As the number of people who rely on services like Netflix, Hulu, Disney +, and a lot more increases, many cable and satellite TV clients are asking themselves whether it is time to cancel their subscriptions. If we’re only looking at cost, streaming can be cheaper than the conventional ‘cable’ or pay TV service like the DISH Satellite TV. However, some moments should be considered when deciding what is good for the household.
Upfront Costs
The costs associated with joining a streaming service are minimal and one can begin with a few dollars only. Some streaming platforms are free of charge and give the possibility to watch programs for free for a certain period, while others require $5-15 per month. It does not commit to long-term contracts, high equipment fees, or expenses for installation services.
However, DISH demands more initial investment as it needs a set-top-box and dish to be installed in the customer’s home. There are five DISH satellite TV packages available, with the basic package going for $64.99 per month. Additionally, you have to factor in:
- Initial costs of equipment- DISH receivers, DVRs, remotes, etc. are up to $500 for a single time [2].
- However, it requires an activation fee of $100.
- Installation costs- It is very probable that getting DISH installed by a professional to cost a hundred dollars or even more
Thus, streaming comes out as the better option when it comes to cost since there is no equipment required to purchase. Again, here the cost structure is also quite similar to that of the one-time fee for the setup of streaming for you it’s either zero or very little. The company demands hundreds of dollars even in fees and equipment before anyone can start paying for any show.
Monthly Service Costs
Of course, DISH’s monthly fees do not stop at their programming packages. You also have to pay:
- The amount of money that needs to be paid for each receiver and DVR to service providers.
- Local channel surcharges
- Regional Sports Network (RSN) fee
- Taxes, as well as any charges associated with compliance with government regulations.
Overall, if you add all the add-on fees to the $64.99 DISH package, the total price can easily go over $100 per month.
As it stands, streaming service providers give you a raw view, and what you pay is normally monthly. If you pay $6.99 per month to subscribe to Hulu, your subscription price is $6.99 per month that includes taxes. No hidden fees.
Having said that, if you intend to have a streaming service that is similar to Dish about channels, sports networks, and the like, then you would probably require 4-5 streaming services. And that monthly cost would add up significantly:
For example:
- Netflix ($9.99 to $15.99/mo.)
- Hulu ($6.99 to $12.99/mo.)
- Amazon Prime Video ($8.99/mo.)
- Disney+ ($7.99/mo.)
- ESPN+ ($6.99/mo.)
Now and then, having many streaming subscriptions might come close to costing as much as having a pay TV. The only distinctive feature here is the fact that while using streaming, you don’t have to sign lengthy contracts and can easily cancel or change the services offered for a particular month.
Internet Cost Considerations
Here’s an additional factor when weighing streaming against satellite TV like DISH: the costs of the internet. To have an efficient TV streaming experience, the quality of the internet connection is highly recommended to be high-speed broadband internet with or without a very large amount of data caps. Based on that, you could be charged as low as $40 or as much as $100 per month and above for internet service with enough bandwidth to support 4K streaming on multiple devices simultaneously.
DISH: Your satellite service works separately from your home internet, thus no need to use your home internet. Thus, even though DISH makes you pay for equipment, fees, etc., you are unlikely to have another bill, which is an internet connection fee.
Total number of TVs and Devices
However, for households with multiple TV sets and streaming devices, the DISH can be cheaper. You can distribute programming in the TV locations by paying a small amount of fees to the additional receivers. However, even if you have DVR service with all your television sets, that may end up being cheaper monthly than having 4-5 streaming services on 4-5 gadgets.
At the same time, a small number of people say 1-2 would likely find streaming cheaper and preferable to their situation.
Channel and Content Selection
DISH provides a broad range of cable TV programming packages with the availability of additional premium packages including HBO MAX and Showtime. Well, if you want cable-like channel tiers and bundles with sports networks and the local station, then DISH can offer that as well. The bundling of numerous prime channels is something that streaming services cannot do as effectively as cable and satellite systems. You would have to aggregate several streaming providers together to get to a close range.
However, streaming may have variety, especially when it comes to watching shows and movies on demand. Even in terms of movies and TV shows, Netflix and Amazon Prime Video offer so much more than DISH’s On-Demand offers. Thus, if for one reason or another, you can do without those cable channels, streaming offers you a lot of choices in terms of things to watch.
In conclusion, as to which costs less – streaming or DISH satellite TV is all about the preferences of your household. What you own, for example, how many TVs and devices, the content you wish to stream/buy, and whether you need the internet for other reasons. For some homes, streaming ends up much cheaper. For others, they may still get better value out of DISH than they would with any combination of streaming services they are willing to pay for. Given the dynamic market conditions prevailing, it makes sense to review the requirements for homes annually to find out what option will cost less in the long run as far as the TV solution is concerned.
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.