Comparison of U-Verse Television to DirecTV and Comcast Cable

U-verse's television plans are highly customizable. AT&T; offers pre-selected U-verse plans that vary in cost and complexity, from the U-basic plan that includes local channels only to the U450 plan that comes with up to 410 channels. Add-on movie, sports and Spanish-language channel packs are also available at additional cost. DirecTV offers four basic channel packages, which range from approximately 145 digital channels in the Choice package to about 280 in the Premier, which includes movies, sports and other premium channels. Spanish and other international channels, as well as specialty packs such as Adult Entertainment and BabyFirstTV are also available. Comcast XFINITY plans include channel lineups that range from 80 to over 200 channels deep. All of these include local channels and basic cable, and the highest-end Digital Premier package includes premium movie channels and sports.

U-verse packages are available with a variety of extra features, such as Total Home DVR, which allows you to watch digitally recorded shows on any television in the house, TV Multiview, which allows you to watch four television shows at once, and HD and 3-D access. DirecTV also offers a DVR service that allows you to watch digitally recorded programming on any television in the house, with a single DVR and an HD receiver for each television. Certain receiver models also allow you to watch eight DirecTV channels at once. XFINITY offers HD and 3-D access for customers with sets that support them, as well as DVR service and more than 8,000 HD On Demand programming choices.

U-Verse service requires the Wireless Gateway, a device that connects all the televisions in the house to each other as well as to your Internet and telephone service. The device allows you to control your DVR from your computer. DirecTV requires a receiver that attaches to your television and translates satellite signals into audio and video. Consumers have a choice of a standard or HD receiver, with or without DVR. Additionally, DirecTV offers a portable satellite television with a built-in receiver. XFINITY requires a cable box, which is delivered and set up by a local Comcast technician and includes a built-in DVR. Some cable boxes are compatible with an iPad application that allows you to watch cable programming on your iPad anywhere you have reception.

U-verse and XFINITY are only available in areas with fiber-optic network access. To find out if you are located in one of these places, visit att.com and comcast.com and enter your home address. Since DirecTV is a satellite service, it is available nearly everywhere.