DIRECTV is a satellite TV company that has its operations in the United States and it has over 16 million subscribers in the country. The major competitor of Insight Communications is the other cable and satellite TV service providers in the market with similar products and services. DIRECTV's biggest competitors are:
Dish Network
For that reason, Dish Network is probably the largest competitor that DIRECTV has. Like its competitor, Dish also relies on satellite technology to provide its customers with hundreds of television programs all across America. Dish currently stands in third place with more than eight million pay-TV subscribers in the United States and it is after AT&T which owns Direct TV and Comcast.
The company of Dish provides numerous similar programming options and costs to those offered by DIRECTV. Both allow you to create your preferred TV package by only choosing your favorite channels. They offer all the basic packages as well as the favorite packages and various special interest networks, movie packages such as HBO, Showtime, Starz, etc., sports packages including NFL Sunday tickets, MLB Extra Innings, etc., and both high definition and digital video recorder options.
Well, what then makes Dish significantly different from DIRECTV? It is common for Dish to offer cheaper deals for customers who are subscribing for the first time. However, some anti-pelt critics claim that it is true for DIRECTV which has better customer service and higher picture and sound ratings. Sports programming is also another area in which DIRECTV remains ahead. Of the company’s offerings, its NFL Sunday Ticket remains one of the most cherished exclusive deals. That said, Dish provides identical but not as diverse sports packages with ESPN, FS1, NBCSN, and others.
Concerning equipment used, DIRECTV incorporates a Genie DVR system that has been reviewed well, and Dish customers get their Hopper DVR. In general, it appears that DirecTV may have a slight technological advantage, but Dish is also investing a lot of resources in attempting to offer the same number of channels as DirecTV and is currently the second-largest satellite TV company.
Comcast Xfinity
However, if we are to talk about the total number of people subscribed to a pay-TV in the United States, then DIRECTV’s major rival may be Comcast Xfinity cable TV. Comcast enjoys the highest market share with more than 18,753,000 users spread across 40 states and the District of Columbia.
Comcast Xfinity has cable transmission to pass content as opposed to satellite transmission. However, in terms of packages, technology features, and pricing structures, Xfinity provides a lot of similarities to what you’ll find with DIRECTV. Choices include value pack up to premium pack which offers viewers more than 300 cable television programs. Xfinity has a direct rival in DIRECTV in terms of preferred channels, sports, high definition, and 4K, and the X1, a state-of-the-art digital video recorder. As for Comcast, it likes to attract more customers by offering low prices that are going to be in action for the first year of new contracts only.
One key strength that Comcast Xfinity may have over competitors in some (but not all) areas is the availability to bundle with high-speed home Comcast Xfinity internet services. For Internet and phone services, DIRECTV relies on strategic affiliations to ensure that its clients are serviced to the fullest. The bundling option can also cost less mainly for clients desiring phone, TV, and Internet services. Thus, where Comcast offers video, high-speed Internet, and telephone service, which may be bundled together, they could be more attractive to residential subscribers in the areas served by the company’s cable system, than to DIRECTV, when offered at a lower price.
YouTube TV
A relatively newer and yet rising competitor is YouTube TV. YouTube will now offer over 5 million subscribers for its streaming TV service as it continues to grow across the United States. $64. 99 per month, YouTube TV offers more than 80 live channels on numerous broadcast, sports, and news networks. Package options available ensure that the programming offer meets or even surpasses the entry-level DIRECTV packages. YouTube TV allows users to watch TV almost from any location of their choice using mobile devices, computers, tablets, and internet-enabled living room gadgets.
Pricing strategy is one of the main priorities where YouTube TV is quite aggressive. Their package is cheap and fixed at a monthly charge, unlike DIRECTV which increases its pricing structure with every renewed contract. Cloud DVR is included for all subscribers, and that is still something that is an add-on service on DIRECTV. Together with other perks, YouTube TV is equipped with such features as user profiles, personalization, and an intuitive search based on the platform of the same name.
The main catch is the availability of limited channel choices as opposed to other DIRECTV packages of greater service tiers. What YouTube TV lacks may include; Although YouTube TV offers equivalent basic channels at lower prices than those of DIRECTV, there is no NFL Sunday Ticket privilege for die-hard sports lovers or a diverse premium movie network. However, certain features like flexibility, simplicity, and the availability of streaming make YouTube TV attractive to the young generation. They are highly likely to pose a real threat as streaming continues to dominate the market and replace the customary satellite and cable packages.
Key Takeaways
Although DIRECTV has been successful in remaining one of the industry leaders in terms of TV programming, technology, and customer satisfaction, the changes in the television industry have not ceased. Platforms such as YouTube TV fit new trends of affordable cable with no obligation and portability of mobile, smart gadgets. On the same note, DIRECTV endeavors to keep the customers loyal by focusing on the advancement of technology while Comcast Xfinity introduces discounts for the combos in their main areas. In satellite TV particularly, Dish Network may be seen as the direct competitor to other similar players particularly when it comes to the type of programs offered in the Dish Network.
For now, DIRECTV can hold on to many passionate sports viewers through its monopoly in exclusive sports offerings such as the NFL Sunday Ticket. However, the fact remains that Dish, Comcast, YouTube, and the rest of the streaming platforms are still in the fray and this puts constant pressure on DIRECTV to offer fresh programming, updated service, and new advanced TV features that would offer lasting entertainment value for the price to entertainment-hungry homes. To this end, the aim is sustained by keeping abreast of competitors’ products and services and knowing what motivates consumers currently and in the future to sever ties with cable and satellite.
