DIRECTV vs. DISH

direct tv has double the HD Channels 105 to be exact. They have way more sports channels including the nfl sunday ticket. which no company will have for atleast another 10 years due to direct being a FORTUNE 100 multi billion dolar company and they have bought the complete rights to it not to mention after spending millions of dollars on that nfl ticket THEYGIVE IT TO YOUFORFREE with CHOICEULTIMATE. DIRECTV is the only company that truely gives out 1080P. Dish Network only puts out 720 on a $900 reciever. and if you run a splitter the tv without the box only gets 480i. Also almost 90% of dishs boxes only produce a 480 picture. When you buy a $1500 tv and you get it home and the picture is way worse than it was in the store. Thats because they were using DIRECTV at the store. all the facts are there DIRECTV is the best and has been hands down since 1994 again the facts are all there on that as well. And as for the old movie channels not being in HD theres a reason for that.. THEMOVIESAREOLD. Dish network will go out on a perfectly sunny day. Directv hardly goes out when theres a tornado out side. Bottem line if you get over that fact your going to be charged a $6 reciever fee which EVERY company charges, there wouldnt be anything to be dissapointed about with directv..

We had Dish Network for 10 years, and switched to DirecTV after many people told us it was better.
WHAT A DISAPPOINTMENT!
DirecTV has fewer HD channels than Dish, especially old movie channels like AMC and TCM. Also, the picture quality is much worse with DirecTV on standard definition programming. It seems like they cut the bandwidth and compress the heck out the the picture.
The HD that they do have on DirecTV is fine, and their DVR is pretty nice.
Even so, since some of our favorite channels are NOT in HD on DirecTV and the SD is lousy, we are actually thinking about paying our $450 penalty to ditch DirecTV and go back to Dish. Yes, it is that much of a difference, and that important not to have to watch fuzzy TV for two years.
Also, while both services have DVR systems that let you watch recorded programs from anywhere (using internet, basically) DirecTV’s is only for their own HD tuners and Windows PCs (and newer PCs at that) while Dish Network’s is truly multi-platform.
Regarding customer service, which DirecTV brags about, DirecTV has an F grade from the Better Business Bureau. Dish is a low C— not great, but at least bearable.

I like how everyone complains about dish or direct. Listen if you don’t want to have contract with dish pay 99 dollars and you won’t have to worry about 24 months. Buy the equipment thatbway if you do cancel you don’t have to return them sell them. And as far as direct Phhhh thereva joke

I had Dish network for 3 or 4 years. The product quality was good. However, now that we are attempting to terminate service, it is a nightmare. They basically will keep billing you and won’t give you a reasonable chance to return the equipment. The service termination part of their service RUINS their overall service delivery.

Any complaints you may have about DirecTV will more than double with Dish. DirecTV has superior customer service, more channels, and far better reception. Dish goes out at least once a day. I’ve had both. DirecTV is superior. FACT!

I suspect that those giving high scores to dish network are salesreps of dish. My first TV service was dish because it was cheaper. I could have said “less expensive,” but cheaper fits better. They raise your cost before your introductory time is over. They charge you for HBO after 2 months when you’re supposed to get it free for six months. I highly recommend that DirecTV customers stay put. DirecTV does not play games on customers. They have better quality HD and the screen has never gone blank like it often did with dish nutwork. I hate Dish.

I have been a DIRECTV customer since 1995. I was on the phone with them for over 2 hours tonight and they would not give me free upgrades even though their equipment would not work. I was told I was full of crap and that I did not have a clue of what I was talking about. I make 120,000 per year how much does a customer service rep make for Directv, pretty uneducated?? I than asked for a supervisor that promised the world that came back and said that he was wrong he could not give me free equipment. Even though a brand new customer today could get more than he promised!! UNREPUTABLE DO NOT DO BUSINESSWITHTHEMTHEYARE UNPROFESSIONAL!! NO ONEWOULDSINK TO THEIRLEVEL. THAT IS WHATYOUGETFORBEING A LOYALCUSTOMERTHEAGENTSAID HE HADNEVERSEE AN ACCOUNTWITHHISCOMPANY SO LONG!!

We recently switched from DirectTV to Dish. BIG mistake! We wanted to save money (which we did but only on an introductory offer); however, we lost quality broadcasting, certain programming, dual tv dvr, high def (that was promised to us upon entering contract) and basic familiarity with simple to use equipment. Not worth the switch and if I could undo it all I would. No wonder Dish requires a 24 month contract. There’s no way I’d still have Dish service otherwise. If you’re thinking of switching to save $10-$15 a month, be aware of exactly what you’re getting for the reduced price- reduced programming, lousy local broadcasting, and a whole lot of “not included” without additional upgrade. I’ve contacted Dish three times regarding separate issues that have come up and they’re not willing to do anything to help improve my opinion. I’ve never been one to post bad reviews~ not a blogger or a tweeter, and I’m usually willing to accept that “I get what I pay for”, but I’m reminded of my dissatisfaction with Dish every time I turn on my television. I’m making my experience and opinion know to hopefully save some other penny pincher the headache.

I have been a DirectTV customer for 10 years and recently made the switch to DISH network. Here is my experience. Your milage may vary.

When I had my house built, I ran coax to all the rooms. I then subscribed to directTV, and at the time only standard def was available. Then about 3 years ago, I decided to switch to HD. Imagine my surprise when the installers showed up and needed to install all new cabling to new receivers through the house, at the low low price of $700. I paid it, but at the time suspected that I was being raped. I did get DirectTV on the phone, and their response was since I was not a new customer, I would have to pay the charges. I paid, but suspected the worst.

Then last November I got a call from DirectTV that they were offering a promotion. For $1 I could get 5 months of premium channels (and NFS sunday ticket). I took them up on their offer, and my rate did not go up for those 5 months.

At the 6th month, my rate jumped from $100 a month to $200 a month. I was able to call within a few days of the rate increase, and cancel the premium channels, however, they refused to refund the full $100 rate increase, and offered only $40, on the context that NFL sunday ticked was included in the package, and I had to pay for that. No matter how I argued, they had my CC number and I had the shaft.

I then looked at the DISH. I could get 4 TV’s hooked up to 2 HD duo receivers, one of which was a DVR, for $80 the first year, and $90 the second, for a total savings of about $400. I called and cancelled my DirectTV service.

The DISH isntaller de-installed DirectTV and installed the DISH. NO NEWCABLING was needed, and all my old coax was all that I ever needed for these HD receivers. The installer was professional and courtious, and did a great job and did not charge me anything for the hookup.

So I’ve had DISH now for about a month, and generally the packages are about the same, it’s just that DISH is cheaper. I don’t see any difference in picture quality or presentation.

The equipment DOES seem much better though. Now with 1 DVR I have 2 TV’s that can tape and watch DVR shows (vs 1 with DirectTV). The guide seems to scroll faster. You get 2 remotes for each Duo receiver, one IR and one UHF. The UHF one is for the remote TV. I have a TV that has no remote code for it, and so for DirectTV I had to use 2 remotes, one for DTV and one for the TV itself. The DISH IR remote is a learning remote, so it can learn the TV codes. Note that Learning Remotes are much more expensive then standard IR remotes, so again a cut above DTV equipment.

Of course, once I cancelled DTV, I received a call from their cancellation department offering me all sorts of incentives if I switch back. Good thing to know. If you EVER want those new customer incentives that DTV offers, just make sure your contract has expired and then ask to be cancelled.

So far, so good! I’m happy with the DISH. Same programming, cheaper, better equipment.

Larry

I have had dish for 1.5 years. I signed up when Dish was $19.99 for the first I have never had a problem with the service or the tv going out, even when its storming. I have 2 issues. 1/ After a couple of months, they kept trying to add service charges and such for bills. After 2 phone calls over 2 months, they did stop charging us. 2/ I don’t see how people can say how Dish Network is cheaper. I love The Speed Channel (and DIY) especially when any Nascar event is on. With Dish Network, I have to bump up two packages to get it at a cost of $60/month for Speed and 3 packages to get DIY at a cost of $70/month. With Direct TV, its $50/month.