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There are many factors that go into the decision of choosing which HDTV provider is right for you, including service price, channel options and the necessary equipment. Here are a few recommendations on the best HDTV service options for various interests.
Sports Fanatics
There are few types of video that look better in HDTV than sports. However, depending on which sports you like, some HDTV providers are better than others. Note that all four HD service providers in Atlanta offer ESPN HD.
NFL - If you are a huge NFL fan and want access to all of the out-of-market football games every Sunday, you need to know that DIRECTV is currently the only provider that offers the NFL Sunday Ticket package, which carriers many games in HDTV. So if pro football is your game, DIRECTV is the way to go.
NBA - If the NBA is your favorite sport, you should know that NBA TV HD is currently only offered on DIRECTV and the DISH Network. Comcast and DISH also carry TNT HD, which offers two NBA games a week in HD.
Local Channels
Cable and satellite companies handle your local networks in two different ways. Comcast carries the HD feeds of the major local networks through its cable system, which broadcast to your HDTV via the HD converter that you rent from your cable company. However, that box does not act as a digital tuner for over-the-air digital broadcasts of local stations, so you would need to purchase a separate antenna and tuner to receive the digital signals of the local channels with which your cable company has not yet signed carriage agreements.
The satellite companies, on the other hand, provide HD tuners that are integrated with the HDTV receivers you buy or lease from them. To actually receive the local networks in HD, however, you need to purchase an over-the-air HD antenna that has a relatively unobstructed path from the transmitting tower to your home. If you live near several tall buildings, you may not be able to pick up the local networks in HD via an over-the-air antenna. If this is your situation, cable would be your best bet.
The Equipment: Buy vs. Lease
Between the cost of buying the HDTV itself, along with the receiver to actually get the channels you want to watch in HD, owning a high-def system is not cheap. HD receivers typically run $300 to $750, although Comcast, and DISH offer equipment leases that negate the need for a large upfront HD receiver purchase (you can also purchase your equipment from DISH rather than leasing it).
Comcast charges $5 to rent the HD box, while DISH also charges a $5.00 monthly lease fee.
DIRECTV currently does not offer a lease option, although it has experimented with lease promotions in certain markets around the country.
The bottom line here is that if you want to own all of your own HDTV equipment, go with DIRECTV or DISH. If minimizing upfront costs is your goal, your best options are Comcast or DISH.
Digital Video Recorders
Comcast, DIRECTV and DISH Network currently offer a digital video recorder (DVR) that records in HDTV. Comcast’s HD-DVR comes from the Motorola 6208 set-top box that leases for $14.95 a month ($5 for the box and $9.95 for the service). DIRECTV’s DVR is provided through its partnership with TiVo, while DISH has its own DVR 921 box. The HD TiVo from DIRECTV retails for a hefty $999 while DISH’s DVR 921 goes for $549. Both carry a $5 monthly DVR fee.
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