Home :: compare direct tv and dish network vs cable 

Compare Direct TV and Dish Network vs Cable: My Story

Recently I decided to take it upon myself to do a little research and

compare Direct TV and Dish Network vs Cable to find out where the best deal is between cable and satellite TV.

What did I come up with? What's the answer to the million dollar question? Which one is the absolute best?

Well sorry to disappoint you... the debate rages on. There is no absolute best and the most important factor is you and what you want.

Right now there's a brutal war waging for cable television customers, not just here in the southeast US, but all over the country. There are at least four major players jockeying for position with Charter, Brighthouse, Cox, and Comcast all controlling some part of just about every state.

The satellite situation, on the other hand, is a lot more simple. You have just two major players in the picture, Direct TV and Dish Network. 

I decided to compare Direct TV and Dish Network vs Cable side by side

If you are like me, price is numero uno on your list of factors. If I can get the same or comparable service for a cheaper price, I'm all in. So I took the time to compare Direct TV and Dish Network satellite vs Charter and Brighthouse cable: The two major cable and satellite companies in my area.

Here's the best cable had to offer...

Brighthouse is the dominant cable company in the metro area of central Alabama (Birmingham). It has five digital plans, but to be honest, I was a little confused after visiting their website. From what I could gather the low-end package "Digital Entertainment Pak". With this plan you get 110 channels, no premium channels, from $53.99. "Digital Four Star Pak" is the most expensive package. You get all available channels, including premium movies. You'll fork up about $78.94.

With Charter, the cheapest package is the "Big Value". With this plan you get 80 channels for $49.95 a month. The most expensive plan with all premium movie channels is $72.90.

Now when you sit down and compare Direct TV and Dish Network vs cable, price has been the main force pushing satellite, cable's high price that is. Many people, where price is the only concern, have been bolting over to satellite TV. And for good reason, the prices can be pretty enticing. No matter where you live, your two main choices will be Direct TV and Dish Network.

Direct TV's basement deal is "Total Choice" which affords you about 100 channels. This includes local channels (available in most major cities) at a cost of $39.99. The big package "Total Choice Premier" offers about 180, including all premium movie channels, for $90.99.

Dish Network is the true price saver with it's bargain package "America's Top 60", with local channels, for the low price of $24.99. For the whole enchilada, the "America's Everything" package, gets you 180 channels, which includes all premium movie channels, for $77.99.

If you have a high definition television and having HDTV channels is important to you, digital cable will deliver basic HD programming (major networks and special HD broadcast like sporting events) at no extra cost, other than a HDTV receiver. If you want a package that includes all available HD you will pay a extra $10 or so monthly.

When you compare Direct TV and Dish Network to cable, satellite's access to HD programming is limited, and with the additional equipment, it can be expensive. The void of HDTV from satellite brought a third player into the satellite TV market, VOOM. But VOOM's service is not as polished in certain key areas as the main two, availability of local channels being one.

Satellite and cable both are constantly running promotions and offering discounts attempting to gain new customers and lure customers away from one another.

Cable offers usually consist of free installation and promotional price rates. But don't forget to factor in the price increase after the promotional period.

Direct TV and Dish Network usual offers include free installation, free equipment (like receivers in multiple room offers), and price cuts. Satellite has long been hampered by the fact that you were required to commit to a long term contract (usually one year). At time of writing though, Dish network is offering from installation without the long term contract, actually no commitment at all.

Satellite is generally rated better than cable in almost every category including price, number of cannels, and picture quality. If there were the only things to consider then I would suggest everyone run out and get satellite.

But it's not that cut and dry. Digital cable has made many strides in customer satisfaction over analog. Plus there are still things cable brings to the table along the lines of things like local access channels and such.

Analog cable, Digital cable, Satellite, or Over-the-air... How did you know what to choose?

To answer the question some of you are asking, my choice ended up being satellite, but that's just what was good for me. But you don't have to choose satellite because I did, although if you do choose to go with cable, I would suggest digital. Simply because you're less likely to be disappointed with the service or get "out of the loop" on such things, as movies on demand and DVR's.

Even if you choose to go satellite, you still have to compare Direct TV and Dish Network and make a choice between the two, although in my research the only real difference is price.

On that note let's look at how what you want can influence what you choose.

Only interested in basic service. Choice: Analog cable or over the air.

If you're just looking to get just a little more than the bare essentials past local channels basic analog cable would be a good fit. But also keep in mind the digital over-the-air broadcast, especially if you have a HD capable TV.

Interested in sports. Choice: Digital Cable or Satellite.

Digital cable and satellite providers Direct TV and Dish Network all offer season subscriptions to all the major sports leagues, except NFL, which is locked up by Direct TV exclusively. Cable has more of the expanding HD broadcast readily available for all you HDTV enthusiasts.

Interested in movies. Choice: Digital Cable.

Although satellite covers all the premium movie channels just as well, cable's edge comes in the video-on-demand and pay-per-view. With digital cable you almost eliminate the need for renting movies.

You can choose between multiple start times for on demand movies and pause, rewind, fast forward movies with no extra equipment.

Interested in getting the most channels at the best value. Choice: Satellite

After you compare Direct TV and Dish Network vs cable, the nod in picture quality, value, customer service all go to satellite, in my humble opinion. With the availability of local channels increasing everyday satellite TV has become a juggernaut in the TV entertainment market. One of cable's advantages, availability of HD can be overcome by purchasing an antenna and receiver that will pick up the over-the-air HD broadcast and integrate them into you satellite channel lineup.

Related articles:

Cable vs dish tv satellite
My comparison of dish tv satellite companies Direct TV and Dish Network vs cable.

Guide to satellite dish networks
Want to know more about satellite dish networks? Take a closer look at the alternative to cable tv.