Compare Quality Of Service: Cable/Satellite HDTV Providers
It sounds like an easy task, comparing satellite television services with those from cable providers. The truth, consumers find, is that it is far from easy as cable television information is hard to acquire. Here’s why:
- There are a lot of cable companies
- The variation in their offers and services and prices is considerable
- It’s very likely that a number of companies don’t serve your neighborhood
- It’s not easy to gather information from their websites.
Unlike cable company websites, even if you are in the earliest stages of thinking you might want to install DIRECTV®/satellite DISH Network® systems, you can find out all you need to know from the site before you order. With cable you, often, need to go through the phases of placing an order just to find out how much service will cost, what you will get and what will cost extra.
A clear, well laid out website is a service. Both DISH Network and DIRECTV make getting familiar with their offerings much easier than cable companies do.
Differences: Install DIRECTV, Satellite DISH Network Or Cable?
One of the first opportunities we have to judge the services of a TV provider is in their installation policies and practices. Cable TV companies, even those marketing themselves as cheap cable providers, typically charge installation fees. The fees also vary due to the nature of cable technology, so there may be some surprises.
Helping DIRECTV sales, and as part of DIRECTV specials for new customers, you can now install DIRECTV satellite dish equipment free of charge. It may take DIRECTV up to 3 days to get to your installation, however.
DISH Network installation services include free standard professional installation in up to 6 rooms in your home. They’ll send a technician within 24 hours of your placing your order on SatelliteDish.tv and the technician will peak your signal and show you how to use your receivers and remotes.
Free DISH Network, DIRECTV Specials For New Customers And Cheap Cable.
It’s hard to imagine there being such a thing as cheap cable when many cable companies charge you up-front costs for equipment like cable boxes. There are also not many offers for free cable programming.
DIRECTV specials for new customers are boldly advertised. Before they even install DIRECTV satellite dish equipment at your residence, you are aware of the promotions and DIRECTV sales. Starting with the Choice plan, customers can get 1 free HD or DVR receiver upgrade.
DISH Network free offers are designed to give viewers what they need to enjoy their home entertainment experience. DISH Network provides new, first-time customers with 3 months of THREE premium movie channel packages (HBO, Cinemax AND Starz) FREE for three months. DISH Network is also offering BLOCKBUSTER Movie Pass with qualifying packages. Unlike DIRECTV specials for new customers, DISH Network really equips your household with their offer of a free HD DVR upgrade and 2 additional free HD receivers, for a total of 3 free HD receivers. Read further on SatelliteDish.tv about DISH Network special offers.
Compare Channel Packages From Cable, DISH Network Promotions And DIRECTV Sales.
In the cable/satellite HDTV providers study of channel packages, the number of channels you can watch tells the tale:
Comast:
- Comcast Digital Starter – 80+ cable channels
- Comcast Digital Preferred – 100+ cable channels
- Comcast Digital Premier – 200+ cable channels
DIRECTV:
- DIRECTV Choice – 150+
- DIRECTV Choice Xtra – 210+
- DIRECTV Choice Ultimate – 225+
- DIRECTV Choice Premier – 285+
DISH Network:
- DISH Network Top 120 – 120+
- DISH Network Top 200 – 220+
- DISH Network Top 250 – 260+
- DISH Network America’s Everything Pak – 295+
Comcast Cable’s top channel package is surpassed by the second level satellite packages.
Having more channels to watch means there’s a better chance of having options for everyone in your household. When you install DIRECTV/satellite DISH Network systems, you’re harnessing the power of the parabolic satellite dish and its ability to deliver hundreds of channels.
Study Cheap Cable / Satellite HDTV Services
If you have a High Definition television in your home and you want to really enjoy what cable/satellite HDTV technology is really capable of delivering, you need to add HD programming to your system.
Since the monthly fee for upgrading to cable/satellite HDTV viewing is relatively inexpensive at $10 for DISH Network and DIRECTV and $9.25 for the Comcast HD Box, the examination must be on the number of HD channels you can watch for that fee.
- Comcast doesn’t say how many HD channels they have, only that you can watch more than 3000 HD shows.
- To DIRECTV’s 4 plans, you can respectively add 40+, 50+, 55+ and 105+ HD channels.
- To DISH Network’s 4 major plans, you may add 105+, 125+, 140+ and 200 HD channels.
In the overview of cable/satellite HDTV channel offerings, it appears satellite TV providers make an effort to be clear about just what you’re getting. Since we’re talking about High Definition programming, clarity seems appropriate.
Signal Reliability And Pricing With DISH Network And DIRECTV Sales vs Cheap Cable
Whether you’re in the last seconds of a basketball game or at the critical moment in the thriller or simply watching the news, few things can be more annoying than a disruption of service. Because of the infrastructure of cable television, the miles and miles of cable subject to disturbances, there are simply more outages. When you learn how satellite television works on SatelliteDish.tv, you’ll understand a little more why DISH Network has 99.9% signal reliability. (99.99% signal reliability applies to transmission of DISH Network signal to customers. Reception may vary for individual customers.)
What will it take to benefit from thoughtfully designed websites, professional installation, free offers of equipment upgrades, hundreds of channels in SD and HD and the reliable service you get with satellite TV? Less than most cable companies charge for TV.
DISH Network and DIRECTV specials for new customers combined with DISH Network and DIRECTV sales on channel packages are truly alluring. However, satellite provider, DISH Network still saves you money after the introductory periods. SatelliteDish.tv breaks down just the entry level packages:
- Comcast Digital Starter - $29.99 / month for 6 months, $49.99 for months 7-12, regular price $59.35 per month.
- DIRECTV Choice - $29.99 / month for 12 months, regular price $60.99 per month.
- DISH Network Top 120 - $29.99 / month for 12 months with 24-Mo. Agreement, regular price $44.99 per month.
Apparently what goes down must come back up in the cases of Cable and DIRECTV. DISH Network is committed to providing quality services for less.















