The Low Price of DISH Network Service Beats The Competition
You might be skeptical about the InternetLion.com crew’s claims about the low price of DISH Network® service. But think of it this way: You’ve got three boxers in a ring, and only the winner can leave, or in this case, only the winner gets your business. And this is exactly how the subscription TV business works. After all, each company has to earn your business. And, as far as DISH Network is concerned, the best way to do this is to offer you more for a lower cost than cable TV or DIRECTV®.
But before we get into explaining what the price of a DISH Network package actually is let’s give the company’s competitors a chance by reviewing the cost of a DIRECTV package and, since there is no one standard cost for cable TV nationwide, we’ll look at the cost of a Comcast® package in the same geographical region. Then, we’ll circle back and show how the price of a comparable DISH Network package blows both the cost of a DIRECTV package and the cost of a Comcast package out of the water.
The Low Price of DISH Network Service Beats All: The Facts
Since, if nothing else, we here at InternetLion.com like to think we’re fair, we’ve decided to give both DIRECTV and Comcast the first swing in our matchup. What follows, then, is a detailed explanation of the costs and value of two subscription TV deals, one from DIRECTV and one from Comcast, as they are available to residents of our sample community, Pittsburgh, PA. Afterwards, we’ll circle back and look at the price of a comparable DISH Network deal and show once and for all that the cost of DISH Network service can’t be beat.
The Cost of a DIRECTV Choice™ Package
The cost of the lowest-tier DIRECTV Choice package to new, qualified customers is $29.99 per month for 12 months with a 24 month Agreement. For this price, customers in the Pittsburgh, PA area receive free standard installation, a standard receiver, 150-plus channels of standard-definition programming and three free months of Showtime.
The Cost of a Comcast Digital Starter™ Package
Because the cost of cable TV varies depending on the company and region this portion of our comparison shouldn’t be treated as representative of every cable offer out there. But it does reveal something pretty important about Comcast for people living in our sample region—namely that, like DIRECTV, it offers a package for $29.99 per month for 12 months.
Now, whether this package is better than DIRECTV’s depends on who you ask. In its favor is the fact that its Digital Starter package includes six free months of HBO, whereas, again, DIRECTV only offers three free months of Showtime.
On the other hand, though, the $29.99 per month Digital Starter package also only includes 80 SD channels and one HD channel. Granted, that one HD channel is one more than DIRECTV offers, but is it really worth giving up 50 or so SD channels for a single, solitary HD network? Put that way, ordering a Digital Starter package hardly seems worth it.
Meanwhile, the Digital Starter also has many of the same failings as DIRECTV’s Choice package: It doesn’t come with a free HD receiver or HD DVR; plus, it only gives customers access to their local channels on up to two TVs for free..
The Cost of DISH Network’s America’s Top 120 Package
Like the two packages explained above, the cost of DISH Network’s America’s Top 120 package is $29.99 per month. But don’t let this similarity fool you. With a lineup of over 120 SD channels and nearly 105+ HD channels that come free for life (with 24-Mo. Agreement and AutoPay with Paperless Billing), the Top 120 already has DIRECTV and Comcast beat in the Pittsburgh area.
Of course, DISH Network isn’t the kind of company to rest on such laurels, so it goes even further, tacking on three free months of every major premium-movie channel (including free HBO, Cinemax, Showtime and Starz), a six-month waiver on its receiver service fees, a free HD or HD DVR receiver upgrade and free professional installation in up to six rooms. And all new, qualified customers have to do to get in on this bargain is sign a 24 month Agreement and register for AutoPay with Paperless Billing.
And, naturally, the whole contract thing really shouldn’t bother you. Both DIRECTV and Comcast require the same thing, so at least with DISH Network you’re getting the best deal. In fact, there’s very little else to say here; if you’ve been reading along this whole time, you probably already realize DISH Network has once again captured the title of best all-around TV service provider.
So, for more information on these DISH Network deals and how you can get more for less by switching to DISH Network, you can call the number on your screen or click here now.
*Premium Movie package offer requires AutoPay with Paperless Billing and expires 1/31/12. After 3 months, you must call to downgrade or then-current price applies. HBO®, Cinemax® and related channels and service marks are the property of Home Box Office, Inc. Starz® and related channels and service marks are the property of Starz Entertainment, LLC. SHOWTIME and related marks are registered trademarks of Showtime Networks Inc., a CBS Company.
Disclaimer: Please note that this article was written when the satellite TV provider DISH was branded as DISH Network. As of 2/1/2012 DISH Network has changed their branding name to DISH. Article post date: 08/17/2011.
