by Scott Shaddox

Created on: August 02, 2010

With almost 20 million subscribers, DirecTV is the largest commercial satellite provider in the United States.  Since its inception in 1994, the company has grown into a major rival for the cable industry.  With a multitude of packages and add-ons that are designed to enhance television viewing, DirecTV is sure to remain a leader in broadcast satellite television for years to come.  The following review outlines some of the things that make DirecTV the best choice for television viewing.

DirecTV advertises four separate basic viewing packages.  Package prices range from around $60 to well over $100.  New subscribers are able to secure much lower monthly rates for an introductory period.  A variety of premium channels can be added to any subscription and includes channels like HBO, Cinemax, Showtime, Starz, The Movie Channel, Fox Sports, etc. 

Without question, DirecTV is a leader in the field of sports.  NFL Sunday Ticket enables fans of the National Football League to watch any game shown on Sunday’s throughout the regular season.  The one exception to this is the Sunday Night Football game shown on NBC.  MLB Extra Innings, NBA League Pass, and NHL Center Ice are just a sampling of some of the other sports packages offered by DirecTV.  If you love sports, you should definitely be satisfied as a DirecTV subscriber.

DirecTV offers many features in addition to the standard fare you might expect from a television service provider.  A digital video recorder enables viewers to rewind and pause live television.  This is especially useful when the phone or doorbell rings at the most inopportune time.  With the DirecTV On-Demand service, customers with an internet connected high definition DVR can browse through thousands of titles that will stream to their television as they wish.  The On Demand service is free of charge, as are many of the shows available, and can be added to any television package.

DirecTV has also shown itself to be a leader in the field of technology.  Most of the available high definition channels are offered including the latest innovation, 3D networks.  One of the newest features offered to subscribers is the Whole-Home DVR service. This service enables customers to watch shows in any room from a single DVR.  For example you may have recorded your favorite show in the living room, but would like to watch the show in your bedroom.  With the Whole-Home DVR service, it can be done.

Another advantage of an internet connected HD DVR is the ability to access a variety of web based applications which can access things like facebook, weather radar, twitter, gmail, web cams, sports scores, flikr, and many more.

DirecTV also makes it possible to schedule recordings to your DVR from remote locations.  By using an internet connection you can view the program guide online and send a message to any DVR in your home to record a specific show.  This can also be done with an available app for the iPhone and iPod Touch.

These are just a sampling of the things which make DirecTV the obvious choice for those looking for a satellite or cable provider.  Competitive pricing and a slew of technological enhancements place DirecTV the leader in the field of broadcast television providers.  As families continue to look to get the most ‘bang for their buck’ in terms of entertainment value, there is little doubt the number of  DirecTV subscribers will continue to grow. 

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