Even the most lavishly decorated home theater palace, complete with a comfortable throne, the latest electronics and a 60” flat screen truly fit for king, can feel a bit underwhelming if there’s nothing on TV. Don’t make the mistake of thinking the quality of your programming will suddenly increase just because you’re watching it on a top-of-the-line television. Choosing a TV service provider is arguably the most important decision in determining the overall enjoyment an owner will get out of their home theater system. After all, there’s really no point in rolling out a red carpet for a set of tin-foil wrapped bunny ears to perch atop your entertainment system. Here’s a look at some popular options, sure to satisfy TV watchers of varying tastes:Satellite Television Satellite TV offers a wide array of programming, with the ability to tag on separate program packages to an already extensive base selection. Specific packages vary by provider, with most customers subscribing to either DirecTV or Dish Network, with both offering a deep repertoire of HD channels. The decision really boils down to personal preference.Direct TV is the original satellite television company and is the more highly used option, serving over 18 million household worldwide, compared to Dish Networks still growing 14 million. While Dish Network is priced slightly cheaper than DirecTV, DirecTV counters with certain packages Dish cannot offer. One distinct advantage is NFL Sunday Ticket package. For hardcore NFL fans looking to take in every snap, DirecTV’s Sunday Ticket serves up every NFL game. Fantasy football enthusiasts will enjoy the Red Zone Channel, guaranteeing viewers will never miss a surefire touchdown by automatically switching game coverage whenever a team moves inside the 20. The player tracker feature allows for up to 18 players to be monitored throughout the day, providing big play alerts and updates.Dish Network does not leave sports fans empty handed by any means, actually planning to launch their own Red Zone Channel later this year through the NFL Network, though it cannot promise full coverage to every NFL game. Both Dish and DirecTV support packages boasting complete NBA and MLB access, in addition to the ESPN network family and standard local network coverage. A wide variety of premium movie options are available on either service , as each have customizable plans with access to the big names like HBO, Showtime, Stars and Cinemax. For those looking to go the satellite route, price slightly favors Dish Network, but full NFL access and additional sports programming may be a deal-breaker for home theater owners who want to have the guys over every Sunday and show off their space.Cable Television Cable has come a long way, to the point that the term might even seem outdated, but upgrades in service have kept cable’s spot as the most widely used entertainment medium. Thanks to digital cable, theater owners are by no longer subjecting themselves to lower quality standards in bypassing satellite.Digital cable provides an equally pristine picture is actually more reliable than satellite in inconvenient weather. Top end cable providers offer on-demand programming, with libraries of stored video content to be instantly accessible with just a click of the remote. Satellite providers have recently tried to establish their own on-demand presence, however efforts are not as fully developed as their cable counterparts. Traditional cable companies are led by Time Warner and Comcast, each offering their own variety of upgrade options, including their own laundry lists of HD channels. Cable still offers the most local channels, regardless of location, topping the market for close proximity coverage. Overall, cable has come close to completely bridging the gap between satellite’s once superior picture quality and impressive breadth of HD options. Furthermore, for design conscious buyers, cable has the added benefit of less clunky equipment and wires to stow away in cabinets and closets.Non-broadcast Non-broadcast programming is a relatively new threat to satellite and cable companies. The advent of streaming content, through upstarts like Netflix and Hulu, has rendered broadcast packages unnecessary for some users. Once some owners have sunk a healthy chunk of change into the fancy television and speakers that adorn their home theater, they may have grown sour towards paying the high monthly fees for either satellite or cable. With just a computer, set of input cables and an account name, Hulu offers recently released TV episodes and specials to be viewed free of charge on your television. Netflix, though not free, boasts substantially lower monthly subscription fees compared to traditional broadcast services and unparalleled annals of movie content.Home theater owners obviously have their choice when it comes to content, price and picture quality. Whether satellite, cable or even non-broadcast, picking a suitable option to match one’s own TV watching preferences and budget is the most important aspect of the final decision.