Satellite television is a viable option for someone who doesn’t want or is unable to get cable. Many cable companies do not run lines to rural areas and customers in the area are left to get additional programming through satellite dishes. Many satellite companies are actually cheaper than their cable competitors. Two of the primary competitors for the satellite television customer base are DirecTV and Dish Network. DirecTV currently has 18 million subscribers, while Dish Network has approximately 14 million.
When looking at satellite TV providers by zip code, one of the first things that stands out is the price. Dish Network is the winner in the comparison here. Their current promotion offers a plan for only $19.99/month, with an increase to $24.99 after the first year. DirecTV is a bit pricier, with a low price plan for $29.99 the first year, $40.99 the second year and $60.99/month regularly. It requires a 24 month agreement to get the lower price.

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High definition television is on the rise and both companies realize this. Both companies used to charge $10/month for the service, but are now advertising HD access for life. DirecTV doesn’t require any special considerations to get the deal, but Dish Network does require both paperless billing and auto pay. They do charge a one-time $99 fee otherwise.

Hardware costs come into play when you consider satellite TV providers by zip code. Both companies offer the first hardware or main box free-of-charge. DirecTV charges a $5/month fee for each additional receiver. Dish Network charges $7/month for each extra receiver, plus $3 extra for the HD/DVR features.

Installation times vary considerably depending on how demand is for the services. You can expect to receive an installation date from 1 to 7 days after signing up. Many times installers also work on the weekends, making it convenient to get the service hooked up if you’re not available during the work week.

DVR services are crucial for anyone who doesn’t want to schedule their life around when a certain television program is going to air. Both companies charge a $5.99 monthly fee for the service, which allows you to pause, record and rewind live TV. You can also schedule shows to record in advance or set a series to record every episode so you never have to worry about missing one.

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Dish Network offers a larger variety of packages to appeal to more price ranges. DirecTV’s packages begin at $60.99 for their CHOICE package and go up to $114.99 for the PREMIER. Dish begins with $19.99 for DishFAMILY and increases in $10 increments up to $84.99 for America’s Everything Pak. Movies channels include STARZ, HBO, CINEMAX and SHOWTIME with both companies.

Sports may be where you decide to choose one provider over the other. DirecTV has NFL Sunday Ticket, CricketTicket and Mega March madness, while Dish is exclusive with the ESPN College Grand Slam. Pay-per-view is available through both companies to order movies, sports and events. They allow you to order with your remote, over the phone and online.

All major local channels including ABC, CBS, NBC, FOX, PBS, WB and UPN are offered with each provider in most areas. Due to contract negotiations between the companies and networks, you may discover that a certain channel is unavailable.

The best company to go with depends on your area, your budget for entertainment and what you need from a television provider. Do your research and don’t be afraid to ask customer service questions.

This is a guest article by Ruben Corbo, a writer for the website Broadband Expert where you can find Satellite TV providers by zip code and compare prices on different deals for your mobile broadband needs.