What Happened to Fox News Channel on Directv
Best Satellite TV Service Providers 2021
DISH has the best DVR and pricing in the long run, but DIRECTV is the best for NFL football fans and those who want lots of channels
Monthly price
$64.99 – $104.99
Monthly price
$64.99 – $134.99
Published on November 18, 2021
Last Updated: 6 days ago
DISH is currently in a dispute with media company, Tegna. As a result, viewers in 53 markets nationwide will be unable to access channels from stations, including: ABC, CBS, FOX, NBC, CW, MNT, and TDO. We will continue to provide updates until the dispute is solved.
Deals for TV and streaming
Black Friday is known for its stellar deals on new electronics, including televisions and home theater systems. But you can also find excellent deals, and trim some fat off your bills, by taking advantage of TV and streaming service price cuts.
Grab the popcorn and make room for savings this holiday season.
- Roku Streaming Stick 4K drops to $29.99, providing you with a savings of $20 off the original MSRP.
- Buckeye Broadband TV has a couple device options for you: New and certain existing customers can get a free Amazon Fire TV Stick. New customers can get a free Roku Express.
- Grab a Fire TV Stick 4K and enjoy your favorite holiday films on the big screen—a savings of 50% brings the price down to only $24.99.
Satellite television offers a great way to obtain TV service if you're located in a remote area with no traditional cable or if you want television in a mobile home, trailer, or boat. Satellite TV can also be an excellent alternative to local cable providers who may have suboptimal offerings.
DISH offers consistent pricing, but it might not be the best pick for sports fans. DIRECTV offers NFL SUNDAY TICKET, every football fan's fave, but you'll need to keep a closer eye on your bill as it goes up in the second year. (DISH doesn't do those sneaky price hikes.)
If you're going to install a satellite dish on top of your home, let's make sure the provider you pick is worthy of your home.
DIRECTV consumer scam warning
An ongoing scam is currently targeting DIRECTV customers. Unknown individuals are calling DIRECTV subscribers claiming to be service representatives offering a promotion with eBay. The promotion involves paying prepaying your 'DIRECTV bill' via eBay gift cards. Please be aware of this scam—DIRECTV will never ask you to pay your bill with gift cards.
How do DISH and DIRECTV compare?
| Provider | Monthly price | Available channels | Learn more |
|---|---|---|---|
 | $64.99 – $104.99 * | 290 | View Plans |
 | $64.99 – $134.99 † | 330 | View Plans |
Data effective 11/19/18. Offers and availability vary by location and are subject to change.
* For 24 months with a 2-year agreement and eAutoPay.
† For 12 months with a 2-year contract, paperless bill, & autopay. Price increases for months 13-24.
Let's see if satellite TV is available in your area.
How does DISH's and DIRECTV's pricing compare?
DISH has consistent pricing, but DIRECTV has more channels
DIRECTV reigns supreme when it comes to available channels, but DISH offers a consistent monthly price throughout your 2-year contract. You won't have to deal with your prices hiking up nearly double your monthly rate after the first year with DISH.
Whether you're more focused on maximizing your entertainment or keeping an eye on your budget, you'll know the best option for you once you finish reading through this review.
Not happy with DISH Network?
Data effective 11/19/18. Offers and availability vary by location and are subject to change.
‡ for 24. months. Everyday Price $94.99/mo. New customers only. All offers require 2-year commitment with early termination fee and eAutopay. Price includes Hopper Duo for qualifying customers.
^ for 24. months. Everyday Price $99.99/mo. New customers only. All offers require 2-year commitment with early termination fee and eAutopay. Price includes Hopper Duo for qualifying customers.
° for 24. months. Everyday Price $109.99/mo. New customers only. All offers require 2-year commitment with early termination fee and eAutopay. Price includes Hopper Duo for qualifying customers.
** for 24. months. Everyday Price $119.99/mo. New customers only. All offers require 2-year commitment with early termination fee and eAutopay. Price includes Hopper Duo for qualifying customers.
Dish Network has already begun notifying customers that prices will see an increase starting November 2021. The change will likely cause a $5/mo. increase, but you should keep a close eye on your bill, and reach out to Dish with any additional questions.
If you're interested in bundling DISH TV with internet, check out our best DISH bundles piece. Bundling is convenient so you only have to worry about one bill, and we'll guide you through finding the best bundle for you and your family's needs.
DIRECTV offers the most channels between these two satellite TV providers. So if you need more than 330 channels, DIRECTV is at your service.
How much does DIRECTV cost?
Data effective 11/19/18. Offers and availability vary by location and are subject to change.
†† for 12 mos. plus taxes and Regional Sports Fee w/24-mo. agmt. Autopay & Paperless bill reqd. Prices higher in 2nd year.*
‡‡ for 12 mos. plus taxes and Regional Sports Fee w/24-mo. agmt. Autopay & Paperless bill reqd. Prices higher in 2nd year. Regional Sports Fee up to $9.99/mo. is extra & applies.*
Do DISH and DIRECTV have a contract?
DIRECTV requires you to sign a two-year contract, but DISH has a no-contract option or a two-year contract option.
If you go the no-contract route with DISH, your monthly bill will be $10–$15 more than advertised. But you won't have to worry about weaseling your way out of a contract if you decide to cancel.
If you sign a contract, you'll have to commit to the satellite TV service to avoid the early termination fees (which can get a bit pricey).
Oh, and don't forget, DIRECTV raises your plan's monthly price after year one.
DISH early termination fee:
- $20 for every month left on your contract
DIRECTV early termination fee:
- Up to $20 per month left on your contract
Do DISH and DIRECTV have hidden fees?
DISH and DIRECTV both charge some DVR and equipment fees.
Let's start with DISH because their receiver fees can get a little confusing. When you order one receiver for your home, you'll get theHopper Duo (125 HD hours) with DVR service for $5 per month.
DISH upgrades your main set-top box to theHopper 2 when you order three DVR's for your home. And it's not until you orderfour receivers for your home will you get theHopper 3. Both the Hopper 2 and Hopper 3 store 500 HD hours and cost $10 per month.
The additional receiver you order is called a Joey ($5 per month each).
But we don't like the fact that you can't get the Hopper 3, one of the best DVRs on the market, unless you basically had a huge family.
DIRECTV includes the Genie DVR (200 HD hours) with your plan, and it'll cost $7 per month for each additional receiver. But DIRECTV has the audacity to charge a regional sports fee.
How much are DISH's and DIRECTV's fees?
| Fees | DISH | DIRECTV |
|---|---|---|
| Installation fee | Included | Included |
| Activation fee | N/A | $19.95 (one-time) |
| First DVR receiver fee | $5.00–$10.00/mo. | Included |
| Additional DVR receivers fee | $5.00/mo. | $7.00/mo. |
| Regional sports fee | None | $3.00–8.49/mo. |
Which channels does DISH and DIRECTV have?
With satellite TV, you'll get a wide variety of popular channels straight to your television
Good news: you'll get most of your favorite channels with both satellite TV providers, like CNN, Disney Channel, Comedy Central, and NFL Network.
We know you need your daily CNN Newsroom Live, and if you need to distract the little ones, you can turn on Sofia the First.
DISH has the most sports coverage with channels like the NFL Network, SEC Network, and Tennis Channel. But DIRECTV has an NFL SUNDAY TICKET add-on that gives you all out-of-market NFL football games (basically a front-row ticket to lots of games on your couch).
If you're excited for the 2021 Olympics, rest assured, as both DISH and DIRECTV offer the Olympic channel in select packages.
Compare the channel lineup of both DISH and DIRECTV to figure out which one suits your entertainment, sports, lifestyle, or reality TV needs.
Which popular channels does DISH and DIRECTV have?
| Channel | DISH | DIRECTV |
|---|---|---|
| Bloomberg TV | America's Top 250 | Not Available |
| CNN | All packages | All packages |
| Disney Channel | All packages | All packages |
| ESPN | All packages | All packages |
| Food Network | All packages | All packages |
| Fox News | All packages | All packages |
| Hallmark Channel | America's Top 200 and up | All packages |
| HGTV | All packages | All packages |
| MSNBC | All packages | All packages |
| Nickelodeon | All packages | All packages |
| TNT | All packages | All packages |
| Univision | America's Top 200 and up | ULTIMATE and PREMIER |
| USA | All packages | All packages |
Data effective 5/20/2021. Offers and availability vary by location and are subject to change.
DISH vs. DIRECTV premium channels
DISH and DIRECTV offer roughly the same premium channels. You can catch up onThe White Lotuson HBO Max orC.B. Strikeon CINEMAX whether you have DISH or DIRECTV. And both DISH and DIRECTV give you some intro perks.
Most DIRECTV packages give you a free subscription to a bunch of premium channels including SHOWTIME, STARZ, CINEMAX, HBO Max, and EPIX for three months. DISH also offers a free three months for most of its premium channels. Just make sure you cancel them at the end of your free period or you'll get charged.
How much are DISH's and DIRECTV's premium channels?
| Channel | DISH price | DIRECTV price |
|---|---|---|
| HBO® | $12.00/mo. | $14.99/mo. |
| SHOWTIME® | $10.00/mo. | $13.99/mo. |
| CINEMAX® | $10.00/mo. | $13.99/mo. |
| STARZ® | $10.00/mo. | $13.99/mo. |
| STARZ ENCORE® | $6.00/mo. | N/A |
| EPIX® | $7.00/mo. | $5.99/mo. |
| DISH Movie Pack | $10.00/mo. | N/A |
Data effective 9/10/2021. Offers and availability vary by location and are subject to change.
* DISH is offering HBO Max for $12 per month for one year to customers who subscribe before 10/27/21. After the 12 months, the price will change to $14.99/mo.
Tip for movie fans considering DISH
The DISH Movie Pack includes the top 15 movie stations, including EPIX, Sony Movie Channel, and MGM HD.
Which sports channels do DISH vs. DIRECTV have?
DIRECTV takes the sports channel championship belt because of one big feature: NFL SUNDAY TICKET.
NFL SUNDAY TICKET lets you watch every out-of-market NFL game—all Sunday games your local broadcasting stations don't carry. And NFL SUNDAY TICKET is included in the top four DIRECTV packages for your first year. (Now that's a win.)
Along with NFL SUNDAY TICKET, DIRECTV also has the following sports channels:
- Big Ten Network
- Paramount+ Network
- ESPN, ESPN2, ESPN3
- ESPN Classic
- ESPNews
- ESPN U
- Fox Deportes
- Golf Channel
- MLB Network
- NBA TV
- NBC Sports Network
- NFL Network
- NHL Network
- Tennis Channel
- Sportsman Channel
- Universal Sports
But make sure the package you plan on getting has the sports channels you need. Unfortunately, you'll have to get the most expensive DIRECTV plan if you want ESPN Classic or Fox Deportes.
If you're not a hardcore, yell-at-the-TV football fan, you'll be fine with DISH. DISH has a few more sports channels, and you get most of them with the $89.99 per month plan.
This same plan even made our list for the top providers for the NBA season.
DISH has the following sports channels:
- ACCN
- Big Ten Network
- CBS Sports Network
- ESPN, ESPN2
- ESPNews
- ESPN U
- FS1, FS2
- Golf Channel
- Longhorn Network
- MLB Extra Innings
- MLB Network
- NBA TV
- NBC Sports Network
- NFL Network
- NHL Center Ice
- NHL Network
- Pac-12 Network
- SEC Network
- Tennis Channel
- TUDN
- TUDNxtra 1–11
- Zona Fútbol
If you're a huge sports fan, be sure to also check out our roundup of the best sports packages from cable and streaming TV providers.
How do DISH's and DIRECTV's DVR compare?
Both DISH and DIRECTV have some of the best DVRs in the industry, but the Hopper and Genie have their ups and downs.
How much are DISH's and DIRECTV's DVR?
| Provider | DISH | DIRECTV |
|---|---|---|
| DVR storage | 125–500 HD hrs. | 200 HD hrs. |
| DVR fee | Hopper Duo ($5.00/mo.), Hopper 2 and 3 ($10.00/mo.) | First receiver included |
| Additional DVR receivers fee | $5.00/mo. | $7.00/mo. |
What we like about DISH's Hopper DVR is the storage space. What we don't like is the new confusing pricing.
When you order one set-top box for your home, you'll get DISH's Hopper Duo, which gives you 125 HD recording hours for $5 per month (that's a pretty good deal).
When you order three receivers, you'll get the Hopper 2 (but it's unclear as to how many storage hours your get with its DVR). That means you'll get one Hopper 2 and two Joey's, making your fee $20 per month.
And finally, when you order four or more receivers for the family, this is when DISH's checkout will allow you to get the Hopper 3 and three Joeys (a total of $25 for the fee).
This Hopper 3 will give you a whopping 500 recording hours. You'll be able to record all 201 episodes of The Office, the weekend's 16 NFL football games, and over 170 movies, and still have room for more.
And DIRECTV so kindly includes the Genie DVR with your plan, giving you 200 HD recording hours. You'll be able to record all 130 episodes of Brooklyn Nine-Nine and 120 of Saturday Night Live before you even sit on the couch to binge-watch.
Recap: DISH is the winner
DISH has a better value, but DIRECTV has NFL SUNDAY TICKET
After comparing price, contracts, overall channel count, sports channel availability, and DVR storage, DISH comes out ahead between these two satellite providers.
DIRECTV does offer NFL SUNDAY TICKET, but DISH has better pricing that stays consistent throughout the contract. It also provides you with lots of popular channels, including great sports coverage.
- Pricing: DISH offers more bang for your buck in the long run because you don't have to worry about second-year price hikes. You can choose to go the no-contract route or pay $10–$15 less with a 2-year commitment. If you want more than 330+ channels, make sure you budget for DIRECTV's year two rates.
- Channels: You'll get most of your favorite live TV channels with both providers, and both give you free memberships for premium channels for a period of time.
- Sports Channels: DISH has the most sports channels, but DIRECTV has NFL SUNDAY TICKET for the football families. If you live in Miami but you're a Seattle Seahawks fan and you want to watch every full Seahawks game, you'll want the TICKET.
- DVR: DISH's Hopper 3 can give you loads of storage space with 500 hours, but you'll have to order four receivers total to get this great set-top box. This might not be a problem for you if you have a full house though. DIRECTV's DVR only has 200 hours of storage, but the first receiver is free (and 200 hours is still quite a bit).
FAQ
How much are DISH's plans?
- Americs Top 120: $64.99/mo., 190 channels
- America's Top 120+: $79.99/mo., 190+ channels
- America's Top 200: $89.99/mo., 240+ channels
- America's Top 250: $99.99/mo., 290+ channels
Does DISH have HBO?
Yes, DISH offers HBO and HBO Max as of July 29, 2021. DISH also added CINEMAX as an option at the same time.
DISH currently has an offer going on where you can get a discount on HBO Max for your first 12 months. Customers who subscribe before October 27, 2021 can get HBO Max for $12 per month for the first 12 months. (HBO Max usually costs $14.99 per month.)
Now that you know, here are your next steps.
4
Read our full DISH Network Review
3
Read our full DIRECTV Review
Written by
Chantel Buchi
Chantel is all about finding the best tv or streaming service to watch as many football games as possible to keep her Fantasy Football team in check. Prior to being a TV and Streaming Tech Reporter for Reviews.org, she worked for NFL Network and The Alliance of American Football. Before that, she received a B.A. of Communication at the University of Utah and an M.S. in Sports Journalism at USC. Go Utes and Fight On. Contact her at chantel@reviews.org
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What Happened to Fox News Channel on Directv
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