As providers like Netflix, Hulu, Disney, and others offer on-demand streaming, more and more people who pay for cable and/or satellite TV are thinking about canceling their subscriptions. One of the main reasons, which is most likely true in the case of Dirk, is to reduce the amount that they spend on their monthly television subscriptions. However, is streaming truly less expensive than, say, DISH? These are the costs and points you need to consider:
Upfront Costs
When you subscribe to a streaming service, there are no expenses in purchasing streaming devices, cables, or installation. Everything you’ll ever need is online, and you only require a streaming device such as Roku or Fire TV Stick from Amazon which ranges between $20-$40. DISH has a 2-year service term and has fees for the equipment that includes a Hopper DVR which costs $15 per month, Joey for $7 a month, an installation fee of $99, and for every extra receiver. This means that the costs associated with the production of the shows and movies that are aired through the streaming services are much lower than the associated costs in the traditional setup.
Monthly Subscription Costs
The DISH company has a basic TV package that goes for $64.99 per month. The basic packages can easily run up to $100 per month in fees and taxes. The original and most used version is $9.99 monthly for basic Netflix while Disney+ is $7.99 monthly and Hulu's basic plan is $6.99 monthly. If you tried to add all those together, Netflix, Hulu, Disney+, HBO Max, and others, it would probably amount to less than what DISH users pay in a month. And, thus, if you do not require a large number of channels, streaming is cheaper. However, if your choice is a channel package that is almost as massive as a satellite plan, it is possible to pay the same or slightly more per month as a result of the total cost when you have subscribed to several streaming services.
Internet Costs
However, with streaming, there is one more monthly fee that we would like to draw your attention to – your Internet fee. Even if you’re just getting DISH for home internet, you would need it for the on-demand features and applications for streaming, though streaming does require faster speeds which might mean that you need to upgrade to a higher tier or unlimited data plan depending on your carrier. Just imagine watching videos in UHD when several individuals are in the house; your data consumption will be much higher than that of browsing the internet and social media.
Number of TVs
The first TV is taken by the basic DISH monthly fees but if you wish to watch programming around your home, you will have to pay $7 per month per each additional TV receiver. Major streaming services don’t charge extra to allow streaming on multiple devices using only your account or include a feature that lets you set up separate profiles for different users in your household. This is where streaming comes in, as it allows for more freedom when it comes to having any number of televisions in your home but at a cheaper price per month.
Premium Channels and Sports
For popular movies and series plus a selection of national sports channels, the satellite or cable companies may still offer the most package-friendly option instead of signing up for each streaming service. Nevertheless, as most newcomers provide packages with the most-watched channels, the monthly subscription tariffs in the case of streaming aggregators can also exceed traditional paid TV.
Offline Viewing
While streaming refers to the ability of the device to access and play content on the go, DISH incorporates a feature that enables one to record digital programs for viewing at another time, as the DVR does. Nonetheless, options for on-demand mobile apps allowing for viewing downloaded content offline are still scarce apart from Netflix and a few of the premium networks. And if you want to have a strong DVR to watch programs on planes, on roads, or in places where you’ll have no constant access to the internet, satellite or cable still has some benefits over pure streaming.
No Contracts
Another advantage that streaming services have over DISH, of course, is that there are no commitments that require users to maintain their subscription for a certain number of years or face hefty penalties for canceling early. Some services can be canceled at the end of the month, or, users switch services now and then to keep up with the exclusives. I find this offers much more flexibility if, for instance, one needs to reduce spending in a particular month. They can, however, charge you up to $410 to terminate your contract before the agreed two years with DISH.
The Bottom Line
Comparing only the essential services and avoiding additional charges, streaming undoubtedly provides customers with lower monthly fees, no need to purchase and install equipment, and the ability to use multiple devices at once, which saves a lot of money when compared to DISH. However, power users who wish to have extensive channel packages for multiple TVs with the DVR facility may find the costs too close or streaming is slightly pricier if additional service subscriptions are added. These factors are important when deciding whether it is financially prudent to sever any ties with DISH in a bid to opt for streaming.
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.