# Dish Network or DIRECT TV? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [January 21, 2003, 7:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dish-network-or-direct-tv/150027 "2003-01-21T19:10:25Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Phouchg](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/41988e/32.png) [@Phouchg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Phouchg)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2003, 7:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dish-network-or-direct-tv/150027/1 "2003-01-21T19:10:25Z")
Simple question. Which one is better? Honestly, I would prefer neither, but the place I am moving has a cable system that both sucks and blows and is more expensive than either one’s top package (America’s Top 150 vs. Direct TV Plus) with the local channels. Any stories regarding which way I should go? Phouchg Lovable Rogue ---
**Author:** ![fatmac98](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/3ec8ea/32.png) [@fatmac98](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fatmac98)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2003, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dish-network-or-direct-tv/150027/2 "2003-01-21T19:40:45Z")
I subscribe to DirectTV, but only because they offer the NFL Sunday Ticket and Dish Network does not. Other than that they are the same as far as I can tell. My mother has Dish network and loves it. If the Ticket is not important to you I would suggest you give both a call and see what they offer in your area. There may be a difference in the cost of the number of recievers you need. One or the other may be offering them free, etc. I know that in Houston, Dish Network was offering their version of TiVO for a small monthly fee, and DirecTV was not offering it at all. ---
**Author:** ![brianjedi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/3be4f8/32.png) [@brianjedi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brianjedi)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2003, 11:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dish-network-or-direct-tv/150027/3 "2003-01-21T23:53:07Z")
My family has had Dish Network for over two years now, and it’s pretty good. The programming packages are pretty reasonable, and they have the NHL, NBA, and NCAA season packages to make up for no NFL Sunday Ticket. Also, it seems to be my experience that sign-up specials are easier to find for Dish Network (we got it through a program our insurance company was running.) It really just comes down to which system has the features and channels you want. If football is your thing, then DirecTV is probably for you. If not, then just look at which one will be a better deal for you. (P.S.- This was my 300th post!) ---
**Author:** ![John\_Carter\_of\_Mars](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/2bfe46/32.png) [@John\_Carter\_of\_Mars](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Carter_of_Mars)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2003, 11:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dish-network-or-direct-tv/150027/4 "2003-01-21T23:59:15Z")
I’ve had DirectTV for over a year now, with no complaints. I know nothing about Dish Network, so can’t comment on them. My suggestion would be to do some comparison shopping, as mentioned above. ---
**Author:** ![Lissa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/85f322/32.png) [@Lissa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lissa)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2003, 12:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dish-network-or-direct-tv/150027/5 "2003-01-22T00:10:44Z")
I used to sell both systems, and I preferred DishNetwork. Their customer service (the 1-800 number people) seems to be a bit better, and I had less service calls on the Dish system than with DirecTV. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d26b3c/32.png) [@Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Blue_Sky)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2003, 12:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dish-network-or-direct-tv/150027/6 "2003-01-22T00:13:43Z")
Happy Dish Network customer for six years. Recently got the DishPVR which can record up to 62 hours on the built-in hard drive. ---
**Author:** ![OpalCat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/8edcca/32.png) [@OpalCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OpalCat)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2003, 12:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dish-network-or-direct-tv/150027/7 "2003-01-22T00:40:19Z")
Just looked into both, dish won out for a number of reasons, none of which I can recall at the moment, however. Oh yeah! Renting the equipment vs. paying for it was a big one. ---
**Author:** ![Hanna](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b3f665/32.png) [@Hanna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hanna)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2003, 2:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dish-network-or-direct-tv/150027/8 "2003-01-22T02:54:41Z")
We’ve had both, we have Direct now. Mainly for the sports packages, but we had really bad experiences with Dish’s customer service. At the time we switched to Direct, their High definition was better (more channels). ---
**Author:** ![Lyra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/b9bd4f/32.png) [@Lyra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lyra)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2003, 4:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dish-network-or-direct-tv/150027/9 "2003-01-22T04:00:48Z")
I have had dish network for about 5 years. I recently got another letter that they were increasing another $2 a month. This doesn’t sound like alot, but it’s the third increase I can recall. And they sugarcoat it with a sappy letter and free Pay per view movie ticket. Like that will cover it!! I am switching to Direct TV in the next couple of months. My contract just ended in December. ---
**Author:** ![TVeblen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/4bbf92/32.png) [@TVeblen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TVeblen)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2003, 4:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dish-network-or-direct-tv/150027/10 "2003-01-22T04:02:02Z")
Have Direct and have been satisified with quality and service. (\*It’s a left-over legacy from the Ex; I’m not a tv watcher, so 99% of the system is wasted on me.) That said, the barely-expanded package ($2+/mo.) offers even the weirdo stuff I hardly ever watch anyway: DIY, expanded TLC, etc. on top of the “basics”: BBC America, CNN, etc. Outages or problems have been _very_ rare. Customer service response has been excellent, though. YMMV. Veb