Gotta love Dish!!
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That's only because DirecTV only added those a few months ago, finally putting them ahead after being behind for years. For someone concerned with the lowest price, I'm surprised you care about who has the most premiums.
Dish Direct have a satellite oligopoly. Economic models show they join in a race to the bottom for profitibility when one tries to buy the other's customers.
Altho I am a long time sub to HBO, I do not think it makes any difference how many HD premiums either company has. With a DVR it makes little difference.
I was only surprised because I have read the Dish fanboys brag about the extra Premium channels Dish had, and then I saw the comparison chart saying it wasn't so.
Yeah I have read countless times on this forum that if you care about sports you should be with Directv and if you care about movies you should be with Dish. I think that comment is overblown on both sides.
Directv has more premium movie channels and in HD but somehow they aren't as good for movies. I know Dish has the Epix and Retro channels etc that Directv doesn't I'm just making the point that Directv is pretty good for movies too.
Dish has MLB Network, NBA TV, NFL Network, NFL Redzone, NHL Network, Golf Channel, Tennis Channel, Fox Soccer and Fox Soccer+, NBC Sports, CBS sports, all the ESPNs, Speed, and Fuel. Cable in my area didn't carry NFL Network or Redzone until this sesaon and they still don't carry NBA TV, NHL Network, Tennis channel, Fox soccer or Fox soccer plus, CBS Sports, or Fuel and you have to add the sports pack to get NFL Network, ESPNU, and ESPNews while those are in base packages on Dish and Directv. Sure, they are missing some of Directv's out of market sports packages and full time HDRSNs but unless they don't carry your RSN they are pretty damn good for sports fans too.
Directv has more premium movie channels and in HD but somehow they aren't as good for movies. I know Dish has the Epix and Retro channels etc that Directv doesn't I'm just making the point that Directv is pretty good for movies too.
Dish has MLB Network, NBA TV, NFL Network, NFL Redzone, NHL Network, Golf Channel, Tennis Channel, Fox Soccer and Fox Soccer+, NBC Sports, CBS sports, all the ESPNs, Speed, and Fuel. Cable in my area didn't carry NFL Network or Redzone until this sesaon and they still don't carry NBA TV, NHL Network, Tennis channel, Fox soccer or Fox soccer plus, CBS Sports, or Fuel and you have to add the sports pack to get NFL Network, ESPNU, and ESPNews while those are in base packages on Dish and Directv. Sure, they are missing some of Directv's out of market sports packages and full time HDRSNs but unless they don't carry your RSN they are pretty damn good for sports fans too.
I have both dish and direc. Direc I use mostly for sports but I do get all the cable channels.
Pricing is basically the same. We can argue all day about this.
I like them both.
Dish maybe more because I love the vip dvrs.
However, I still stand by my statement that dish is getting
out of hand with those dvr fees.
Ive had their service since they came on the scene. They are not the
cheapest game in town. Not according to my wallet.
As I said before it would be a great ad campaign to
have a no fee dvr for all subs.
And yes, that would make me happy. I love when a company
gives back and shows appreciation. However big or small it might be.
Pricing is basically the same. We can argue all day about this.
I like them both.
Dish maybe more because I love the vip dvrs.
However, I still stand by my statement that dish is getting
out of hand with those dvr fees.
Ive had their service since they came on the scene. They are not the
cheapest game in town. Not according to my wallet.
As I said before it would be a great ad campaign to
have a no fee dvr for all subs.
And yes, that would make me happy. I love when a company
gives back and shows appreciation. However big or small it might be.
things are getting tight... life stinks.............but, without new customer promotions, let's compare prices...............
OP is right, Gotta love Dish!!
OP is right, Gotta love Dish!!
All of this depends on the viewer. For sports, Directv has (will lose next year I believe) Europa League soccer which is free for subscribers, and exclusive rights for Super Rugby, which really gets me angry because Setanta used to show Super 14 (I think it was 14 then), but they folded in the US, Fox bought it and the rights to Super 14 / Super Rugby disappeared. That stuff is also free to subscribers.
But if you are a soccer fan, and liked the movies, Dish was great when they had the Encore slate as part of 250, and included FSC and Versus. Since then, Directv has also added Encore to their top channel slate.
If soccer is your priority, though, you still can't beat Dish Network. Latino Dos is $45 a month gets you FSC.
Let's come back to the financials for a minute. I had always thought that switching every 2 years was a money saver, and I suppose it might be for some. But for me, it isn't at all now that the HR34 and Hopper situation is in place, or nearly so in the case of Dish.
Direct:
HR34+H25+Advanced receiver+Choice Xtra = Retail : $96.99 Current pricing for new customer before rebates
$29 off the first year = $67.99 = 1st year sub price $815.88+$99 upfront for HR34 = $914.88
$10 off the 2nd year = $86.99 = 2nd year sub price $1043.88
Total cash out total for 2 years = $1958.76
Dish :
Hopper+Joey+MRV+Top 200 = Retail $77.99 Current pricing for new customer before rebates
$25 off the 1st year = $52.99 sub price = $635.88
2nd year no rebate = $77.99 sub price = $935.88
Total cash outlay = $1571.76
So you save quite a bit with the Direct to Dish switch comparing new customers offers, but heres' something interesting:
Dish full price/year = $935.88 * 2 = $1871.76 !!!
IOW, staying with Dish for 2 years past contract is cheaper than switching to Direct! Yeah, I know different configs and different subs will change that a bit, but I thought that to be damned interesting. And if you add in premiums, Dish just gets better. The channels available are different which does have an effect on which to pick and number of total receivers certainly does, but with the Hopper/Joey in the mix it takes a lot more receivers to make that a factor.
And yeah, with Direct you get more actual tuners, but if the extras have no value, and for me they wouldn't, then it isn't an issue.
Using the numbers here, I could switch to Dish at the 1 year point with D* and pay the ETF and come out ahead a bit. Interesting!
Direct:
HR34+H25+Advanced receiver+Choice Xtra = Retail : $96.99 Current pricing for new customer before rebates
$29 off the first year = $67.99 = 1st year sub price $815.88+$99 upfront for HR34 = $914.88
$10 off the 2nd year = $86.99 = 2nd year sub price $1043.88
Total cash out total for 2 years = $1958.76
Dish :
Hopper+Joey+MRV+Top 200 = Retail $77.99 Current pricing for new customer before rebates
$25 off the 1st year = $52.99 sub price = $635.88
2nd year no rebate = $77.99 sub price = $935.88
Total cash outlay = $1571.76
So you save quite a bit with the Direct to Dish switch comparing new customers offers, but heres' something interesting:
Dish full price/year = $935.88 * 2 = $1871.76 !!!
IOW, staying with Dish for 2 years past contract is cheaper than switching to Direct! Yeah, I know different configs and different subs will change that a bit, but I thought that to be damned interesting. And if you add in premiums, Dish just gets better. The channels available are different which does have an effect on which to pick and number of total receivers certainly does, but with the Hopper/Joey in the mix it takes a lot more receivers to make that a factor.
And yeah, with Direct you get more actual tuners, but if the extras have no value, and for me they wouldn't, then it isn't an issue.
Using the numbers here, I could switch to Dish at the 1 year point with D* and pay the ETF and come out ahead a bit. Interesting!
I don't know how you came up with the figure you did with Direct. When I configure that, I come up with $2350 for 2 years with a $200 upfront cost.
As to state of the art DVRs, well the HR34 certainly is and so is the HR24, but you are not guaranteed to get the HR24 and I can assure you that the other HRs are not nearly as good as the HR24 and certainly aren't state of the art.
Holy C**P.... I didn't verify your Direct costs for ongoing, but I did for Dish. Two TV locations in HD, whole home, approximate package similarities, (that can be argued but they will never be the same - again more HD regular channels with Dish) the Direct for two years normal price is $2,377.00 for Dish, $1877.00. That's $500 savings with Dish....... Yikes....... And to sweeten that - you could substitute another hopper instead of a Joey and increase your tuners for the same monthly cost, just add an up front charge. Wow......
I don't like using promo pricing but the premise you are using is about switching so I will say your figures seem correct, still less at this point staying with Dish.
I don't like using promo pricing but the premise you are using is about switching so I will say your figures seem correct, still less at this point staying with Dish.
I was amazed myself. I had gone along with the 'switch every two years and save a bunch' crowd too.
The D* pricing I used was straight off a config sheet I did as a new customer. I don't think I misrepresented anything, and if I did, it was minimal and just a mistake.
The D* pricing I used was straight off a config sheet I did as a new customer. I don't think I misrepresented anything, and if I did, it was minimal and just a mistake.
I am interested in anyone who has different figures based on that set-up to post how (if it is) wrong. I also wonder how this changes with an additional TV for each, so three locations, again however using two hoppers and one Joey since the hoppers are the same monthly cost.......
This seems to me to verify what I have posted, that it's not an internet rumor that Dish costs less. With a $500 difference over two years (and looks like still $90 if you don't switch) I'm thinking most any package comparison is going to be favorable to Dish at this point, using the whole home in particular. If your figures hold up this one of the most revealing posts yet on this subject.
This seems to me to verify what I have posted, that it's not an internet rumor that Dish costs less. With a $500 difference over two years (and looks like still $90 if you don't switch) I'm thinking most any package comparison is going to be favorable to Dish at this point, using the whole home in particular. If your figures hold up this one of the most revealing posts yet on this subject.
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I got the promo prices right off the Directv site and they show all 24 months of costs - very nice. It also easy to play what if - what if I used this package instead.
2 DVRS (1-HR34) Entertainment Package, HBO
$60x12months = $720
$75x12months = $900
Equipment Upfront costs = $200
Total Cost for Directv 2 years =$1820
....................................................................
My Present Cost for Dish
AT-200,2 DVRS,HBO
$92x24months = $2208
Dish Retention discount of $10 a month for 12 months = $120
Total cost of Dish for 24 months = $2088
Difference = $268 cheaper with Directv with the advantage of 7 tuners and newer (HR34) equipment.
You could argue that maybe the Entertainment package is not equal to AT-200. I found the Entertainment package has everything I watch. Just add $5 a month for a higher Choice package or $10 a month for Choice Extra. Directv still comes out cheaper than Dish.
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When you do the pricing be careful. Directv promos gives free Premiums for 3 months. Make sure when you look at the 24 month pricing that you deduct all the Premiums, unless you plan on keeping them after the free 3 months....
ooh, good point...if lparsons didn't do that, I'll want to take my "like" away.
You can go to the DIrectv website and play "what if" to your hearts content. Make sure you do not have any old browser "cookies" or you may not get the New Customer promos.
