What would you tell a friend or co-worker to interest them in owning a Free To Air satellite system?
I don't know anyone who currently has a Free To Air sat system. I did drove by a neighbor one day while visiting someone and one of the neighbors got a free to air sat dish that does not say Dish Network or Direct TV on there. It was an Indian family who owns the dish.
Free to Air satellite system will be best for Asian viewers like Thai, Hmong for example. Thai and Hmong programming is not offered anywhere on TV. Not on Dish or Direct. Not even on cable. I don't know how good or bad are the tv stations for Thai viewers, but it is better than nothing if they want to watch programming in their language. I did image what will they watch on tv during evening hours when other ethnic viewers such as Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Flipinoes, Vietnamese can get their own shows from Direct or Dish. For others, only a free to air sat dish or IPTV.
What got you interested to purchase your first Free to Air satellite system?
I have been interested in a big satellite system/receiver about 20 years ago.
I wanted to get the certain Asian language international channels directly from China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Japan and Korea. A Indian sales staff from a satellite company told me that would not be possible due to signal restrictions. And, only
cable providers, TV stations got the technology to possibly get the actual stations all around the world. The pro is getting to watch the latest shows. The con is waking up earning in the AM hours to watch the PM shows in the actual country.
The cost to get the KU-Band or C-Band system cost $2,000+
No choice, back to cable TV and enjoy the American TV stations like ESPN, MTV.
About 10 years ago when Direct TV and Dish Network begin competiting against cable TV, I saw an ad about a Free To Air satelite system costing around $100-200 bucks. As advertised, I will get limited non popular Asian TV channels and other channels from Middle East and Europe. While those limited channels does not look appealing, I depend on the satelite TV providers for
better international programming.
Then, I join this forum about 3 years ago and I read more about the facts on free to air tv stations. There are more appealing TV stations over the air, but the TV station can block the free to air signal or beginning charging customers at any time. With Direct TV and Dish Network, the same international channels (pay channels) just air the same shows over and over. Nothing new. Maybe, it is time to check out the "free to air" tv stations on a different sat dish. Sadly, Dish and Direct will never add "free to air" tv stations as a pay or free channels. Might as well depend on a new dish to check out the latest free to air shows.