Dish vs Direct TV

Bubba Can Dance · #1 12/17/14, 10:15 AM

Has anyone had experience with both Dish & Direct TV? If so, which do you prefer? For the last year, we have had Dish dropping locals then adding them back, dropping different channels such as CNN, TBS and now threatening Fox News. We were going to leave Dish because of the cost and they reduced our monthly bill for 10 months then went back up. We were going to leave and then they reduced our monthly bill by $30 for 12 months. We are wondering if Direct does the same. Any comments will be appreciated.

Harry Chickpea · #2 12/17/14, 10:52 AM

I had Dish for a while. Hated it, won't do business with them again. With the net and Roku, about all we watch is the news. Had Directv shift us down a level and they also reduced us $10/mo.

Gretchen Ann · #3 12/17/14, 11:00 AM

We started out with Dish and they did the drop from the package then add back in and charged us.

My husband got rid of them and we have been with Direct for years. We've been pleased with their service and as far as rates go, my husband calls them every year around our renewal time and negotiates the price. We are paying $62/month for the next year.

MO_cows · #4 12/17/14, 11:10 AM

We have always had Directv. Had a few bumps in the road with them over the years but overall, satisfied. I would like to reduce our cost but the menfolk like some channels that are only in the higher priced package. We don't have premium movie channels or a sports package, but everything else. With one DVR receiver and 2 auxiliary receivers, we pay $100 a month. The DVR receiver croaked recently, they sent a replacement no charge and no hassle.

When you sign up as a new customer, you get all kinds of discounts. So the first year is cheap, the price creeps up after that. But that's the way they all do it, offer a low introductory price to get new customers.

hardrock · #5 12/17/14, 11:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gretchen Ann

We started out with Dish and they did the drop from the package then add back in and charged us.

My husband got rid of them and we have been with Direct for years. We've been pleased with their service and as far as rates go, my husband calls them every year around our renewal time and negotiates the price. We are paying $62/month for the next year.

This is our situation. Direct is the best for us and we have to negotiate
each year.

Sawmill Jim · #6 12/17/14, 11:23 AM

I have a antenna and it is paid for .

frogmammy · #7 12/17/14, 02:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sawmill Jim

I have a antenna and it is paid for .

That's the same service I use, too! Happy with the service, and price!

Mon

modineg44 · #8 12/17/14, 08:40 PM

I have Direct now but had Dish. I like Direct better but after the first 12 months they raised my rate over $30 a month. When I signed up they said it would only go up $10 a month. My contract will be up in the spring but I don't know what I'm going to do. I can't get any over-the-air channels.

Nancy

fixitguy · #9 12/17/14, 08:51 PM

I dropped direct t.v. in about 08', we were paying about $65 for basic. No one in the house really misses it now. I can say, I wouldn't mine having it in the winter, but it don't work that way.
If I get my butt in gear over the holidays were might do the roko, or google chrome stick thing.

Mallow · #10 12/18/14, 06:26 AM

I dropped dish and went with over the air antenna along with Netflix and Hulu. It also helps if you know someone that has a cable service willing to share their login. This will get you access to most streaming from individual networks.

Gravytrain · #11 12/18/14, 06:38 AM

We have Dish and really like it. In our area, local channels are only available on Dish. Direct customers get their Network stations from NYC, ATL or wherever. The only benefit in our area to have Direct over Dish is Direct carries the NFL Sunday ticket...which I don't really care about. My friends that DO care enough about the Sunday ticket to stay with Direct pay A LOT more for their service than we do, and we have the top 250 plan.

I'm surprised to hear people who have had bad experiences with Dish. Their customer service has always been great for us, we only lose our signal during the worst storms and the programming options suit us well.

7thswan · #12 12/18/14, 07:12 AM

We have Dish, 129.00 per month. I told dh shut it off. We had direct tv,they would not neg. the price when it kept going up, then begged us to come back. Now after 2 years with Dish, looks like we will go back to Direct. Looks like we will have to go back and forth until I can get dh to just leave it all behind.

lazyBum · #13 12/18/14, 07:42 AM

I never got cable or satellite when i moved out on my own. When i go places with it i end up going through the guide several times and end up shutting it off. The shows i want to watch are in the higher end packages that im not willing to pay for. When im allowed to pick only the channels i want i might get it.

Im trying to not watch new shows anyways. Any thing i like usually gets cancelled during the first season.

Vosey · #14 12/18/14, 08:06 AM

We've had both in the past 3 years. Direct TV's DVR is way superior (much more intuitive to use and better storage) if you care about such things. Other than that very similar. We've had no issues with either dropping channels. They both give you an introductory rate for a year and then increase it year 2, you can often negotiate once they raise the rate.

1shotwade · #15 12/18/14, 09:13 AM

I didn't read the posts but I have had both and they have the same "rip you off" attitude! Got rid of both of then and now watch the news online,Amazon Prime,Netflix,and youtube. I'm much happier and pay much less to be that way.

Wade

irondale · #16 12/18/14, 01:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MO_cows

We have always had Directv. Had a few bumps in the road with them over the years but overall, satisfied. I would like to reduce our cost but the menfolk like some channels that are only in the higher priced package. We don't have premium movie channels or a sports package, but everything else. With one DVR receiver and 2 auxiliary receivers, we pay $100 a month. The DVR receiver croaked recently, they sent a replacement no charge and no hassle.

When you sign up as a new customer, you get all kinds of discounts. So the first year is cheap, the price creeps up after that. But that's the way they all do it, offer a low introductory price to get new customers.

To get some of their best rates, just go ahead and cancel. I just did that and they were offering some really good deals better than the introductory deals for new customers even.

||Downhome|| · #17 12/18/14, 02:06 PM

I prefer Direct, but seems like I'm paying for a lot of infomercials stations and tired old reruns.

I liked the science and history channels but seem they have bombed on the programming they offer any more.

If you have a high speed internet lots of options for watching for free,what you want when you want. Legally, and even more in the questionable areas.

We also make use of the Library for dvd loans.

I don't just mean on your PC screen either, a dual tuner card (DVI) and a few simple free programs and you can be watching on anything that has a VGA(Adapter needed) or DVI input.

I use one program on the 50 dollar Iphone the GF p/u, It unlocked but no service and hooks up through the Wireless router,then I have a program called XBMC on the PC, you also need Itunes for the bounjour service but I browse the movies on the phone then pick watch now and when the stream starts click a little Icon and audio and vidio go to the PC and which ever display I choose. Have to switch the Big screens connection depending on what we are in the mood for. have a nice projector (p/u chep on ebay and just acquired free DLP 67" TV, my pc rig has the old 36" as secondary and 1080p 22" wide screen primary. Sounds through my 11 dollar surround sound dvd player receiver (I can shake stuff off the walls with it). I also got the PC Free, and already paying for the internet as well. If I was Paying for the Direct TV ,which my brother is the one paying, I would not be.

Most networks stream recent shows any more, and a lot of legal movie sites as well and even some subscription services offer free content.

One other perk of the Iphone over wifi is my talkatone account, free local number,free inbound and texts, free 20 mins outbound a month,60 mins for $1. Means we don't need a land line here, which not having covers the Inter net and saves 10 bucks.

basically you can pay for crap (subscription service)and the best of best in electronics or you can get savy and search out some deals and put together a sweet entertainment system cheap and use it for the cost of electricity!

arabian knight · #18 12/18/14, 05:50 PM

Got Directv way back in '95. Reason---- I wanted to watch the Green Bay Packers when I lived in AZ.
The Dish came along and I switched to them as they were AT THAT TIME better pricing.
Had Dish for many years.
Then I wanted change and went with back to Directv. Had Direct till I got a chance to get cable from my Local Telephone company via the DSL line.
Had them not even a Year Went Back to Directv.

After 3 years I went back to my Telephone/Cable system.
After 2 years I went BACK to Direct as that is what I have now because I wanted some channels that the local cable from my phone company didn't have.

So you see that i am pretty satisfied with Directv now and will keep them for some tie to come.

TxMex · #19 12/19/14, 12:43 PM

I received what looked like a hand addressed Christmas card with a private individual as the return address. Turns out it was yet another solicitation from Direct TV. That is just low!!! If I decided I wanted to get TV I sure as heck wouldn't buy from them after this!

susieneddy · #20 12/19/14, 12:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TxMex

I received what looked like a hand addressed Christmas card with a private individual as the return address. Turns out it was yet another solicitation from Direct TV. That is just low!!! If I decided I wanted to get TV I sure as heck wouldn't buy from them after this!

too funny, we got one also