Legend Ranking Excellent Very Good Good Fair Poor	iSoftwareTV	Satellite TV for PC (Elite Edition)	Digital TV for PC 2
User Interface
Picture Quality
Stream Speed
Customer Support
Best Price	$34.95	$49.95	$52.96
Manufacturer Rating
Buy It Now
Screen Shots
Channel List
Video
In-Depth Review
	iSoftwareTV	Satellite TV for PC (Elite Edition)	Digital TV for PC 2
Easy Set Up
Control Interface
Show Scheduling
Channel Variety
Privacy Protection
No Adware
No AntiSpyware
No Satellite Dish or TV Required
Technical Support	iSoftwareTV	Satellite TV for PC (Elite Edition)	Digital TV for PC 2
Email Support
Application Help File
Knowledge Base FAQ's
Operating System	iSoftwareTV	Satellite TV for PC (Elite Edition)	Digital TV for PC 2
Window 2000
XP
Vista
Mac

Watching Satellite TV on your computer is actually not a new concept and has been around for several years. It gained a lot of traction over the two years because many households were looking to reduce home bills with the economy's downturn. The average family spends close to $100 on cable television per month, which is over $1200 / year.

You can buy hardware cards and install on your computer and connect into your cable connection. Installation and Maintenance was a big turn off for many non-technical users. However, there are several providers of Satellite TV software – the software is provided via an easy download which enables you to watch Satellite TV on your computer as long as you have internet connection. There are cables that you can purchase that will actually connect your computer to your home entertainment center enabling viewing all available satellite program on your home entertainment theater. (If interested, contact us and we will recommend one to you). You can also go to any Best Buy or local electronics store and ask them for the cable to connect your computer to your TV.

Satellite TV software packages use streamlined media. Television channels transmission are encoded and transmitted across the internet – the Satellite TV software packages detect and convert these transmissions back into pictures and sounds that are presented on your computer. It basically uses the same technology of used when you either listen to music or watch a YouTube™ video on your computer. The major benefit is that it provides you access to Live Television – it is not saved videos of your favorite shows. Since it is live television from all over the globe, the quality is a function of the native country – but with some software enabling viewing from over 160 countries, and 3000 channels you most likely will be satisfied with the quality on most of the channels. The software packages reviewed and recommended offer a money-back guarantee, so prior to fully committing you can ensure that you are satisfied with picture quality, speed, etc.

Choosing the best Satellite TV Software?

As mentioned above, with the recent surge in demand for Satellite TV software, there are many suppliers. In our 2009 SmartChoiceâ„¢ Guide, we have identified the top three software products based on several criteria. What should you consider when purchasing Satellite TV Software?

• Installation: The major disadvantage with the old hardware cards is that you need to install the card, make sure it was compatible with your cable connection, maintain it, etc. The satellite TV software packages we reviewed provide immediate access, quick installation - usually less than a few minutes, and online help.
• Ease of Use: After the installation – your main screen – your console – is like your online remote control. Each Satellite TV Software Package has their own console; some are easier to use than others.
• Number of Channels: No matter what software you get, you will get at least 1000 channels. The most offered is over 3000. We can't really comment on the value of those channels, because we are not sure you will be watching the news channel in Nepal ;-). However, the variety will be important if you are looking for a specific channel. For our review, we have assumed that more is better, since all offer the basic you would expect to find. But the number of channels may have an impact on the price, so if price is a determining factor, that may drive your decision.
• Cost: Often Satellite TV on Your Computer is advertised as Free. This is not 100% correct. There is a one time cost associated with this; see SmartChoiceâ„¢ chart above. However, it is a one-time cost, there is no monthly fee, you pay once and you can use it for ever. The right comparison is: $50 one time free vs. the $1,200 you may spend on it each year with satellite cable provider.
• Picture Quality: Satellite TV Software packages has had some uproar recently because picture quality was bad for some applications. This has been the case, but it is based on the software application you get. With the increased demands, there have been many companies with little experience who sell a bad product – people buy it because they may have a fancy website; after the bad experience user decide not to try another Satellite TV Software. Out top three choices all provide good picture quality, some are better – but they all should meet your standards. One more thing to consider – picture quality is also a function of the particular channel you want to watch – for example the resources available to a top Channel in the United Kingdom in streaming their programs may be better and more advanced than a small channel in Angola (Africa). Ultimately, this also has an affect on picture quality. (Check the refund section on the product review sections – many of our readers have responded that they tried all three of our products, and selected the one that worked well for them, and simply claimed a refund for the other two).
• Help / Support: Often you can tell a lot about a company based on their support. Many satellite software provides don't provide support, and or claim to have support which will never respond. This should provide a hint as to the size of the company and whether they are experienced.

Finally, some people purchase satellite TV software because there are looking to watch channels that are not offered by their cable provider – for example, someone who was lived for several years in China, and has move to the United States, may want to continue to watch Chinese televisions and show. If you are looking for specific channels, be sure to either (1) visit the website of the software provider to ensure your channel is offered; or (2) contact us and will check our records; (3) purchase the software, if they don’t have the channel, send email, and receive a refund.

Picking the right Satellite TV Software Package will make you question why you did not do it earlier.