Are you interested in getting a free satellite television system? Unless you’ve been living under a rock for the past five years, you’ve heard of the free deals that Direct TV and Dish Network offer their online customers. Sure these deals sound great, but what’s the catch?

net dish and On live Tv They are giving away satellite TV systems and installation in up to 4 rooms to first-time customers. They are also offering free upgrades to their DVR and HDTV receivers, and typically offer discounted programming or free upgrades to their programming package for the first few months. Obviously these are great deals, but there are a few things you need to know before ordering your new satellite TV system online.

Activation fees?

Dish Network charges a one-time fee of $49.99, but you get it back as a credit on your first bill. Direct TV doesn’t charge you any fees upfront, but you may have to pay for shipping if your offer doesn’t include it. Both companies charge a small deposit if you have bad credit.

Do I have to sign a contract?

That’s how it is! Since Dish Network or Direct TV give you a lot of free service and equipment, they want to make sure you stay a paying customer until they get your money back. This means you’ll have to agree to an 18-month contract (similar to a cell phone contract) with Dish Network. The Direct TV contract varies depending on your system. You will sign a 1-year contract for normal or HD systems, and a 2-year contract if you opt for a DVR system.

Here is the end result.

Now, the authorized dealers of these two satellite TV companies do not exactly advertise the activation fees and contracts required for these free offers. They just don’t want to scare you off before you’ve seen the offers. Even with the contracts and activation fees, these are still great deals.