The two most popular satellite TV providers in the World are Direct TV and Dish Network. These companies have been going head to head for years. The competition is great for the customers because it means lower prices and better equipment deals. When you are thinking about upgrading to satellite TV but you don't know which company to go with, things can get a little frustrating. For everyone customer service is one of the most important factors when it comes to choosing a specific company or provider with a contract.

Direct TV and Dish Network both have helpful 24 hour customer service lines. Dish Network is all about customer service and company pride so they closely monitor their dealers so that they know everything is running smoothly. One of the most popular online Dish Network dealers is VMXSatellite, which has won the JD Power top customer satisfaction for two consecutive years.

Price is also another important factor to most people when they are considering signing a contract for service with a company. For the most part Dish Network is able to offer the most competitive satellite TV prices, beating Direct TV by a small amount and cable TV by a landslide. There are many online Dish Network dealers who are offering their new subscribers a free DVD and DVR that can record and store up to one hundred hours of programming during their promotional period. Direct TV has a similar offer but at a slightly higher price but they offer the exclusive NFL Sunday Ticket. Tivo has a feature that allows you to record an entire season without reruns with the Sports season pass.

You must consider the long term maintenance cost, and fortunately with today's dishes your system will require no maintenance at all. The only cost you will be require to pay is the monthly subscription fee. The base package with Dish Network runs you about twenty dollars per month. The Direct TV base package begins at about thirty dollars per month, nothing when you compare it to the high prices of cable TV.

Customer service and price are important, but programming selection is another huge factor when it comes to deciding which satellite TV provider to go with. Direct TV is able to offer their customers up to two hundred and twenty five channels. Direct TV also has some exclusive sports rights to certain channels, but they require an extra fee to get access. These packages include the NY Yankee Games, NBA League Pass, NFL Sunday Ticket, and the NHL Center Ice.

Dish Network offers more than two hundred and fifty six channels. Dish Network also delivers up to two hundred and thirty one pre-season, regular season, and post season NFL playoff games, and all without being forced to purchase an expensive season package subscription. You can also get access to even more comprehensive international programming along with other additional foreign language programming packages.

Many Dish Network dealers offer life time warranties on their basic satellite equipment. Direct TV dealers will generally offer their customers a two year extended warranty from the day of activation.