DIRECTV or Dish Network???
Introduction:
Are you tired of cable? Do your family or friends have DIRECTV or Dish Network and get more channels for the same price you pay? I did some research on both DIRECTV and Dish Network on the pricing and channels that you receive. While doing this research I noticed that Dish Network tries much harder than DIRECTV to hide information from you that’s important, for Example you would think that all the packages that Dish Network has include Local Channels but they don’t only DirecTV is includes local channels within the price. Come on now who doesn’t want local channels? Apparently if you want local channels with Dish Network you have to add an additional $5.00 a month on the price per month. Let’s start with the pricing and packages that both companies offer.
Both DirecTV and dish offer great packages for the money and both have a great basic and premium package. Let’s Start with DIRECTV’s programming packages; All DirecTV’s programming packages offer free instillation, free $50 Visa Gift Card, a free DVD Player and free handling and delivery, four free standard receivers and free Local channels within the price. Lets start with DIRECTV’s Family Package; (The Cheapest one) this package offers forty plus channels all for $29.99. The next package that DIRECTV offers is the Choice Package which offers one hundred and forty channels plus channels for $44.99 a month however this price is only good for four months then it goes up to $49.99 a month. Next In line is the Choice Xtra which offers one hundred eighty plus channels and comes in at $49.99 a month for four months but then rises to $54.99 per month. Then DIRECTV has the Plus DVR package which also gives you one hundred and eighty five plus channels and a free DVR and service. This package costs $54.99 per month then rises to $59.99 per month. The next package DIRECTV offer is the Choice Extra plus HD access package which includes one hundred and ninety five plus channels and a free HD receiver after an instant credit. This is available for 59.99 but then the price swells to $64.98 per month. Finally DIRECTV offers its Plus HD DVR package which includes one hundred and ninety five plus channels, DVR and HD service and a $100 credit for the $199 DIRECRV HD Plus DVR, (see review) receiver you must purchase . You can get this package for $64.99 but then the price increases to $69.99 per month. I would say that DIRECTV has many packages to fit your viewing demand and budget. One downside is DIRECTV only includes one active receiver and if you want additional active receivers that get DIRECTV programming you have to pay a $4.99 lease fee per receiver.
Dish Network also offers many packages which all include free installation and two TV’s of active service but you can add a third active receiver, or and forth for just $5.00 so you miles well get Dish Network on your fourth television since it’s the same price whether you get three or four TV’s with Dish Network service. The Cheapest Package on Dish Network is called the Dish Family Package and includes forty channels for $19.99 but when you add the $5.99 for local channels to make it compatible to DIRECTV your monthly bill comes to $25.98. The next package that Dish Network offers is its top 100 package which is $29.99 and offers 100 channels. Following that is the top 100 plus package which includes the top 100 package and your local regional sports network. Next is the top 200 which includes two hundred channels, your regional sports network and Sirius Music Channels for $42.99 per month. Then there is the top 250 which gives you two hundred and fifty channels along with Sirius and your regional sports network, all for $52.99. Finally Dish Network has it’s everything package which includes two hundred and eighty channels, premium movie channels, NBA and everything the top two hundred packages offers for $89.99 per month. Like I’ve said before if you want local channels, HD Channels, and DVR service you have to add the services on separate because there not included in the plans like of DIRECTV’S Packages are.
Both DIRECTV and Dish Network offer around the same services like great standard programming, HD Programming, DVR service, interactive channels and more. One advantage that Dish Network has over DIRECTV is that currently it has more High definition channels but this will change as DIRECTV just launched a new satellite which should bring DIRECTV customers around one hundred high definition channels which is great! I would say that right now DIRECTV has a bigger advantage over Dish Network knowing that within a few months their HD Channel line up will power over Dish Networks HD lineup.
After Having DIRECTV for three years now, I’ve had a few issues with my equipment and DIRECTV took care of my problem in a serious and timely manor. One problem that I’ve had was my DIRECTV HD receiver was overheating and got extremely hot. I called DIRECTV and I had them to ship me a $300 HD plus DVR (see review) at no cost but when I opened the box it was another HD receiver with no DVR. I called DIRECTV and told them about the situation and they apologized, I then asked them what they could do for me now that It was going to take a few weeks to get the DVR and they ended up giving me ten dollars a month off my bill for a year, One year of HD service for free and they offered me Stars and Showtime absolutely free. I am really happy with DIRECTV because they treated me so well; but when I called Dish Network to ask a few questions, the agent told me to stop wasting his time and that he had a family to feed and if I wasn’t going to subscribe to their service don’t call. He then told me to have a nice day and hung up. I never was treated so poorly from a company especially after I told them I was doing a blog comparing DIRECTV and Dish Network. DIRECTV on the other hand politely answered my questions and I was off to writing this post. I would say that Dish Network customer support has a lot to be improved.
After spending many hours researching prices and features I came to the conclusion that DIRECTV offers a better television experience and gives you a piece of mind knowing that should there be a problem you can get it resolved rather then being refused service from Dish Network. DIRECTV also offers more to new subscribers like a free DVD player, a free fifty dollar Visa Gift card as well as the free installation. You may have to pay a few dollars a month more than Dish Network but it’s defiantly worth the money for what you get. I’m sure that I just had a bad experience when calling into to request information but I’m still leaning to DIRECTV knowing that I never had a problem with their support, and it’s nice that in the fall DIRECTV will be rolling out more HD channels that Dish Network offers. Let me know what you think is better by leaving a comment in the field below. Both DIRECTV and Dish Network offer great programming at affordable prices and should give you more programming for a better price then cable.
(Credit DIRECTV & Dish Network)
August 22, 2007 at 1:40
DIRECTV offers HD programming in 1080. Does Dish Network offer this as well?
http://www.drunkenpanda.com
August 29, 2007 at 3:11
I’ve been looking at DirecTV, but am turned off by the fact you have to pay $199 for their HD-DVR box. Dish and my local cable company provide that, even if in the monthly fees. Why would I want to pay $200 up front just to get the service, and then if the box fails, wouldn’t it be mine to replace again at another $200? Right now, if I have a problem with my cable company’s hd dvr box, it is their reponsibility to fix/replace it. I’d sign up with DirecTV in a heartbeat if I didn’t have to shell out $200 for a receiver.