Pros and Cons of Direct TV vs. Dish
Andy West
November 30, 2010
Deciding on which television service provider to go with can be difficult. Every satellite network claims to give you the best service, but they aren´t all the same. Two leaders are Direct TV and Dish Network, both of which give you good service. Preparing the actual the pros and cons of Direct TV vs. Dish on a variety of features can help you make the choice that´s right for you.
Pros and Cons of Direct TV vs. Dish – Service and Installation
Both satellite service providers offer 24 hour customer service and reliable installation. Customers are generally pleased with both Direct TV and Dish when they call for installation, repairs, or customer service questions. Direct TV does edge out the competition when it comes to wait times on hold, but both services offer real quality. In fact, Direct TV was recently recognized by J.D. Powers and Associates for their exceptional customer service.
Both offer installation of all equipment needed for free. This is a new and exciting development for Direct TV, which now includes installation of HD receivers and a free HD DVR upgrade. You´ll get amazing picture quality and can record HD programming at no extra cost to you.
Pros and Cons of Direct TV vs. Dish – High Definition
High Definition, or HD, television is the wave of the future. Fortunately, both Direct TV and Dish can give you HD programming, and both now offer free HD for life. Direct TV has the edge because they´re more consistent. They also offer the most full-time HD channels – over 160 – and are planning to add thirty more channels in the near future.
Pros and Cons of Direct TV vs. Dish – Channels
Both of the giants – Direct TV and Dish Network – offer tons of channels and nice bonus packages, but you have more choice with Direct TV. Comparing packages side by side, you´ll discover that where you might get 120 channels in a comparable package by Dish Network, you´ll get over 150 with Direct TV. You also have more flexibility with Direct TV; you can choose which channels you want in your package or put together a package that works best for your family without locking into channels you don´t want.
One of the greatest "pros" for choosing Direct TV is one many people don´t think about – local programming. Many people sign up for satellite television and assume they´ll be able to continue to get their local stations, just like they did with pricier cable programming. This is simply not the case. If you want to continue getting your local news stations and local sports, you´ll have to pay extra with Dish. On the other hand, Direct TV allows you to get local programming and channels at no extra cost. It´s easy to put Direct TV in the win column on this point – being able to watch your local news and sports is a huge win for everyone.
Pros and Cons of Direct TV vs. Dish – Movies and Extras
The two biggest names in satellite television – Direct TV and Dish – both offer excellent packages for movies and special programming. You can get all the major stations, including HBO, Cinemax, Starz and Showtime. If you´re a movie buff, you can´t go wrong with either company, but Direct TV does edge out the competition on quality and range of channels.
Another win in the "pros" column for Direct TV is TiVo. Once you try TiVo, you´ll fall in love with how easy it is to pre-program it to record your favorite programs so you can watch on your own schedule. You can also pause, rewind, or play back programs you´re viewing, so you can take as many breaks as you want or watch a crucial segment again to make sure you aren´t missing a thing.
Sports and Exclusive Programming Make Direct TV a Clear Winner
This is a category where Direct TV is the clear winner. While you can get solid availability of most college sports with both Direct TV and Dish Network, there are several things that put Direct TV into the "pro" column. They are the only satellite provider that brings you full coverage of the NFL, including NFL Sunday Ticket. They also offer special sports packs that cover a variety of regional sports as well as NASCAR HotPass. The "Mega March Madness" package is one of the most popular sports packages available.
With available international programming, you can put together a package that also includes sports around the world, such as boxing or international soccer. If you´re a sports fan, there is no comparison – Direct TV is the obvious winner.
Direct TV also features several exclusive channels that you won´t be able to get with Dish or any other satellite service provider, including TV One, Fine Living, PBS Kids and Fox Reality. Add in over 55 pay-per-view channels for a truly complete selection of programming that surpasses anything offered by other satellite providers.
About the author: Kyle Tesori is a freelance writer for Direct Sat TV. Direct Sat TV is an authorized retailer of Direct TV. Named the 2007 Direct TV dealer of the year, Direct Sat TV continues to provide excellent customer service by providing customers with the best offers available and helping them chose the perfect system for their needs.
Pros and Cons of Direct TV vs. Dish – Service and Installation
Both satellite service providers offer 24 hour customer service and reliable installation. Customers are generally pleased with both Direct TV and Dish when they call for installation, repairs, or customer service questions. Direct TV does edge out the competition when it comes to wait times on hold, but both services offer real quality. In fact, Direct TV was recently recognized by J.D. Powers and Associates for their exceptional customer service.
Both offer installation of all equipment needed for free. This is a new and exciting development for Direct TV, which now includes installation of HD receivers and a free HD DVR upgrade. You´ll get amazing picture quality and can record HD programming at no extra cost to you.
Pros and Cons of Direct TV vs. Dish – High Definition
High Definition, or HD, television is the wave of the future. Fortunately, both Direct TV and Dish can give you HD programming, and both now offer free HD for life. Direct TV has the edge because they´re more consistent. They also offer the most full-time HD channels – over 160 – and are planning to add thirty more channels in the near future.
Pros and Cons of Direct TV vs. Dish – Channels
Both of the giants – Direct TV and Dish Network – offer tons of channels and nice bonus packages, but you have more choice with Direct TV. Comparing packages side by side, you´ll discover that where you might get 120 channels in a comparable package by Dish Network, you´ll get over 150 with Direct TV. You also have more flexibility with Direct TV; you can choose which channels you want in your package or put together a package that works best for your family without locking into channels you don´t want.
One of the greatest "pros" for choosing Direct TV is one many people don´t think about – local programming. Many people sign up for satellite television and assume they´ll be able to continue to get their local stations, just like they did with pricier cable programming. This is simply not the case. If you want to continue getting your local news stations and local sports, you´ll have to pay extra with Dish. On the other hand, Direct TV allows you to get local programming and channels at no extra cost. It´s easy to put Direct TV in the win column on this point – being able to watch your local news and sports is a huge win for everyone.
Pros and Cons of Direct TV vs. Dish – Movies and Extras
The two biggest names in satellite television – Direct TV and Dish – both offer excellent packages for movies and special programming. You can get all the major stations, including HBO, Cinemax, Starz and Showtime. If you´re a movie buff, you can´t go wrong with either company, but Direct TV does edge out the competition on quality and range of channels.
Another win in the "pros" column for Direct TV is TiVo. Once you try TiVo, you´ll fall in love with how easy it is to pre-program it to record your favorite programs so you can watch on your own schedule. You can also pause, rewind, or play back programs you´re viewing, so you can take as many breaks as you want or watch a crucial segment again to make sure you aren´t missing a thing.
Sports and Exclusive Programming Make Direct TV a Clear Winner
This is a category where Direct TV is the clear winner. While you can get solid availability of most college sports with both Direct TV and Dish Network, there are several things that put Direct TV into the "pro" column. They are the only satellite provider that brings you full coverage of the NFL, including NFL Sunday Ticket. They also offer special sports packs that cover a variety of regional sports as well as NASCAR HotPass. The "Mega March Madness" package is one of the most popular sports packages available.
With available international programming, you can put together a package that also includes sports around the world, such as boxing or international soccer. If you´re a sports fan, there is no comparison – Direct TV is the obvious winner.
Direct TV also features several exclusive channels that you won´t be able to get with Dish or any other satellite service provider, including TV One, Fine Living, PBS Kids and Fox Reality. Add in over 55 pay-per-view channels for a truly complete selection of programming that surpasses anything offered by other satellite providers.
About the author: Kyle Tesori is a freelance writer for Direct Sat TV. Direct Sat TV is an authorized retailer of Direct TV. Named the 2007 Direct TV dealer of the year, Direct Sat TV continues to provide excellent customer service by providing customers with the best offers available and helping them chose the perfect system for their needs.
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