Compare Satellite TV Companies -- DISH
Network and DIRECTV. How do the major satellite TV
companies compare to each other? We have compared DIRECTV
and DISH Network, the top satellite
tv companies. Satellite
TV Comparison! Compare Direct and Dish Network
Satellite TV Dish TV Offers DirecTV Offers When Comparing
Satellite TV Companies, Which Satellite TV Companies are the Best? See our comparison
results below! Compare
Satellite TV Companies -- DISH Network , DIRECTV Comparison
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here!
FREE SATELLITE DISH DIRECT TV SYSTEM OFFERS FROM DISH NETWORK AND
DIRECT TV! This short article is the result of my
research in comparing Dish Network with DirecTV for my
family. Webmaster - Hamuniverse.com An Amateur Radio Web
Site
In choosing the best
satellite TV provider for my family, I literally spent hours pouring over
their web site offers and mailings from them. Here are my comments from my
comparison between the big two in satellite TV, Dish Network and
DirecTV.
The purpose of satellite TV
providers is to provide TV programming options via satellite to the
satellite TV viewers. All satellite TV providers charge a monthly
subscription rate for viewers to access a package of available television
channels. These satellite TV providers share many television channels but
they also are the sole providers of other specific networks.
Satellite TV offers unbeatable value, a great
selection of channels, little-to-no start-up cost, and freedom from the
cable company. With millions of customers, DIRECT TV is the
nation's largest provider of satellite TV service. Dish Network is
very close behind!
Company
Information DISH Network: Launched in 1996, DISH Network
has 9 satellites and more than 12 million subscribers. DIRECTV:
Launched in 1994, DIRECTV has 15 satellites and more than 14 million
subscribers.
Customer Satisfaction
Rating DISH Network: Ranked #1 by J.D.
Power & Associates DIRECTV: Ranked #2 by J.D. Power
& Associates
Available in all 50 states (Hawaii residents have a smaller
selection of channels, and customers in Alaska may need a larger satellite
dish), DIRECT TV claims to offer the "most channels for your dollar."
For customers with high definition TV sets, DIRECT TV offers a high
definition package that features channels of high definition programming
(ESPN, Discovery, HDNet, and HDNetMovies) as well as select high
definition programming on HBO and Showtime.
Customers who choose
to install a standard TV antenna in addition to their dish can also enjoy
high definition local programming where available. Receiving high
definition satellite signals requires an HD-compatible dish and receiver,
which are available from DIRECT TV and Dish Network. Both Dish Network and
DirecTV offer hundreds of TV channels and an array of digital music
channels for all music tastes. All digital
quality!
Channel
Selection Want channels? Satellite TV offers more options than you'll
know what to do with! THERE ARE HUNDREDS TO CHOSE FROM! Favorites
like CNN, HBO, and ESPN, to more obscure options like the Speed Channel,
Discovery Wings, and the Love Stories network, there is a satellite TV
channel to suit every imaginable interest. Whether you're into sports,
fashion, Sci Fi, travel, education, travel, movies, or romance, you will
find it all, and much, much more, on satellite TV.
Compare Programming Program Packages DISH
Network: Packages start at $19.99 for 40 channels and go up to $74.99 for
350 channels. DIRECTV: Packages start at $41.99 for 155 channels
and go up to $96.99 for 250 channels. (Pricing and offers subject to change, see ad banners below for
latest pricing for various packages.)
Local Channels DISH Network: Adding local
channels costs $5 per month. DIRECTV: Adding local channels costs
$3 per month.
Music
Channels DISH Network: Offers 52 music channels plus 60
Sirius radio channels. DIRECTV: Offers 67 XM radio channels.
Pay-Per-View DISH Network:
Movies cost $3.99, special event prices vary. DIRECTV: Movies
cost $3.99, special event prices vary.
Sports
Packages DISH Network: Offers a variety of sports
packages. DIRECTV: Offers a variety of sports packages.
Internet Service DISH Network:
Offers Internet service. DIRECTV: Offers Internet
service.
Sports: A multitude of sports networks, plus
multiple subscription options including the NFL Sunday Ticket, Mega March
Madness, and many more. Foreign Language Programming: Spanish &
Chinese
HDTV! Both companies offer
HDTV
Local Channels: Available in most markets Geographic
Availability: All 50 US States
Picture
Quality The end result? Crystal-clear digital images and audio!
Satellite TV delivers 100% digital audio and video. Despite the
incredible distance that the signal must travel before it reaches your
television, the end result is still crystal clear and equal to any digital
cable picture! As long as you have an unobstructed view of the southern
sky, the only threat to the quality of your signal is very,
very heavy rain or snow, which can occasionally interfere with
reception. If you live in an area with frequent severe weather, you can
always get a slightly larger dish to offset the interference. The
satellite service providers will assure that you get the proper equipment
for your area so don't worry about the hassle of trying several dish sizes
before you get that perfect picture!
Compare Quality of Satellite
TV Transmission For the most part, satellite TV utilizes high
quality digital technology and transmits programs broadcast by digital
channels. As a result, satellite TV providers produce a 100% high quality
digital transmission. This is different from digital cable TV packages
that utilize digital technology but are unable to convert analog programs
into digital programs. Dish Network systems offer a slightly better
overall picture than Direct TV systems but you have to really have a
trained eye to see the difference.
Compare
Satellite TV Equipment
Equipment
Prices DISH Network: Free dish and up to four receivers
when you subscribe to their service. DIRECTV: Free dish and up to
four receivers when you subscribe to their service.
Equipment Warranty DISH Network: Lifetime
warranty DIRECTV: One year warranty
DVR's (digital video recorders) DISH
Network: Free DVR receivers ($4.98 per month for
service). DIRECTV: Free DVR receivers after $99 rebate ($4.99 per
month for service).
HD (high definition)
receivers DISH Network: Two free
receivers. DIRECTV: Free receiver (after $99 mail-in rebate).
Installation DISH Network:
Dish and receiver(s) installed free. DIRECTV: Dish and
receiver(s) installed free.
Installation
Time DISH Network: One to five days depending on
location. DIRECTV: One to five days depending on
location.
Comparing Cost
It is extremely difficult to compare satellite TV prices
because it depends on the type of satellite TV package that you are
interested in. Generally, satellite TV providers offer a range of
programming packages that will increase in channels with an increase in
price. The more you want, the more it costs. It is important to note that
the cost of satellite TV packages will always change to match the growing
competition within the satellite TV market and to match the growth of the
paid satellite TV market as a whole.
Editors note: One of the most
important by products of satellite TV technology is that television
watchers are now able to enjoy much more varied programming through an
increase of available channels. The type of subscription package that you
purchase from a satellite TV provider will dictate the
programming, and Direct TV or the Dish Network
offer hundreds of channels. There are also differences in
the type of programming that the satellite TV companies provide. Comparing
Direct TV and the Dish Network in terms of the type of programming that
they offer, generally Direct TV offers more sports programming whereas
Dish Network offers more international programming.
The choice is
yours between the two major players, Dish Network or DirecTv!
In my opion..........Dish Network won! I
signed up online with one of the major dealers, (see ads on this page)
which was extremely easy and I was soon contacted by them by
phone to confirm an installation date. The installation was
done in about an hour and by a professional installer. He made certain
that we understood how to operate the system before he left our home.
Shortly after we enjoyed our new system by Dish Network for a while, I
decided to drive around our neighborhood to see just how many Dish Network
vs DirecTV dishes there were on homes as a comparison..... To my
surprise, Dish Network dishes out numbered DirecTV by about a 10 to 2
ratio! If my neighbors chose wisely, so did I! Maybe my research had
paid off for me in the long run! Dish Network had won again!
Your decision between
Dish Network and DirecTV is totally up to you. You can also go direct to
the "comparison
chart" page and compare them side by side in chart
form. For more info or to order, just
click on your ad choice below or any ad on this page. These ads take you
direct to a major U.S. wide dealer for the satellite company. Of course
you have the option to go direct to the Dish Network website
or DirecTV but the process is much more difficult.
I recommend going direct to
a dealer ad on this page. Dealers are usually
much faster with service and you are still dealing directly with an
authorized representative of either company. They have the exact same
offers as going direct and you can do it all
online.
Check out
their various offers, you will be glad you did. You will be happy with
Dish Network as I am, but remember....it is your choice! Enjoy and
happy viewing! (Pricing and offers subject
to change, see ad banners below for latest pricing for various
packages.)