With the growing popularity of satellite technology I had to ask myself is satellite television really cheaper then cable television. To be quite honest I was rather skeptical before I sat down and did the math.

There have been a lot of promotions with satellite television providers and they have been offering free direct TV systems. So I began to wonder why anyone would just give a product like that away for free. It just seemed rather odd to me. So I sat down and did a comparison for myself to see if satellite television is really cheaper then cable. I was very surprised that in the long run you do save a lot of money and also receive more channels.

However be careful about local channels, they might not be available for free in your area so that is something to check out before ordering. They have packages that include your local channels, which was an issue in the past when people ordered satellite cable. They would get it then find out that they had to pay extra for their local channels which made no sense. I took a look at the list where local channels are available and it's pretty broad, so most people shouldn't worry.

However the free equipment is just basic equipment. There is nothing wrong with that, but people who are looking for DVR, HDTV, or combination should know they would have to pay for their equipment. Depending on what you want it will average anywhere from $100.00 to $700.00 plus tax and shipping charges. In the long run it will work its self out because this is your equipment. When you have DVR or HDTV DVR equipment through cable you pay an extra monthly amount for that equipment which adds up in the long run and isn't yours to keep if you cancel it. So even if you order the most expensive equipment it will have balanced its price out in a few years.

If you opt for the free equipment all you have to do is pay for shipping and handling which is pretty much the same cost you would pay for cable installation. There is a catch to signing up for the free satellite equipment offer. You must make a one-year commitment to the service. Which isn't bad for those who definitely know satellite will work in the area they live in. Sometimes when people live in wooded areas do have trouble receiving satellite signals. That is something I would check into before I agreed to any annual commitment.

No matter what satellite package you chose would either save anywhere from $15.00 to $40.00 a month. Even if you chose the highest premium package available which is equivalent to the highest cable premium package you will still receive more channels for your money.

I started off not believing it, but satellite television offers are really more cost friendly. Sit down and do the math for yourself.