Currently, the satellite TV industry in the United States is dominated by two primary players namely DISH and DIRECTV. They provide similar channel choices, equipment, and channel pricing. However, there are some areas where DISH has a unique selling point that puts it in a better standing than DIRECTV. Here are the biggest benefits DISH offers compared to DIRECTV:
1. More Flexible Contracts
Another major issue that many consumers hate about satellite TV services is having to sign up for long-term contracts they cannot escape from without incurring hefty exit charges. There is little doubt that DISH has more options when it comes to the contract. You can opt for no tie-in period, fixed for one year, or fixed for two years. DIRECTV is now operating with contracts that range from two years and will cost you up to $480 in early termination fee if you cancel the contract early. What DISH’s contract also has to offer is contract flexibility.
2. Award-Winning Technology
Concerning technology, and innovations in technology and hardware, DISH has been among the pioneers in the industry. The Hopper DVR technology they have developed has features named Auto Hop that allow the user to skip commercials, TV Anywhere apps which allow a user to watch his favorite programs in any of the rooms in the house and; Primetime Anytime which enables the user to RECORD up to 16 programs at a go. The Hopper 3 DVR is especially noteworthy as it is known to be one of the most advanced on the market. Unfortunately, the Genie DVR in DIRECTV is not as innovative and lacks features such as commercial skipping or the like the Primetime Anytime.
3. More HD Capacity
Where the HD channels are in concern DISH has far higher capacity than that of DIRECTV. With the help of advanced compression technology, DISH is capable of offering over 200 High-Definition channels from only one satellite. Due to technological limitations, DIRECTV can offer as many as 130 HD channels per satellite. This greater bandwidth means that more HD video channels are available to DISH’s customers with a higher video quality.
4. Access in More Places
DISH has superior satellite transmission in the United States particularly in areas with working distance from the equator or areas that are quite rural. DIRECTV satellites are fixed mainly over the equator region, and therefore their signal strength begins to fade the further away one is from the equator, whether they are in the northern hemisphere or the southern hemisphere. The northwest and southeast territories can sometimes have problems with obtaining a highly effective DIRECTV signal. Currently, DISH operates in all 50 states of the United States without gaps, through the use of satellites that are positioned in the best possible positions.
5. Option of using personal devices
For new customers, for example, when getting promotions for your desired channel, the company makes you sign a 2-year contract while you are not allowed to use your old equipment. This makes it almost impossible to exit the utilization of the particular good later without incurring some costs. One of the offers that are present in DISH is “Bring Your Device” which enables you to obtain new customer offers without a contract, and make use of your dish equipment. This provides existing clients who switched from competitors with more options.
6. These are the main reasons for compatibility with a wider range of homes:
This means that installation of satellite TV is done with clear visibility of the dish being directed southwards towards the equator. This can be challenging in homes that have some form of barrier such as tall trees or buildings in the southern direction. DISH satellites also uplink from orbital locations other than over the equator as illustrated above. As such, you should be in a position to get a signal from at least one DISH satellite depending on the topography of your home. DIRECTV only accepts signals that are directly above the equator to ensure that they reach the company.
7. More value with bundled plans. Today, customers tend to opt for bundled plans that offer more value for their money and time.
AT&T along with other DISH partners provides easy and affordable ways of acquiring both TV and Internet services. Some of the DISH packages available are bundled with Internet offers and the consumer is offered a better deal which is up to $30 cheaper than the individual DISH and Internet services costs. DIRECTV has no choice but to compel you to go with AT&T internet services, which are usually more costly than what you receive. Therefore going with DISH gives one a chance to choose the actual internet provider that offers the best value rather than being at the mercy of a provider.
All in all, DISH has more advanced technology in their DVR, larger programming capabilities for HD channels, stronger signal transmission nationwide, and more options with contracts as compared to DIRECTV. Even though both companies’ basic channel grids and base price tariffs seem rather similar at first glance, it is the extra options and the new technologies, that make DISH more attractive in the contemporary market of satellite TV than DIRECTV. Therefore for the majority of smart TV users who are in search of value for their money, DISH is the most ideal option. Understanding the advantages that they offer can assist you in determining which of them is more suitable when you make a DISH vs DIRECTV comparison.
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