Dish Network's $1,600 home theater system package comes with everything you need for HDTV
Date: August 10, 2004
If you want a high definition home theater system, consider the following costs you’ll likely need to incur: large screen high definition television - $1,600 (for a 34 to 40 inch tv); digital video recorder such as a TiVo - $500 (including lifetime service); HDTV receiver - $300; HDTV service – varies; Total - $2,400+.
That’s pretty hefty; no wonder less than 10% of U.S. homes have an HDTV home theater system. But, Dish Network hopes you’ll reconsider and purchase one of their satellite HDTV packages. To sweeten the deal, they are offering a $1,600 package that will set you up with a high definition-ready television, an HDTV receiver, a digital video recorder and satellite service with up to 9 high definition channels.
Equipment
For your Dish home theater system’s television, you have a choice of two
models – a 34-inch direct view (i.e. “tube”) HDTV or a 40-inch
rear-projection. Both are made by Thomson (which also makes the RCA
branded TVs) and should be considered “middle of the road”. The digital
video recorder (or DVR) is able to capture recordings in full high
definition. If you don’t want the DVR, Dish will reduce the package
price by $600. Finally, Dish will send technicians to set up the whole
package for you.
Dish Network's DVR921 home theater system receiver has dual tuners and a full-function hard-drive recorder. It has the ability to tune in high definition signals from both satellite and local broadcast sources. A local antenna is required to pick up local stations.
The home theater system DVR’s hard drive has capacity to store 180 hours of standard programming or 25 hours of high definition television. In addition, with the dual tuner you can use the TV's picture-in-picture function or else watch one show while recording another.
Dish Network Service
The Dish Network is a competitor to DirecTV and offers a full lineup of
basic and premium channels. If you get the package, you’ll want access
to Dish Network’s nine high-definition channels which is comparable to
the high definition offerings from most cable operators. Included HD
channels are Discovery HD Theater, HDNet, HDNet Movies, ESPN HD, high
definition channels from HBO and Showtime, an HDTV pay-per-view service
and TNT's HD channel.
How can Dish sell a TV, receiver and satellite service for less than what an HDTV costs in most stores? Well, they are hoping that once you sign up to their service, you’ll decide it’s so good that it’s worth keeping around for years to come.
More articles at our Flat Screen TV Articles page.
