Dish Network versus DirecTV

If you’re in the market for satellite television, there are two main players that you are probably looking at: DirecTV, and Dish Network. Both are completely viable, well-thought-out solutions that deliver the product that they promise. Both offer competitive home television solutions, good picture quality, and good customer support. In essence, both are services that are deserving of your consideration (and money).

However, we are blessed with a free market economy, where one product will always trump the other one. Superiority of design, engineering prowess, and the actual company behind it generally outdo the competition, and it is by this formula that many products have come and gone from the market. This is the very concept that has shaped our economy, and by now you’re probably wondering why this is relevant.

We’ve prepared a bit of a death match between the two main satellite providers in America – DirecTV and Dish Network – and have begrudgingly set them at each other in an epic battle to the end. Who will remain? Keep reading.

DirecTV – Features, Benefits, and General Information

DirecTV is a name that is synonymous with satellite television. When satellite television service was in its infancy, DirecTV was there. As the service expanded and grew, DirecTV was there. And, as the industry transformed into a complete multimedia solution, DirecTV was there. You could say that DirecTV is in it for the long haul.

DirecTV has gained a good reputation for being a quality satellite provider that offers value, customized packages, and ease of use for the customer. One of the main attractions to DirecTV is the fact that it is seemingly plug and play- once the technicians leave your home, your TV just works. There are no games to play, no hassles to experience, no hoops to jump through- just a working television set (err, up to four of them actually).

DirecTV’s lowest package (the Family package) runs $29.99 a month for 40 channels. At this price, which is pretty low considering the quality of the audio/video and the fact that the channels included are good channels, the customer is also given the option of having up to four receivers installed for free- how’s that for value?

Of course, there are packages that soar right through the entire pricing spectrum: $29.99 a month (Family), $49.99 a month (Choice), $54.99 a month (Choice Xtra), $59.99 a month (Plus DVR), $64.99 a month (Choice Xtra HD), and $69.99 a month (Plus DVR HD). The base package (the Family package) includes 40 channels, whereas the top end Plus DVR HD package includes 195 channels, HD content, local channels, as well as 68 XM Satellite radio channels. That’s a whole lot of TV.

Dish Network – Features, Benefits, and General Information

Dish Network is not as well known as DirecTV, but that doesn’t mean that it isn’t making a big splash in the market. In fact, since Dish Network launched a few years ago, customers have been flocking to the service, credit cards in hand, literally begging Dish to take their money. Why?

Dish Network has everything going for them: high-quality broadcasting, capable hardware, desirable packages, great rates, and plenty of customization. Their HD DVR units are second to none, offering the whole experience and enough technical features that they blend in perfectly to any home theater setup.

While the hardware is probably the best on the market, what really makes a good television provider is the content that it is able to deliver. On that note, Dish Network really shines. Their packages range in price, starting at just $19.99 a month for 40 channels and reaching as high as $94.99 a month for 280 channels and, of course, packages and pricing everywhere in-between.

Direct Comparison – Who’s Better than Who?

Pitting DirecTV against Dish Network was a difficult task, as it was hard for our testers to focus on the task at hand. Both providers have excellent services, and on that level we are able to say that we liked them both. However, in the interest of Darwinian science we’re going to find just one contender that does the job better than the other.

That contender is Dish Network, and here’s why: throughout the duration of our testing we couldn’t help but feel more at home with the software provided by the Dish Network. It flowed better, looked better, and was a lot faster too. Scrolling through various options menu’s was simple and easy to accomplish, and though that could be done on DirecTV as well, we found it easier and faster on Dish Network.

The Dish Network HD DVR is the best around right now, and though DirecTV’s incarnation is a very good example of what a HD DVR should be, the one offered by Dish Network is just a teeny bit better.

We predict that Dish Network will start to gain ground in the market, and we’ll be glad to see that. You can sign up for Dish Network here.