When was the last time you even went to a DVD store in Shanghai? Have you noticed that there are hardly any around now? It's a sign of the times. No one "shops" for entertainment anymore. They get it on demand.

Downloading and streaming are the order of the day, and every minute you spend rummaging through DVD shop, or that pile of scratched-up disks by your TV is a minute not spent Netflix-and-chilling. With that in mind, these are your best options in Shanghai for satellite and Internet TV. 

Dish HD

This is one of the oldest and most popular satellite TV providers in Shanghai, though satellite services are falling out of fashion in favor of streaming options. Still, it's a solid option as its stable and has a decent roster of international channels.

How Much: RMB2,900 per year

Functions: It provides 340 channels, like Rai, HBO, and Starworld, most of which are in HD.

How/Where to Install: To order Dish HD go to their website. Installation is simple. You need either a China Telecom or Unicom Internet connection with a 10mbps download speed and a router. If you can’t install it yourself, the delivery guy is prepared to do it for you.

Inspire IPTV

This is especially popular with expat families due to its varied offerings of sports and educational channels. It'll work as long as you have internet, no dish installation required. Don’t be alarmed by the slightly dodgy-looking website, this outfit is reasonably legit with a friendly and helpful WeChat service line to boot. WeChat : satellitvonline 

How Much: RMB2,500 per year

Functions:  It provides 380 channels. Most are Taiwanese, but it also offers HBO, CNN and FOX. 

How/Where to Install: You can order the Inspire IPTV box online. To connect it, you need an HDMI cable and a China Telecom or Unicom Internet subscription with a download speed of 100 to 200mbps.

Nicole Rufer wrote this article as fellows :

http://www.cityweekend.com.cn/shanghai/article/how-to-install-satellite-tv-shanghai