Cable or satellite? An inescapable question when moving to a new house in 2023. Choosing your television provider is an important decision and it shouldn’t be taken lightly. Cable vs. satellite really means DISH vs. Comcast Xfinity, but the truth is that DISH provides superior service with more channels for a better value.
Value
The value argument is straight-forward: DISH offers more channels for less money….a lot less money. Let’s look at the numbers. Xfinity is notorious for nickel-and-diming customers with various different fees — such as fees for local channels, HD programming, downgrading or cancelling, as well as Broadcast TV fees, Regional Sports fees, and monthly service charges, while DISH provides all of these at no extra cost to you. But with DISH you have an option so you don’t have to worry about the price going up after a year, thanks to their two-year TV price guarantee (Xfinity only offers a one-year special.) DISH will stand by the agreement you sign, with no surprises down the road; Xfinity can’t say that.
So DISH is clearly a better price, but is it a better value? Xfinity offers 140+ channels and ESPN with a basic 12-month contract. In contrast, DISH will provide 190+ channels, including ESPN, CBS Sports, Disney, HGTV, Netflix channel integration, and much more; plus three months free with 40+ premium channels. The data says it all: DISH offers more features for less money, making their value considerably more than that of Comcast Xfinity.
Technology
While DISH does have a better value, it’s really the technology DISH offers that makes choosing Xfinity the wrong decision. Yes, Xfinity does have a DVR service and they’ll allow you to watch those recorded shows and any on-demand titles from any computer or smart device, but that’s really it. DISH’s Hopper 3 enables you to record up to 16 shows at once and gives you 500 hours of HD recording time (Xfinity gives you 60). Not only will DISH let you watch your recorded and on-demand titles anywhere, they’ll also let you watch live TV from any of those devices as well.
Still not convinced? That’s because you don’t know about DISH’s AutoHop technology. DISH makes sitting through commercial breaks an annoyance of the past. Their Hopper 3 will automatically skip any commercials with PrimeTime Anytime on a recorded show 24 hours after it airs on ABC, CBS, FOX, or NBC. DISH also provides Bluetooth speakers, wireless receivers and remote locators so they never get lost again. You’ll never know which couch cushion the remote slipped under with Comcast. When you compare DISH to Comcast Xfinity’s technology, DISH comes out on top every time.
Service
DISH has the best customer service in the industry, but you don’t have to take our word for it. Just look at the American Consumer Satisfaction Index (ACSI) rankings in call center satisfaction, website satisfaction, clearest bill to understand, and lowest customer complaint rate since 2010. DISH is ranked number one in each of those categories, the closest Xfinity gets is number seven, and that’s only in website satisfaction, they’re eighth in every other category.
On top of that, DISH will send a certified technician anywhere in the country, usually within 24 hours, to set up all of your hardware, teach you how to use it and answer any questions that you may have. Comcast won’t do any of that for free.
The Hopper 3 will change the way you watch TV and it’s included in a 24-month contract with DISH. No matter how you break it down, if you’re agreeing to a two-year contract, DISH offers more channels and better features than Comcast Xfinity, and at a guaranteed cheaper price. If you’re looking for a television provider, buy DISH Network.
Sources:
http://www.dish.com/dish-vs-comcast/
http://www.denverpost.com/2013/03/08/set-top-box-battle-dishs-hopper-with-sling-vs-comcasts-xfinity-x1/
