Comcast Vs. DirecTV Vs. Dish Network

With the three way battle between Comcast, DirecTV and Dish Network flaring by the day, we decided to find out which of these three have an edge over the others. If you are not able to figure out which of these service providers to opt for, the following information will help you decide the same.
When it comes to home entertainment in the United States - Comcast Corporation, DirecTV and Dish Network need no introduction. Each of these have been in the picture for quite some time now, and have set pioneering standards in the field of television broadcasting as well as other means of mass communication - communication services and the Internet to be precise. The fact that each of these service providers have a subscriber base in excess of 10 million best depicts their popularity.

That being said, each of these companies have their USP - which is fiercely marketed by them, and their drawbacks - which are hidden from the consumer, and that in turn give rise to the dilemma as to which of these service providers to opt for. Many people can't stop wondering as to who can emerge the winner in the Comcast vs. DirecTV vs. Dish Network battle; and we are no exceptions. In order to find out the same, we decided to take a look at each of these services individually - with special emphasis on what they have to offer, and then pitch them against each other.

The Contenders: Comcast Vs. DirecTV Vs. Dish Network

While many people out there are happy with the services these companies provide, there are some who are contemplating the idea of switching - either because of some unresolved issues with the existing service provider or because the offers from the new service provider seem more than tempting. Even the new customers are in a dilemma not able to figure out which of these three service providers to opt for. Regardless of whether you are opting for a switch or you happen to be a new customer, confusion is bound to set in when choosing between Comcast, DirecTV and Dish Network - which more or less look similar, and that's exactly where the reviews of each of these service providers will come to your rescue. Comparing the services offered by these three companies can help you get rid of all the confusion, and make the choosing part relatively easy for you.

Comcast
Starting with Comcast Corporation, it has the distinction of being the largest cable operator and Internet service provider in the United States. Other than cable TV and Internet, this company also provides telephone services to residential and commercial customers in 40 states and the District of Columbia. In terms of customer base, Comcast has 22.9 million cable subscribers, 16.7 million broadband Internet subscribers and 8.4 million voice customers in the country (2010). The triple play package known as XFINITY - which includes digital cable, cable Internet access and cable telephone services, is the USP of this company. The XFINITY TV packages from Comcast start with Digital Starter pack at $29.99, wherein the subscribers get access to 80+ channels, and at the higher end lies the Digital Premier pack with more than 200 channels on offer at $84.99.

Dish Network
Yet another prominent name in the American broadcast television sector, Dish Network Corporation is a pay TV service provider which provides satellite television, audio services and interactive television services for residential and commercial customers. Often referred to as the Dish Network or the Dish TV, it has a customer base of 14.33 million in the United States. As its name suggests, Dish Network can be accessed by means of a satellite dish and a receiver. Dish Network satellite TV offers several packages, starting from the Dish Family pack at $19.99 per month, which gives you access to 55 channels, to America's Everything pack at $74.99 per month which gives access to more than 315 channels. In terms of popularity, topping the list of Dish TV packages is the America's Top 200 pack with more than 215 channels to its credit for a subscription fee of $34.99

DirecTV
DirecTV is a digital satellite TV and audio service provider in the United States. With an overall customer base of 19.2 million users as of 2010, DirecTV is one of the most popular service provider in the United States. In order to access the service, you require a fixed 18-inch diameter dish antenna and a set top box (STB). The company has its own general entertainment network referred to as 'Audience Network' (formerly known as 'The 101 Network'), which is exclusively available for DirecTV subscribers. It also holds the right for several sports packages including the NFL Sunday Ticket and NASCAR Hot Pass. More recently, DirecTV has also introduced its own high-speed Internet service in form of DirecTV Internet, which can be accessed through broadband cable as well as satellite. As far as DirecTV packages are concerned, the starter pack i.e. the Entertainment pack with 140+ channels to offer, is priced at $29.99, while the Premier pack which lies at the higher end, with 285+ channels to offer, is priced at $89.99.

Which Service Provider is Ideal for You?

Even though these three companies happen to be the bigwigs of the American home entertainment industry, there do exist some differences which set them apart. But obviously, it would be unfair to rely on these differences alone to decide which of the service providers is the best. That being said, these differences can be of some help for you as they would help you figure out which of these service providers is the best bet for you.

Satellite TV services, such as the DirecTV and Dish TV, are vulnerable to signal disturbance during bad weather conditions, and that is one thing that you need to take into consideration when you are choosing a service provider. While Comcast services are not affected by bad weather, you may have to give it a second thought if you stay in a region wherein cable network is not well-developed, in which case you may have no option but to resort to one of the various satellite TV options available for you.

When it comes to DirecTV vs. Comcast comparison, both have their own advantages and disadvantages. While former boasts of HD picture quality, the absence of satellite dish in latter means there is no disturbance in service due to weather. If you are an existing subscriber of Comcast or DirecTV, you are entitled for discount on subscribing for new Internet or home telephone connection. As a household you may have these as well as several more options to choose from, but as a commercial entity your options are limited to Comcast and Dish TV.

As far as the price factor is concerned, all the service providers give you the option of choosing and paying for what you want to see. Dish Network may seem the best option with packages starting at $19.99, but one should also note that this package has the least to offer. When it comes to difference between Comcast and Dish Network, the fact that Comcast also has voice service to offer comes as an advantage for the company. Customer reviews are also a bit critical about Comcast customer support; and that is yet another thing you would need to take a note of.

While going through the general review of Comcast, DirecTV and Dish Network gives you a rough idea as to which one you should opt for, the final decision will entirely depend on your personal preferences. To be on a safer side, you will have to prepare a list of features which you are looking for, and then compare the three service providers on the basis of this list to narrow down on your final choice.
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Last Updated: 3/12/2012
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