Thoughts on which one. We live in the boondocks, so cable is not an option.
We currently have geek farmers TV (digital TV through an antenna).
I'm sick of reading through all the small print, and introductory rates etc.
We have been living fine without 'expanded' TV for a while because we have been too busy - however we find at the times we want mind numbing TV we want more selection.

Direct TV - Dish are a bunch of idiots! I was going to move when we came to NY but they couldnt organize a piss up in a brewery so they lost their chance!

The only advantage to Dish is that you can view from their DVR on a second TV but we just got 2 DVRs. Been very happy with them for a long time now and would recommend them.

Isn't Dish the only satellite option with Setanta (i.e. English Football)?

we have direct tv and very happy with it -also have setanta

They were but during the RU world cup last year it started on direct TV.
My opinion? Had them both could hardly tell them apart, both worked fine except when it rains then both didn't work. You could do each for a year at a time and take advantage of the 'Introductory offers'

Directv without a doubt. They have a new satellite that they launched in March that should be turned on in about a month expanding even more the hd channels.

Plus who knows how long Dish will be around as loads of people seem to hack their signal to get free TV.

I have DirecTV and it's been great.

And HI Thydney!!!

I've never had DirecTV but I've been with Dish since 2003. Never had major problems with 'em. We have Dish rather than DirecTV or Verizon Fios as the wife can get EastEnders on PPV. Cannae be ersed waiting on streams or hooking up the PC to the tele in the living room, so a tenner a month is a small price to pay.

I think DirectTV is the Setanta option.

I had DISH a few years ago. One of the differences (at the time) was that DirectTV was a self-install, whereas DISH sent a guy to your house to do it.

At the time, my research indicated that DISH had a slightly more powerful signal, which was needed as I had a very 'iffy' install location. Not sure how that has changed since then.

I've now gone to cable for my TV (I live via on-demand) and have an FTA Satellite (i.e. 1 meter) for pulling in all sorts of really random stuff, and also for Setanta. There isn't much European-english language content on FTA, but there are a few other things now and then you can watch. I have a motorized dish so I can hit as many satellites as possible.

THe biggest problem I found was that although both advertise 155 channels you can only get about 15 without having to pay a further subscription for each one you may want.
Plus I cant have Direct Tv as I have two bloody big trees in the way of the dish location.However the complex deals with Dish and they put a separate dish on the roof of our quad due to the trees so we have them.Beenm OK so far.

Setanta is channel 406 on Dish Network.

Thanks. Good to know.

By the way, if you get an FTA dish occasionally you can get the backhaul of the Setanta PPV matches (i.e. not the normal Setanta USA) because they forget to encrypt the signal.

1 question? are the fta systems easy to set up?

I have Dish, and i f'ing love it! 4 rooms, HD DVR 200 channels for $65 a month is the cheapest by far.... its also the most like sky tv.

I would not do without it