Best Satellite TV Service Providers 2020

With only two main satellite TV providers competing against each other, you’d think they would have a lot of similarities. We are here to tell you: this is not the case.

DISH gives you the best bang for your buck in terms of price-to-channel ratio, but it doesn’t have HBO. DIRECTV has NFL SUNDAY TICKET for the football fanatics, but it’s pricier.

Let’s dive into the details to find out which satellite TV provider is deemed worthy enough for you and your living room.

DISH vs. DIRECTV price comparison

DISH has the best pricing, but if you and your family want lots of channels, DIRECTV is for you.

To break it down, DISH charges roughly about 34¢ for each channel, and DIRECTV charges about 38¢. It’s easy to see you get a better deal with DISH. But if you want 330+ channels, DIRECTV is the satellite provider for you.

DISH not only has a better value, but it also doesn’t hike up its prices during the second year. DIRECTV’s top four plans almost double during the second year.

DISH vs. DIRECTV contracts

Unless you want to cut the cord, you’ll most likely have a contract with your TV provider. DIRECTV requires you to sign a two-year contract, but DISH has a no-contract option or a two-year contract option.

If you go the no-contract route with DISH, your monthly bill will be $10–$15 more than advertised. But you won’t have to worry about weasling your way out of a contract if you decide to cancel!

If you sign a contract, you’ll have to commit to the satellite TV service to avoid the early termination fees (which can get a bit pricey).

And don’t forget, DIRECTV raises your plan’s monthly price after year one.

DISH early termination fee: 

• $20 for every month left on your contract

DIRECTV early termination fee:

• Up to $20 per month left on your contract

DISH vs. DIRECTV hidden fees

DISH and DIRECTV both charge some DVR fees. DISH includes the Hopper Duo (125 hours) in their plans and charges $15 per month for the Hopper 3 (500 hours). If, say, your daughter wants a DVR in her room, it’s a monthly charge of $5–$7 for each additional receiver.

DIRECTV includes the Genie DVR with your plan. But it’ll cost $7 per month for each additional receiver plus a one-time $99 installation fee. And DIRECTV has the audacity to charge a regional sports fee! That’s a foul in our book.

^{Data effective 2/13/2020. Offers and availability vary by location and are subject to change.}

DISH vs. DIRECTV channels

With DISH and DIRECTV satellite TV, you’ll get a wide variety of popular channels right to your television.

Good news: you’ll get most of your favorite channels with DISH or DIRECTV, like CNN, Disney Channel, Comedy Central, and NFL Network.

DISH has the most sports coverage with the SEC Network, Tennis Channel, and more. But DIRECTV has an NFL SUNDAY TICKET add-on that gives you all out-of-market NFL football games.

Compare the channel lineup of both DISH and DIRECTV to figure out which one suits your entertainment, sports, lifestyle, or reality TV needs.

^{Data effective 12/16/2019. Offers and availability vary by location and are subject to change.}

DISH vs. DIRECTV premium channels

Let’s be honest: DISH’s premium channel game is weak. DISH doesn’t offer HBO, CINEMAX, or STARZ. And DIRECTV tosses in these premium channels as bonuses.

Most DIRECTV packages give you a free three months of HBO, SHOWTIME, STARZ, and CINEMAX. (Make sure you cancel them at the end of the third month, though, or you’ll get charged.)

Also, all HBO channels are included in the most expensive DIRECTV plan.

^{Data effective 2/13/2020. Offers and availability vary by location and are subject to change.}

DISH vs. DIRECTV sports channels

DIRECTV takes the sports channel championship belt because of one big feature: NFL SUNDAY TICKET. (This is why it’s our editor’s pick.)

NFL SUNDAY TICKET lets you watch every out-of-market NFL game—all Sunday games your local broadcasting stations don’t carry. And NFL SUNDAY TICKET is included in the top four DIRECTV packages for your first year. (Now that’s a win.)

Along with NFL SUNDAY TICKET, DIRECTV also has the following sports channels:

But make sure the package you plan on getting has the sports channels you need. Unfortunately, you’ll have to get the most expensive DIRECTV plan if you want the NHL Network and Tennis Channel.

If you’re not a hardcore, yell-at-the-TV football fan, you’ll be fine with DISH. DISH has a few more sports channels, and you get most of them with the $84.99 per month plan.

DISH has the following sports channels:

DISH vs. DIRECTV DVR comparison

Neither DISH or DIRECTV charge for your first receiver, but DIRECTV’s installation fee for an additional receiver is a little extreme.

DISH charges $10 per month for the Hopper Duo, which gives you 125 HD recording hours. And DISH charges $5–$15 per month for the Hopper 3, which gives you a whopping 500 recording hours. This means you can record all 201 episodes of The Office, the weekend’s 16 NFL football games, and over 170 movies, and still have room for more.

DIRECTV includes the Genie DVR with your plan, giving you 200 HD recording hours. You’ll be able to record all 130 episodes of Brooklyn Nine-Nine and 120 of Saturday Night Live before you even sit on the couch to binge-watch.

Recap: DISH is the winner.

DISH has a better value, but DIRECTV has HBO and NFL SUNDAY TICKET.

After comparing price, contracts, overall channel count, sports channel availability, and DVR storage, DISH comes out ahead between these two satellite providers.

DIRECTV does offer HBO and NFL SUNDAY TICKET, but DISH has better pricing that stays consistent throughout the contract. It also provides you with lots of popular channels, including great sports coverage.

• Pricing: DISH offers more bang for your buck in terms of price-to-channels ratio, but if you need 330+ channels, you’ll want DIRECTV instead.
• Contracts: DISH has a better monthly value, while DIRECTV doubles its price during the second year of your contract.
• Channels: You’ll get most of your favorite live TV channels with both providers, but most DIRECTV packages give you a free three months of HBO, SHOWTIME, STARZ, and CINEMAX.
• Sports Channels: DISH has the most sports channels, but DIRECTV has NFL SUNDAY TICKET for the football families.
• DVR: Both DISH and DIRECTV give you your first receiver for free, but DIRECTV’s $99 installation fee for an additional receiver is a bit pricey.

DISH plans and price recap

• America’s Top 120: $59.99/mo., 190 channels
• America’s Top 120+: $74.99/mo., 190+ channels
• America’s Top 200: $84.99/mo., 240+ channels
• America’s Top 250: $94.99/mo., 290+ channels

If you’re still on the fence, you can dive into the nitty-gritty details in our full reviews:

• DISH Network Review
• DIRECTV Review

What do you think?

Do you have DISH or DIRECTV? What’s your experience with it been? Or do you like a different provider better? Drop us a comment below!