DIRECTV or Dish?

[Speedy]

I currently have Time Warner Cable (bundle package: digital phone, Roadrunner & HD Digital Cable...$130 a month) but they're going up in the price next month and even so, half of the HD channels seem to never be available.

...so, I've called both Dish & Directv and gotten quotes and am leaning towards Directv. The only drawback is that they won't acknowledge one of the ISPs (Windstream) in their "bundle package" so I would have to pay internet/phone & TV bills separate which is fine, but it's about $120 with the possibility to increase after the 1st year. I've never been a fan of Dish but I may it seems more feasible.

So, which is better?

[ODogg]

Re: DIRECTV or Dish?

I like DirecTV better, they have more HD channels and you can get the Sunday Ticket.

[Scottdau]

Re: DIRECTV or Dish?

For me it had to be DTV. I am a Vikings fan and Sunday ticket was a most have.

[Reaman]

Re: DIRECTV or Dish?

DIRECTV for me.

[bill2451]

Re: DIRECTV or Dish?

I'd recommend you call up your cable company and tell them you're planning on switching... theres a good chance they'll offer you a deal of some sort and you wont have to pay more

[Mo]

Re: DIRECTV or Dish?

I have Dish, and its great and all, but if I could afford the extra 10-15 month more, I would go with DTV in a heart beat.

[Happy29]

Re: DIRECTV or Dish?

Directv more HD channels, Sunday Ticket, MLB Extra Innings, Nascar Hot Pass. They just seam like they offer more sports than any of the others.

[HotSauce2k3]

Re: DIRECTV or Dish?

Everyone I know says Dish is awful compared to DirecTV.

I have DirecTV.

[Burns11]

Re: DIRECTV or Dish?

I'd recommend you call up your cable company and tell them you're planning on switching... theres a good chance they'll offer you a deal of some sort and you wont have to pay more

When my brother was thinking about switching, he called the cable company and asked if they could lower his bill to what he would pay with DTV, they refused. DTV installed he called cableco to cut off service and then they offered to discount. Then DTV/ATT screwed him, but that's a different story.

Moral of the story, if you want a discount call to disconnect instead of just asking.

[ODogg]

Re: DIRECTV or Dish?

Yeah, Burns is correct. If you just call and ask them to match they won't do it. Call and set up a disconnect date. Don't even act like you care about talking about it. At some point they will ask you about why you are disconnecting. Then, and only then, say because you can get dish/direcTV for xxx amount of dollars. Then they should offer to lower your bill.

[Stumbleweed]

Re: DIRECTV or Dish?

I dunno how Dish is awful... I get great picture, plenty of HD channels, and it's cheaper than DirectTV. Dunno how they could be substantively different enough to justify the $10-$15 price difference for almost exactly the same channels...

[ODogg]

Re: DIRECTV or Dish?

From what I've read the price difference is there because you get less. If you want to add other HD channels to Dish it ends up being the same price wise but you're still getting less because overall DirecTV has more HD channels. DirecTV also sent me a mailing saying by December they will have a ton more HD channels too as they will be activating a new satelite soon.

[p_rushing]

Re: DIRECTV or Dish?

I dunno how Dish is awful... I get great picture, plenty of HD channels, and it's cheaper than DirectTV. Dunno how they could be substantively different enough to justify the $10-$15 price difference for almost exactly the same channels...

For 1 DVR, Dish is cheaper. If you add anything more than 1 receiver, you get into crazy fees, something like up $17 per receiver.


DTV has more sports, more full-time HD, and better technology/advancement.

[GaryT531]

Re: DIRECTV or Dish?

I have DirecTV, I personally love it because I'm big on sports. Choice Package + the Sports Pak works out for me. Cablevision, which is the cable service available in my section of Northern NJ will not offer NFL Network or the Big Ten Network because James Dolan is too cheap. Yes that James Dolan, the same guy that owns the Knicks is the guy who owns Cablevision. Anyway...

If you're not really into watching sports, don't get it. Is it expensive? it can be. Will your bill increase $3 or $4 a month randomly b/c they raised their prices? yes. You can fight it though. Threatening to switch usually works. Will you be locked into a 2 year contract? yes. If you try to get out before your contract is up then you will be fined. And no you don't lose service every time there's a storm. That has only happened to me once in my 2 years, it was the middle of the night, and it was out for less than 5 minutes.

And don't be fooled by this $100 cash you will supposedly receive if you recommend someone else to join. You will receive $100 but not in cash, it will come off of your bill. You have to read the fine print with EVERYTHING when it comes to DirecTV.

Overall I'm happy, I am able to see every college football game that is available on tv, and there's always a re-play football game from last season, or a classic game on some channel pretty much all the time. Get it if you love to watch sports, and want channels in HD that other services do not have. If you don't love watching sports and would rather watch movies over sports, then stick with cable.

If cheap James Dolan ever signs on for NFL Network on my area's cable company, or if DirecTV ever loses the rights to Sunday Ticket, I would drop them in a heartbeat, in a nannosecond.

Let's review what we have learned today kids: DirecTV will try to rip you off, and their customer service dept. sucks, and you have to read the fine print for everything, but no other service provider will offer you more sports to watch. Hope this helps.

[Scottdau]

Re: DIRECTV or Dish?

Gary if a 100 come off your bill, then you actually got a 100 from them. It is just like a way a check works, it is all computerize. If they took off 100 on my bill I would go buy something with that 100 too. Also for me it was all about the Sunday Ticket, but the Dish is good too.