Comparison shopping is always the thing to do when considering an important purchase. Shopping for satellite TV is no different. So who wins out in the DIRECTV vs. DISH Network battle?
It depends.
Not the clear cut answer you were looking for no doubt, but it really does depend on what specifics you are looking for from your satellite television provider. For example, check out these comparisons from two leading online retailers, Allsat and DirectStarTV.
First, from the DIRECTV perspective: DIRECTV vs. DISH Network
Next, from the DISH Network side: DISH Network vs. DirecTV
After looking through the arguments from each side, you’ll probably be as confused as ever. So here are a few tips to get you on the right track.
Price: All things considered, you will generally come out about even whether you choose DISH Network or DIRECTV. Each company offers several levels of service, so look at a DIRECTV package and compare them with what DISH Network offers in their packages. If there is a particular channel you must have, make sure you subscribe to the package that has your option.
Currently, DIRECTV offers an $21 dollar discount per month on most packages for the first year, while DISH Network gives you a discounted rate during the first six months of service, bringing package prices to as low as $9.99 for the first half year of service.
Equipment Costs: This is one area where you may come out ahead if you go with DISH Network. Generally you can get set up with DISH Network without having to pay up front for any receivers, but you may have a monthly lease fee. With DIRECTV, they apply a $100 instant rebate to the first receiver, which may cover your needs.
Up front costs depend on how many TV’s you have, and whether you want HD or DVR access on those television sets. Here are links to check your costs for a DirecTV equipment setup and a DISH Network setup.
Installation costs: Generally there are no installation costs to get set up with either satellite television provider. A professional installer will mount the satellite dish, hook up the receivers, and instruct you on how things work. Up to four rooms are included, and costs only apply if the installer needs to do custom or complex work.
HD-High Definition: If this is a priority for you, DIRECTV currently has the advantage. DIRECTV currently has 95 HD channels, and the cost is only $9.99 per month for HD access. DISH Network is in the area of 77 channels, which include 15 Voom HD channels. DISH Network charges $10 for its basic HD package, and $20 per month for the full HD slate. Here are full details on DIRECTV HD and DISH Network HD.
Sports Programming: This specialized area deserves mention because Direct TV offers several sports packages. DIRECTV’s most popular sports packages are the NFL Sunday Ticket, NASCAR HotPass, and MLB Extra Innings. These do cost extra, but are not available at all on DISH Network. So sports fans considering the switch to satellite TV will certainly want to look hard at DIRECTV.
To be clear, we are not talking about regular sports channels like ESPN or Fox Sports, both of these are available from each satellite provider.
DVR: Digital Video Recorders allow you to pause and rewind live television. They also allow you to record programs for later viewing, and skip the commercials. Both DISH Network and DIRECTV offer this service, including standard and HD DVR’s. Reviews of DISH Network’s ViP722 DVR have been the most favorable, so while both companies can help you out, a slight edge in this area goes to DISH Network.
Both companies offer 100% digital picture and sound quality, provided you have a good view of the southern sky. When comparing either satellite television provider to cable, you really can’t go wrong.
