Comcast Vs. Dish

Comcast's television plans range from more than 80 channels for the Digital Starter plan, which is the least expensive option, to more than 200 channels with the Digital Premier plan, the most expensive plan. Comcast also offers On Demand service, in which customers can instantly watch select movies and television programs. Dish Network's satellite television plans consist of eight options, three of which include HD channels with the monthly fee. The plans range in price based upon the number of channels available, the smallest plan offering more than 60 channels and the largest plan providing more than 315 channels.

Two Internet-only plans are available from Comcast, with download speeds ranging from as much as 15 Mbps up to 20 Mbps for the more expensive plan. Comcast also provides PowerBoost technology to speed up the downloading at times, and email service is included. Dish's Internet-only plans start out with a base plan offering download speeds of 1.5 Mbps. Upgrading to 7 Mbps or 12 Mbps is possible with an additional monthly fee added to the service fee.

Comcast's two home phone plan options include an unlimited plan and an unlimited local plan in which customers pay an additional per-minute fee for long distance. Add-on possibilities with Comcast include a set fee per month for 100 minutes to a select country or 300 worldwide minutes. Up to 12 calling features, such as Caller ID are included. Dish Network's phone service plan provides 11 phone features and voicemail with email delivery. Add-ons available from Dish Network consist of adding 3,000 minutes of long distance per month for a set additional monthly fee and adding another line for a monthly fee.

Four different bundle plans are available from Comcast, which Comcast calls Triple Play packages. These packages include television, Internet and home phone service for one monthly fee. The packages increase in monthly cost as the amount of television channels included in the plan increases and the speed of the Internet service increases. Bundle plans from Dish Network include a television, Internet and phone bundle, which is their most expensive bundle; television and Internet bundle; television and phone bundle; and phone and Internet bundle. The bundle plans come with the smallest television plan available from Dish, but upgrading is available for an additional monthly fee.