In this article I will explain the details of how you can get a really good deal on satellite television service, but first I need to explain a couple of options you may, or may not have known about. I'll also tell you these are the cheapest ways to get satellite TV, and that's not an exaggeration. I would even stake my reputation on the fact.

Satellite TV Standalone or Bundled
Satellite TV is still generally less expensive than cable, if even slightly, but there are a couple ways to get satellite TV that can save you a little more money depending on whether you want bundled services, or you prefer to just get satellite television as a standalone product. With bundled services you may be able to add phone and high-speed Internet to your package, and get a discount for having everything on one bill. With stand alone satellite you may be able to get a discount for a specified number of months.

Dish Network Options
Not too long ago you could get Dish Network from AT&T, which included phone service and DSL. Recently AT&T changed its satellite TV provider, and now offers DirecTV. On the flip side of this, Dish Network now offers its own brand of DSL and phone service, but it's not widely available just yet. This year Dish Network has also started a very aggressive campaign to increase its customer base by offering programming for $9.99 for six months.

Now, before you get all defensive about that price only being for six months, don't forget that's half of one year, and the programming only goes up to $34.99 after the promotion has ended. That's still cheaper than cable for a comparable package. This also requires a commitment, but that's the case with any bundled package deal at a discounted rate.

DirecTV Options
The largest provider of satellite television in the United States is DirecTV, and they have contracts with the largest telecommunications companies in the United States. AT&T, Verizon, and Qwest all offer DirecTV with home phone, wireless phone, and DSL or high-speed Internet all on the same bill. You do get a discount for having everything bundled together, but package prices can be different depending on the levels of phone service, speed of Internet, and the number of channels and features you choose for DirecTV. Getting the DirecTV bundled package makes good economical sense if you're using or planning to use any of the other services mentioned anyway, since you'll get a discount.

DirecTV as a standalone product is also a good option, and if you're a first time customer you can get a good discount for programming for the first year. Promotional packages start at $34.99 for 150 channels. Though cheaper than cable, it's still about the same price, as the Dish Network package that is $9.99 for the first six months, then goes up to around $35.

Dish Network vs DirecTV
It's pretty easy to see that Dish Network will cost considerably less than DirecTV as a standalone product, but where DirecTV really shines is when it is bundled through one of the major phone companies at a discounted rate, which makes it a viable alternative to lowering the cost of your overall elective utilities based on an average monthly cost. There is no clear winner here since it depends on your personal preferences, but the information provided here will hopefully give you some insight as to which plan will be cheapest for you.