Best Satellite TV Service Providers — 2018

The best satellite TV providers of 2018 are DISH and DIRECTV. While there are a few other satellite TV providers focused on religious programming in the US, we think these two are the best for most customers based on their prices, channels, equipment, features, and customer satisfaction levels.

^{Prices vary according to location. Prices above effective 6.22.2017.} 

We consider pricing to be the most important factor in satellite television, but beyond that we look at contract terms, installation costs, the number of HD channels and on-demand titles, the quality and capability of DVRs and other equipment, and customer satisfaction scores.

To pick our top two, we analyzed the top satellite TV companies in the US.

• DIRECTV
• DISH
• Glorystar
• Home2US
• Pittsburgh International Telecommunications

Since Glorystar, Home2US, and Pittsburgh International Telecommunications solely provide religious and international programming, we focused on DIRECTV and DISH as the top two satellite TV companies who provide programming for a more general audience.

And so, without further ado, here’s how we compared DISH vs. DIRECTV for satellite TV.

Our pick for best satellite TV provider:

We picked DISH as the best satellite TV provider because it has the most transparent pricing, so you know what to expect from your monthly bill. DISH’s clear and consistent pricing won’t leave you guessing what your monthly bill entails. It’s typically cheaper than other satellite providers.

The service itself is reliable, available to just about everyone, and easy for customers to use. On top of that, DISH consistently proves itself to be among the best in the television service industry, including cable and fiber providers.

DISH vs. DIRECTV — Who has the best price?

Pricing and billing top our list, and we assume they top yours, too. We know a broad range of users want the best bang for their buck, but we’re most concerned with transparent pricing. We looked at both brands’ range of packages and installation costs, as well as what fees come with outfitting your home with full-service television.

DISH wins because it has consistent prices, and they’re lower than DIRECTV’s. The company typically offers great promos. For most people, DISH will be a better deal.

DISH makes it easy to budget for two years

DISH’s pricing is locked in for two years, which is usually better for the customer. Most companies, including DIRECTV, tend to increase the monthly package price after the first year. With DISH, you can budget for two years with confidence—the only variables are taxes and user-controlled purchases like add-on packs, premium channels, and on-demand rentals.

The thing that sticks out the most about DISH’s non-advertised pricing is the $10 DVR Service Fee. Although not everyone uses a DVR, it’s commonplace enough that we believe it should be included as part of any new TV subscription. That being said, we believe the value warrants the price.

DIRECTV is great for families

DIRECTV’s pricing is pretty straightforward, the only exception being a Regional Sports Fee, which nearly every TV provider charges. DIRECTV includes service for up to four rooms—a benefit for families or users with multiple TVs.

DIRECTV increases your monthly rate after the first year in a two-year contract. This increase ranges from 54–69% of your monthly bill, which makes quite a difference for most people, so be sure to plan out your budget accordingly.

The only other thing to watch out for is if you get service for more than four rooms, each Genie Mini will have a one-time installation charge of $49. Beyond that, DIRECTV’s pricing is transparent and consistent.

Compare the real cost of DISH and DIRECTV

DISH is cheaper than DIRECTV at face value, but what will your bill look like over the course of two years? It’s fair to compare since both satellite TV providers require a two-year term contract. We’ll break down how your bill looks after you factor in installation, equipment charges, and additional fees.

In this example, we’ll take packages with identical channel counts and assume a household with four televisions, each with DVR service and non-wireless receivers. Keep in mind these are monthly prices without taxes, and your actual price will vary according to location.

^{*Super Joey required for additional tuners. If selecting wireless Joeys, add $25 one-time leased equipment charge.
**To make the Genie Minis wireless, add a $99 one-time setup charge.}

Both providers require the two-year agreement. Although DIRECTV is cheaper for the first year, the second-year price increase makes a big impact. While the difference between DISH’s $83.99 and DIRECTV’s $105.13 doesn’t seem like much at first, over two years you’re looking at a difference of $463.80 for about the same service. You will save even more ($240) if you don’t require service for a fourth television—that’s where the Super Joey adds an extra $10 per month to DISH’s bill.

We’ll use these same packages for another example: if you only need service for a single TV with DVR, going with DISH will cost $69.99 per month, whereas DIRECTV will still cost $105.13 per month. After two years, that’s a difference of $799.80—for that kind of money you could buy a nice 4K TV. Pound for pound, DISH is a better deal.

Premium channel prices

Both DISH and DIRECTV offer deals featuring three months of premium channels for free. So even if you don’t know what premium channels you want yet, this free trial period lets you get an idea of which channels you can’t live without.

DISH premium channels

• HBO®: $15/mo., 9 channels (8 in HD)
• Cinemax®: $10/mo., 6 channels (4 in HD)
• SHOWTIME®: $10/mo., 9 channels (5 in HD), includes The Movie Channel and Flix
• STARZ®: $10/mo., 8 channels (6 in HD)
• STARZ ENCORE: $6/mo., 8 channels
• EPIX: $7/mo., 4 channels
• DISH Movie Pack: $10/mo., 15 movie channels including EPIX, Sony Movie channel, FXM, HDNET Movies, etc.

DIRECTV premium channel package

DIRECTV bundles HBO, STARZ, SHOWTIME, and Cinemax all together into one premium channel package that costs $53.99 per month.

• HBO: 10 channels (9 in HD)
• STARZ: 7 channels (all in HD)
• SHOWTIME: 8 channels (all in HD)
• Cinemax: 8 channels (all in HD)

Our package recommendations

DISH: America’s Top 250

If you’re looking for a package with more channel options, DISH’s America’s Top 250 gives you 290 channels for only $79.99 a month. To put this into context, DIRECTV charges $75 for 240 channels. Even better, your price won’t change after the second year, unlike the other aforementioned provider’s pricing.

Installation is free, along with premium channels like HBO and Showtime. For news junkies, you’ll also get less common coverage through BBC American and CSPAN2. The sports gurus will love not only the usual suspects like ESPN and ESPN2, but also a few of Comcast’s sports networks, too. And it’s only $15 more to add on the Sports Pack with NFL RedZone and other 24/7 coverage channels. Plus, the included SIRIUS satellite radio channels can help you relax to some jazz at night—or start a dance party in your living room.

DIRECTV’s CHOICE with NFL SUNDAY TICKET

DIRECTV is the exclusive provider of NFL SUNDAY TICKET, which has every out-of-market NFL game every Sunday. DIRECTV also claims the most HD sports channels, so even if they’re not huge into the NFL, we still think most sports junkies should still go with DIRECTV.

Battle of the DVRs: DISH’s Hopper vs. DIRECTV’S Genie

Digital Video Recorders (DVRs) not only record TV programs, but they also act as your receiver. You can control live television by pausing, rewinding, or skipping ahead.

When you compare the DISH Hopper 3 to the DIRECTV Genie, you’ll find the brands have a lot in common: the ability to record single or multiple shows at once, large amounts of storage, 4K resolution capabilities, and more. So what makes the Hopper 3 and Genie different? For the average user, not much.

Our pick is DISH’s Hopper 3. Aside from having more storage and more simultaneous recordings possible (16 versus 8), it has more useful features. We think voice search is a blessing for finding what you want to watch on TV fast. And if you can’t find your voice-powered remote, the Hopper 3 has a locator button that will activate lights and sound on the remote. DISH also allows for skipping commercials automatically, rather than just jumping ahead 30 seconds like DIRECTV, which can be frustrating to get the timing right without re-watching a commercial or jumping too far ahead in your program.

When it comes down to it, the Hopper 3 is a better piece of technology with more capabilities. But keep in mind, these are two of the best DVRs on the market, so you won’t go wrong either way.

Customer satisfaction

In terms of customer service, DISH and DIRECTV consistently rank higher than most cable TV providers. We consider how user-friendly each brand is when it comes to supporting customers. To compare, we analyze third-party ratings, customer reviews, and FCC reports. It’s important to note that DISH and DIRECTV rank above the TV service industry average, which ranks low among other industries.

According to the FCC, most complaints surround billing (40%), while a much smaller fraction come from the experience of watching TV itself.

• Billing (40%)
• Availability (18%)
• Indecency (11%)
• Loud commercials (11%)
• Equipment (10%)
• Interference (5%)

The most commonly cited reasons for switching TV providers according to JD Power are as follows:

• Cost was too high (25%)
• Moved locations/previous provider not available at new location (24%)
• Competitor offered a better deal (17%)
• Customer service was poor (10%)

Between these two sources, we can tell that most people are concerned with how their TV affects their monthly bills above all else. This means knowing exactly what you’ll pay and that you won’t get a better deal from another provider.

DISH ratings

ACSI
DISH has consistently scored above average on the American Customer Satisfaction Index. Its 2016 score was 67 compared to the average of 65 from other television providers.

JD Power
DISH won the JD Power and Associates award for the North Central region. Although it didn’t win the other regions, it still scored either 4 or 5 out of 5 in its customer service rankings.

DIRECTV ratings

ACSI
DIRECTV claims 16 years of having the highest customer satisfaction rankings among all cable and satellite TV providers. In 2016, it scored a 68 compared to the industry average of 65.

JD Power
DIRECTV won the JD Power awards for the East and South regions in 2016. It ranked above DISH in the West region, as well.

Overall, television provider scores don’t rank well compared to other industries. While we know every service will have its flaws, we hope to see more providers ensuring correct billing practices and error prevention, consistent tech scheduling, and increased customer service availability. That being said, in terms of customer service, DIRECTV takes the advantage for higher satisfaction.

The Bottom Line

• DISH is one of the best—if not the best—TV providers. We like its low upfront pricing that lasts for two years, technological advancement, and consistently above-average customer satisfaction scores. Choose DISH for consistent bills and convenience.
• DIRECTV’s affordable and transparent pricing is geared towards covering up to 4 TVs for the same price. DIRECTV has consistently high customer satisfaction, and it’s the exclusive provider of NFL SUNDAY TICKET. Choose DIRECTV for sports.

DISH vs. DIRECTV Summary

• DISH is better priced
• DISH has a better DVR
• DIRECTV is best for NFL
• Both are decent options

Have a question we didn’t answer? Please leave us a comment and we’ll do our best to help!

Check out our Best Satellite Internet Services of 2018 comparison for details on satellite internet service.

Sources

^{1.    DISH Newsroom, “Executive Leadership”
2.    About AT&T, “AT&T Company Profile”}