I've been looking at moving from Cband to small dish. Both Direct and Dish TV claim to have the most HD. Can anyone fill me in on these claims? I'm looking for the most HD channels possible but only channels that I would actually watch. I don't have any interest in the sport channels Direct tv is know for but was wondering what non sport HD channels each has that the other does not offer so I can see what would best suit my family's interests.
Direct vs Dish HD channels
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Directv leads in HD sports channels as you stated, with that said Dish leads in premium movie channels in HD (HBO's, Cinemax's. etc) other then that the channels I can think up off the top of my head that Dish has and Direct doesnt is MSNBC HD, Travel Channel HD, E!, BBC America, Lifetime
Lifetime Movie, TRU TVWhat Directv has that Dish doesnt is MLB HDand Im sure much more I cant think of
Lifetime Movie, TRU TVWhat Directv has that Dish doesnt is MLB HDand Im sure much more I cant think of
OP - if I was you & since D* is supposed to be beefing up their HD count in the next 2-3 months, I'd wait & see what happens with them, before you make a decision either way.
We don't dare guess what channels you're interested in. There are quite a lot of non-sports channels available in HD.
The respective websites have lists of the channels available in each package.
Know that ala carte hasn't found its way to small dish and probably won't any time soon.
The respective websites have lists of the channels available in each package.
Know that ala carte hasn't found its way to small dish and probably won't any time soon.
Wait for the D12 satellite to be up and running, which should be within the next three weeks, and then go through your required channel list and see which provider offers you the most HD channels.
It's going to be longer than three weeks, but you're right, he should wait a little while to make his choice. If someone doesn't care about sports either service will be fine.
I would aggree with the post that says.
Direc is great for sports and dish is greart for premium channels.
I have both systems.
I would also add that Dish (in my opinnion) has much better quipment. Cutting edge stuff!
However, there are some neat features on the direc dvrs. They tend to be slower and clunkier
Directv hd picture is slightly better. However its neck and neck.
Customer service wise Direc use to be the gold standard. While immproving they are not what they use to be. They have lost focus on thier customer service.
Dish has jumped ahead as of now.
Just my take
Direc is great for sports and dish is greart for premium channels.
I have both systems.
I would also add that Dish (in my opinnion) has much better quipment. Cutting edge stuff!
However, there are some neat features on the direc dvrs. They tend to be slower and clunkier
Directv hd picture is slightly better. However its neck and neck.
Customer service wise Direc use to be the gold standard. While immproving they are not what they use to be. They have lost focus on thier customer service.
Dish has jumped ahead as of now.
Just my take
I believe the HD channels listed above and currently carried by Dish but not Directv will be added to Directv once D12 is operational.
Question - Do any of the HD channels listed above actually carry HD content and not just stretched 480P content?
Here is a list in this post, Microsoft Works has a spread sheet program that will open if you do not have excel... SatelliteGuys.US - View Single Post - HD Channel List: Dish Network vs DirectTV
I will echo what others have said and advise you to wait until the newest Directv satellite is up and running. It should be in about 4-5 weeks or so. Then look at what they each have to offer. For me, it's Directv because they have YES. You should make your own choice, of course.
The latest list shows that DISH has 28 channels that DIRECTV doesn't. The initial blast from D10 was 30 channels. The most recent non-RSN addition was BET on June 26th 2009.
There's still quite a bit of SD presented on some HD channels. Travel is mostly HD. Other channels (ie WGN) still don't have much HD.
Either way the HD renditions of SD programming on DIRECTV offer substantially improved PQ as compared to the SD channels.
They are on Food, HGTV, and TNT when the source is SD, but I believe that conversion is done by those channels. For those of us that only receive SD locals from Direct, both up and sideways, conversion is terrible.
Direct vs Dish spreadsheet
This is a great way to compare the two. Is it kept current as new channels are added? Some on this list have no highlighting at all; I assume they also are all HD all the time?
The only regular channels that Direct has that Dish doesn't are 101 (which I've never heard of) and Smithsonian (which would be great to have). Dish however has several exclusive non premium and premium channels that I watch and if I were switching today would push me to Dish (since the sports channels would generally go unwatched). Since my current subscriptions don't expire until early June it makes sense to wait and see what channels Direct adds when their new satellite is added. If they wind up about the same than see who has the best deals.
This is a great way to compare the two. Is it kept current as new channels are added? Some on this list have no highlighting at all; I assume they also are all HD all the time?
The only regular channels that Direct has that Dish doesn't are 101 (which I've never heard of) and Smithsonian (which would be great to have). Dish however has several exclusive non premium and premium channels that I watch and if I were switching today would push me to Dish (since the sports channels would generally go unwatched). Since my current subscriptions don't expire until early June it makes sense to wait and see what channels Direct adds when their new satellite is added. If they wind up about the same than see who has the best deals.
Dish does NOT have RSN in HD 24/7 and they don't have the room to show all games on them in HD as well.
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