all the equipment you need for free, free installation for up to 6 rooms, HD free for life, free DVR upgrades and TV Everywhere for free as well. In some respects, with everything you get for free, it’s almost like they’re paying you to watch TV, especially with packages like America’s Top 120 which has so many great channels for your viewing pleasure.

30 Jul 2011

Top 5 Ways to Enhance Your TV Viewing Options

TV has been available to the general public since about 1950 although the technology was around a while before that. Ever since then, technological advances have continued to improve the quality of the TV viewing experience starting with the introduction of color in the 1960’s. Cable TV in the 1970’s revolutionized TV yet again with quality and increased channel selection and today, with all of the TV viewing options that are available, you can enjoy a totally fantastic viewing experience that was only a hollow dream a decade ago.


Now, there are lots of options available to take your TV viewing to the next level. Here are some you may not know about to expand your TV viewing options in ways you never thought of.


1.    Google TV combines with your TV service to let you not only search your TV channels for content, but online as well. Surf the web, do video phone calls and even watch YouTube and other streaming video services all from the comfort of your living room couch.


2.    Everyone who has purchased a flat panel TV since the FCC mandated that all TV broadcasts are to be digital knows that HDTV is now the standard. Some TV providers still charge for HD channels but some don’t. Expand your TV viewing options by making sure you’re not paying anything extra for your HD programming.


3.    Having a DVR (digital video recorder) instead of a VCR means you don’t have to keep track of all those old tapes and can access all of your stored TV shows and movies right from an easy to use menu. Schedule and record TV shows, pause and even rewind live TV and with the right setup, you can even control your DVR over the internet so you never miss anything ever again.


4.    To expand your TV viewing options even further, a new device called a Slingbox will work with your DVR to not only let you schedule shows but you can also stream your DVR content and even live TV over the internet so you can watch TV everywhere with a computer or even a smart phone. Whether you’re at home or in a hotel room half way around the world, as long as you’ve got access to a broadband internet connection, you can watch anything on your DVR you want.


5.    Blu-ray and VHS combo decks gives you the ability to watch any movie out there, especially if your Blu-ray player is compatible with VCD and online file formats such as FLV, AVI, WMV and MPG files. This means you can download and play virtually any video format online and watch it on your living room TV.


As you can see, a lot of options have opened up when you combine the power of the internet with your home entertainment system. Not only do you get a lot more ways to watch content but there’s a lot more things you can do with your TV besides flip channels. Check out some of these great TV viewing options and see just how cool your TV watching experience becomes.

23 Jun 2011

To Watch TV Anywhere, Get Dish TV Everywhere

Bigstock_tv_man_-_television_concept_1678661
TV In Your Pocket

If you love TV, and I mean REALLY love TV, then you probably would like the option of watching TV anywhere you go. Like when you’re on a train or a bus, at home, in a hotel, or even beside the pool or at the beach. DVR is great, but with your love of TV, you want to be able to watch your favorite shows no matter where you are. The drawback has been that you were limited to whatever TV source was available, and many times, especially on the bus or train, you didn’t have one. Now you do. With DISH TV Everywhere, you literally can watch TV anywhere.

Take Your Shows, Leave Your TV

It no longer matters if you’re at home or not. DISH has brought technology to the forefront with the Sling adapter and the Sling enabled DVR to literally sling your TV onto the internet. This connects you to your TV package and your DVR so you can watch anything you want anywhere you are. DISH TV everywhere means you’ve got that access anywhere you can connect to the internet. If you’re at home, you can watch TV in rooms where you don’t have a TV as long as you’ve got a laptop, iPad or even a smart phone. From the basement to the attic, you can watch TV while still getting other things accomplished.

Did I mention the Wifi Part?

With internet connectivity becoming almost ubiquitous, whether via wi-fi or with 3G or 4G connectivity for smart phones and network adapters, your ability to watch TV in places you never dreamed of is now possible. Instead of being stuck without TV during commutes or having to suffer through limited TV offerings in hotels, if you can connect to the internet, you can connect to your TV with DISH TV everywhere.

Mobile DVR

This doesn’t mean you’re connecting to a limited service either. With DISH TV Everywhere, you’re connecting to your subscription including all of the content you’ve saved on your DVR. You’re literally connecting to your DVR at home with all of the channels and stored shows you have access to immediately available for you to watch. Not only that, but you have full control over your DVR so you can schedule new recordings, manage your stored content and see what’s coming up. With dish tv offers like TV Everywhere, not only do you not have to ever miss shows you want to watch, but you can watch them at the time and place of your choosing.