Dish Network vs. DirecTV

tart -->2006. Customer satisfaction is an important
This one is going to run and run, and asingredient in the comparison, and this still sees our
competition in the satellite TV market continuesprotagonists neck-and-neck. This is a good sign
to hot up, is there ever going to be a winner?since it implies that everything from the initial
More and more customers continue to forsakeorder, through installation to performance of the
their TV aerial for a satellite dish and receivesatellite TV system makes a good experience for
all-digital pictures direct from space into the home.the customer.
Dish Network and DirecTV continue to fight theirNow in this point-by-point comparison we come to
corners in a bid to overtake each other. This hotprogramming packages. Let's see how our
competition means that the situation needs to beopponents stack up. This is a key area where
monitored on a regular basis in order to compareDish Network gives a better choice and value of
differences in the latest deals of the rival camps.satellite TV service in our head-to-head
Over the last few years the advantage hascomparison of Dish Network vs. DirecTV. Dish
continued to swing from one to the other. Is theNetwork provides a wider range of packages that
ball in one court or the other? By the end of thisalso work out cheaper on a per-channel basis. This
article we shall find out in which.is especially important as differences in
Dish Network, a subsidiary of Echostar, has beenprogramming costs mount up year on year. On
offering satellite TV packages since 1996. DirecTVthe other hand, it should not be forgotten that
on the other hand have been in the business sincewhereas Dish Network charge $5/mo for local
1994. They are by far the largest satellite TVchannels, DirecTV by contrast offer locals free.
providers and have been competing against eachDirecTV also provide more sports channels than
other ever since. As well as their own rivalry,Dish Network. So it is not all one-sided and it really
they also compete together for a share of thecomes down to what the individual customer
overall TV market with cable TV and have beenwants from their satellite system.
increasing their percentage of the market eachTo summarize, can one provider claim to be
year.better than the other? At the present time Dish
One thing is for sure in the battle for top position,Network offer good value for money, due to
it is very difficult to separate Dish Network andtheir lower cost programming services, unless
DirecTV when it comes to comparing equipmentlocals or sports are high up the priority list. So
offers. Both offer similar deals on standardwhether this makes Dish Network first choice
equipment, which should be enough for even thereally depends on what programming is important
most demanding of satellite television buyers. Dishto the customer. But they have to keep on their
Network holds a slight lead when it comes to thetoes since DirecTV are sure to react with a
classier add-ons, namely HD and DVR. Dishsimilar or even better package of programming.
Network supply the equipment for free, howeverThe overall recommendation though is to keep
DirecTV request an up-front payment for each,abreast of the latest DirecTV and Dish Network
which is subsequently returned by way of adeals since these have a habit of changing week
rebate after 10 months. Overall, it is an excellentby week.
deal from both camps.Will there ever be a winner in this battle of one
Customer service is an area that should not beversus the other? Certainly as more and more of
overlooked and whilst small differences areEchostar's satellites are launched, and more dishes
apparent in different regions, the customerare installed instead of cable networks, Dish
service and support provided by both companiesNetwork will always be striving to outdo DirecTV
was good according to the J.D.Power 2006and vice-versa.
Residential Cable/Satellite TV Satisfaction Survey