Satellite Television

Local Summaries

Here is a comparison of the two main options for satellite TV - Direct TV vs. the Dish Network. Pricing, number of channels, and special offers are compared.





I created this guide because the official printed satellite TV channel information is very confusing, and it is difficult to compare the two companies' packages.

Available Channels ALPHABETICALLY Listed by Package
A - C	D - G	H - Q	R - Z
Pricing of Channel Packages Compared

top of page

Channel Name

10

A&E

-

-

118

118

118

47

ABC Family

-

-

180

180

180

52

ActionMax

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

313

-

Alma Vision

-

-

-

-

9413

9413

9413

9413

-

Altitude Sports

-

-

-

681

-

-

410

410

410

-

America Live

-

-

-

-

-

219

219

219

219

-

AMC

-

-

130

130-890

130-890

49

Angel 1

-

-

-

-

262-9701

262-9701

262-9701

262-9701

262-9701

-

Angel 2

-

-

-

-

266-9395

266-9395

266-9395

266-9395

266-9395

-

Animal Planet

184-887

-

184-887

184-887

184-887

51

-

-

8

BBC America

-

-

135-879

135-879

135-879

162

BET

-

-

124

124

124

70

Big Ten Network.

-

-

439

439

439

-

Biography Channel

-

266

266

266

119

-

-

119

119

275

Bloomberg Television

203-893

-

-

-

203-893

-

Boomerang

-

298

298

298

175-873

-

-

175-873

175-873

-

Bravo

-

-

129-880

129-880

129-880

48

BYU TV - Brigham Young

9397-9403

-

9397-9403

9397-9403

9397-9403

228

-

-

24

Cartoon Network (East)

-

-

176

176

176

54

Cartoon Network West

177

177

-

CBS College Sports

-

-

613

613

152

-

152

152

152

-

CCTV-9

-

-

-

-

694

-

265-964

265-964

265-964

-

CCTV-E

-

-

-

-

695-884

-

695-884

695-884

695-884

-

CD-Kidtunes

-

-

-

-

975

-

976

976

976

-

CD-(34 channels)

-

-

-

-

9xx

-

Centric

-

330

330

330

-

-

-

-

-

-

Chiller

-

257

257

257

-

-

-

199

199

-

Christian Television Network

267-9399

267-9399

-

Church Channel - TCC

-

-

-

-

-

-

Cinemax - E

-

-

-

512

310

562

Cinemax - W

-

-

-

514

311

561

Cinemax HD

-

-

-

-

4923-9458

-

Cinemax HD West

-

-

-

-

9440

-

CMT - Country Music Tele.

-

166

166

166

166

67

CNBC

-

208

208

208

208

58

CNBC World - CNBW

-

-

-

207-892

207-892

-

CNN

-

200

200

200

200

56

Colours TV

-

-

-

-

9407-9396

-

9407-9396

9407-9396

9407-9396

-

Comedy Central

-

107

107

107

107

63

C-SPAN

210

-

210

210

210

22

C-SPAN2

211

-

211

211

211

23

Current TV

-

-

196

196

196

-

49

-

20

210-800

55

55

55

55

55

55

55

55

55

55

top of page

Channel Name

11

Daystar

263

263

263

263

263

-

Discovery Channel, The

-

182

182

182

182

15

Discovery Health

-

-

189-885

189-885

189-885

220

Discovery Kids

-

294

294

294

179-888

-

-

179-888

179-888

121

DishCD - (80 channels)

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

DISH Music - (18 channels)

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

9xx

9xx

-

Disney Channel - East

-

172

172

172

172

55

Disney Channel - West

-

173

173

173

173

-

Disney XD

-

-

174-847

174-847

174-847

-

DIY - Do It Yourself

-

230

230

230

111-876

-

-

111-876

111-876

204

Documentary Channel

-

-

-

-

197

197

-

15

E! Entertainment

-

114-800

114-800

114-800

114-800

64

Encore (E)

-

-

526

526

-

-

-

-

518

Encore (W)

-

-

527

527

-

-

-

341

341

-

Encore Action

-

-

yes

yes

-

-

-

343

343

530

Encore Drama

-

-

yes

yes

-

-

-

345

345

528

Encore Love

-

-

yes

yes

-

-

-

346

346

520

Encore Mystery

-

-

yes

yes

-

-

-

344

344

522

Encore Wam

-

-

yes

yes

-

-

-

347

347

-

Encore Westerns

-

-

yes

yes

-

-

-

342

342

524

ESPN

-

140

140

140

140

38-724

ESPN Classic

-

-

-

208

-

-

143

143

143

407

ESPN2

-

144

144

144

144

39-725

ESPNEWS

-

142

142-800

142-800

142-800

402

ESPNU

-

141

141

141

141

-

Eternal Word - EWTN

261-9417

261-9417

261-9417

261-9417

261-9417

-

15

Flix

-

-

-

547

333

-

FLN - Fine Living Network

113

-

-

113

113

182

Fit TV

-

-

-

-

-

-

Food Network

110

110

110

110

110

35

Fox Business News

-

359

359

359

-

-

-

206

206

-

Fox Movie Channel

-

258

258

258

-

-

-

133-897

133-897

-

FOX News Channel

205-805

205-805

205-805

205-805

205-805

59

Fox Reality TV

-

250

250

250

-

-

-

190

190

-

Fox Soccer

-

-

-

619

-

-

-

149-877

149-877

401

Fox Soccer Plus

-

-

-

yes

-

-

-

-

-

-

Fox Sports en Espanol

-

-

-

624

-

-

-

-

-

602

Free Speech TV

-

9415

9415

9415

9415

27

FUEL TV

-

618

618

618

-

-

-

156

156

-

Fuse

-

-

-

158

158

-

FX

-

-

136-878

136-878

136-878

36

10

G4

-

354

354

354

-

-

191

191

191

136

Galavision

-

-

273-833

273-833

273-833

72

Gems and Jewelry

-

229

229

229

229

-

GEMSTV

-

-

226

226

-

GOD TV - GTV

-

-

-

-

-

-

GOLTV

-

-

-

620

-

-

-

-

-

618

Golf Channel, The

-

218

218

218

-

-

401

401

401

405

Gospel Music - GMC

-

-

-

-

-

-

Great American Country

-

326

326

326

167

-

-

167

167

-

GSN - Game Show Network

-

-

116

116

116

161

59

-

20

210-800

55

55

55

55

55

55

55

55

55

55

top of page

Channel Name

20

Hallmark Channel

185-896

-

185-896

185-896

185-896

185

Hallmark Movie Channel

-

-

-

-

187

-

-

187

187

-

HBO - Comedy

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

307

-

HBO - East

-

-

-

501

-

-

-

-

300

550

HBO - Family East

-

-

-

507

-

-

-

-

305

-

HBO - Family West

-

-

-

508

-

-

-

-

-

537

HBO - HD

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

9456

548

HBO - Latino

-

-

-

yes

-

-

-

-

309

-

HBO - Signature

-

-

503

-

-

-

-

302

555

HBO - West

-

-

-

504

-

-

-

-

303

551

HBO2 - East

-

-

-

502

-

-

-

-

301

-

HBO2 - West

-

-

-

505

-

-

-

-

304

553

Headline News

202

202

202

202

202

57

HGTV - Home and Garden

-

112

112

112

112

203

History Channel

-

120

120

120

120

62

History International

-

271

271

271

-

-

-

-

-

276

HITN - Spanish

-

843-9401

843-9401

843-9401

843-9401

-

Hope

-

-

-

-

-

-

HorseRacing TV

-

-

-

-

-

404

404

404

404

-

HSN - Home Shopping

84-222

84-222

84-222

84-222

84-222

-

6

In Country Television

-

-

-

-

230

230

230

230

-

-

Independent Film Chan. - IFC

-

-

131-894

131-894

131-894

503

Inspiration Networks - INSP

-

259

259

259

259

-

Investigation Discovery - ID

-

285

285

285

192

-

192

192

192

271

ION (East)

-

216-882

216-882

216-882

216-882

16

ION West

217

-

4

Jewelry Television

-

227

227

227

227

410

Jewish Life - JLTV

-

-

-

-

-

-

KBS World

-

-

-

-

-

704

652-704

652-704

652-704

-

Kids and Teens

-

-

-

-

264-9394

264-9394

264-9394

264-9394

264-9394

-

7

Learning Channel, The - TLC

280

-

183

183

183

183

50

Lifetime

-

108

108

108

108

46

Lifetime Movie Network

-

-

109

109

109

504

Link TV

-

Live Shopping

-

221-229

221-229

221-229

221-229

-

Local Sports Networks

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

several

several

-

Logo - Gay and Lesbian

-

272

272

272

-

-

-

-

-

-

10

Mercury Channel

-

-

-

-

-

220

220

220

220

-

MHz Worldview - MHZW

-

-

-

-

-

-

Military Channel

-

287

287

287

-

-

-

195

195

274

MLB - Major League Baseball

-

-

-

-

-

-

MoreMAX

-

-

-

513

-

MSG (New York Sports)

-

-

-

634

-

-

412

412

412

-

MSNBC

-

-

209

209

209

60

MTV

-

160

160

160

160

43

MTV2

-

161

161

161

161

65

mun2

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

269

269

607

15

The N

-

-

-

298

-

-

-

-

-

215

NASA

213

213

213

213

213

-

National Geographic Channel

-

276

276

276

-

-

-

186-886

186-886

273

NBA TV

216

216

216

402-4102

416

NBA TV HD

-

-

-

-

9508-9509

-

New England Sports Net.

-

-

-

628

434

-

NFL Network

-

-

154

154

154

417

NHL Network

-

215

215

215

-

-

403-625

403-625

403-625

-

NHL Network HD

-

-

-

-

4103-9540

-

Nick Jr.

169

-

Nickelodeon/ Nick at Night - E

170

170

170

170

170

53

Nickelodeon/ Nick at Night - W

171

171

171

171

171

-

Nicktoons Network

-

302

302

302

178

-

-

178

178

126

NOGGIN

-

-

-

298

-

-

-

-

-

120

NRB - Nat. Relig. Broad.

-

-

-

-

-

-

4

Once (Mexico)

-

-

-

-

-

614

Outdoor Channel, The

-

-

-

606

153

-

-

153

153

-

Ovation

-

274

274

274

-

-

157

157

157

-

Oxygen

-

251

251

251

-

-

127

127

127

-

5

PAEC

-

-

-

-

9418

9418

-

PBS

-

-

-

-

-

-

Pentagon Channel

-

-

-

-

9405

9405

-

Planet Green

-

286

286

286

-

-

-

194

194

201

QVC

137

137

137

137

137

11

83

-

20

210-800

55

55

55

55

55

55

55

55

55

55

top of page

Channel Name

3

Reelz Channel

-

299

299

299

299

-

Research Channel

-

-

-

-

9400

-

RFD-TV (Rural)

231-9398

-

231-9398

231-9398

231-9398

-

32

Satellite Response Network

-

-

-

-

-

85-223

-

85-223

85-223

-

Science Channel, The

193

-

-

193

193

272

Shop At Home

-

-

-

-

-

9602

224-9602

224-9602

224-9602

-

ShopNBC

134-228

134-228

134-228

134-228

134-228

-

Showtime (East)

-

-

-

537

-

-

-

-

-

575

Showtime West

-

-

-

540

-

-

-

-

-

576

Showtime 2

-

-

-

538

-

-

-

-

-

578

Showtime Extreme

-

-

-

542

-

-

-

-

-

582

Si TV (Spanish)

-

-

-

-

-

-

159-874

159-874

159-874

-

SIRIUS - (56 channels)

-

-

-

-

-

-

many

many

60xx

-

Sleuth

-

308

308

308

-

-

-

198

198

-

SOAPnet

-

-

188

188

188

184

SPEED, The Channel

-

607

607

607

-

-

150-891

150-891

150-891

408

Spike TV

-

168

168

168

168

45

Sportsman Channel

-

yes

yes

yes

285

-

-

Sprout

-

295

295

295

-

-

-

-

-

119

Starz Cinema (East)

-

-

-

520

-

-

-

-

353

534

Starz Comedy

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

354

-

Starz Comedy HD

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

9486

-

Starz East

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

350

-

Starz Edge

-

-

-

522

-

-

-

-

352

536

Starz Edge HD

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

9496

-

Starz HDTV

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

4924-9435

-

Starz In Black

-

-

-

523

-

-

-

-

355

-

Starz Kids (East)

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

356

-

Starz Kids HD

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

9497

-

Starz West

-

-

-

521

-

-

-

-

351

-

Starz West HD

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

9498

-

Style

-

235

235

235

-

-

-

115

115

-

Sundance Channel

-

-

549

549

-

-

-

-

-

505

Sun Sports

-

-

-

653

422

-

SYFY (Sci-Fi)

-

122

122

122

122

68

23

TBN - Trinity Broadcasting

260-9409

260-9409

260-9409

260-9409

260-9409

230

TBS - Turner Broadcasting

-

139

139

139

139

41-735

TCT - Tristate Christ. Telev.

-

-

-

-

-

-

Teennick

181

181

-

Telefutura - E

-

-

yes

yes

-

-

271-830

271-830

271-830

-

Telefutura - W

-

-

yes

yes

-

-

272-831

272-831

272-831

-

Tennis Channel, The

-

yes

yes

yes

-

-

-

400

400

-

TMC - The Movie Channel - E

-

-

544

544

-

-

-

-

327

-

TMC - The Movie Channel - W

-

-

545

545

329-898

329-898

591

TMC - The Movie Channel HD

-

-

-

-

9481

-

TMC - XTRA

-

-

-

-

328

-

TMC - XTRA-W

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

330-899

330-899

593

Three Angels Broadcasting

-

-

-

-

9710

9710

9710

9710

9710

-

TLC - The Learning Channel

-

183

183

183

183

50

TNT - Turner Network Tele.

-

138

138

138

138

37-737

Travel Channel, The

-

215

215

215

215

71

truTV

-

-

204

204

204

66

Turner Classic Movies - TCM

-

-

132

132

132

501

TV Games Network

-

-

-

-

-

405

405

405

405

-

TV Guide Network

-

117

117

117

117

31

TV Land

106

106

106

106

106

163

TV One (Black)

-

-

-

-

-

-

TVG - Inter. Horseracing

-

602

602

602

-

2

Univision

-

-

270-827

270-827

270-827

-

USA Network

-

105

105

105

105

42

5

V-ME

-

845-9414

846-9414

846-9414

846-9414

191

Veria

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

218

218

-

Versus

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

151

151

404

VH1

-

162

162

162

162

44

VH1 Classic

-

337

337

337

-

-

-

163

163

-

5

WE - Women's Entertainment

-

-

128-889

128-889

128-889

-

Weather Channel, The

214

214

214

214

214

61

WGN America

-

307

307

307

-

-

239

239-881

239-881

-

WHT - World Harvest

-

-

-

-

-

-

Word, The

-

-

-

-

-

-

81

272 - 20 - 12 = 240

20

210-800

55

55

55

55

55

55

55

55

55

55

top of page

Regular Price
(on website)

Special Offer
(on website)

Regular Price
(on flyer)

Special Offer
(on flyer)

# of Channels

# of HD Channels for $10 more per month

Early Termination Fee

Google Searches
/ Complaints

"direct tv blows" = 17,500 results
"direct tv sucks" = 23,100 results
"directv sucks"   = 17,200 results

"dish network blows   =    2,860 results
"dish network sucks" = 118,000 results

Notes:
1. One penny has been added to the prices above, to avoid all the "99 cents" baloney.
2. "Special offers" vary all over the map - nothing is standard.
3. All special offers REQUIRE a commitment of 24 months.
4. Some special offers require "Auto-debit" - not for me, not in this lifetime. This is done primarily so they can grab 100% of their penalizing "Early Termination Fee" directly out of your account.

205-800

65

65

65

65

65

65

65

65

65

top of page

Disclaimer: Although every effort has been made to make this data as accurate as possible, errors can and do occur. If you feel that any data is in error, please check with as second source. I hope that this page has made it easier for you to select a TV service provider.