There are two satellite television providers in America, DirecTV and Dish Network. They are almost identical, with both clamoring to offer as many HD (high-definition) channels as possible, and DVR (digital video recording) capabilities. Both of them also offer all-digital programming and over 250 channels. What are the similarities, or differences between the two, if any ? The most obvious differences are the subscription fees and the programming packages. Below is a brief comparison of the two.
Every dish tv customer gets the dish and standard receiver for free, with free installation in up to four rooms. If you want a DVR Receiver from DirecTV you have to fork out. Their HD Receivers are even more expensive, costing $299.99. You get all this for free from Dish Network, except for a small monthly fee for the Dish DVR.
When it comes to programming, in terns of the number of channels, DirecTV is the victor. They have more sports packages, such as one that caters to soccer and rugby, for example. Packages start at $29.99 a month, with no extra charges for local channels. www dishnetwork is the leader when it comes to international programming, offering packages in Chinese, French, Urdu, Hindi, and Hebrew, just to name a few. Thuan Viet, a Vietnamese channel, is available exclusively on Dish Network. Dish Network's packages start at a mere $19.99 per month, with an additional $5 for local channels. In the majority of major cities across the country these local channels are available in HD.
Both DirecTV and Dish Network pass with flying colors when it comes to customer service. They both offer 24-hour online and telephone support. You can call customer service any day of the week.
J.D. Power & Associates ranked Dish Network #1 in customer satisfaction, with DirecTV following closely behind at #2.
Both DirecTV and Dish Network offer excellent programming for your home. With Dish Network expect to get more in the form of international channels (if desired), as well as movie packages. Currently, over 30 movie channels are available. If you are a sports fanatic then DirecTV would probably be the best option for you.