All About Satellite TV

A small card, the size of a credit-card, fitted into your satellite TV receiver controls all your satellite TV programming. The card's data for your programming is set once you sign on for satellite service with your provider. The channels you have selected with your satellite TV programming package are unscrambled and transmitted to your television in keeping with the data from the card.

When you subscribe to satellite TV programming the card number is obtained by the company and, technically no matter which unit it is in, the programming will be viewable. If you have more than one unit it is advised to keep the record straight as to which unit contains which card, for the purpose of service if needed. The card also holds the information for billing purposes, such as any Pay-Per-View movies you chose to purchase during the billing period.

It is true that you can purchase cards on the black market permitting you to receive all satellite TV programming being downloaded from the satellite. However, your provider is set up to detect this, periodically sending out a signal. When this sort of piracy is detected, they have the technology essentially to wipe every rogue card clean, making it completely useless. Since the satellite TV programming card was an unauthorized purchase, you are out the money spent. The company may also seek criminal charges against you that results in a fine and potential jail time.

Programming For All Tastes

Today, the wide variety of programming choices (packages) available, it's difficult to imagine that anyone would feel a need to risk piracy. Almost all tastes are catered to. From those on a strict budget or do not watch a lot of television, basic satellite TV programming packages are the least expensive, yet still offer diverse programming choices. Additional channels can be added at any time to vastly improve your selection.

One of your options will be to select movies from premium channels such as HBO, Cinemax, Starz and Encore with your satellite TV programming package, and Pay-Per-View movies are available through most satellite services for which you pay only when you choose and movie and watch it. There are also many special sports events covered by satellite companies that can be purchased on a per-event basis.

Specialized satellite tv programming packages are open to you, as well, such as National Football League games which gives you access to every pro game played every week, regardless of the broadcast schedule. Similar packages are available for baseball, basketball, hockey and other popular sports. It doesn't matter what package you subscribe to, because these special packages are available to you at whatever extra charge is offered by your satellite TV provider.