Satellite TV seems to be the greatest answer for anyone trying to cut cable and save money on TV shows. These days, there are several Satellite TV companies such as DISH and DirecTV, which provide reasonably priced, simple-to-use features, and hundreds of channels. This makes it fairly difficult to know which satellite TV bundle gives the lowest cost, depending on many packages with varied price offers. We will cover many satellite TV packages and plans in this post, with a particular focus on the most affordable ones.
These are the most affordable satellite TV bundles as they provide the most channels for your money.
Both DISH and DIRECTV offer their America’s Top packages and Entry-level SELECT packages, respectively, for relatively low prices. Here's an overview:
DISH America's Top Packages
- America’s Top 120 $/month 190+ Channels: $/month 59.99
- DIRECTV Packages and Prices: America’s Top 120+ – $74.99/mo for 220+ Channels
- America’s Top 200 offers 240+: channel packages for $84.99 per month.
DIRECTV SELECT Packages
- Select: This package costs $59.99 per month and offers 155+ channels.
- Entertainment: $64.99 per month with a package that includes over 160 channels.
- Choice: $69.99 per month for 185+ available channels
There is a benchmark difference in price and the type of packages offered by the two but DISH and DIRECTV’s basic packages come with over 150 channels for roughly $60 to $70. In comparison to cable TV which tends to cost at least $100+ per month, these satellite packages are much cheaper and will be able to shave off almost half the price.
Factors Affecting Price
When choosing the cheapest satellite TV plan, here are some important factors that can impact the final price you'll pay:
- Newcomer offers, gifts, and push vouchers – Satellite companies give short-term low-cost offers for their new customers for the first 3-12 months. Nonetheless, it should be noted that the normal prices in the store will be charged once the introductory offers have been claimed by customers.
- Monthly Offers – Such offers combine satellite TV with internet, or another service offered by the same company and such offers can be recurrent.
- Contract Terms and Commitment – Length of the contract: the longer contract (in this case, 2 years) usually means greater initial cost reductions. However, you have a constraint in this aspect by not being able to change services within that contractual period.
- Fees and Surcharges – The satellite TV packages have additional charges including Broadcast fees, DVR fees, and RSNs fees among others. Do this when comparing base package prices to ensure that you get the best deal.
- Promotional Offers – There are special offers that can lower prices for certain periods and occasional seasonal sales that may be worthwhile to wait for if the buyer is not in a hurry.
Other ways that can be employed to bring satellite TV costs even lower:
Aside from choosing an economical base package, here are some additional ways to keep satellite TV bills as low as possible:
- Eschew the upgrade options like HBO, Showtime, and Starz – While these services would certainly be nice to have, the cost of these channels eclipses any money saved almost immediately.
- Avoid an overpriced advanced DVR and opt for a disc-less version for no hardware costs.
- Trim down your package or self-opt for a temporary disconnection if you are to be out of town for some time during the month.
- To do this, compare offers every 1-2 years and jump ship to a new satellite company if new customer promotions make it worth switching. You might not get paid for work completed after your contract ends, but there is usually no penalty for departing after the contract expires.
- Take advantage of referring a friend offers and whenever the company launches a new sale during a particular season.
- opt for other free or inexpensive streaming platforms for the additional channels (Pluto TV, Samsung TV Plus).
The Bottom Line
However, regarding the base package expense, it is possible to conclude that America’s Top packages offered by DISH are the cheapest satellite TV offerings while the Entry-level SELECT packages by DIRECTV. There are other options that one can get when they bundle satellite with Internet or wireless phone service. Satellite TV can be highly entertaining and, by using effective strategies in the procurement process, it is possible to enjoy this service despite the high costs. Just like with any other purchase, a little comparison and a conscious assessment of your viewing needs get you far when searching for the most affordable satellite TV plan.
Ready to upgrade your TV experience? Call us now at (877) 471-4808 to find the perfect Dish Network plan for you! Don’t miss out on great entertainment—our team is here to help you choose the best package and get you started today.
