Dish Network vs cable TV

March 7, 2008 9:37 am admin Satellite TV Shopping

There has been a heated argument prevailing in the United States between DISH network and the normal cable providers. The cable providers are losing their customers to the network resulting in the ongoing battle. Let’s explore why,

The average monthly cable charges are around $39.95 though they may vary from region to region. The monthly subscription includes a base fee of $37.30 for 64 channels, with an extra charge of $10.95 a month if the customer desires to view any digital channels.

DISH network on the other hand provides 40 channels for $19.99 and around 230 channels for $29.99 inclusive of the 60 SIRIUS radio channels. And since DISH network is a satellite provider all the viewing is in the digital format at no extra cost. Cable service providers have increased their fees by 22% in the past three years while those of the network have remained the same.

However looking at the negative side of things, you have to pay for the receivers provided by the network while those given by the cable provider are free of cost. But with the DISH network on the other hand you get a free satellite dish, 4 room receiving system and DVR or HD recorder. The installation for all of the above is for free, while cable providers charge for installation of their basic setup.

DISH network surpasses not only the cable network but also its own rival DirecTV when it comes to programming. They provide 350 channels, which include 50 music channels, 60 radio channels, 31 movie channels, 10 sports packages, 21 international channels and 80 pay-per-view channels, all in top quality digital format.

When it comes to blackouts, DISH network leaves the cable provider’s way behind. The cable TV blackouts range between 3-5% per year, DISH network blackouts lie in the moderate range of 1%. It also has the highest customer satisfaction rating in the last five years. To add to customer satisfaction, DISH network provides a toll free 24/7 customer service facility.

Thereby DISH network turns out to be a clear winner amongst all competitors.