WhiteFence Reveals the 10 Most Expensive Cities to Watch the Big Game this Sunday

The big game this weekend isn't the only battle brewing in America. There's also the battle between Americans and high cable and satellite bills. With this in mind, we thought we'd run the numbers and see how much Americans are paying on average for TV service and see which cities are paying the most.

Below, check out the top ten most expensive cities to watch the big game based on our exclusive information.

Here are the details:

• 1. Dallas $60.76
• 2. New York City $57.67
• 3. Indianapolis $56.61
• 4. Washington D.C. $55.95
• 5. San Diego $55.25
• 6. Los Angeles $55.10
• 7. Charlotte, N.C. $54.85
• 8. Boston $54.58
• 9. Philadelphia $54.39
• 10. Las Vegas $53.40

Looking to save on your television bill? Head over to the WhiteFence television center to start saving today!

Get the Most Out of the World Series with a New HDTV Package

The World Series kicks off next week, but is your TV plan ready? Without the right service, you won't be getting the most out of the action.

If you have third-string TV service, don't worry, you still have time to upgrade to an all-star before the first pitch. With WhiteFence, you can easily compare offers form all of the top providers in one place. Not only will you be able to find a plan loaded with the features you need, but you'll get a great deal, too!

Here are some cool things you can do with the cable and satellite plans here on WhiteFence:

• Get the Most Out of Your HDTV– Without HDTV service, your awesome new TV will be displaying the same old standard-definition sludge. Upgrade now and experience the future!
  
  Pro Tip: Make sure your service delivers 1080p for maximum awesomeness.

• Control the Action – Miss a home run? Want to see that strikeout again in glorious slow motion? With DVR service, you are in control of the highlights.
  
  Pro Tip: If you re-watch enough plays during an inning, you can skip the commercials before the next inning. It may drive your family crazy though, so keep that in mind.

• Get the Whole Picture – Real fans crave more than just the games themselves, they need all of the geeky analysis and commentary the sports channels thrive on. Pick a package with lots of sports channels to feed your inner baseball nerd.
  
  Pro Tip: After 2am, there's really not much new sports news to be found, so feel free to hit the sack.

• Watch the Games on Your Own Schedule – Work the night shift? Does your significant other have plans to drag you out the theater during the series? No problem! When you pick a plan with DVR service you can record the games and watch them whenever is best for you.
  
  Pro Tip: After a few weeks, it's not really fair to expect your friends not to talk about the outcome of a game around you, so watch recorded games sooner rather than later.

• Be Ready for Next Season – Sad about the season coming to a close? Pick a plan with access to MLB EXTRA INNINGS® and commit yourself to watching every single game next season. That way when the World Series rolls around next year, it will feel like you're gaining sweet freedom from a prison of your own design rather than saying goodbye to a diversion.
  
  Pro Tip: Don't watch every single game next year. Seriously, that would be insane.

Ready to start comparing offers in your area? Just head over to our cable and satellite center and enter your address.

Preparing Your Home for the NFL Season

In a little over 24 hours, football fans everywhere will be rejoicing for the opening kickoff of the NFL 2010-2011 season, as the New Orleans Saints take on the Minnesota Vikings for a re-match of last season's NFC title game. All around the country, football nuts are completing their fantasy rosters, talking the season up with their friends and getting ready to cheer on the hometown team.

If you want to properly enjoy the NFL season to its fullest, then your home needs to be prepared for each gridiron match-up. With all of the different regions and locks, you're not always assured to get all the NFL and football TV coverage you'd like. Here's how to prepare:

• High-definition. Is your TV set up to properly display a high-definition signal? In addition to needing either a tuner or set-top box to view HD content, you also need to be sure to have the right cables for the job. HDMI or component cables will deliver the picture in the right resolution, allowing you to enjoy every hit and every touchdown.
• NFL Sunday Ticket. NFL Sunday Ticket is a package exclusive to DIRECTV that gives you the ultimate essentials in watching football week-to-week. If you want to watch every game in HD, NFL Sunday Ticket is what you need. With the Super Fan upgrade, you also get NFL Red Zone and a number of other football bonuses.
• NFL Network. Available on both satellite and cable, NFL Network is great for around the clock NFL related TV viewing. It's also the channel to have for pre-season football, and gets a few of the games that you won't find anywhere else, particularly during Thanksgiving week.

To browse TV packages for your area and see what's available to you, visit the WhiteFence TV page.

Super Bowl Watchers In It For the Ads?

Do you tune into the Super Bowl for the action on the field or the ads between plays? According to the results of a survey recently released by The Nielsen Company, if you watch for the game, you are in the minority. The media company found that the majority of Super Bowl viewers enjoy the game’s ads more than the action on the field.

Fifty-one percent of those questioned said they most enjoy the commercials that air throughout the game when compared to the Super Bowl game itself. Forty-nine percent said that they enjoy the game more than the ads. Results were based on a sample of over 25,000 households in Nielsen’s Homescan panel.

The poll was just a small portion of what Nielsen released as part of their comprehensive study of the trends and effectiveness of paid Super Bowl advertising. Read about all their findings here.

If you do plan to actually watch the Super Bowl this Sunday, which team will you be rooting for? (Go SAINTS!)

Knology and NFL Network Announce Expanded Partnership

Good news for Knology customers who are also NFL fans. The cable company plans to deliver more football games to sports fans across its viewing area in 2010 and beyond. Knology and NFL Network recently announced a multi-year agreement to continue carriage of NFL Network through 2014. The new deal includes primetime regular-season games carried by NFL Network, including Thursday night games, as well as all preseason games.

NFL Network is now available to Knology digital cable customers as part of the Digital Preferred packaging in Alabama (except Dothan), Florida, Georgia, South Carolina and Tennessee. High definition customers in Pinellas County, Florida can also view NFL Network in HD. Knology basic and HD customers in Iowa, Minnesota and South Dakota will continue to have access to the NFL Network live games.

If you want to see more NFL games in the New Year, see if Knology is available in your area.

Final Earth Day Tip: Green Fitness

Happy Earth Day, folks. Our countdown to Earth Day finally comes to a close with one final tip that's sure to get your green motor running.

We all know the obvious ways to go green. There are plenty of guides and tips available online that can help us reduce our electricity, find better appliances, or buy products that are more eco-friendly and recyclable. However, have you ever thought about how you can go green and be fit all at the same time?

There are many ways to incorporate green fitness into your daily work-out routine. From the kinds of shoes and clothes you buy, to planting trees for a more earthy and natural workout, there's something available for everyone. Here are some handy guides to get you started on the path to green exercise:

• Green Living Ideas has a comprehensive list on all kinds of things you can do to green up your work out, including commuting and even "green gyms".
• SparkPeople compiles a run down of the earth friendly work out gear you can purchase, including links where you can find what you need.
• Runner's World tackles the question of "how is a running shoe produced"? It's a fascinating look the behind the process of making the shoes we wear.
• Suite101 lists useful tips for anyone just getting started into the world of green, and takes a gander at some easy things we can all do to help the planet and get in better shape.

Enjoy Earth Day, and let's all do our part to be environmentally conscious. If you enjoyed this tip, please be sure to see some of our other Earth Day tips.

Grande Communications Adds Lonestar Sports Network to its Digital Cable Lineup in Texas

Good news for Texas sports fans! LoneStar Sports Network recently reached an agreement with Grande Communications for cable carriage throughout its Texas broadcast markets. 

“As a homegrown Texas company, with deep roots a decade old, Grande Communications knows that Texans love their sports. By teaming up with LoneStar Sports Network, we continue to deliver the sports and entertainment programming Texans want to watch,” said W.K.L. “Scott” Ferguson, Grande chief operating officer.  “At Grande, our customers are our top priority. We are proud of this win for our customers!”

LoneStar Sports Networks will be available in 2009 as part of Grande Communications digital cable lineup. For more information on all the great Texas sports programming available through LoneStar, view their schedule here.

DIRECTV's Grand Slam

No, we aren't talking baseball. DIRECTV recently announced that it will expand its interactive sports programming this year with coverage of all four Grand Slam tennis tournaments, beginning with the Australian Open this weekend.

For the first time, DIRECTV will offer expanded coverage of the Australian Open, featuring its six-screens-in-one Mix Channel and other interactive features during the first eight days of the tournament from Melbourne Park. In addition, the interactive application, the Mix Channel and the five court channels will be broadcast in High Definition.

The Mix Channel will offer, on a single screen, the network channel and five court channels with live coverage tuneable to full screen via remote. Each channel will feature natural sound and commentary from tennis experts.

And in a first for any tennis tournament, all live Australian Open coverage on ESPN2 and Tennis Channel throughout the tournament will be accompanied by access to the Results and Draw features.

Australian Open coverage airs on channels 701-707 on each of the first eight days of the tournament starting at 7 p.m. (ET)

DIRECTV will also offer interactive services for ESPN and Tennis Channel's coverage of the French Open, Wimbledon and the US Open tournaments this year, completing the Grand Slam.

Thinking of making the switch from cable? Find DIRECTV plans and pricing available in your area.

NHL Network and NHL Network HD Skate on to AT&T; U-Verse TV Channel Lineup

AT&T recently announced that it is adding NHL Network™ and NHL Network HD to it's AT&T; U-verse^SM lineup.

If you have U-verse, you can now experience NHL Network’s 24-hour, all-access hockey coverage, including live games, daily highlight shows, up-to-the-minute hockey news, and exclusive hockey programming and special events. The network is available to all U-verse TV customers who subscribe to the U400 programming package or The Sports Package. U-verse TV customers can also watch NHL Network in High Definition (HD) with an HD service subscription. NHL Network is on channel 638 in Standard Definition and channel 1638 in HD.

"NHL Network is an exciting addition to our U-verse TV channel lineup," said Chris Lauricella, assistant vice president of programming, AT&T; Operations, Inc. "Year-round hockey fans can catch in-depth coverage of their favorite sport and also enjoy live games in HD. This is just one more way we’re delivering the content our customers want."

Not a U-verse customer? Find out if AT&T; U-verse is available in your area!