As cable and satellite rates soar, many people are searching for cheaper means to get entertained at home. Another common question that many people ask is whether there exists any Dish TV package that is free. Here are some options for Dish TV that customers can subscribe to for free or at a low price.
Free Dish TV Options What Free Dish TV Options Exist?
Taking this into consideration, it becomes evident that there are no free satellite TV packages that Dish Network has to offer. Being one of the two major paid satellite providers together with DirecTV, all the programs offered by Dish are paid for and can be accessed only after the subscription fee is paid every month.
However, Dish does offer the following free or low-cost alternatives:
Free Over-The-Air Channels
Despite this, you can get Dish equipment to show TV through a satellite dish and capture over-the-air broadcast signals cheaply. Though it does not offer dozens or hundreds of channels as you would expect with a satellite package, you can get free local broadcasts which include ABC, CBS, NBC, Fox, and PBS among others. This one does not involve a Dish subscription as well as a monthly fee for the service.
For transmitting the over-the-air channels, and to be able to access them through Dish equipment, one must have a satellite dish and the proper receiver. There are installation and equipment charges involved here, so this is not entirely free. However, you get benefits such as you don’t pay a monthly fee for the satellite package.
Free Previews
Dish Satellite at times provides free trial week-ends or weeks of certain packages, channels, or on-demand movies. This enables non-subscribers of Dish to get a feel of what the company’s programming offers. They are useful to see what is available on Dish before subscribing to a certain package and channel. But availability is limited.
Sling TV
Sling TV, which operates as a subsidiary of Dish Network, was one of the first live-streaming television services to gain mainstream popularity. Although it can more accurately be described as a virtual cable service, Sling TV provides many of the most-watched cable networks live or on-demand over the internet.
Sling Orange is $35 monthly while Sling Blue offers $40 more for their basic plan. However, Sling often has promotions for giving users limited time for free, so for the most part, it can be free.
Pluto TV
Dish has recently bought Pluto TV as the TV streaming service that offers 250+ free streaming live and on-demand channels based on ads. And just like any other cable television service, Pluto offers news, sports, movies, sitcoms, reality series, among others. The content, however, is completely free from ads and legal issues, although ad breaks are observed more frequently. However, Dish does not own Pluto TV as this is an application that can be accessed from many devices without requiring Dish and the related equipment.
Is It Legal Not to Pay for Dish Service?
Occasionally some customers consider watching Dish satellite programming and ask if they can get the equipment and signals for free without paying for them. These are also known as ‘free dish TV’; they generally utilize unauthorized pirate access cards.
Satellite piracy involves putting additional programs on the smart card without the authorization of the copyright owner or making alterations to the cards. This is unlawful as it infringes on the copyright and digital laws to be meted out some criminal charges. Though many people may fantasize about getting Dish TV for free, it is not possible and is unlawful to do so.
What About Basic Cable?
Although satellite TV from Dish isn’t free, some groups of consumers can enjoy free basic cable services. Cable providers are mandated through federal rules and regulations to provide a limited number of programming choices that include local broadcast stations and public access cable television.
The cost for Basic Cable also differs but on average, it goes for $20 every month. However, cable subscribers still have to purchase equipment used in the transmission of cable signals as well as pay for installation or rental fees. Likewise having to use an antenna with Dish equipment for over-the-air signals, basic cable isn’t entirely free.
Who and How Much: Legal Dish Network and Other Pay-Tv Services for the Cheapest Price
For shoppers who are just not willing to spend a lot of money on their home entertainment but do not wish to resort to piracy, an HD antenna along with a streaming media player and services such as Pluto TV are viable solutions. You can watch the major broadcast networks, and classic TV shows and movies without the continuous cost of a satellite subscription.
However, wherein satellite dishes can bring in tens of thousands of channels and programs, streaming lacks in this aspect as it continues to become more sophisticated at an alarming rate. Most consumers who are willing to compromise on the number of channels or pay a little higher prices get more value for money by going for streaming plus OTA antenna, which is the cheapest legal Dish TV replacement. With cable prices averaging over $100 per month, cable TV’s elimination offers relief and cost reduction for many families.
Ready to upgrade your TV experience? Call us now at (877) 471-4808 to find the perfect Dish Network plan for you! Don’t miss out on great entertainment—our team is here to help you choose the best package and get you started today.