Ghost Hunters on Sci Fi: Renewed And Expanded

If you have DirecTV, then you have the Sci Fi channel, if you have Sci Fi, then you’ve got Ghost Hunters and if you haven’t seen it, you should definitely check it out. Last years season was the most watched of the paranormal series’ career. Now, Sci Fi has announced that the show isn’t just going to be renewed for another season, but that its success has has to an expansion of the franchise and the partnership between the Sci Fi channel and the show’s maker, Pilgrim Films and Television.

The new deal includes a sixth season of “Ghost Hunters,” a second season of “Ghost Hunters International”, plus a six-episode order of the new pilot “Ghost Hunters: New Generation”. On top of all that, Pilgrim Films and Television has been asked to create a whole new series for the Sci Fi Channel which they hope to premiere next year.

Although Ghost Hunters premiered five years ago, it still ranks as one of the most popular shows on television. The show itself revolves around two plumbers living in Rhode Island, Jason Hawes and Grant Wilson. The two work for Roto-Rooter as plumbers during the day and then run the organization that that founded, The Atlantic Paranormal Society (TAPS), in their off time. The Ghost Hunters spin-off, “Ghost Hunters International,” first aired in January of 2008 and has been doing very well in the ratings, which is why it is being welcomed back to DirecTV programming for another round this year.

Their will also be more paranormal investigations afoot this year when season one of Ghost Hunters: New Generation, originally called Ghost Hunters: College Edition, airs for its first exciting season. The new show will revolve around the paranormal adventures of a group of college students and their experienced instructors as they seek out and investigate some of the most renowned haunts in the US and abroad. You won’t want to miss a moment of the great new footage that will be available this season on the Sci Fi channel, and you can count on DirecTV to bring all the spooky action directly to your living room in high definition.

Jon & Kate Plus 8 Is A Great Handful

If you have multiple children, or just love good reality television shows with interesting angles, “Jon & Kate Plus 8” is a good candidate for your viewing time. This highly rated TLC channel reality show is produced here in the United States, and chronicles Jon and Kate Gosselin’s efforts to successfully raise both a set of fraternal twin girls and a set of sextuplets consisting of three fraternal boys and three paternal girls. Talk about a handful!

Although it originally aired on Discovery Health, “Jon & Kate Plus 8” has found its new home on DirecTV’s TLC network (channel 280, or 1280 for the ever so handy Video On Demand Version).

Kate and Jon Gosselin both come from fairly decent sized families, but not anywhere near the size that they have now. Shortly after their married in June of 1999, Jon and Katie discovered that due to Katie’s diagnosis of polycystic ovary syndrome, a fertility specialist would be required if they ever hoped to reproduce. Finally after a successful attempt with intrauterine insemination, Kate became pregnant with twins, and gave birth to Cara Nicole and Madelyn. After a few years they decided that they wanted another child so they went the fertility treatment route again, only this time, sextuplets were discovered. Both Kate and Jon were against any form of selective reduction, so in May of 2004, Kate gave birth to Alexis Faith, Hannah Joy, Aaden Jonathan, Collin Thomas, Leah Hope, and Joel Kevin.

With all the media attention this large family has received, “Jon & Kate Plus 8” has only grown more popular, boosting the TLC network’s rating and turning out to be one of the most hectic but entertaining reality shows on the DirecTV lineup, and with Season five starting before June, viewers and fans will have plenty to look forward to.

Palladia – A Music Channel For Music Fans

If you are a lover of music and you haven’t had a chance to check out the Palladia channel on DirecTV channel 332, you’ve definitely been missing out. This music specialty channel, owned by MTV Networks, brings the best music programming, specials, and videos from MTV, CMT, and VH1, all on one great, high definition satellite channel.

The Palladia network made its debut in January of 2006 under the original name MHD (Music: High Definition), with the slogan “MHD: The Best Music You’ve Ever Heard”.

And now, as of October of 2007, DirecTV brought this network channel to their already large and impressive satellite television channel lineup.

If you happen to be a fan of the VH1 series “VH1 Storytellers”, or if you might have missed this experience, the Palladia channel can help you with that. For those that don’t know, a “VH1 Storytellers” episode features a performance of one big name musical guest, as well as allow said guest to explain the lyrics, stories or circumstances behind the songs showcased. Some notable guest performers have been Jay-Z, the Smashing Pumpkins, Kanye West, Tori Amos, Coldplay, Mary J. Blige and Pearl Jam, to name a few.

Another great music show that is along the same vein as “VH1 Storytellers”, but without the between song talks is “Soulstage”, originally airing on the VH1 Soul network. Featured artists of past have been Erkykah Badu, Raphael Saadiq, The Roots, and India.Arie.

Between these great shows and others such as CMT network’s “Crossroads”, and MTV’s “Life & Rhymes”, the Palladia channel hosts special HD simulcasts of the major music award shows such as the CMT Music Awards, VH1 Hip Hop Honors, and of course, the notorious MTV Video Music Awards. These are just a few reasons that why in a sea of music channels to choose from on satellite television, Palladia will satisfy music lovers of all ages and genres.

Have You Met The History Channel’s Foreign Sister?

Great channels run in the family for the History channel’s sister channel, History International. History International specializes in international historical documentaries. If you happened to catch an hour of Wednesday night programming on History International on DirecTV, you might find yourself watching one of the channel’s most popular shows: “The Naked Archaeologist”. The show is produced, directed, and hosted by Simcha Jacobovici, a recipient of two Emmy Awards. The footage is shot on location in Egypt, Israel, and Greece in order to show viewers some of the most amazing archaeological sites and finds the Middle East has to offer. Jacobovici keeps Biblical archeology lively with his upbeat and eccentric personality and his penchant for song and dance.

Through the examination of actual sites and artifacts, and by conversing with the best and brightest archaeologists, historians and scientists, Jacobovici finds the answers to questions such as, “Why is it so bad to be called a Philistine?”, “Was Jezebel really that sexy?”, “What do you do when you find a 2,000-year-old palace under your house?” and even, “Where do you stop for a good falafel when you’re on your way to find the real Mount Sinai?”

Another show you might want to check out that is currently airing on History International is “The Templar Code”. It centers around the medieval world’s most powerful secret society, the Knights Templar. Find out what historians now know about these Crusaders that were supposedly the keepers of an unimaginable Biblical treasure that could change the face of religion as we know it. Discover also the secrets behind their mysterious rituals, rites, training, and sudden downfall.  Another great channel in the DirecTV lineup.

Benefits For DirecTV Commercial Customers

All types of businesses, small and large, can benefit from DirecTV service. DirecTV provides the right combination of quality channels at great package prices. It also allows you to enjoy more than 60 of television’s most popular channels in sharp, vibrant high definition broadcasting. If you’re a sports fan, or have customers that are, you’ll appreciate that DirecTV give you access to more high definition sports programming than any other provider.

With a DirecTV subscription, business customers also have the option to add XM Radio to their packages. This gives the subscriber unlimited access to 88 music channels in addition to all the great programming. There are also a growing number of interruption-free channels that play all music, no commercials. These channels are designed especially for, and only available to, Commercial customers.

If you still need more motivation to get your business signed up for DirecTV, you should know that they are the leader in satellite television programming and the #1 Satellite TV service in America. This is a direct result of the wide array of options and benefits available with the service, such as their history of being #1 in overall customer satisfaction.

Don’t wait to take advantage of DirecTV’s premium business packages- they start as low as $41.99 per month! You can choose from packages that are specifically designed to best meet the needs of your business, whether you have a gym, hospital, bar, doctor’s office, beauty salon, restaurant- you name it, there is a DirecTV package that will suit it just right! Don’t miss out on the exceptional deals going on right now- check out DirecTV online today so that you and your customers can start reaping the benefits.

Clooney Returns To ER To Say Goodbye

After nine years, the show that propelled George Clooney to stardom lured him back in for one last goodbye run– and I do mean last. Clooney as Dr. Doug Ross reappeared three episodes away from ER’s 15th and final season. The long-running hit NBC drama, set in the emergency ward of a Chicago hospital, hasn’t seen Clooney’s character for almost ten years.

As the storyline goes, he was transferred to the Washington State hospital in Seattle alongside his girlfriend-turned-wife, Carol Hathaway. We first met her when she was working at Chicago General as head nurse and was brought into the ER to be treated following a suicide attempt. Since his transfer to Washington, Dr. Ross has worked as an attending physician at the Seattle hospital. In order to write him back into the show, along with three other original cast members, the writers had to rely on a certain amount of coincidence.

During the last three episodes, Noah Wyle returns to play his character, Dr. John Carter, who is at Chicago County General hospital as a patient. He is awaiting a kidney that will prove to be a transplant match for him. Dr. Peter Benton, reprieved by Eriq La Salle, works in the hospital and goes to visit Dr. Carter during his wait.

A matching kidney does in fact become available at at the very Seattle hospital where Dr. Ross and Hathaway work. This leads to all four of these original cast members being reunited for a final farewell to the fifteen year old series.

If that’s not enough to peak your interest in the conclusion of this record-breaking, award-winning series, maybe I should mention the partial Clooney nudity that is thrown in for free at the end of the last episode.

Although it may seem like the end of an era, and, in fact, it is, but the fun won’t stop once you’ve seen the dramatic ending. It will just serve as an opportunity to watch all three hundred and some episodes from all over again from start to finish… or at least your choice favorites; sometimes shows are just better in syndication.

For the maximum in viewing pleasure, check out what DirecTV has to offer if you haven’t already. They will be able to provide more HD channels than you could get from other satellite provider and way more than cable providers. With DirecTV there is also the added benefit that their monthly bill is less than cable with better choices in packages to suit the whole family.

Troubleshooting Digital TV Reception Issues

Although not mandatory until June 12^th, most television stations are already broadcasting a digital signal and some have been doing so for quite a while now. The change will free up the analog airwaves for emergency messages and government business. Not many people are complaining about the change over, but that doesn’t mean that the switch hasn’t cause some issues. One of these change over affects is that some people have begun to complain about the quality of reception they are getting on their new digital sets.

If poor reception is a problem that you are facing, read through these troubleshooting tips to see if there isn’t a simple solution to your on-screen snow storm.

Your first step should be to ensure that your television antenna can support a digital signal. Most of them are but there is a simple question you can ask yourself in order to make sure– before the switch, was your antenna capable of picking up analog channels 14 and up? These channels are broadcast using UHF signals, any antenna that can turn them into picture and sound can also handle a digital broadcast.

If you find that your technology is sound but your digital TV reception is still not up to par, try adjusting the positioning of your antenna. If that doesn’t do the trick, run through the rest of the troubleshooting before you try uprooting it and moving changing its location altogether.

Most viewers will be able to clarify their signal simply by changing the antenna positioning slightly. If you find that your antenna needs to be adjusted differently when you change from one channel to another in order to optimally display them, you might want to look into purchasing a remote-control antenna rotor that will make your television experience a lot less annoying if you have to frequently shift the antenna for better reception.

The connecting cables that bring the signal into your home and to your television (and your other cables as well) can contribute to less than perfect reception if they are old or of poor quality. Cables without sufficient insulation can lose signal during transfer and even pick up electronic signal interference. By selecting RG-6, UL-approved, 75-ohm cables, you can feel confident that the signal your antenna is picking up makes it all the way to your television without being diluted or interrupted.

For the clearest picture possible, consider an HD capable television with broadcasting by DirecTV.  This will allow you to have more HD channels than you could get from other satellite provider and way more than cable providers.   With DirecTV there is also the added benefit that their monthly bill is less than cable with better choices in packages to suit the whole family.

Comparison of Dish Network and Direct TV

So you have decided to join millions of people across the country and make the switch from cable to satellite television. The choices are confusing but the programming looks amazing. You’ve heard about both Direct TV and Dish Network and are wondering what the differences are. Do not jump too quickly to choose one or the other without investigating the facts first.

First let’s take a look at the installation process. Both companies offer free installation which is a fabulous incentive to make the switch.  We’ll start by taking a look at what Direct TV offers. The Direct TV dish is truly an amazing sight. It has a total of 5-LNB which provide you with incredible satellite coverage. If you do not want a large dish on your home you should go with Dish Network. Keep in mind that Direct TV provides you with coverage of more satellites providing a better viewing experience.

Direct TV advertises installation next day for most areas. Dish Network does not offer this as an incentive. Within the last month I have had two friends switch from cable to satellite TV. One friend went with Dish Network and the other Direct TV. We live in the Charlotte, North Carolina, area. My friend with Direct TV ordered the service on Wednesday and received the install on Thursday. The other friend, excited about satellite TV after the ravings of my Direct TV friend, ordered Dish Network on the same Thursday. Their installation was scheduled for a week from that Friday.

While consumers may not experience this in other areas it is certainly something to consider.
Let’s move on to content. The rave now is high-definition programming which is not surprising. This stunning, crystal-clear digital presentation with amazing surround sound capabilities is truly an experience unlike any other in television viewing. Dish Network and Direct TV both offer HD programming.

These companies have been on a race to provide more high-def programming to their subscribers. Each company was scheduled to launch a new satellite for this purpose in the spring of 2008. The satellite launch was successful for Direct TV and a failure for Dish Network. Both the satellite launches Direct TV was already ahead in the race for HD programming and this success will clearly give them a huge lead over Dish Network. Currently Dish Network offers 73 HD channels and cable offers 55+. Direct TV packages feature a total of 95 HD channels and this number is continually rising. Direct TV can provide over 265 channels of regular programming while Dish Network has 250.

Consumers have been selecting HD DVRs as their receiver of choice. A DVR, Digital Video Recorder, allows the subscriber to select programming to record and watch at a later date. Dish Network’s ViP722 DVR is capable of record 350 hours of standard programming and 55 hours of HD programming. This can record 5 more hours of HD programming than Direct TV but with less HD programming available at Dish one would have to weigh the importance of 5 hours of recording. The Direct TV PLUS HD DVR can record a total of 200 SD programming hours and 50 HD hours. Direct TV also provides subscribers with the ability to schedule recordings using their mobile phone or the website.

Each provider offers sports programming. Direct TV is the exclusive provider for NFL Sunday Ticket while Dish Network has football in the form of ESPN GamePlan. MLB recently changed their provider to Direct TV from Dish Network but will continue to air on Dish Network for a transitional period. Dish Network offers extensive Soccer coverage with MLS Direct Kick. Both providers offer NHL Center Ice and NBA League Pass. Direct TV has additional sports coverage including NASCAR HotPass, College Basketball & Football, Soccer, Rugby, and Cricket.

These providers offer more than television. Each provider offers satellite radio amongst their content. Direct TV offers XM Radio while Dish Network offers Sirius. With the upcoming merger between Sirius Satellite Radio and XM Satellite Radio this may not matter to consumers because the coverage will be the same.

The gap is widening between these two providers every day as Direct TV’s content continues to grow and Dish Network falls steadily behind. Dish Network may be a few dollars cheaper but it is not as comprehensive, and there are always many great Direct TV deals available. This makes Direct TV this writer’s satellite provider of choice.

Can Television Confuse A Person?

Today you have to consider if television can confuse a person and that depends on what part of television is being talked about. Televisions alone have become technology smart and if you are not up on the latest technology it can be confusing; one thing that has not become confusing is what Direct TV offers. All the channels and the programs that provide entertainment, make viewers learn new things and even explain history in a way that it makes sense.

This is important today to have channels like Direct TV offers to keep you informed on things that can confuse a person. For example the person that watches only local television by now is confused about the candidates running for president because they can not get the total picture of what they stand for with local channels. This is something that is important and being confused is not a good thing with the election being close, plus there are all the commercials that talk good or bad about each candidate. What’s to believe if you are only watching the local channels with the tons of advertising that have different messages to keep things confusing.

The nice thing about having a Direct TV deal is that you can get the information you need to make a decision. Then leave all of it behind to watch movies, programs, sports and music instead of the political commercials. Then there is no confusion just an informed decision and entertaining programming with what Direct TV offers their subscribers.

Analog Isn’t Going To Hang Around

Analog is still the choice of some people to view television and its time for them to decide what they will do when the signal changes because it is going too. The change is set for February, so while the holidays are not far behind the time will be here that will change the way everyone views television. Subscribers that have Direct TV deals already know how great digital programming is and HD, if an analog viewer were to ask they could not get one of these subscribers to say they would rather analog programming.

There are defiantly some things that the analog viewers are missing without having what Direct TV offers, like the digital programming but it is also more, the many extra channels over what the local viewer has and the real HD programs they can watch.

Then there are some things that the local analog viewer never even thought of having, which they could with what Direct TV offers, like the movie packages and the sports packages. These are hard to beat channels, they are hard to beat by channels that only show some games and few movies and both are loaded with advertisements during the programs. The analog viewer just does not know what they have been missing without a Direct TV deal.