How is Dish Network compared to DirecTV?

[BamBam215]

The NBA season is starting and I need to get ready for it. DirecTV was my original choice until they got greedy. They don't even offer the Fox Sports channels on anything other than the $84.99 plans and up. It used to be available on the most basic package.

Charter cable seems to be okay although I would rather have a cheaper solution. Dish Network seems to be the best right now because they are offering a free DVR + installation. Plus they got the cheapest plan available. I was thinking of just getting the $33.99 plan + $4.99 DVR subscription charge, and that's it. Total I would be paying around $40, which is cheaper than Charter charges for the same channel lineup.

I've had experience with bother Charter and DirecTV but never with Dish Network. Anyone have anything nice to say?

 

[PlatinumGold]

i'm on dish now. i prefer them over Comcast. i've had no experience with directv tho.

 

[arod]

Dish is as good if not better than DirecTV..... the only and I mean only reason I would get DirecTV was if you had to have NFL Sunday Ticket.

 

[RossMAN]

DirecTV is superior sports wise and has DirecTivo

 

[PlatinumGold]

directv offers Yes network Dish doesn't. really only an issue in NY area.

 

[flxnimprtmscl]

I've had both. Well, I should say I've been a dish subscriber for about 3 years and was a DirecTV subscriber for the 4 hours or so it took me to determine it was complete garbage.

The only thing I wish Dish had that DirecTV does is NFL Sunday Ticket but even though I worship at the church of the NFL I still wouldn't even consider DirecTV. It's poo I tell you.

 

[BamBam215]

Doesn't Dish Network offer their own kind of DVR recording? Here are the things I'm mainly looking for:


1) Access to common National sports channel (i.e. ESPN, FOX SPORTS NET, TNT, etc.)
2) Ability to record. DVR a plus although I do have a VCR I can use.
3) Cheapeast possible without all the extra channels I don't need.

 

[arod]

Originally posted by: BamBam215
Doesn't Dish Network offer their own kind of DVR recording? Here are the things I'm mainly looking for:


1) Access to common National sports channel (i.e. ESPN, FOX SPORTS NET, TNT, etc.)
2) Ability to record. DVR a plus although I do have a VCR I can use.
3) Cheapeast possible without all the extra channels I don't need.

dish will be fine for you.

 

[nsafreak]

Originally posted by: BamBam215
Doesn't Dish Network offer their own kind of DVR recording? Here are the things I'm mainly looking for:


1) Access to common National sports channel (i.e. ESPN, FOX SPORTS NET, TNT, etc.)
2) Ability to record. DVR a plus although I do have a VCR I can use.
3) Cheapeast possible without all the extra channels I don't need.

1) Those (other than Fox Sports Net) are part of the packages starting at the Top 50, for what you want the Top 100 would be best.
2) We have those with our new promos, namely you get the 510 if you go through with the new Free Dish promotion. It has 100 hours of recording time on it along with other DVR goodies like pause live television.
3) Again, the Top 100.

 

[BamBam215]

sounds like dish is the best option. their 1 yr commitment blows ass though. i hate commitments. charter gives me the option to cancel whenever with 3 months free. hmm. imma have to do some math to see how this all figures out

 

[prvteye2003]

Originally posted by: BamBam215
Doesn't Dish Network offer their own kind of DVR recording? Here are the things I'm mainly looking for:


1) Access to common National sports channel (i.e. ESPN, FOX SPORTS NET, TNT, etc.)
2) Ability to record. DVR a plus although I do have a VCR I can use.
3) Cheapeast possible without all the extra channels I don't need.

I've got a pvr with dish!

 

[nsafreak]

Originally posted by: BamBam215
sounds like dish is the best option. their 1 yr commitment blows ass though. i hate commitments. charter gives me the option to cancel whenever with 3 months free. hmm. imma have to do some math to see how this all figures out

Well you have to keep in mind that they're giving you a good amount of equipment for free on most of these promotions. If they want to show any kind of profit they have to get some kind of commitment. And with charter you don't have to buy any equipment or if they set you up with digital set top boxes they'll have you return them if you cancel. Your other option is to sign up under the Free For All promotion. Basically you pay for the DVR (don't know what they run at retailers) and then get equipment credits backon your bill. Granted it won't pay for the entire cost of the DVR (only does it for 301s) but it does not have a commitment with it.

 

[BamBam215]

Well I went ahead and signed up with Dishnetwork. $33.99 for America's Top 100 + $4.98 for DVR fees. I get free installation + DVR recorder (up to 100 hours). I get 4 months free HBO/Cinemax which I plan to cancel after 4 months. I can't cancel within 1 year but otherwise a great deal compared to Charter/DirecTV. I just hope they don't black out too many of the sports channel!

 

[V00DOO]

Direct TV has better P0rn.

 

[Wingznut]

Originally posted by: BamBam215
The NBA season is starting and I need to get ready for it. DirecTV was my original choice until they got greedy. They don't even offer the Fox Sports channels on anything other than the $84.99 plans and up. It used to be available on the most basic package.

I'm not sure why you think you need the $84.99 plan to get the Sports Pack... You can add it to any package for $12/mo. Link

You can include SPORTS Pack with your TOTAL CHOICE® or TOTAL CHOICE® PLUS base package. You'll get over 25 specialty and regional sports networks in all.

Fox Sports Net Northwest
Fox Sports Net Ohio
Fox Sports Net Arizona
Fox Sports Net Pittsburgh
Fox Sports Net Bay Area
Fox Sports Net Rocky Mountain
Fox Sports Net Chicago
Fox Sports Net South
Fox Sports Net Cincinnati
Fox Sports Net Southwest
Fox Sports Net Detroit
Fox Sports Net West
Fox Sports Net Florida
Fox Sports Net West 2
Fox Sports Net Midwest
Fox Sports Net North
Fox Sports Net New England
Fox Sports Net New York
Fox Sports World
Fuel Network
College Sports TV
NBA TV
The Outdoor Channel
TVG
The Golf Channel
Comcast Sports NetNet (Mid-Atlantic)
Madison Square Garden (MSG)
New England Sports Network
Sunshine Network
Empire Sports Network
YES Network

 

[faZZter]

Originally posted by: arod
Dish is as good if not better than DirecTV..... the only and I mean only reason I would get DirecTV was if you had to have NFL Sunday Ticket.

And that is enough of a reason!

 

[PlatinumGold]

Originally posted by: BamBam215
Well I went ahead and signed up with Dishnetwork. $33.99 for America's Top 100 + $4.98 for DVR fees. I get free installation + DVR recorder (up to 100 hours). I get 4 months free HBO/Cinemax which I plan to cancel after 4 months. I can't cancel within 1 year but otherwise a great deal compared to Charter/DirecTV. I just hope they don't black out too many of the sports channel!

you mean blackout games due to none sellout status?? this will happen no matter who you get tv service from.

 

[Dulanic]

There is one thing I hate about dish... HDTV, if you ever plan to get it their a RIPPPPP OFFFFF they want $699.99 for the Dish/Receiver etc... THEN on top of that they want $149 to use it to get local channels through a off air antenna also! Directv is $399 for their highdef receiver and it gets off air high def for free.

 

[BamBam215]

Originally posted by: Wingznut

Originally posted by: BamBam215
The NBA season is starting and I need to get ready for it. DirecTV was my original choice until they got greedy. They don't even offer the Fox Sports channels on anything other than the $84.99 plans and up. It used to be available on the most basic package.

I'm not sure why you think you need the $84.99 plan to get the Sports Pack... You can add it to any package for $12/mo. Link

You can include SPORTS Pack with your TOTAL CHOICE® or TOTAL CHOICE® PLUS base package. You'll get over 25 specialty and regional sports networks in all.

Fox Sports Net Northwest
Fox Sports Net Ohio
Fox Sports Net Arizona
Fox Sports Net Pittsburgh
Fox Sports Net Bay Area
Fox Sports Net Rocky Mountain
Fox Sports Net Chicago
Fox Sports Net South
Fox Sports Net Cincinnati
Fox Sports Net Southwest
Fox Sports Net Detroit
Fox Sports Net West
Fox Sports Net Florida
Fox Sports Net West 2
Fox Sports Net Midwest
Fox Sports Net North
Fox Sports Net New England
Fox Sports Net New York
Fox Sports World
Fuel Network
College Sports TV
NBA TV
The Outdoor Channel
TVG
The Golf Channel
Comcast Sports NetNet (Mid-Atlantic)
Madison Square Garden (MSG)
New England Sports Network
Sunshine Network
Empire Sports Network
YES Network

Damn. I want the NBATV channel. Dish's multi-sports package includes all that with the exception of the NBATV channel and they said they won't give it to me unless I sign up for the NBA Ticket Pass for $159.99.

Oh well, it's still a better deal with dish because I found out I will be getting the first 3 months free

 

[LikeLinus]

Originally posted by: Dulanic
There is one thing I hate about dish... HDTV, if you ever plan to get it their a RIPPPPP OFFFFF they want $699.99 for the Dish/Receiver etc... THEN on top of that they want $149 to use it to get local channels through a off air antenna also! Directv is $399 for their highdef receiver and it gets off air high def for free.

Whoa that sucks. I have HDTV DirecTV and love it I get OTA HDTV also.

 

[Paulson]

DirecTV is way better than dish... the menu, the way it works... I mean it even searches through channels faster and easier than stupid dish network.

 

[Wingznut]

<-- Jealous!

Originally posted by: LikeLinus
I have HDTV DirecTV and love it I get OTA HDTV also.

I haven't quite been able to convince the wife that a HDTV tuner is worth the investment. Oh well, it only took me about a year to convince her that we needed the widescreen in the first place. So, I figure I should have HDTV programming in another 10 months or so.

 

[vi edit]

Dish has better local channel coverage from what I can tell.

Other than that, Direct is the way to go.

 

[new2AMD]

Directv for me


check the sig

 

[Looney]

Originally posted by: Paulson
DirecTV is way better than dish... the menu, the way it works... I mean it even searches through channels faster and easier than stupid dish network.

That has to do with your receiver, not the service.

But i much prefer DTV myself.