Free satellite TV

Free satellite TV is one of the biggest myths on the internet and I've dedicated this short piece regarding this oxy-moron. There is likely a few reasons you have found this page. You may have seen sites offering free satellite TV, or you may be trying to find information on pirating DirecTV signals. I will explain the latter and I will explain what these sites mean by "free".

When you see the offer "free satellite TV", they are talking about a free setup and free equipment offer that DirecTV and Dish network provide. After your system is installed for free there is a monthly fee you must pay for a minimum programming package. At the time of this writing DirecTV and Dish Network offer 3-5 rooms of free setup and free equipment.

The other way you may have found this page is if you were searching for information on the free satellite TV the pirates offer. What they do is program Dtv or Dishnet cards that enable people to get all channels. (hence the name "free satellite tv") Now they charge you to re-program your card every time you get hit, and you have to pay for the equipment and setup all yourself. You will be hit 1-3 times a week. Only once if you are lucky.

So as you can see, no matter how you slice it, there is no such thing as free satellite tv. Regarding the theft of satellite signals - there is a considerable effort underway by the police force in my city to put a stop it. They just recently raided over a dozen companies providing the equipment used to pirate DirecTV and Dish Network. This just means that the cost and hassle of stealing will increase.

Free satellite tv is an oxy moron to say the least. There is no such thing as free satellite tv. Period. For all those who disagree, let me explain. When speaking of free satellite TV, there are two different situations this is used to describe. One is when pirates are stealing satellite signal. Two is when DirecTV and Dish Network advertise free satellite TV.

When DirecTV and Dish Network advertise free satellite TV, they are speaking in terms of the initial setup and equipment. You still have to pay for your monthly programming costs which start at just under 30 dollars a month. As you add on more channels and use pay-per-view the monthly cost grows. Don't get me wrong, it's still much better than cable.

When pirates are speaking of free satellite TV, they are talking about using special equipment to get all the channels free. Highly illegal. The problem is that this is not free! They have to buy the receiver, the dish, the LNB, the card, etc etc. Then they have to find a "free satellite tv guy" to re-program their access card(s) every time the satellite signal is hashed. And they "go down" a lot!

What DirecTV does is "hash" the pirate cards with their satellite signal on a regular basis. Usually they hit the pirate cards every Friday night and here is where the "free satellite TV" theory goes out the window. These " free satellite tv guys" charge a fee to have your card fixed. It can range between 25 dollars and fifty dollars a month. Now add on the gas mileage and your time to run over to the illegal "free satellite TV guy" with your card once a week. Now here is the real kicker. DirecTV will hash the pirates sometimes 3-4 times a week. So now you can end up taking a daily trip to see the "free satellite guy".

The "free satellite guy" may get out of their illegal business as soon as the heat gets to be much and you are stuck. The interruptions in viewing are endless and annoying. You may enjoy free satellite tv for the odd two week period but most of the time you are running back and forth to the "free satellite tv guy".

Now for the punch line regarding free satellite TV. Eventually DirecTV will change their data stream and your DirecTV card is now a useless piece of plastic. Maybe you can use it to open an old door. Now the "free satellite guy" has a deal for you. You can get a new DirecTV card from him for whatever price he decides you need to pay. Sound like fun! Oh yes... free satellite TV is an oxy moron to be sure!

Google testing TV search

Search giant Google is testing a new television-programming search service in conjunction with the Dish Network Corp. The service runs on television set-top-boxes containing Google designed software and allows users to find specific shows on TV satellite services as well as on Google's YouTube.

The move marks the latest in a series of developments in which companies are attempting to merge broadcast television with Internet provided services. Last week, TiVo Inc. announced new digital video recorders that blend broadcast and online content.

Google's project is being tested by company employees and their families who can enter their enquiries via a keyboard. The service could be discontinued or rolled out to a wider audience at anytime, a source told the Journal. Google refused to issue a statement saying the company does not commment on rumor or speculation. Dish Network has also declined to comment on the reports.

Whether the service rolls out to the general public is unclear. Google often tries out projects in private before allowing a select group to try them. It's colaborative communication tool Google Wave still remains in a development stage and has only been rolled out to around a million users worldwide.

Dish Networks Loses Satellite TV Subscribers but Grows Profits

Satellite TV provider Dish Network traded up more than 20 percent in Monday's trading on better than expected profits and the loss of fewer subscribers than analysts forecast. The stock had fallen by nearly half over the past year as the company loses customers to rival satellite TV company, DirecTV Group. Dish continued to lose subscribers, 94,000 this quarter, though fewer than the average analyst projection of 128,000. Despite this ongoing decline Dish beat analyst expectations with earnings of 70 cents per share, up from 58 cents per share in the year-earlier quarter. Revenue dropped 14 percent in the quarter.

Competition with DirecTV is sure to weigh on Dish through the recession because of its target demographic. Dish serves lower-end customers, which means they're more likely to give up their satellite TV service when times get tough. To remain viable and differentiate itself, Dish offered a $9.99 deal, but the company's CEO says that this incredibly low price doesn't fit with the company's long-term business strategy. I can see why Dish would need to add this price point to keep subscribers on the fence. But if it drops that price point, won't subscribers leave then?

There are a couple reasons Wall Street is happy with Dish. CEO Charles Ergen said on the earnings call that his business has stabilized after falling off a cliff last year. (This echoes the sentiments of the media giants about the ad markets). Ergen also reassured analysts that he is done moving around his executive team. There are also some strong signs the company is starting to manage piracy of its set-top box software, which has been a major problem. Many analysts thought Dish got a real boost from the end of analog TV, which forced many Americans to sign up for a new pay-TV service. But Ergen says this transition didn't have much of an impact on the company, so following quarters shouldn't suffer a drop-off.

Ergen is confident he will be able to turn around his company. A lot depends on how consumer confidence holds up. But one thing is for sure: the worse the economy, the more time people spend at home, watching TV.