UPDATE: Orby is no longer in business. The company released the statement below before closing down:
Dear Orby TV Customer,
We are sorry to announce that Orby TV has closed its doors, and the Orby TV service has ended. It was an honor to serve you.
To provide you with an affordable satellite TV option going forward, we have coordinated with DISH on a special offer for Orby TV customers. This includes a monthly DISH programming package for $52.99 (includes first receiver) and cost to switch as low as $100. For more information about this limited time offer, please call DISH at 844-268-3304 and mention the offer code ORBY or visit dish.com/orby.
Sincerely,
Your friends at Orby TV
What is Orby TV
Orby TV is a satellite TV service, similar to AT&T’s Direct TV and Dish Network, offering local broadcast channels and cable TV networks like A&E, HGTV, AMC, and more. However, Orby TV’s prices start at $40 per month. Both Dish and Direct TV’s cheapest service tend to start at $60 per month. Let’s take a look at the pricing and plans for Orby TV’s satellite service.
How Much Does Orby TV Cost
Orby TV is a satellite TV service, so there will be an upfront installation cost for the satellite dish and receiver. This is true of most satellite TV services. The nice thing about Orby TV is they do not pin you into a contract, so you can decide to keep their service month to month. Also, the quoted monthly price is what you will pay. It’s not a hidden promotional price that will mysteriously double a year from now. I’ll dig into the details below, but for the cheapest channel plan on 1 TV, you should be able to have Orby installed for a one time fee of $250 and a $40 per month charge for their cheapest channel plan.
Orby TV Installation Costs
The initial costs with switching to Orby are buying the receiver or receiver + DVR and the satellite dish. You can purchase the Orby TV receiver for $100. To have the Orby TV DVR (it’s a receiver/DVR combo) costs $200. It’s possible to have Orby send you a self-install kit, which includes The Orby TV DVR or Orby TV receiver, satellite dish, antenna for local TV, mounting hardware, signal meter. However, installing a satellite requires specialized knowledge, and Orby TV will come out and install the Dish, TV Antenna, and wiring for service in one room for a one time $150 professional install fee.
Wiring up other rooms comes at a $50 install fee per room, and you will need an additional receiver for each TV. However, these are upfront costs. Orby’s month programming charge doesn’t pile on broadcast fees or equipment fees. The price you see is the price you pay. Orby TV doesn’t even add tax! It’s baked into the price. Here is a breakdown of possible installation costs.
Orby TV Installation Breakdown
- Professional installation for 1 room – one-time charge of $150 (Includes delivery + installation)
- Additional Room install – one-time charge of $50
- Orby TV DVR – $200 each
- Orby TV Receiver (no DVR) – $100 each
As you can see, the cheapest professionally installed option is a one time fee of $250. That option considers installation in 1 room for $150 along with the Orby TV receiver for $100. Orby TV often does discount the installation fee.
Orby TV Plan Costs
While there is an installation fee, the price Orby quotes you per month is the price you will pay. All taxes and fees are already accounted for. Orby TV offers two plans
- Orby TV Essentials – over 40 channels for $40 per month with the Orby TV receiver, $44 per month for the Orby TV with DVR.
- Orby TV Extras – Over 65 channels for $50 per month with the Orby TV receiver, $54 per month for the Orby TV with DVR
Sign up for either of those plans, and that’s the price you will per month with no surprises. If you have the Orby TV DVR and want just to use it for local broadcast channels, you can opt not to get a channel plan. Not having a monthly plan will provide you will a local TV service and a DVR to record those channels. However, the DVR fee, in this case, is $12 per month. There is only an additional $4 per month charge if you have the Orby TV DVR with a channel plan.
Orby also allows you to add the following premium channels for an additional monthly charge:
- HBO – $18 per month
- Cinemax – $12 per month
- Starz – $9 per month
- Epix – $6 per month
Orby TV Channel Lineup
Both of Orby TV’s channel plans include ABC, Fox, NBC, CBS, and PBS if it’s broadcast in your area. Installation includes a TV antenna, so any channels broadcast in your area will be included at no extra charge.
| Essentials: $40/month | Extras: $50/month |
|---|---|
| A&E | A&E |
| AMC | AMC |
| American Heroes | |
| Animal Planet | Animal Planet |
| BBC America | BBC America |
| BBC World News | |
| BET | BET |
| BET Gospel | |
| BET Her | |
| BET Jams | |
| BET Soul | |
| Boomerang | |
| Cartoon Network | Cartoon Network |
| CMT | CMT |
| CNN | CNN |
| CNN en Español | |
| CNN International | |
| Comedy Central | Comedy Central |
| Cooking Channel | |
| Crime + Investigation | |
| CSPAN | CSPAN |
| CSPAN 2 | CSPAN 2 |
| Destination America | |
| Discovery | Discovery |
| Discovery Español | |
| Discovery Family | |
| Discovery Life | |
| DIY Network | |
| Familia | |
| Food Network | Food Network |
| FYI | FYI |
| Great American Country | |
| Hallmark Channel | Hallmark Channel |
| Hallmark Movies & Mysteries | Hallmark Movies & Mysteries |
| HGTV | HGTV |
| History Channel | History Channel |
| History en Español | |
| HLN | HLN |
| IFC | IFC |
| Investigation Discovery | Investigation Discovery |
| Lifetime | Lifetime |
| LMN (Lifetime Movies) | LMN (Lifetime Movies) |
| Logo | |
| LRW (Lifetime Real Women) | |
| Military History | |
| MotorTrend | MotorTrend |
| MTV | MTV |
| MTV Classic | |
| MTV2 | MTV2 |
| NEWSMAX | NEWSMAX |
| Nick Jr | Nick Jr |
| Nick Teen | Nick Teen |
| Nick Toons | |
| Nickelodeon/Nick at Nite | Nickelodeon/Nick at Nite |
| OWN | OWN |
| Paramount Network | Paramount Network |
| Science | Science |
| Sundance TV | Sundance TV |
| TBS | TBS |
| TCM (Turner Classic Movies) | TCM (Turner Classic Movies) |
| TLC | TLC |
| TNT | TNT |
| Travel Channel | Travel Channel |
| TruTV | TruTV |
| TV Land | TV Land |
| VH1 | VH1 |
| VICELAND | VICELAND |
| We TV | We TV |
Should You Try Orby TV
Orby TV is a satellite TV company. I would only recommend it if you are unable to obtain internet access fast enough for TV streaming. If you have an internet connection over 10 Mbps, you should be able to drop cable TV and pick up a service like Philo, Hulu Live TV, fuboTV, or other live TV streaming services. However, if you aren’t able to find an internet connection fast enough, Orby TV is a great way to save money on your TV costs.
Also, be aware that Orby TV service is only available in the 48 contiguous United States. You will also need a location on your premises to allow the satellite dish to get a clear south-facing view.