Any "GOOD" satellite TV company out there?

[grsthegreat]

Play the 'discount game' with DirecTV. We installed it 4 months ago at our mountain property (since there are only 2 OTA channels available).

Got the following discounts for the Choice Extra Pkg. -$10/mo for 10 months (referred by a friend offer), -$10 (free HD with auto bill pay option), -$6 (one free receiver), -$5 (receive email offers)

All this means is that we pay $19.95 for 6 months, then $24.95 for 6 months, then $49.95 for 12 mos... for Choice Extra Pkg, with HD access (our place is small so we only have one receiver and don't have the DVR)

The first trick is to get their best initial monthly offer. It's usually offered with online registering, but also can be in a direct mail flyer. Call their tool-free number and play dumb, they'll do all the work to get you signed up and give you the best offer available online vs direct mail or whatever...

Make sure you get someone with an existing account to give you their number for the 'refer a friend program'. Doing that gets you and the friend a -$10 discount for 10 months.

Direct TV mails us a letter about 2-3 times a week trying to get us back...has rediculous prices packages. I actually called them when they listed a choice package for $35.00 incl free HD for life, free install and free DVR upgrade. Then i got the real answer from their sales guys. This package had alot (about 20 if i remember) home shoping type channels....and alot of junk channels. If i wanted some good channels, i needed to upgrade packages. Then i had to add $5 / receiver access fee (x3) plus an additional $6/HD receiver (even though they say its free...they meen the receiver is free but you have to pay to use it....typical directv). After all was said and done it was $65/mo for 12 months then $95/month for remainder of 2 year contract.. Also, no guarantee against future price increases (we had 4 in about 1-1/2 years)... kinda different from the $35 they advertised. I hung up.Never again.

 

[Jenkins003]

I'm sure I am one of the few people left that still use a big C-band dish. I pay 37 dollars a month for about 60 channels plus the free channels and music that are still there and I never loose a picture no matter how bad the weather is. I had Dish and Direct and hated them both . I get my movies with Netflix. I use a box called a Roku to stream Netflix to my big screen TV. I have my Roku set up wireless but it does have a port for a network cable. I know this wouldn't be for everyone but I wouldn't trade it for anything I've tried.

 

[JerryK]

I have DishNetwork, and have their 'Family Package' and local channels for under $26 USD a month. They do not advertise that package any more. But works for me. Picture is excellent unless there are big thunderstorms...a couple times a year. Out in the woods where I am satellite is the only way to go. I miss CBC from Canada, though....

 

[Joe H]

For 3 days my Dish is on again off again. Couple months ago no broadcast TV stations available while they argued about the price. So now it's a satellite problem and no TV at all when it decides to stop working for 5 minutes to half an hour.
Also can't get local stations I want, only the ones from the state capital which is 200 miles away.
Dish sucks, they all suck.
Joe H

 

[Combustix]

Have had both and back with direct like grsthegreat we played them off each other now have two dvr's and the latest antennae which is probably a recycled one repainted. They should have an ala carte menu for what you want to watch. Way to much money for 46 shopping channels. If I picked we'd have 10 and we would be watching those all the time for a lot less money

 

[Bird]

They should have an ala carte menu for what you want to watch.

I'll bet nearly all the customers would like that, but I don't think it'll ever happen.

 

[CowboyRon]

I'm sure I am one of the few people left that still use a big C-band dish. I pay 37 dollars a month for about 60 channels plus the free channels and music that are still there and I never loose a picture no matter how bad the weather is. I had Dish and Direct and hated them both . I get my movies with Netflix. I use a box called a Roku to stream Netflix to my big screen TV. I have my Roku set up wireless but it does have a port for a network cable. I know this wouldn't be for everyone but I wouldn't trade it for anything I've tried.

I use to have a big dish and loved it. I could choose who I wanted to provide my service and how many channels I wanted. Who is your provider and how many are left?

 

[Jenkins003]

I use to have a big dish and loved it. I could choose who I wanted to provide my service and how many channels I wanted. Who is your provider and how many are left?

There are only two left. Skyvision and SRL Programming Center. All the subscription stuff is on one satellite now so there is no more dish moving. Like I said it's not for everyone but everything that I like to watch is there and they do have a small Ala Carte selection.

 

[mmurphy]

I am going to "Ditch the Dish" and go to cable. My dish bill has doubled in the 12 years I have been with them. My current bill is 75 dollars a month, and no movie channel, 1 t.v. and no DVR. My local cable has all the channels I want,2 t.v. hook ups, and DVR for 70 dollars a month. To top it off, we have a coop in our phone company so we get a % backevery year.

When I called Dish to find out when the last day I was paid up to, they wanted to get me to talk to some one about getting a better deal. I told them they should have thought about that before my bill went up 10 bucks in just 14 months time. They sent me more packages and called about what they would do, at that point told them I know how they play the game and will not be part of it.