Posts Tagged ‘telecom companies’

Today folks are looking to maximize their entertainment dollar. Increasing fuel prices, a slowing economy, and higher food costs are putting the squeeze on Americans. Luckily, one of the great values in entertainment is your cable or satellite television service.

If you stop and think about it, anyone can get a package including over 200 channels including commercial-free movie channels like Cinemax and Starz for about $75 dollars a month. That is less than you typically will drop for dinner and a movie. The latest technology in the pay TV market is HD, or high definition service. What should you evaluate when hooking up that new flat screen TV you just purchased?

Don’t forget that your basic cable TV or satellite TV service is not in hi-def. You have to specifically buy a package that includes this type of programming. So where do you begin?

Call your current provider and investigate exactly what they offer as far as hi-def service. Satellite TV companies DISH Network and Direct TV have been leading the pack as far as offering the most high definition when you examine channel counts. Cable television providers like Cox also have some nice offerings, such as HD on-demand. Find out exactly how much upgrading to HD will be, and if you need additional equipment.

If what they offer is not what you want, do a little comparison shopping. The latest offerings include an all hi-def package from DISH Network called TurboHD. DirecTV sells HD service for only $9.99 per month. Prices vary with cable television companies across America, so you will need call your cable operator to see what the price is for HD service.

Another consideration is that many telecom companies now offer TV service. AT&T now provides their UVerse service in many areas along with telephone and high speed internet. Verizon is also selling television service, providing their fiber service FiOS in limited neighborhoods. It is advisable that you compare services side-by-side, such as DirecTV vs. Time Warner Cable. All of this is a great benefit to the consumer, as more competition encourages lower prices in the long run.