Nowadays there are practically no areas left where one single company dominates and does not allow potential rivals to provide themselves with worthy resistance. So those who want to connect satellite television will have to decide which is better: Tricolor TV or NTV Plus. Each of these companies has its own advantages and disadvantages that must be taken into account when purchasing equipment.
But in order not to make a mistake with your choice, you need to pay attention not only to the main advantages of each proposed candidate, but also to your own desires and needs. It is personal requirements that must become the decisive factor when choosing an operator, since the conditions offered by providers are designed in such a way that every existing disadvantage is balanced by some noticeable advantage. And this makes the comparison much more difficult.
NTV or Tricolor - what to choose in 2021
To understand how to choose the best operator, you need to determine in advance the criteria that are most important to potential satellite company customers in 2021. Deserves special attention:
- current satellite signal coverage area;
- cost of equipment;
- the price of the packages offered and the variety of TV channels;
- broadcast quality and reception stability;
- additional options and services that connected subscribers can use.
Each of the listed factors is extremely important, but it should be clarified in advance that the general level of the conditions offered remains high for each of the operators. And the fact that one of the providers is superior to another in some way does not mean the low quality of the services of the second. It's just that the first one's offering is a little better.
Bottom line
When asked by potential clients what to choose, NTV Plus or Tricolor, it is impossible to give a definite answer.
Some people prefer the variety available from Tricolor, while others have enough of the available content from NTV. It is much easier to decide if the subscriber has clear criteria for what he needs and what he doesn’t, and only one operator has them. Here the choice is more obvious.
The advantage of any television operator primarily lies in the ability to receive its signal anywhere in the country; in this case, both NTV and Tricolor are on an equal footing, since they use the same satellite.
In general, the choice of a satellite operator is a purely individual choice for each future subscriber, since each of the providers considered has its own characteristics.
Price for services and channel packages
The easiest way to find out which is better: Tricolor or NTV Plus - reviews of 2021. But we must not forget about the main thing – the proposed TV channel packages.
And in this case, we should recognize the slight advantage of Tricolor. This provider has 2 qualities that make it stand out:
- more channels in the main package;
- lower price.
The opponent responds to this only with a large number of different packages, which allow you to save on viewing due to the possible activation of minimal packages, including only 50 channels. The second positive side is the presence of a monthly fee, versus annual service from a competitor. As a result, customers are able to avoid overpaying for those periods when they do not plan to watch TV.
By what criteria should we compare?
How to get more channels of better quality for less? It is worth comparing NTV Plus and Tricolor TV precisely according to these parameters:
- signal quality and technical support;
- cost of subscription fee;
- number of channels in the main and additional packages.
It is also necessary to take into account the functionality and capabilities of the equipment, since this is an invariable component of comfortable TV viewing.
Where is the best picture?
In this parameter, the pioneer of satellite television in our country is literally half a step ahead. A more stable signal is the result of the fact that the recommended equipment includes a larger antenna and more reliable receivers. The lag of Tricolor TV is minimal, but the difference is noticeable on large screens and when the weather worsens.
The more experienced operator is also ahead in terms of the quality of technical support. It is easier to reach its branches (which are located in many regions of the country), and work with official representatives is organized at a higher level. In turn, Tricolor TV subscribers often complain that it is usually difficult to get help from an operator.
How much do the leaders of satellite television pay?
It is no secret that many consumers solve the problem of what to choose - Tricolor TV or NTV Plus from a position of economy. In this parameter, the younger and more progressive operator is ahead. For its main package “Unified” you need to pay 1,200 rubles per year for one TV or 1,500 for two (as an option - 2,000 rubles with the ability to connect additional packages).
NTV Plus currently has a monthly subscription fee for the “Basic” package of 149 rubles. It is easy to calculate that the amount for the year is more, while the company does not have a special offer for two screens. You can pay for a year at once with a good discount, then you get 100 rubles per month - the total is the same 1200 rubles.
We recommend that you find out how to register a Tricolor receiver on the operator’s website.
Read: how to resolve error 5 on the Tricolor receiver.
On the other hand, it is the possibility of monthly payment that makes the offer more attractive for summer residents and those who are not used to planning a year ahead. You can also interrupt your NTV subscription without charging a subscription fee and resume it at any time (for example, in the event of a sudden long business trip).
Advice: for new subscribers who do not want to overpay for unnecessary channels, NTV Plus offers to activate the “Economy” package for 50 rubles per month (you need to pay immediately for a year).
What are they showing?
Often the decision to give preference to one company or another depends on the content of the main (required for subscription) packages. At the beginning of 2021, the leadership belongs to Tricolor TV: 218 channels in its “Unified” look more solid than 190 in “Basic” from NTV Plus.
At the same time, the operators have a slightly different general focus in their main packages. Tricolor TV has more channels with films, among which you can find literally any content - from domestic TV series to masterpieces of world cinema. NTV Plus has a more diverse range of sports-themed channels, but movie lovers will have to pay for additional packages.
Equipment capabilities
The functionality of the equipment is another cornerstone in the “Tricolor TV or NTV Plus” debate. In this regard, the “younger” operator is trying to make progress towards progress. They rely on the fact that members of the same family are interested in channels of different thematic areas, and today many homes have more than one TV. The company offers its own solutions:
- most tricolor receivers are dual-tuner models that can be used to watch television on two screens;
- you can take advantage of the economical offer for two TVs, which includes a set of two set-top boxes and a package of discounted services;
- the additional service “Cinema Halls” makes it possible to watch good quality films at any convenient time;
- By order of the company, the first Russian game console with a TV viewing function was created, which is positioned as a family one.
Important: attempts to improve the equipment of the Tricolor athletes are not always successful. Forced modernization often does not please, but rather irritates subscribers.
In this regard, NTV Plus is distinguished by conservatism. There is no rush to add additional functions and capabilities to receivers here. So it turns out that the operator adds channels in UHD quality to the broadcast, but subscribers have practically no opportunity to watch them. And the progressive viewer has no choice but to switch from NTV Plus to Tricolor TV.
Quality of services provided
Consideration of the next point allows NTV to rehabilitate itself a little for the cost and price of TV channels, since this operator offers the best quality of reception.
This effect is achieved thanks to the larger diameter of the satellite dish, which for this operator reaches 90 cm. As a result, TV viewers get a slightly better picture. Although it is worth recognizing that the difference is noticeable only on high-resolution screens, and standard TVs do not allow you to see the differences.
The sound from each provider is equally good.
The advantages of Tricolor include a larger number of TV channels in HD quality. But even in this case, the effect will be noticed only by owners of high-quality, modern equipment.
Tricolor TV
Tricolor TV is trying to match the functionality of its receivers. The bulk of the devices sold are dual-tuner, designed for viewing on two TVs or one TV and a mobile device (tablet, mobile phone). Plus built-in Internet services, online television, cinema halls. This is a mandatory “stuffing” of Tricolor TV receivers on its own StingrayTV shell. There is even its own game console - GS Gamekit. And all this wealth is provided for a reason, but for an increased subscription fee - from 1,500 rubles per year. The standard “Unified” tariff with a payment of 1200 rubles remains only on CI+ Tricolor TV modules. But the module requires a modern and fairly sophisticated TV, with support for the CI+ standard no lower than version 1.2 and a built-in DVB S2 satellite tuner. It's better if it supports 4K (Ultra HD). Such TVs are not uncommon, and they are no longer so expensive, but all this still remains the lot of the elite. As can be seen from the above, Tricolor TV is betting on homes with several (at least two) televisions. Or the presence of a fairly advanced user of mobile devices. What I want to say: in a dacha, where there is only one luxury TV, and there has never been the Internet, all these decorations are simply not needed. But the subscription fee will remain the same - from 1,500 rubles per year. Recently, Tricolor TV has introduced new single-tuner devices. We are talking about DTS 53 and DTS 54. It seemed that the broadcaster had come to its senses and decided to turn its attention to the regional viewer who needed a simple device for one TV. No matter how it is. A new “Extra” tariff has been introduced especially for them - 2000 rubles per year. For what? Just because. Do we need to remind you that initially Tricolor TV sets were purchased specifically for dachas, villages and other remote corners of the country, where barely 1-2 main channels were received per broadcast antenna. A dozen all-Russian channels in perfect quality without ripples, snow and subscription fees - this was a real miracle in those days. NTV Plus then adhered to its own policy (expensive, but a lot of different things), so it gradually faded away. Word of mouth allowed Tricolor to rise to the very top. I didn’t even think about comparing Tricolor TV and NTV Plus. These were different broadcasters, different audiences, different segments of the population.
Operator Comparison
The next criterion to pay attention to is related to the coverage area. And in this case, the obvious advantage will be with NTV Plus.
This advantage lies in the use of 3 different satellites at once, which are capable of covering almost the entire territory of the country with a high-quality signal.
The rival uses one less satellite, so it can provide services only to residents of the European part and Western Siberia.
It should be noted that the main satellite responsible for broadcasts in the European part of Russia is the same for both providers, therefore, in this region, the coverage areas completely coincide, and residents of these areas should not pay too much attention to this criterion.
Conclusion
There is no single answer to the question of potential subscribers which digital satellite television operator is better to choose, since everyone decides for themselves. Some users like the wide selection of Tricolor TV channels, while others are satisfied with the channels provided by NTV Plus. The telecommunications services market has a large selection of satellite operators with excellent broadcast quality and, accordingly, a wide choice. It is impossible to come to an unambiguous conclusion about the correctness of the choice. Of course, if the client sets certain requirements that only one company has, then the task of selection is much easier. For example, Tricolor TV offers not only a large number of TV programs in HD quality at an affordable price, but also a special set of equipment for two TVs.
The advantage of any satellite company is that it can receive a signal in any locality in the country, even the most remote and devoid of other telecommunications services.
Operator Features
In addition to the factors already mentioned, you should pay attention to the cost and purchase of equipment. And in this case, it will be extremely difficult for users to give preference to one of the parties.
Thus, Triclor clients are able to take advantage of several special offers that allow them to exchange outdated equipment under special promotions and preferential offers. But NTV subscribers will be able to replace a damaged SMART card without any difficulties and additional payments.
It is useless to compare the cost of the proposed equipment, since it greatly depends on the brand and model of the receiver chosen by the users.
Separately, it is worth mentioning how to switch from Tricolor to NTV Plus and back. Considering that receivers are usually universal, and dishes differ only in size, to change the provider you only need to change the converter and SMART card. But in this case, no one can guarantee the absence of difficulties and high quality of display, and it will be impossible to count on full-fledged support assistance.
Connection cost and subscription fee
One of the key parameters influencing the choice of satellite television services. The Tricolor operator charges a subscription fee immediately for a year of service, while NTV-plus charges money only for a month of use.
The solution from NTV has a free pause function, which allows you to temporarily pause work. This technology is suitable for the summer season, vacations and other situations when you need to gain access to quality channels for a short period of time.
Tricolor or NTV plus - which is better in 2021
Considering the fact that each of the companies described has its own disadvantages and positive aspects, it is impossible to clearly determine the best provider. Therefore, when trying to give preference to one company or another, potential clients should focus only on their own wishes and capabilities. In this case, special attention should be paid to channels and coverage area. It is these 2 factors that should become decisive, since an error in these criteria can bring a lot of inconvenience and make the connection not at all as pleasant and joyful as the user would like.
Equipment
Tricolor TV receivers are distinguished by their increased functionality. Particularly popular are dual-tuner ones, which allow you to watch television channels on two TVs, a TV and a tablet or smartphone.
A plus is the presence of mandatory online services, online television, and cinemas built into the StingrayTV branded shell.
This operator can also offer its own game console GS Gamekit.
In terms of equipment, NTV Plus is inferior to its competitor. The offered range of products does not include receivers that can meet the increased additional demands of the most demanding viewers. The main product of this operator is simple single-tuner budget equipment with a minimal set of functions.
Two-tuner receivers are only available with a hard drive and are used only for recording to it. And if this provider can also offer its own interactive set-top box Kaon VA 1020, then there are no sets of equipment for 2 TVs or mobile gadgets in its product range.
We can only hope for developments in this industry, because the provider has already launched an online cinema and Ultra HD quality TV channels. But there are quite a few satellite television sets for viewing them - one model of an interactive set-top box and a Cl+ NTV plus module for modern TVs.
We recommend that you find out what Multiscreen is.
Read: how much does it cost to install an antenna and configure it.
Find out what to do if Tricolor TV does not show.
Major satellite TV operators
If your needs are not too great, then in theory you can purchase an unnamed, cheapest set of necessary equipment, tune it to one of the satellites and watch a standard set of a dozen main channels for free. But, if you want to enjoy the full range of opportunities and services, you will have to conduct a comparative analysis of the main operators and choose the satellite TV that best suits your needs.
The entire variety of channels will become available to you only after you subscribe. Our company is the official representative and offers the sale and installation of equipment from three main service providers who are leaders in this field:
- Tricolor TV Company
- PJSC "MTS"
- NTV
After you make your choice, you will need to purchase a ready-made set of equipment from one of the operators, a smart card or SIM card, which is an access key, and enter into an agreement for the provision of services.
To help you decide which satellite TV to choose, we will conduct a comparative analysis of the listed companies.
Can I install an additional network myself?
If you want to install additional channels yourself and, suppose, you already have a satellite dish broadcasting from Tricolor TV. When purchasing an additional circular polarization head with two outputs for your antenna, you need to purchase an RG6 television cable and two connectors for it to connect it to the head. You don't need any special knowledge or antenna retuning. All that needs to be done is to secure the converter clockwise, focusing on the readings of the quality scale on the receiver.