Which is better Comcast, DirecTv, or Dish Network?

Answer 1

DirecTv, the best programming and prices.

Answer 2

I have had all 3 at one time or another. I would have to say that Dish Network is the best of all 3. You get more channel selection for your money as it is the least expensive of the 3. It also offers the most in HD programming. They are constantly adding new channels and equipment. I have had Dish Network for several years and they rarely raise their rates and the reception quality is all digital. There have been times that my reception went out due to extreme high winds or hard rain storms, but it was never out for more than just a couple minutes. When I had Directv the signal would go out quite frequently. As for cable...well it truly is just a rip off. The price difference alone would make me run from ever having cable again. The other thing I like about Dish Network is that the program guide is really easy to understand and use unlike Directv where you are left in a quandry about which channels you actually have access to. So...for me....Dish Network is the best product for the price!!

Answer 3

I have directv, bill wise it beats COMCAST hands down! Dish does not market well enough. The only thing i know Direct has over dish is the NFL package. I think Dish is a little cheaper, but they both beat comcast. I have the premier package, all the HBO's and showtimes, the movie channel, sundance and Ind Film channel for like $60-65 base bill. i also have the sports package, which makes the base bill $70-75 or so. the one thing i don't like is the extra $5 for additional boxes. the on demand feature may make it worth it, but cable is not cheap.

Answer 4

I had all 3 here is my opinion. Comcast is ok as far as having a standard package. HBO, Stars, ect shows the same movies over and over. Directv is a little better except when it rains. The receiver looses it signal until it stops raining because Directv has only 1 satellite. Dishnetwork is the best to me. That is what I have now. They have 3 satellites, so when it rains its ok. They have a better DVR receiver package. 2 rooms with 1 receiver. As far as HBO, Stars ect. you get all the movie channels with the all american plan( I think that's what its called). You get every channel. I have 1 DVR that covers 2 rooms and 1 standard receiver that covers 2 rooms. All that with the all amercian package my bill is $120 a month. So I would say go with Dishnetwork :)

Answer 5

I have had Comcast for about 6 months. I had Adelphia prior to that, and my bills still say Adelphia (Comcast and Time Warner bought and split up Adelphia a few years ago and are just now getting around to changing everything over after regulatory approval and the like). Comcast promised that everything would remain the same--it didn't (channels, service, rates, etc). They changed some of the channel numbers, deleted some channels and added some. But, they also increased the bill quite significantly in my opinion which has made me very unhappy. In fact, I recently switched to Directv as a result.

Let me tell you about Directv. First, they gave me $200 off the price of a new TV from Circuit City. Quite a nice perk (but they will get this $ back from me in programming fees no doubt). They also gave me one free HD receiver and 3 other SD receivers with free installation. I called and 3 days later the equipment was set up. That was easy and I was impressed. The picture quality is uniform and quite good as compared to Comcast digital cable. But it looks a little different like it's a bit washed out (you just have to play around with the picture settings on your TV to make it look good). The packages are pretty good too although they can get expensive. I got the platinum package which is basically like 300 channels including all the movie channels plus the HD package. It is a special for 12 months at like $86.99 per month which is about 20% less than what Comcast charged for similar programming. After that, it will be about the same price as Comcast, but I will get the HD programming which Comcast also charges more for (Directv is $9.99 per month--gave it to me free for a year). Well, now on to the questionable stuff.

First, Directv did not really "give" me anything in terms of hardware. Whereas in the past you bought (and owned) the dish and the receivers, that is not the case anymore. I am leasing the equipment from Directv which is a dirty page out of the cable providers book. Directv does not really do a good job disclosing this improtant fact. Moreover, only one box is included in the price of the monthly packages. Each additional box is $4.99. So in my house, with 4 boxes, I pay an additional $14.97 per month in box leases on top of programming fees. Directv also does not give you a trial period (or so they say--the installer said I have 30 days to try it which Directv would not confirm on the phone). In fact, they say once I activate programming it is a 2 year commitment. After the 2 years, if you cancel, you give them everything back. That is fine but again they really do not explain this to you when you sign up. They also do not explain the fact that you cannot split a Directv line. Each box must have its own dedicated RG6 coaxial cable from the dish itself. Thus, you cannot watch one show while you TiVO another (which was possible with cable) or hook 2 tvs up to one box (I realize they would both have to watch the same channel at the same time but it would be good for a living room and guest room or other bedroom when you normally would not be watching the tvs at the same time). Each TV needs its own box with a dedicated line. If you want a Directv DVR you will have to pay extra for it (even though you do not own it). Plus, it is not like TiVO which is the best in my opinion. Finally, I do not know much about their service only to say that it will be expensive if they have to come to your home. They push a $5.99 per month "insurance" plan which I declined. If they have to send out a tech, it is a service fee plus repairs. Cable would send a guy w/o any fee usually.

The techs that installed my Directv said Dishnetwork is better customer service and you can split the dishnetwork DVR to be able to watch one program and record another. I opted for Directv b/c of the NCAA tournament and the NFL packages which I know Dish doesn't offer. However, these are "a la carte" extras that Directv customers pay some good money for, but if you like these things, it's nice to know you can get them with Directv.

I hope this helps. Whatever you decide, the competition is quite fierce right now so play them against each other and you can get some great deals for the first year or 2.

Answer 6

Comcast for high speed internet. Dish Network for TV. Comcast is way to expensive. If you have lots of money, go with comcast for TV, otherwise, stick with Dish Network. Definitely get the high speed internet though - DSL bites.

Answer 7

First of all, there is a HUGE difference between satellite picture and cable, and that's not even considering HD. Satellite picture is clearer and crisper than cable because your source (you know, the satellite on top of your HOUSE) is so much closer. The more cable you have between your TV and your source, the more you lose picture quality. So, where is your cable coming from? Bet you don't even know do you! Next, with Cable, you get anywhere from 12-15 Channels of HD (depending on the carrier) and you pay outrageous fees to RENT the HD box and outrageous fee's for the HD programming (and keep in mind, you won't get over 20, at the MOST of those channels). With DirecTV, for example, you get over 100 HD Channels ALL for $10 a month and your boxes are rented to you for $5 dollars, the same as the standard boxes!!! The truth is this - is MOST scenarious, you don't save a whole lot more money with Satellite, you just get MORE FOR YOU MONEY. Also, with Satellite, you don't PAY more for digital picture, it's ALL DIGITAL even with the smallest package! Now, as far as picture quality goes. You already messed up by buying an LCD. My question is, what size? LCD has it's place in the 37" and smaller region (you know, the sizes plasma are NOT available). This is the reason why. The larger the TV with LCD, the worse the picture gets on standard definition. Don't believe me? Go to an electronics store, find a 60" LCD (any brand, any type, doesn't matter) and tell the salesman to change it to a standard definition channel (because lets face it, not EVERYTHING you want to watch will be in HD, unfortunantly). The salesman won't wanna show it to you, but insist. You'll see why. The picture will look like CRAP. The only way the picture will still look good on a Standard Def picture on an LCD is if it's their HIGH dollar, top of the line 120 hertz panels. See, the makers of LCD's had to go to ALOT of trouble to make the standard def pictures process as fast and clear as a plasma so your going to pay hundreds of dollars more when you could have bought a PLASMA for less money and it will have a LONGER lifespan! So, I hate to hurst your bubble, but unless you purchased an LCD 120hertz panel (or got an LCD smaller than a 37") your picture quality is screwed even with satellite, but ESSPECIALLY with cable!!!! Also, what brand did you buy the LCD in?... I almost hate to ask.

Answer 8

I have Dish. The programing is excellent, but I have not had a good experience with their customer service department. Made an appointment for service, took time off to be at my home from 12pm - 5pm and they never showed up. I called and found out that Dish canceled the appointment! They did not notify me and to add insult to injury the service call fee was added to my bill! The minimum service call is $99 unless you pay an extra $5.99 month and then the service call fee is $24.99. After a letter from me Dish did reverse the charge. Their automated voice mail/tree system is awful and very hard to get through to a human being. My contract with them ends in April and I will be looking at other providers.

Answer 9

Comcast or cable in general is quite expensive. I'd say clearly Dish cause:

- cheaper
- more channels
- simply more variety
- awesome picture quality

You might check out http://www.dishnetworkbargains.net - They currently give away dishes and DVR's when you subscribe to any package.

Best wishes
Mike

Answer 10

comcast v.s. satellite

comcast: Has a satellite "buy back program", intown support, video on demand, phone and internet all comcast.

satellite: You Buy the Equipment, no on demand, phone and internet are all different companies and all are different phone numbers

Both: have mixed reviews and are about the same when it comes to service related issues. Do not mix them in one house. One will not work well on the others wiring and satellite techs are lazier than cable techs.

Answer 11

We have Comcast. I love the digital cable. I also like having their cable modem. What I hate about them is their customer service. We tried to cancel HBO and it took over 3 phone calls and about 5 hours of being put on hold or transferred!!!