Satellite Television Package Price Comparison

Dish Network packages start at $24.99 a month for the first year and rise to $34.99 a month in year two. This basic package, Dish America, contains about 60 channels including ESPN, CNN, Discovery, TNT, USA, TBS, History Channel and Cartoon Network, among others. The second-most expensive plan with Dish Network starts at $49.99 a month for the first year and becomes $69.99 a month in year two. This plan, America's Top 250, contains more than 260 channels -- including 18 movie channels. There are three mid-grade packages offering 120 to 220 channels. All of Dish Networks packages offer free HD for life, and all of the packages go up in price by $10 to $20 after the first year. The most expensive plan with Dish Network, America's Everything, is priced at $84.99 a month, which becomes $109.99 after the first year. This package contains more than 315 channels, including everything in the America's Top 250 package and 30 commercial-free movie channels.

DirecTV's basic plan, Choice, begins at $29.99, but that price remains consistent for two years with a 24-month agreement. The Choice package includes more than 150 channels with optional additions such as DVR, HD programming, or whole-home DVR and HD. The most expensive package, Premier, begins at $83.99 and remains that price for two years with a 24-month agreement. The Premier package includes more than 285 channels as well as free HD, a DVR for $7 a month, or whole-home DVR and HD at 50 percent savings ($10 a month). There are two mid-grade packages: the Choice Xtra package, which includes more than 210 channels for $34.99, and the Choice Ultimate package which includes more than 225 channels for $39.99 a month. Both offer the same DVR, free HD, and whole-home DVR and HD options at the same rate as the Premier package. DirecTV offers the NFL Sunday Ticket package, which no other television provider can offer due to a contract with the NFL.

Specials are available and change all the time. Dish Network and DirecTV offer special rates to new customers as well as specials on premium channels such as HBO, Starz, Cinemax and Showtime. Additionally, free DVR, HD or HD DVR receivers are sometimes offered for new customers as well. Incentives can sometimes be the deciding factor when both providers are available, with a clear signal to your home.

Satellite providers have to be able to access the satellite signal from your home when they come to install the satellite dish. If a clear signal cannot be reached, the service may not be a reasonable investment for you in that location. Additionally, if renting, you will need written documentation showing permission to have the dish installed on the property as well as directions or stipulations regarding permissible locations. For example, installing a satellite dish on the roof may be the only way to get a clear signal, but it may not be allowed by the landlord or property owner due to the installation voiding a warranty on the roof.