HDTV Facts For Your Home Entertainment

You've heard of HDTV, but maybe you're not entirely sure what the label refers to and whether or not you should consider an upgrade. Continue reading for all of the HD information you need to determine what is best for your own personal home entertainment system.

High definition television is an all-digital format of broadcast programming, with an increased resolution for a sharper screen picture. This is a huge improvement over the traditional analog broadcasting system, which is viewed on standard definition TVs, also called SDTV. The key benefit of HD is the picture quality, which is sharply increased in comparison to standard definition programming or VCR-quality. DVDs have a sharper picture than VCR, though HDTV is even clearer yet, with 720 lines of razor-sharp resolution, giving an image that looks as if the crystal-clear movie theater screen was sized down and installed in your living room.

The other major difference between standard and high definition TV is the aspect ratio. SDTV aspect ratios size up at an almost-square 4 by 3 ratio, which HD comes at an aspect ratio of 16 by 9, a rectangular broadcast that is closer to the ratio offered at a movie theater. This aspect ratio is closer to real-life and allows for a wide angle range of view - with HDTV, you don't have to miss what is happening on the edges of the scene. This is particularly of importance to sports fans, but is preferred by many movie viewers as well.

HD programming was inaugurated in 1996 in the United States by the Digital HDTV Grand Alliance, and has increased exponentially in popularity since then. Many cable television providers offer HD programming, provided that viewers have a high definition TV. The same holds true with satellite TV channels, which require not only the HDTV but a satellite dish and satellite receiver box. Satellite HD is a great option for being able to beam in channels and broadcasting from all over the world, as well as for specialized package deals for the best programming for sports fans, movie buffs, and cooking fanatics, among others.

If you're going to go for the razor-sharp imaging offered by high definition TV, you should also plan to go for the digital audio to accompany the picture. Some HD programming includes Dolby Digital 5.1 surround sound, which requires some remote speakers for the full effect, enhancing your full experience.

So how do you get HD? The monitor is essential, and must be either be an HDTV-ready television or at least equipped with a high definition tuner to access HD programming. Either of these forms will require an antennae or an external HD box, provided by your cable or satellite TV company. Once you have the HD-capable set, you can select to view your favorite shows, events, music videos, movies, and news clips in the high definition format. Lists of HD programming and channels can be accessed through the network provider or simply in the TV guide.



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Sports on Satellite TV Are Truly Unbelievable

The weekend takes on many different shapes and sizes for different people. There are the nine-to-five grinders who look forward to the weekend for some time away from their computers and desks, some time outside the office and away from the chaos of the workplace. There are the students who jump at the thought of the weekend as it acts as the reprise form the endless stream of classes and homework, papers and exams that are doled out each and every week in the classroom. Then there are the stay at home mothers and fathers who use the weekend as a chance to kick back and relax, going out with the family to the park so as to enjoy the weather and the company of the entire family together, at once. Regardless of which category you fall into, or if you fall into another category altogether, the weekend is a time for you to spend your time however you see fit - nobody telling you what to do and when to do it like may be the case from Monday through Friday. When Saturday rolls around, you can catch up on reading, go to the movies, head out for a day of shopping, prepare a long, relaxed meal for family and loved ones, take a hike with your dog, or simply stay in bed and catch up on all the sleep you lost over the past five days. The options are truly endless.

However, there are some people out there for which their weekends take on a different feel. For these individuals, the weekend revolves around Sunday afternoon, when teams from across the country take to the football field to battle it out for four quarters. Sports fans, football fans in particular, tend to spend their time away from work, the classroom or spending every minute with the kids parked in front of their high definition satellite TV set taking in as much football as they possibly can over the course of the afternoon. The fact of the matter is, while others are out for an afternoon jog, football fans would prefer to be in a pair of sweatpants, inhaling an Italian six-inch sub watching their team dominate a division rival on the opponents home field.

However, for some fans, this has become a issue. With most cable providers only broadcasting two or three games over the course of the day, fans are left out to dry if they are trying to watch their team from an out of market location. If you were born and raised in New York City as a die-hard Jets fan, but go to school all the way out west in Oregon, you are going to struggle to find any of your team's games on your local network. That being said, with satellite TV and NFL Sunday Ticket, you can sidestep this problem by enjoying every game every week from the comforts of your own home. As a result, you can keep your Sunday tradition alive: break out your most comfortable pair of pants, throw on your jersey and grab a seat in front of the TV for what will surely be the most fun you have all week!



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Satellite TV Deals - Buyer Beware!

There are thousands of dealers out there promising to give you the best satellite TV deals. Most dealers are reputable, however a growing number of scam operations are conning people out of their hard-earned money.

Here's how to make sure you get the best deal, the best programming, and the best service with a reputable company.

Phone Solicitation Scams

Large direct mail and telephone boiler-room operations have begun to spring up all across the country. What they do is find out which satellite TV provider you're currently using, then try to talk you into going with another provider using shady sales tactics and flat out lies.

If you have Dish Network, they'll try to pressure you into purchasing DirecTV service. And if you have DirecTV, they'll try to sell you on Dish Network service.

If you're happy with you're satellite TV provider, stay with them. If you're unhappy, check with a satellite TV review site to see if you can get a better deal and better service with another provider (see link below).

Automated Phone Dialing Scams

Another phone scam uses automated dialing machines to get you to sign up for satellite TV service. The call ends with "Press 1 to schedule a free installation. And, remember, it's already been paid for!"

What they don't tell you is that both Dish Network and DirecTV already offer free installation. And if you already have satellite service and decide to switch before your service contract is up, you'll have to pay a fine.

Bundled Services

There are a number of companies offering to give you a great deal on satellite programming if you bundle your phone and satellite TV service. Most of the companies offering these package deals are reputable, but in many cases the bundled service actually costs more than stand-alone service.

Again, check with a satellite comparison site to see if the bundled price is really better than stand-alone service.

Shoddy Installations

Because some installers are paid by the job, they try to install satellite systems as fast as they can to make as much as they can. This results in shoddy installation.

When I ordered Dish Network a few years ago, the installer attached my dish to a porch beam using nails instead of lag screws, and drilled a hole to run the cable through my house without caulking the hole. When the wind blew the dish moved out of sync and I lost my picture. When it rained, water dripped into the house.

Don't make my mistake. Make sure the installer your dealer uses is certified and will guarantee their installation.

Where to Get the Best Deal With a Reputable Dealer


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The Fashion Show on Satellite TV

Flick through the channels of your satellite TV and in five seconds or less you are bound to happen upon a reality TV show, displaying the drama of living in front of the cameras in full HD detail. Reality TV shows are a dime a dozen these days and the reasons why aren't surprising. They are cheap to make and produce and they are absolutely engaging. The petty cat fights, the emotional hissy fits, the tears, the odd sports competitions, the challenges, the high drama-it all comes together to make compelling must see TV. Satellite TV channel Bravo is known for making a whole slough of high brow reality TV shows, like Queer Eye for The Straight Guy, Top Chef, and Project Runway. Now that the latter has moved to another network, Bravo needed a new fashion based show to dish out to loyal viewers. That show is aptly called the Fashion Show.

This new fashion show is basically Project Runway redux. It pits fifteen designers against each other in a ruthless design-off. The prize is $125,ooo, and a contract to have their designs sold in the retail market. While it may not seem like a whole lot, especially for such a high priced business, the promised press and publicity clinch the deal. The show's Heidi Klum is famed designer Isaac Mizrahi. Sharing the hosting duties is Grammy Award winning performer Kelly Rowland (of Destiny's Child fame). There is no Tim Gunn to encourage the contestants or give them advice about how to spruce up their designs. Instead Mizrahi and Rowland tour the room rolling their eyes and saying little more then 'keep pluggin.'

The contestants are given two challenges per week; while this is no NFL Sunday Ticket, the contestants do tend to get into some acerbic scuffles. The first challenge titled the Harper's Bazaar Mini Challenge, is the lead up to the second, elimination challenge. The challenges require the designers to cut and sew against the clocks, trying to create a winning look. In the first, for instance, contestants have to make a little black dress out of a simple T-shirt. Later during the week, they have to create a must have piece that will work in five different ensembles.

The hosts don't offer much encouragement. Mizrahi is flamboyant, at times funny, but he's not very generous and neither is Rowland. Although the show is basically a replica of Project Runway and the contestants are the same, catty, vindictive and frequently engaging in diva like behavior, the tone of the show is different. It's more critical of the designers. Also, the entire studio audience is composed of fashion industry insiders or cognoscenti as Mizrahi calls them. They help judge the designer's creations alongside the official judges.

What's perhaps most notable about the show is that it's not really notable at all. It's a copy. There's plenty of drama and the designs are certainly interesting as are the designers themselves, but still Fashion Show doesn't live up to its predecessor Project Runway.

Check your satellite TV guide for show times.



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Master the Art of Cooking With Satellite TV

Trying to master the art of cooking? Becoming a master chef is no easy task. Learning how to cook and cook well, is a lot like learning how to play football or other sports. It takes practice, practice, practice. You have to be dedicated. If you fail, you have to pick up your spatula and try, try again. Luckily for all aspiring chefs and even foodies who want to learn how to perfect their favorite dishes, a world class food education doesn't require thousands of dollars to go to cooking school. You can learn all you need to know by subscribing to satellite TV. A satellite TV subscription gets you access to hundreds of cooking shows, many of them in tantalizing HD-with these shows the picture is so clear and realistic, it's like your actually standing alongside your favorite chef. Here are some of the shows you don't want to miss.

Paula's Best Dishes: This show follows the simple, finger licking good home cooking of southern sweetheart Paula Deen. Deen cooks straight from the heart. As she cooks, she shares stories and traditions, making her show both informative and entertaining. Her recipes are hearty affairs-this is cooking for people who like classic comfort foods. The HD detail will make your mouth water.

Chic and Easy: Host Mary Nolan shares her simple yet chic recipes that will please both friends and family. Nolan's philosophy marries style and affordability. Her impressive menus are elegant yet welcoming and easy to make. She'll show you how to make the best of your local ingredients, making sophisticated meals that will surprise even the most demanding palates.

Nigella Bites: Nigella Lawson, the British best selling author has several cooking shows on satellite TV's food network. Nigella Bites focuses on the food that this lovely chef actually cooks for herself and her family. This is real food for real people. She teaches you how to make simple, yet tantalizing meals that look great and taste great too. She offers practical tips and hassle free techniques to get you going.

Simply Delicioso with Ingrid Hoffman: The food on this show will make you salivate. Hoffman shows you how to gook Latin inspired dishes. The show is shot in Miami Beach and each episode features a vivid glimpse of that bustling city and its culinary delights. This is one to watch in HD.

Giada at Home: Giada De Laurentis, daughter of film producer Dino De Laurentis was born in Rome, Italy where she grew to love the kitchen. On her show, Giada shows us the intricacies of cooking and entertaining style, mixing Italian traditional recipes with Californian flair.

Big Daddy's House: Host Aaron McCargo Jr. won season four of the Next Food Network Star and this is his prize-his very own cooking show. Big Daddy's House showcases Aaron's favorite family recipes. He has a penchant for big flavors and bold colors. The show has a friendly, down to earth vibe and is great fun to watch.

All these shows can be found on the Food Network, which you can watch with a satellite TV subscription.

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Cooking Shows on Satellite TV

Peruse your satellite TV guide and you will no doubt find a plethora of cooking shows which featuring everything from home made treats from the South to exotic platters from the Maghreb or Southeast Asia. Many of these dishes, showcased in exquisite HD clarity will tempt you to try to cook up a little culinary storm yourself. The cooking show genre has become a television staple. Celebrity chefs have become stars in their own right, with their signature flavors and sometimes diva like attitudes.

With satellite TV, you're bound to find dozens if not hundreds of these cooking shows which will most definitely make you drool. Foodies are often addicted to these shows and they even program their HD DVRs to record them so that they can watch later on and try to perfect the recipes in their own kitchens. Food is actually akin to sports to many people-they are avidly passionate about what they eat; it often shows too. However, there are a variety of cooking shows dedicated to healthy eating. These shows stress the benefits of certain ingredients and often dedicate entire segments to different ways of preparing beets or using goji berries for instance.

Although fad diets are often all the rage one moment and then gone the next; many of these food shows maintain a balance of fad foods and actually healthful and nutritious dishes. They do showcase, in almost painfully delicious HD detail (it can be hard to watch on an empty stomach as you will be wishing that the food were on your table and not being broadcast on satellite TV), exotic ingredients that you can often find in your local organic grocers alongside more common foods cooked in unusual ways.

Shows such as The Naked Chef with the adorable British cook Jamie Oliver and The F Word with Gordon Ramsay have provocative names, but of course, there is nothing really that risqué about what they cook. Oliver does not really cook in the buff, and Gordon Ramsay's F-word is food of course. These chefs are successful not only because of their mouth watering dishes, but also because of their personalities. They aren't all business and no fun. They inject a little playfulness and wit into their shows.

Still other cooking shows take a look at food from all around the world. They examine local cuisine from such out of the way places as desert towns in Tunisia and villages in Laos. What you get is a lesson in food and culture too. You get to see how other people live and eat. Andrew Zimmern, whom you can catch via satellite TV on the Travel Channel, travels around the world and eats oddities such as bull's testicles and blood sausages. While this might not be appealing to some, it is certainly quite a sight to see. Similarly, infamous bad boy chef Anthony Bourdain globe trots across continents and oceans to get some good eats.

And then there are shows like Iron Chef which dazzle you with the skill of the chefs in the competition. You probably won't be able to follow the recipes, but this show is pure food entertainment at its best.

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Staying Obsessed on Satellite TV

Critics of our society have long since declared America "celebrity-obsessed." Truly, we have a yen to know about the goings-on about town, who showed up where, who's dating whom and so on. For most people, celebrities are like us -- how we would be if we got paid millions of dollars to appear on television and in the movies and suffered the consequences. More than a few us of trudging through our day-jobs would probably take the plunge, given the choice.

Until that big break, there's always satellite TV to check in on what's happening in Hollywood, or even Bollywood for that matter. If you need a dose of Britney vs. Lindsay, Jen vs. Angelina, or Paris vs. Anyone, you need look no further than the E! Channel. While many television stations, not to mention programs like Hollywood Reporter, have been known to deliver on the celebrity front, the E! Channel has taken that idea to its logical extreme. Twenty-four hours of movie star feuds, best and worst dressed lists and Wild On..., the show which features a model on a worldwide tour -- that's what E! does, and they do it well, now available in HD technology.

As we all know, nothing gets a celebrity watcher going like a televised trial. E! fed viewers what they wanted with the trial of Michael Jackson (not televised, though it seemed that way). Since the judge did not permit cameras inside the courtroom, E! obliged its viewers with a simulated version, using actors and the courtroom transcript. It could have seemed anticlimactic, compared to the celebrity trial to end all others: the OJ Simpson saga.

In some ways responsible for the all-out celebrity obsession of today's society, the O.J. Simpson story was almost too strange to believe. Just watching a live police chase involving one of football's greatest stars was weird enough. Upon learning he was suspected of killing his beautiful wife, the sordid details began to creep out, culminating in one of the most bizarre events in television history: his live murder trial. Checking out replays of the event on channels like Court TV HD, now available on satellite TV, you can see that in many ways O.J.'s story will never be topped. Unless, of course, you followed his trial and conviction last year on charges that he stole sports memorabilia items of -- you guessed it -- O.J. himself.

Perhaps you have a more dignified approach to following your favorite stars, the men and women who generally behave themselves and haven't degenerated into tabloid fodder (yet). Check out the popular Inside the Actor's Studio, in which actors discuss their craft with the uber-serious James Lipton. Even the notoriously private Robert DeNiro went under Lipton's careful microscope -- though he didn't look comfortable doing it.

Going the dignified route is not mandatory, however. For the juiciest tidbits, tune in to TMZ.com's new show on Fox and watch the stars in all their degrading glory. Any way you cut it, satellite TV will keep your celebrity watch going, twenty-four hours a day.

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