Provider Highlight: DISH Network

With a variety of providers constantly at your fingertips, sometimes it's hard to know the characteristics about each one that make them special. That's why we try to highlight providers from time to time, showcasing things that shoppers might not know about them. This week's provider highlight: DISH Network.

DISH Network is a satellite TV provider which has grown into one of the most recognized names in the communications industry. Launched in 1996, DISH Network now has over 10 satellites in orbit, providing TV watchers across the country with a wide array of quality programming.

Here are some cool things you may or may not know about DISH Network's service:

• Over 200 HD channels. DISH Network has a staggering amount of HD content to choose from, which is perfect for any high-definition lovers out there.
• HBO and Showtime FREE for 3 months. When new customers sign up for DISH Network with the auto pay feature, they get both HBO and Showtime free for 3 months, and access to all of the great content that they offer.
• 12 Month Promotion Prices. Sign up now and you get a special discount off of the monthly package rates for 12 months. That's a whole year of savings on satellite TV.
• TV Everywhere. Ever wanted to watch TV when you're not at home? With a variety of TV Everywhere products, not only can you manage your DVR menu, you can also watch your recorded TV shows online or from mobile devices like phones.

Ready to start shopping for DISH Network? Head over to the DISH Network Deals page to see what is offered where you live.

City Highlight: Moving to New York

Lately we've been using the blog to highlight all kinds of savings opportunities available for shoppers trying to pinch pennies on their monthly bills. In addition to highlighting opportunities from certain providers, we also try to key in on cities where many of our shoppers live.

We've covered a variety of places ranging from Baltimore to Chicago. Up for this week's city highlight: New York City. Check out the list below to see some of the best deals available in the Big Apple, and find out more about how you can save money on your monthly bills.

Poll: Kind of TV Service?

For years, the television wars have been escalating, and the effects have been felt by consumers far and wide. The increased competition between the likes of cable and satellite TV providers has produced excellent results for TV watchers, with more channels available for less money. On top of that, viewers have access to more instant content including TV shows and movies, and HD programming as well.

It doesn't stop at just cable TV and satellite TV, though. AT&T; U-verse is another excellent source of entertainment to rival both of these, as well as Verizon FiOS. When it comes to choosing the best service out of all of these, it really is tough to pick a clear and decisive victor as they all have their bonuses, depending on what your specific needs are.

I thought I'd create a poll to see what type of service our readers have. Which of these four do you use in your home, and how do you feel about the service? Feel free to vote and tell us even more about your experience in the comments!

Also be sure to visit WhiteFence to browse TV offerings right at your specific address.

Goodbye HDMI, Hello HDBaseT

If you're serious about HDTV, you're probably using an HDMI cables to connect your cable or satellite receiver, video game consoles and Blu-Ray player to your television. HDMI works well, but the cords themselves usually cost way too much. In fact, it's not uncommon for a store to make more money selling you an HDMI cable for your new HD television than they do on the TV itself! HDMI also has some technical limitations, such as a somewhat low maximum length before the cable stops working.

In order to move to a less limited and less expensive new standard, a group of leading electronics manufacturers, including Sony, LG & Samsung, have been working on on a replacement for HDMI. Named HDBaseT, the new standard is based on the same CAT5e/6 wiring used to connect modems and routers to computers.

Not only will the new standard make it cheaper to get the most of your HDTV, but it will also open up lots of new possibilities. The cables can transmit signals for 328 feet, making it much easier for many people to connect their computers to their TVs to watch online content in the living room. Also, not only will the cable be able to transmit HD and 3D video, it will be able to transmit data at 100 Mbps and power. This means one day, there might only be one wire connected to your TV!

The HDBaseT standard has only just been finalized, though devices supporting the new technology are foretasted to be on the shelves this year with most of the roll-out to happen in 2011. You can get more information at the official HDBaseT site.

Poll: Do You Have HD Service?

One of the great things about owning an HDTV is that it's great for watching all of the year's major sporting events. Right now, there's no better way to watch the World Cup than in high definition. This trend continues year-round, and extends to all of the other seasonal sports such as college football, the NFL, and more. As soon as next week, we'll be getting two of the bigger sporting events of the year with the MLB All-Star game as well as the British Open.

I'm sure sports fans all around will be excited to check these out in HD. However, according to a TV study released last year, as few as 60 percent of all HDTV owners actually subscribe to an HD service. This fact is still astonishing to me, all of these months later, but I see it reflected when I visit certain friends who either do not have HDTV service or have their settings configured in a way that doesn't take advantage of the resolution available. After spending all the money to upgrade the TV set, why not go the extra mile to get HD service as well?

So, I figured I'd ask you guys what you thought, and if you had HD service at your home. Feel free to vote and leave a comment! Also, if you're looking for HD service, visit WhiteFence to find out how to get it connected in your home.

Everything You Wanted to Know About Satellite and Cable TV

Consumers have the choice of both satellite and cable TV when choosing the right TV service for their home. There is a constant debate about which of the two services is better, and a lot of information available that only seems to add to the noise, instead of truly helping. That's why we've put together some content around satellite and cable TV, to help you decide the right features at the right price.

Hopefully this information aids you in your search!

General TV

Cable Vs Satellite
Cable and Satellite Companies
TV Channels
TV Resources

Cable

Cable Deals
Cable TV
Compare Cable TV

Satellite

Satellite TV Deals
Satellite TV
Compare Satellite TV

Provider Highlight: Verizon

When it comes to home services, choosing the right provider isn't always the easiest decision to make. With a variety of specials, unique offers, prices and bundles, there are a number of places you could go to get the services you need for your home. That's why we've been trying to highlight specific providers on the blog for the last few months, to key consumers in to the special things that each provider is doing.

This week, we're highlighting Verizon! Here are some cool things to know about their service:

• FiOS TV. One of Verizon's greatest features is its fiber optic network packages, known as FiOS. The fiber optic network allows for greater picture quality and outstanding clarity when viewing programming on your HDTV. On top of how great everything looks, FiOS TV is one of the smartest TV services around, and allows you to browse Facebook and stream content straight from your PC.
• FiOS Internet. Another bonus to Verizon's advanced fiber optic network is the speed of their broadband Internet connection delivered to your home. With Verizon FiOS Internet, you'll experience speeds of up to 50 Mbps for downloads, and 20 Mbps for uploads. If you're unaware of how fast that is, it's almost certainly several times faster than what's in your home right now.
• Specials. Verizon is constantly offering great specials, bonuses and other incentives to sign up for their services. Right now, when you order select bundles, you get $150 cash back, plus $5 off for 24 months!

As of the writing of this blog, these are the features and promotions offered by Verizon. To take full advantage of these, hurry on over to Verizon on WhiteFence and see what's available at your address!

Provider Highlight: DIRECTV

In the last few months, we've taken more time to showcase specific things that consumers may not know about WhiteFence or its providers. This week, we're taking a look at Satellite TV provider DIRECTV. Here are some things that you might not know about their service:

• HD Programming. DIRECTV has a stellar high-definition lineup, with over 160 channels available in crystal clear picture. In addition to all these offerings, they have many movies available to watch in 1080p, which is the same resolution as Blu-ray.
• DVR Technology. Over the last few years, DVR's have become a staple in home entertainment, and DIRECTV is constantly on the cutting edge. Their DVR equipment has double the capacity of many TV providers out there, and you have the ability to record and watch shows from any room in your home with just one DVR box. Plus, you can set the DVR to record from the TV itself, your computer, or your phone.
• Sports. If you are a sports nut, then DIRECTV has a lot to offer for your affection. In addition to having all kinds of nationwide sports networks that give access to sports games not available with other providers, you can also sign up for special sports packages like NFL Sunday Ticket, which gives you access to every NFL game each week.

As of the writing of this blog, these are the promotions and services they're offering, but they could be changed at any time. To learn more, visit DIRECTV on WhiteFence and see what they're offering in your area.

Hollywood Considering Fast-Tracking Movies to On Demand

Are you tired of waiting for months after a movie comes out to watch it at home? According to the Wall Street Journal, Time Warner Cable is working on a solution to just that problem. The cable giant has pitched the major studios the idea of "home theater on demand," which would make new release movies available to watch on demand after just 30 days.

If Time Warner Cable does sign a deal with the studios, expect other television providers to roll out a similar system. The catch? The price point for these movies would be between $20 and $30. But, tickets for a family of four along with snacks and drinks can easily run more than $30, so this could actually be a money saver for some families.

If it pans out, this would be a major shakeup in movie distribution and a real blow for movie theaters. However, with everything moving towards a more open model where consumers can enjoy content when and how they like, this just makes sense and seems almost inevitable.

Will movie theaters ever go away? Not likely, but it does look more likely than ever that you'll soon have the option of staying home to watch new releases.

Television Customer Service Links

Did something go wrong with your TV service or do you just have a question for the provider? Getting your issue fixed or finding an answer for your question is a snap when you tap into the provider's online help center

Here's a list of all of the television providers we have here on WhiteFence, with a link to their online customer support center:

• AT&T
• Atlantic Broadband
• Bright House
• Buckeye
• Charter
• Comcast
• Consolidated
• COX
• DIRECTV
• DISH Network
• Everest
• Grande Communications
• Insight
• Knology
• Optimum
• RCN
• Suddenlink
• Time Warner Cable
• TVMAX
• Verizon

Looking to order television service? You can compare offers from all of these brands and find the best deal when you shop at WhiteFence.