How Do DISH Channel Offerings and Price Compare to Streaming and Cable?
There seem to be more choices than ever nowadays, particularly when it comes to TV. Users can pick between cable, satellite, and even live TV streaming services to get broadcast and cable channels, and each comes with its own particular set of drawbacks and advantages.
However, DISH Network is hoping to help you sort through all of the noise and provide you with a quality alternative to cutting the cord completely. The satellite TV operator offers four plans at distinct price points, each with different channel options, but customers in nearly all markets get access to their local ABC, CBS, Fox, and NBC affiliates in their standard channel lineup.
How Do DISH’s Channel Packages and Prices Compare to Live TV Streaming?
DISH’s current channel packages and pricing.
DISH carries a wide selection of the top cable channels, including ESPN, The Turner Networks (TBS and TNT), FX, cable news networks CNN, MSNBC, and Fox News as well as Newsmax. The satellite company offers an increasing number of options if you want to pay for even more entertainment choices. However, even DISH’s base Top 120 plan (which actually comes with 190 channels) holds a fantastic selection of in-demand entertainment, news, and sports programming for $84.99 per month. For a complete listing of channels available on all DISH plans, click here.
How Does DISH Compare to DIRECTV STREAM?
DISH’s base plan comes in at $5 per month more than DIRECTV STREAM’s Entertainment plan, but the tradeoff is a big difference in channels. DISH’s Top 120 delivers up to 190 channels, while DIRECTV STREAM Entertainment starts at 65 channels. But as you continue to add channels to your lineup, the value of DISH becomes clear to see; DIRECTV STREAM’s most expensive plan is the Premier package, which costs $164.99 per month for around 140 channels. DISH users can get over 240+ channels with the America’s Top 200 plan, including sports channels like NFL RedZone starting at $104.99 per month, which is a big savings over the DIRECTV STREAM Premier plan.
DISH also offers its America’s Top 250 plan, which comes with more than 290 channels, for just $114.99, $50 cheaper than DIRECTV STREAM, and with more than double the channels.
How Does DISH Compare to Other Live TV Services?
There’s simply no way that any other live TV service can offer the same channel volume as DISH. Hulu + Live TV offers just one plan of 90+ channels for $76.99, while Fubo tops out at 247 channels for $105.98 per month (including regional sports network fee). YouTube TV delivers around 100 channels at a maximum of $72.99 per month, and Sling TV only offers around 40 channels in its $40 monthly packages.
DISH maxes out at over 290 channels on its America’s Top 250 plan, with selections like Cartoon Network and Disney Channel for kids, FX Movies, SHOWTIME, and STARZ for adults and everything in between. It’s a truly impressive lineup of global channels that live TV services simply can’t match.
How Does DISH Compare to Channels and Value on Cable?
As mentioned above, DISH offers both local channels and all of the most in-demand cable selections available. Physical cable is seen as something of a lumbering dinosaur by many shopping for TV packages, but how do cable plans stack up with DISH’s service?
Just like live TV streaming, cable can’t beat out DISH in terms of selection. Spectrum cable plans start at $20 per month less than a DISH subscription, but that price won’t get you quality movies from Reelz, programming from ION, or access to any of DISH’s free music channels, all of which are available in DISH’s base plan.
Xfinity’s X1 service maxes out at around 185 channels, so users of that service also won’t get anything close to the selection that DISH can offer. Although you might be able to save a little money initially with providers like Xfinity and Spectrum, there’s another factor to consider: price fluctuations. After your initial contract with your cable provider is up, you could be subjected to a huge price jump in your next contract.
No worries about that score with a DISH subscription! The service offers all users a three-year price guarantee, even though the length of your contract will only be two years. That means your initial sign-up price with DISH is locked in for 36 months, so there won’t be any surprise bills when it comes time to renew your service!
But value is about more than just the price you pay, it’s also what you get for that price. While DISH and cable have the same fundamental service — providing access to broadcast and cable channels — DISH’s service provides so many other features to enhance your viewing experience that it makes the comparison between it and cable a no-contest.
DISH’s 2,000-hour DVR allows you to record up to 16 titles at the same time and gives you the ability to skip through commercials with the touch of a button. From free expert installation to a signal reliability money-back guarantee, DISH goes far above and beyond what cable offers, including the ability to watch all of your channels no matter where you are and to stream on five devices per subscription.
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When you compare DISH’s value to that of the two top cable services in the country, Comcast Xfinity and Spectrum, it is clear to see the benefits that the satellite company has over its cable competitors. One of the major benefits of DISH is that you always know the price that you pay. There are no hidden fees and your price gets locked in for three full years once you sign up.
And now, with DISH’s new deal for current DIRECTV subscribers, there is even more incentive to make a switch. DISH is offering a $300 gift card to anyone who switched from DIRECTV before Jan. 17, 2024. All you need is a DIRECTV bill from the last six months and you are eligible for the offer. If you used that gift card on your DISH bill, that would lower your monthly cost on the America’s Top 120 package to just $72.50 per month. That would be lower than any of the major cable providers and live TV streaming services that we normally recommend.
