| DISH | DirecTV | |
|---|---|---|
| PRICE RANGE | $39.99 to $74.99 | $50 to $125 |
| CHANNELS | 190 to 330+ | 145 to 315+ |
| LOCAL CHANNELS | Included | Included |
| PREMIUM SPORTS | NFL Red Zone | NFL SUNDAY TICKET |
| ADULT CHANNELS | 9 incl. Playboy | 9 incl. Playboy |
| DVR RECEIVERS | YES – Hopper | YES – Genie |
| EQUIPMENT | FREE Dish / 6 rooms | FREE Dish / 4 rooms |
| SPANISH PROGRAMMING | 270 channels | 75 channels |
| INTERNATIONAL CHANNELS | 27 Languages | 8 Languages |
| INSTALLATION FEES | FREE | FREE |
| INSTALLATION TIME | 24 Hours or Less | 24 Hours or Less |
| CUSTOMER SUPPORT | 24/7 | 24/7 |
| SERVICE COMMITMENT | 24 months | 24 months |
| SATELLITE RADIO | Sirius XM | Sonic |
| SPEAK TO REP | Pending | Pending |
About DirecTV
If you are a big football fan, the choice for you may be DIRECTV over DISH because DIRECTV has the exclusive popular package called ‘NFL SUNDAY TICKET.’ So if you’re a big pro football fan…NFL SUNDAY TICKET may seal the deal for you over DISH. But even for non-sports fans, DIRECTV has a number of excellent of packages comparable to DISH.
DIRECTV is one of two primary satellite TV services in the United States. Their exclusive deal with the National Football League for NFL Sunday ticket is a must for hard core pigskin fans. DIRECTV offers NFL Sunday Ticket but DISH does not. For auto racing fans they offer NASCAR Hot Pass.
DirecTV offers exceptionally high quality HD video and awesome audio sound. Their DVR called ‘The Genie,’ is very user-friendly and reliable. Plus, you can bundle your home phone, the Internet, and cell phone services via AT&T and that will yield substantial savings. You can view live and pre-recorded TV on a mobile device. DirecTV offers many excellent deals for new subscribers.
About Dish Network
DISH Network offers a wide array of packages for sports, movies, and your favorite TV shows. They have an easy-to-use DVR (digital video recorder) called the ‘Hopper’, which boasts double the storage capacity of DIRECTV’s Genie. DISH’s pricing offers an exceptional value, plus unlike DirecTV there are no additional fees. In 2016, DISH, as of 2016 introduced a 3-year price lock guarantee.
DISH satellite TV provides crystal clear video and awesome audio. DISH offers the most channels, and their cheapest package is about $10 bucks cheaper than DirecTV.
How Satellite TV Works
Television programming is sent from broadcast facilities on Earth to orbiting satellites position 23,000 miles above earth. Then the programming is sent back to earth where it is received by a satellite dish. The signal then goes from the dish to a receiver where it is unscrambled and then viewable by consumers.
WATCH VIDEO: How Satellite Works
Cable Television vs. Satellite TV
If you are comparing cable TV to satellite television based on the total number of channels and the number of HD channels…satellite blows cable away. Plus, the two top satellite TV providers get high marks for customer satisfaction and outrank most major cable TV providers. Satellite television generally beats the pants of cable TV in terms of price and value too. With both DISH and DIRECTV you get about twice the number of channels versus cable for about the same price. So, value-wise satellite is a big winner and folks that switch from cable to satellite tend to be happy and don’t often switch back. Also, cable prices are constantly increasing but satellite has remained fairly steady. That’s a big plus!
In terms of picture quality and audio quality both cable and satellite are excellent as both offer HD. But now… both Dish and DirecTV have kicked it up a big notch and now offer Ultra-HD programming which is nothing short of amazing.
So, with satellite TV consumers get more channels, ultra HD, more programs, better DVR recording options…all for much less money.
About The Top 2 Satellite TV Companies
DirecTV began in 1994 and they were the first satellite TV company and the first to offer direct broadcast satellite service in the U.S. DirecTV has more than 20 million subscribers in the United States, the Caribbean, and in Latin America and is the biggest satellite TV provider. In July 2015, DirecTV became a subsidiary of AT&T in a transaction valued at $48.5 billion. As of June of 2016, DirecTV manages a fleet of 13 satellites. DirecTV services include satellite TV service, satellite radio, and private video services. It broadcasts in digital, HD (high definition) and UHD (ultra high def.) formats.
DISH Network, or DISH as it’s now called, was begun in 1996. They are the 2nd largest satellite TV company behind DirecTV and are located in Meridian, Colorado.
They have over more than 14 million subscribers in the USA and manage a fleet of 16 satellites orbiting the Earth. DISH services include satellite TV service, satellite radio, satellite internet, private video services, as well as interactive TV. They broadcast both digital and HD formats.