Compare Satellite Television
When satellite television first hit the market in the 1990s, home dishes were huge and expensive metal units and only the most die-hard TV fans would go through all the hassle and expense of putting in their own dish. Now advanced technology and services have made satellite TV easy to install and use. Satellite TV is now proving to be the biggest television breakthrough since Cable.
OVERVIEW
DIRECTV seems untouchable with its large channel selection and excellent prices, but in the second year of your contract prices increase considerably making it suddenly less than attractive and no longer the best deal.
Because of the rate disparity DISH® is editors choice — especially since its Hopper DVR sets the standard for DVRs everywhere. However, if you’re a sports lover, you’ll want DIRECTV for excellent sports programming like NFL SUNDAY TICKET, which you won’t get with DISH.
Here’s a brief comparison of the deals you can expect from each.
| Features: |  |  |
|---|---|---|
| Fees | First receiver included - additional DVR $7/mo. | First receiver included - additional DVR $7/mo. + $99 installation fee. Regional sports fee $8.49/mo. |
| Installation Fees | Free Installation - Online orders only | Free Installation - Online orders only |
| Best Value Package | "AMERICA’S TOP 250™ " 290+ total channels - $94.99/mo. More top networks including H2, DIY Network, Nicktoons, and Nat Geo Wild - 17 additional film networks including Turner Classic Movies, The Movie - Channel, Starz Encore, and more - Over 70 SiriusXM music channels - 8,000 FREE On Demand titles | DirecTV XTRA 235+ channels - $79.99/mo. Includes: - Genie HD DVR - 3 mos. premium entertainment - NFL SUNDAY TICKET |
| Lowest Price Package | "America's Top 120" 190 Channels - $59.99/mo - All-time favorite networks including USA, CMT, Disney Channel, ESPN, and E! ESPN included so you can catch March Madness, the National Championship, and more - Over 70 SiriusXM music channels - 8,000 free On Demand titles | DirecTV SELECT 155+ channels - $59.99/mo. DIRECTV for $59.99/mo for 12 mos. TV Activation Fee waived with online orders + $150 Reward Card Includes: - Genie HD DVR - 3 mos. premium entertainment |
| Special Offers | ORDER DISH TV SERVICE TODAY & RECEIVE A $100 GIFT CARD | Online only! TV Activation Fee waived with online orders + $150 Reward Card. Bundle internet + TV and get $300 in reward cards to use in many stores, restaurants, and online. |
| Details |  | |
Best Value
For most people DISH is the way to go. DISH has a lot of advantages — clear pricing, more affordable packages, a higher quality DVR included, and consistently high scores for customer service and consumer satisfaction. So Dish is editors choice…unless you’re a sports fan.
DIRECTV is where sports fan go and stay! I have a few friends who play sports, read about sports, participate in fantasy leagues, and bet on sports. So, when they want to watch sports there is no comparison – and not just among the satellite providers. DirecTV has more and better sports channels, than any cable, satellite, or over air network. They also provide more access to paid sports. Not to mention these three words — NFL SUNDAY TICKET. No other sports package comes close, and it’s a DIRECTV exclusive. If sports is a priority look no further than DIRECTV.
Packages and pricing—DISH vs. DIRECTV
DIRECTV offers more channels and NFL SUNDAY TICKET—but its prices skyrocket past DISH’s costs after 12 months.
At first glance, both DISH and DIRECTV seem to be neck and neck in terms of pricing and channel count. But things quickly get out of hand when DIRECTV’s prices increase during the second year of your two-year contract.
With that in mind, pricing is one of DISH’s biggest advantages compared to DIRECTV. DISH is not only cheaper in the long run, but you also tend to get more for your money.
For example, you get 290+ channels with DISH’s America’s Top 250 package—but 250+ channels with DIRECTV’s ULTIMATE package will cost you more than $35 more per month once you hit that second year of your contract.
But DISH’s first two packages can be confusing—what’s the difference between getting 190 channels with America’s Top 120 and 190+ channels with America’s Top 120+?
Basically, America’s Top 120+ gets you some additional sports and specialty channels and is probably worth the extra $10 a month if you’re a sports fan.
On the other hand, DIRECTV’s prices start out looking great. You get more channels for a lower price compared to DISH. But once your first 12 months are up, things sadly take a turn for the worst when the price goes up.
However, DIRECTV still offers more channels with each package—up to a maximum of over 330.
It’s not obvious what the difference is between each package (something that frustrates us with most TV providers). We’ll save you some time—ENTERTAINMENT gets you a few extra sports channels, and ULTIMATE adds more movie channels.
The price of NFL SUNDAY TICKET tends to change every season, but it’s a value of several hundred dollars. So if you’re signing up specifically for the sports packages, it’s a nice bonus.
DISH vs. DIRECTV summary
Dish is overall the editors’ choice, with it’s lower rates and great customer support. Most of the average viewers are focused on bang for the buck, and Dish certainly delivers on this. Take your choice but neither is a bad decision. Going with satellite is now more than ever a superior choice over cable.
