Satellite Television Choices - Who Should You Choose?
October 18, 2008
Satellite television became an option for many more consumers sometime in the 1990’s when smaller dish antennas were developed that did not look like something out of a science fiction movie. Although some smaller companies have started and failed, the two major players left in the game are DISH Network and DirecTV.
With only two major players left in the business, the question most potential subscribers must deal with when choosing satellite TV service is: Who has the best deal? Are the DirecTV deals the best or should you go with one of the satellite deals?
DirecTV is the clear winner in number of customers, with DISH Network coming in second. Even so, there are valid reasons to give both companies consideration when consumers who are considering satellite companies for their television entertainment.
DirecTV offers more programming for sports fans in general, although DISH Network provides options for quite a few sports packages as well. A big plus for football fans is DirecTV’s “NFL Sunday Ticket” programming that DISH Network just doesn’t have.
However, some say, and I tend to agree, that DISH Network is in front when it comes to technology. They were first to switch over all their channels from the old MPEG-2 video format to the superior MPEG-4 format and also the first to offer true 1080p HD programming on some of their video-on-demand channels while DirecTV offers no 1080p at all currently.
DISH Network also offers DVRs that are thought of as the best by most experts. As someone who has a DISH Network DVR, it’s hard to imagine it being much better than they are now. It’s really changed the way I watch TV and makes the VCR look something out of ancient history.
DISH Network is also offers more choices when it comes to international programming and they have and impressive lineup of programming from countries all over the planet in many languages.
Both DISH Network and DirecTV have very competitive rivalry where HD content is concerned, with both of them claiming to have the most HD channels at various times.
Like you might expect from the majority of big companies, both companies get sneaky with the method they use to count their HD programming choices. Does a pay-per-view channel count? What about movies on demand? As a potential customer, your best option is to go through the entire list of programming each satellite broadcaster offers and choose which HD channels are more important to you.
I’ve done my own share of research and perusing of satellite TV forums and have remained with DISH Network for quite a few years. I am quite satisfied with my DISH Network service and the programming packages that they offer.
The packages that DISH Network offers these days are some of the best I have seen and you do not have to pay for the equipment out of your own pocket like it was years ago. In case you have not figured it out my advice for potential satellite TV subscribers is to search for one of the best satellite deals you can find.
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