With older versions of cable TV you have no control over what you watch on TV. You cannot even control the pre-view guide which tells you what is currently playing. That's what is so great about Direct TV. There are so many useful features that Direct TV offers that help you to enjoy your TV experience.

Direct TV allows you to have complete control over your TV viewing experience with their on screen program guide, which is incredibly easy to use. Direct TV's on screen program guide is a table that you can bring up on your TV screen, with each cell being occupied with a program. You can also select a program and read a quick plot description to see whether it is a movie or show you are interested in watching or not. This on screen program guide gives you the ability to scroll up and down at will to check out the different channels, as well as to the left and right to go in to the future programming.

More software that comes standard with every one of Direct TV's subscriptions is the useful parental control feature. This feature truly makes it possible to control what is being watched in your residence. You can even use these parental control features to limit the amount of time your children are watching TV, as well as limit the amount of money that they can spend on pay-per-view programming. Direct TV's parental control feature also makes it possible for you to block a channel all together, or specific movies, or anything with specific MPAA ratings. The best thing about this feature is that you aren't limited from any programming as long as you have the personal identification number.

Another one of the unique and useful ways that Direct TV gives you control of your TV viewing experience is by allowing you to choose from several base programming packages, then giving you the option of adding on extra programming such as pay-per-view, Spanish and other foreign language packages, seasonal sports subscriptions, high definition TV (HDTV), and adult programming for those who are interested. It is no surprise that Direct TV is considered superior to all standard cable TV service providers.

By far the best way that Direct TV allows you to control your TV viewing experience is with their digital video recorder. This amazing device makes it possible for you to digitally record and store up to seventy full hours of your favorite programming. This device makes it possible for you to record an entire season of your favorite shows. With Direct TV's digital video recorder you can also play back the recorded shows with the same high quality sound and video that you get when you are watching it for the first time live. Speaking of live television, with Direct TV you are able to pause, and resume live TV as you please. No more missing a great play because of having to answer the door and phone, with Direct TV you have complete control over your viewing experience.