A Comparison of DirecTV & Time Warner Packages

Prices for both Time Warner and DirecTV vary a great deal based on packages. New DirecTV customers are offered deep discounts on television service. They might also pay for a basic package and receive a variety of premium channels for a limited time. DirecTV offers its Choice Xtra Package for $39.99 per month for one year as of June 2011. The rate increases to $60.99 after the first year of service. Customers are required to sign a contract for at least two years of service to receive the discount. Time Warner customers pay an average of $72 for a basic digital cable package each month. Both companies implement regular price increases. Time Warner increased basic subscription rates by an average of $4 in January 2011 and increased DVR service by $3 the same month. DirecTV customers experienced an increase in their May 2011 bills of approximately $5.

Both DirecTV and Time Warner Cable provide high-definition television channels to customers. Those without a high-definition television set simply see programming in standard picture quality. Time Warner offers more than 100 high-definition channels, while DirecTV offers more than 130 HD channels. Total channels vary from region to region, but in general, DirecTV customers have access to more high-definition programming.

Another benefit both Time Warner Cable and DirecTV offer is the DVR and On Demand services. This allows viewers to record programs or to access programs in the system to watch at their convenience. DirecTV offers packages that include the benefit of DVR service and, in some cases, charges more if you choose a package without it. Time Warner Cable charges an additional rate for DVR service. Time Warner Cable's On Demand service provides 10,000 programs per month, and DirecTV's includes 4,500 per month. Watching television in different rooms is a priority for many viewers. Both Time Warner Cable and DirecTV charge for access to their services from additional televisions. Time Warner charges approximately $8 per additional television set and DirecTV charges $5 per additional set.

DirecTV offers access to the NFL Sunday Ticket, the NCAA Mega March Madness package and the NASCAR Hotpass, while Time Warner Cable does not. These options enable sports fans to enjoy out-of-market games and events they would otherwise miss. Some sports programming is available to both DirecTV and Time Warner subscribers, including the MLB Extra Innings package, the NBA League Pass and the NHL Center Ice Package.