These days people are looking to maximize their entertainment dollar. High gas prices, a slowing economy, and higher food prices are putting the squeeze on citizens. Fortunately, one of the great values in entertainment is your cable or satellite TV service.

If you take a moment and think about it, you can get a bundle including over 200 stations including commercial-free movie channels like HBO and Starz for about $75 dollars a month. That is less than you usually spend for dinner and a movie. The latest technology in the pay television market is HD, or high definition programming. What should you evaluate when hooking up that new Hi-def TV you just bought?

Remember that your standard cable television or satellite TV service is not in hi-def. You must specifically buy a programming package that includes this type of programming. So where do smart shoppers begin?

Make a call to your current provider and find out exactly what they offer as far as hi-def service. Satellite TV corporations DISH Network and DirecTV have been leading the charge as far as providing the most HD when you look at channel counts. Cable television providers like Cox also have some great offerings, including HD on-demand. Find out exactly how much upgrading to hi-def will cost, and if you need additional equipment. Comparing against satellite DVR units is important.

If what they offer is not what you want, its time to do a little comparison shopping. The newest offerings include an all hi-def package from DISH Network called TurboHD. Direct TV sells HD service for just $9.99 per month. Charges per month vary with cable television companies across the country, so you will have to call your local company to see what the cost will be for high definition.

Another factor to consider is that some telecom companies now provide television service. AT&T now provides their UVerse service in some areas they cover along with voice and DSL. Verizon is also expanding their network, offering their fiber optic service FiOS in limited areas. It is advisable that you compare different services side-by-side, such as U-verse vs DirecTV. These developments are a benefit to the customer, as more competition encourages low costs in the long run.

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