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In the 1990s, when the pay-tv market in the U.S. was dominated by cable service providers, satellite TV emerged as an alternative. Not that satellite TV was a new concept, by this time the satellite receiver systems had become relatively affordable, and you were not required to pay as exorbitant an amount as before. Also, in its early times satellite TV operated mainly on the C-band frequencies, which necessitated large dishes up to 10 ft. in diameter. Satellite TV tech was therefore primarily employed by cable TV operators and not residential purposes. But rapid advancement of technologies over time later made it possible to use the higher frequency Ku-band and Ka-band systems which allowed for stronger transmissions and could therefore function with a smaller dish antenna.
And guess what! The era of digital satellite broadcasts that began in the U.S. in 1994, was spearheaded by DIRECTV, then under the ownership of Hughes Electronics. And only 2 years later the DISH Network began its operations - introduced in the market as a service offered by EchoStar at the time. The popularity of satellite TV saw gains following the 1994 debut of digital satellite broadcasts in the U.S., and over the coming years DIRECTV and the DISH Network continued to evolve both in terms of the technologies used and what each could deliver to the consumer. The reason why it is little surprise that today we find small satellite dishes perched on rooftops and balconies across the U.S.
Now let’s get to the core of our talk today, and move on to taking a look at the offerings from the best satellite TV providers in the city that is home to Hollywood!
When it comes to the best satellite TV providers in Los Angeles, your choice essentially boils down to the 2 pioneers in the industry i.e. DIRECTV and DISH. With long-time popularity across the U.S., both services compete closely in terms of offerings. And showcase a number of unique service aspects which distinguish the two, making it necessary for you to inform yourself better when its time to shop for a satellite TV service for your LA home.
So let’s now take a look at what each pay-tv service has to offer in LA in terms of plans, channels, perks, and pricing.
DIRECTV promises subscribers 99% reliability, and ranks as the #1 satellite TV service in the country as per U.S. satellite subscriber data (Q1 2021). According to Statista in Q3 2021, DIRECTV boasted 15 million subscribers in the U.S.
Whether you’ve a thing for live sports or you love to keep up with your favorite celebrities, the rich and diverse DIRECTV channel lineup and the high-definition picture quality take care of your entertainment needs.
There are four different DIRECTV plans designed to fit the entertainment needs of its vast customer base. Here take a look at the key features of each as well as what it would cost you.
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DIRECTV All-Included Package |
Max Channel & On Demand Count |
Package Highlights |
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ENTERTAINMENT $74.99/mo. For 12 months plus taxes w/24 mo. TV agreement. Autopay & paperless billing req’d.
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160+ channels & 45,000+ On Demand titles |
The Starter package includes popular channels like ESPN, Nickelodeon, CNN and HGTV FREE HBO Max, STARZ, SHOWTIME, EPIX and Cinemax included for first 3 months |
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CHOICE $79.99/mo. For 12 months plus taxes w/24 mo. TV agreement. Autopay & paperless billing req’d. |
185+ channels & 50,000+ On Demand titles |
This can’t-miss-sports package includes regional sports networks and popular channels like ESPN, ESPN2, NBCSN, FX, CNN, Nickelodeon, Fuse, IFC, and HGTV FREE HBO Max, STARZ, SHOWTIME, EPIX and Cinemax included for first 3 months 2022 season of NFL Sunday Ticket include at no added cost |
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ULTIMATE $99.99/mo. For 12 months plus taxes w/24 mo. TV agreement. Autopay & paperless billing req’d.
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250+ channels & 60,000+ On Demand titles |
This blockbuster package for movie fans includes STARZENCORE, LMN, FXM, Discovery Family, NATGEO WILD, BET HER, and Destination America FREE HBO Max, STARZ, SHOWTIME, EPIX and Cinemax included for first 3 months 2022 season of NFL Sunday Ticket include at no added cost |
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PREMIER $149.99/mo. For 12 months plus taxes w/24 mo. TV agreement. Autopay & paperless billing req’d.
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330+ channels & 70,000+ On Demand titles |
The biggest DIRECTV package includes every premium channel you love - Cinemax, HBO MAX, STARZ and SHOWTIME are part of your lineup along with sister channels 2022 season of NFL Sunday Ticket include at no added cost |
The DISH network, like its competitor, offers attractive plans with a variety of perks, at a competitive price. The satellite TV service pledges 99% signal reliability even in rural America. And has been ranked #1 by J.D. Power in customer satisfaction for 4 years in a row. According to Statista as of Q3 2021 the DISH Network had an estimated 8.42 million subscribers.
DISH offers 4 plans with a varying number of channel count to fit a range of consumer preferences. Here is a quick run through of the benefits you can enjoy with a DISH channel package:
As we said, DISH gives you a choice of 4 plans designed for different preferences. Take a look at these and see which one best fits your liking and budget.
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DISH Packages |
Max Channels & On Demand Count |
Package Highlights |
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America’s Top 120 $69.99 for 24 months
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190 channels 28,000+ free On Demand titles |
The starter package includes popular networks like ESPN, CMT, Disney Channel, E! on top of local broadcast TV channels |
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America’s Top 120 Plus $84.99 for 24 months |
190+ channels 28,000+ free On Demand titles |
This package is for sports fans with SEC network, Big Ten Network, Pac-12 Network and more - plus popular entertainment and broadcast TV channels |
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America’s Top 200 $94.99 for 24 months
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240+ channels 35,000+ free On Demand titles |
The package for sports & entertainment lovers includes MLB Network, NBA TV, NHL Network, Golf Channel, Hallmark, Disney XD, A&E, SundanceTV and more |
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America’s Top 250 $104.99 for 24 months
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290+ channels & 36,000+ free On Demand titles |
This package has everything - sports, entertainment & movies 17 movie channels such as TCM, STARZENCORE, and TMC Popular networks include Smithsonian, Bloomberg, Nicktoons, Great American Country and more!
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DIRECTV sits quite literally like the king of content when it comes to the diversity of selection and the count of live networks as well as On Demand titles. Perks like DIRECTV Cinema make it more rich in the value of content the satellite TV service offers. Plus for sports fans as well as lovers of premium entertainment, DIRECTV is an ideal pick. It gets you more regional sports channels than DISH, and more top premium networks too. On the other hand, DISH gives you a great variety of international channels
DISH allows its users to shop for the programming that they love. If we look at the popularity of the DISH Network in the pay-tv consumer market, among satellite TV providers in the U.S., it ranks #2 in terms of customer-base. With that said DISH certainly ranks better than DIRECTV when it comes to budget pricing. And, the lower price stays locked for 2 years. This does however require you to sign a 2-year contract. DIRECTV on the other hand, sees a rate hike after the first 12 months. In the second year of the 24-month contract, there is a price hike which varies across plans, and is considerable.
As for the DVR equipment that each of the satellite TV providers include with their plans, unless you get the chance to upgrade to Hopper 3, DISH includes the Hopper Duo. DIRECTV on the other hand gives you the Genie HD DVR, unless you are fortunate to get a deal that offers a free upgrade to Genie 2. Compared to Genie’s storage and the number of programs it allows you to record at once the Hopper Duo offers less.
All in all - if you are on a budget and want to save money while also having access to a good DVR, you can go for DISH as it offers packages with the lower price locked in for two years. Whereas the price of a DIRECTV plan hikes up in year 2. If however you want the best and most diverse selection of channels, the best in sports and entertainment, and a better DVR , DIRECTV is a great option for you.
Satellite TV is similar to broadcast TV, but instead of sending the video and audio signals over the air to the antenna attached to your television set from towers, the signals are sent from satellites in a geosynchronous orbit in space to the dish installed at your premises.
Like it is with satellite internet, there is a central hub or the broadcast center. Here the TV service provider receives the signal from the programming sources i.e. the channels. The signal is then beamed to the satellite in space which rebroadcasts them to earth. Your dish antenna picks up the signal from one or more satellites, and sends it to the receiver connected to your TV set. The receiver then processes the signal and passes it on to the TV.
In its early times satellite TV technology offered a solution to Cable and over-the-air broadcast TV problems, but with time it has become a top choice for TV buffs who want a lot of popular channels and in the best picture quality. While susceptible to external factors that may cause signal deterioration, satellite TV wins over Cable when it comes to high-definition.
Another big advantage of how satellite TV works is its widespread coverage. Since it is not dependent on a terrestrial infrastructure, you can be anywhere in the U.S., and still receive a consistent high-quality service. Which makes it a perfect pay-tv service, particularly for rural communities that are removed from the reach of a wireline service.
Los Angeles is the largest city in California and the headquarter of the entertainment industry. In honor of the city that houses Hollywood, you can get the best satellite entertainment with DIRECTV and DISH. DISH TV stands out as a great budget satellite pay-tv option whereas DIRECTV gives you an unbeatable stream of sports and entertainment, and a better DVR than Hopper Duo from DISH.
With that said, deciding which provider to opt for depends totally on your entertainment needs and budget. Check out the DISH and DIRECTV channel lineups, and do your homework before finalizing which provider and plan would you like to bring home.
You can call at 1-855-349-9328 for more details about DISH and DIRECTV deals.
The key distinguishing factor between satellite TV and cable TV is the infrastructure that determines how you receive the signal on your TV. With Satellite TV the signals received from the satellite in space is converted into audio and video that displays on your TV. Whereas cable TV uses a terrestrial cable line infrastructure to transmit the signal received from the programming source. This signal is then converted into audio and video by the set-top box in your house.
No. DIRECTV itself does not offer internet, but DIRECTV is co-owned by AT&T so you can bundle its services with AT&T Internet plans if offered in your area. Other popular internet service providers that partner with DIRECTV include HughesNet and CenturyLink.
The DISH Network doesn’t offer an internet service itself, but partners with several internet service providers including EarthLink, CenturyLink, HughesNet, and Windstream. You can pair a DISH plan with an internet offer from any of these ISPs which maybe serving your area. To check availability call at 1-855-349-9328.
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