Remember way back when in the caveman days of satellite TV? The TV satellite dish was big and bulky. Really, it was an eyesore in your neighborhood, but also a sort of status symbol. Not everyone at the time could afford one. However, the constant adjustments of the dish were a hindrance. Today, the TV satellite dish is a sleeker, more condensed design that fits well on the roof of a house. Two of the most popular satellite TV providers are Direct TV and Dish network.

"Back in the day", satellite TV appealed to viewers who were searching for programming that was not mainstream, something that no one else would typically get with traditional local broadcasting. Things like live feeds from foreign news sites were popular. Today, however, plugging in to the satellite dish network of your choice is popular and fairly inexpensive. You have the same programming choices as cable networks as well as a lot more programming from other parts of the world.

Many supposed die hard fans of cable are now quietly signing up for Directv or the Dish Network, the two leading most popular satellite TV companies around. The reason? Better customer service and better overall quality in programming and picture. Now you are probably thinking that your direct satellite TV is cost prohibitive. However, nothing could be further from the truth. Depending on which satellite TV provider you go with, you most likely could receive a free satellite TV system. So that just leaves you with the cost of programming, which is usually cheaper than cable.

The great thing about satellite TV, whether you go with the Dish network or Direct TV, is that you will less likely have occurrences of disrupted service, unlike your standard cable. Signals are sent from the satellites in space and cloud cover, homes and other objects do not alter the signal at all.

So what do you need to get started? First you have to make a choice of which provider you will go with. Unfortunately, you cannot always go and purchase standard equipment like a satellite TV receiver or a TV satellite dish. Both the satellite Dish Network as well as Direct TV has some proprietary components. So once you decide which provider you will go with, then you can purchase the remaining equipment. Just remember, before you buy anything, research local retailers! Sometimes, they offer special promotions where you get a free satellite TV system, including the satellite TV receiver.

You can either install the system yourself or have a technician come to your home and take care of it for you. Now the hardest part of it all will be deciding on whether you should subscribe to one of the extra perks like Directv Tivo or Directv HDTV! Decisions! Decisions!