What is the cheapest way to get satellite TV?

Introduction Satellite TV could prove very useful with its ability to offer hundreds of channels, national and regional sports channels, as well as premium movie channels. However, satellite TV packages are also costly to subscribe to and can drain one’s pocket. In this article, we will focus on discussing some of the cheapest methods for acquiring satellite television services.

It may be wise to acquire a basic package in order to establish the groundwork for future growth with a company that has good financials. It is also advisable to take a basic package because this will help one to save more money when subscribing to satellite TV. National satellite service providers like DISH Network and DirecTV have base packages starting from about 140+ channels for $50-60 per month. This is true although basic packages are not as elaborate as the premium ones, they offer a good number of popular national channels. This could be relatively cheap especially if you are only interested in specific programming categories such as sporting events, news, family and movies among others.

Bundle Your Satellite TV Another surest method that have been tested over the years of having low monthly charges is the bundling of your satellite TV with other services. There are usually bundles that satellite companies offer where you can get a discount if you take both TV and high-speed internet or phone service. For instance, DISH Network provides satellite packages that consist of TV, internet connection, and home telephone for as low as $100 per month. Packages of two services cost $10 a month less while packages of all three services cost $20 or more a month less.

Ask About Offers It is thus advisable to consult with the satellite providers if they are offering any special offers or reduced rates at the moment. Satellite companies offer promotions such as lower rate for the first three to twelve months, and free additional premium channels for a certain period of time. DISH Network is especially famous for frequently offering special offers that can help new subscribers obtain a substantial discount on their first satellite offer. It is recommended to call a company and inquire about the current promotions in order to get the best price.

Choose Limited Programming Another way of getting cheaper satellite TV is by cutting down your choices of programs. The two leading satellite services are now offering minimal packages that include only the most popular programs and viewers’ preferences such as sports, family programs, and movies. For instance, DISH Network currently has the Multi-Sport Pack that comes with other featured sports channels such as ESPN, FS1, NFL Network among others at $12 per month. The major downside to getting a custom package is having to pay for fewer channels in general.

Consider Free Satellite TV To the chagrin of satellite providers, there are a few ways to obtain a rather limited satellite programming 100% free of course. DISH Network has a FreeDish satellite with more than 20 free channels such as TMZ, Cheddar News, Classic Movies, among others. The satellite equipment will cost you about $150 or more that you will have to buy. However, once a channel is FreeDish, there are no monthly charges at all for the FreeDish channels. Some of the public places such as hotels, bars and hospitals can also get free satellite TV for their customers.

Use a Mini Satellite Dish While normal satellite dishes may be as big as 18 inches across the face, mini satellite dishes are only 12 inches wide. Mini dishes are also able to receive the same satellite signals and channels, but in a more compact design. The costs of the dishes, installation, and monthly service charges are usually similar for the mini and the regular dishes. Therefore, going mini primarily means saving space rather than dollars. However, mini satellite TV antennas are easier to install in a stealthy manner on balconies and other tight areas, thus making them ideal for renters and condo owners who are restricted.

Buy Your Satellite Equipment Professional installation of satellite TV service usually comes with an extra cost of $100 and above. Purchasing your satellite dish and accessories individually and installing them on your own enables you to do away with this expense. To get your own dish, receivers, cables and tools, it will cost about $200-$350 depending on the quality that one wants to buy. However, the process of attempting a DIY satellite installation does include researching dish positioning, cable connections, and precaution measures. However, self-installed satellite kits, when bought carefully and properly installed, can offer substantial cost-savings versus professional installation.

Remove or pause premium channel subscriptions during the off-peak seasons. If you watch movies and sports frequently, you can save some money by subscribing to the premium channels during certain seasons only. It is usually very easy for most satellite carriers to allow or disallow certain premium channels with ease. This way getting rid of costly movie networks during summer and sports channels after their seasons can really reduce your expenses. The only thing to remember is to make a call and mention the dates you will be back home on the calendar. Automatic billing renewal may turn on channels before you desire hence causing you to stay awake.

Sharpen the Axe: Special Offer for Concessions on Multi-TV Packages Subscribing to satellite service and have it installed in more than one TV in a household increases fees through extra box rental and receiver charges. But satellite companies offer delicate packages for multiple television home to ensure that the cost is affordable. Almost all providers have reduced rates, free connections, and free additional services for extra TVs under the same account. The point is to request multi-TV discounts whenever you sign up or change your satellite services.

Conclusion Satellite plans may look expensive when one is comparing but there are now many avenues through which one can cut down on the cost of satellite service. Acquiring a low-end basic cable package, cross-connecting services, and utilizing provider offers, installing own equipment, and utilizing second and third-set TV discounts can fasten savings. Staying informed as a customer and making the best out of your satellite provider’s services is still the best approach towards achieving affordable satellite television. Satellite TV has become so flexible these days in terms of cost-cutting measures that it can easily find its way into even the most stringent home entertainment budgets.