Satellite TV

Best satellite TV providers in 2025

Robin Layton

Edited By

Hannah Whatley

Last updated: June 30, 2025

Satellite TV brings services to rural areas. DISH and DIRECTV both have premium packages with high channel counts for your entertainment needs. Our broadband experts break down the best options for you.

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Best satellite TV providers

DIRECTV

Best for sports lovers

Prices starting at – $84.99/mo. for 90+ channels

View featured plans

Check plans with DIRECTV

Or give us a call

(844) 451-2720

DISH

Best for DVR

Prices starting at – $91.99/mo. for 190+ channels

View featured plans

Check plans with DISH

Or give us a call

(844) 451-2720

Key takeaways

DIRECTV and DISH are both satellite TV companies that cover almost 100% of the U.S.
DIRECTV offers a higher channel count, but DISH is a better option for budget shoppers
Satellite has better availability, channel choices, picture quality and customer satisfaction than cable, but you may run into service disruptions, contracts and inconvenient equipment installation

Compare DIRECTV and DISH satellite TV

When it comes to satellite TV companies, DIRECTV and DISH cover nearly 100% of the country, making them your main two options. Either DIRECTV or DISH could be the best satellite TV provider for you depending on what you’re looking for.

Providers	Starting price*	Channels	DVR recordings	Contract
DIRECTV	$84.99/mo.**	90 – 185+	200 hours	Two years for satellite
DISH	$91.99/mo.	190 – 290+	2,000 hours	Three years

*Pricing per month plus taxes for length of contract. Additional fees and terms may apply. Pricing varies by location and availability. All prices subject to change at any time. May or may not be available based on service address. Updated as of 06/30/25.
**New approved residential customers only. Service renews monthly unless you cancel. Cancel anytime by calling 800-531-5000 or online. Add’l fees may apply to non-qualified customers. Device subject to Equipment Lease agmt. Add’l fee(s) may apply if equip. not returned. Credit card req’d. Restr’s apply.

Which satellite TV provider is best for you?

DIRECTV pros & cons

Decent channel count – DIRECTV offers up to 185+ channels
Two-year contract for satellite – One downside of satellite TV is that it still requires long-term contracts, unlike streaming TV services
Price increase – Expect your bill to increase by $20 – $30/mo. after the first 24 months

DISH pros & cons

Two-year price lock – DISH helps customers save money by locking in their price for two years
Best low-tier package deal – If you are looking for the best cheap TV package, DISH is a better option than DIRECTV
Not as high a channel count – DISH does not offer as many channels for its most expensive TV package as DIRECTV
No HBO – While DIRECTV offers HBO Max for free for three months, DISH does not provide HBO whatsoever

The best provider for you will depend on what you’re looking for. If you want the best channel selection, including sports coverage, DIRECTV is the better option. But if you’re looking to save money and have access to a more advanced DVR, we’d go with DISH, which locks in your price for two years, whereas DIRECTV raises it significantly in year two.

Both satellite providers lock you into a two-year contract. DISH and DIRECTV also have early contract termination fees.

Which satellite provider offers better premium channels?

If you’re looking to include premium networks like HBO, Paramount+ with Showtime and STARZ in your channel lineup, DIRECTV generally offers cheaper prices than DISH. The Choice, Ultimate and Premier packages all include one year of Max, and the Premier package ($164.99/mo.) also throws in Cinemax and STARZ.

DISH, on the other hand, doesn’t offer most premium channels. The only ones that are available to add to your package are EPIX and STARZ ENCORE. If you want HBO, Paramount+ with Showtime or STARZ, you’ll have to subscribe to their streaming services separately.

DIRECTV breakdown

DIRECTV offers up to 185+ channels, including premium selections for three months.

DIRECTV packages come with 90 – 185+ channels, plus add-on package options and thousands of on-demand titles available
All DIRECTV plans include premium channels like HBO Max™, Paramount+ with Showtime, STARZ®, Cinemax® & EPIX® included for three months*
Fees: DIRECTV requires a two-year contract, with a higher monthly fee in year two. Other fees include a $7.00/mo. equipment fee (per receiver/device) and a deactivation fee plus a prorated charge of up to $480 if you leave

*First 3 mos. of Max, Paramount+ with Showtime, STARZ®, MGM+™ and Cinemax® are included with ENTERTAINMENT through ULTIMATE packages. Customers selecting PREMIER package only receive MGM+™ for first 3 mos. All selected channels auto-renew at then prevailing rates (currently $15.99/mo. for Max, $11.99/mo. for SHOWTIME®, $11/mo. each for STARZ® and Cinemax®, and $6/mo. for MGM+™), until you change or cancel by logging into your account at directv.com/signin or calling 800-531-5000. Offer subject to change & may be modified or discontinued at any time without notice. Updated as of 06/30/25.

DISH breakdown

DISH offers up to 290+ channels, several English and Spanish package options and a sports-specific package.

DISH offers packages with 190 – 290+ channels, and their Hopper 3 device can record up to 16 shows at once
There are four English channel packages and five Spanish packages. You can add premium channels like STARZ and SHOWTIME to any plan, but not HBO
DISH offers the Multi-Sport Pack for college and pro games, but it is not as robust as DIRECTV’s sports offerings
Fees: DISH also requires a two-year contract and an early termination fee of $20.00 for each month remaining. Additional fees include $3.00 for regional sports, $12.00 for local channels, and $5.00–$10.00/mo. for the DVR equipment

How does satellite TV work?

For satellite TV service, you’ll need a dish, receiver, coaxial cable and an HDMI cable to connect the receiver to the TV. These will be provided by your ISP and a tech will handle the installation. Your modem will most likely have a rental fee attached. Don’t forget to check with your town or homeowners’ association before installation in case there are rules about satellite dish placement.

Bundle satellite TV and internet

You can get high-speed internet with satellite TV service. DISH and DIRECTV both work with internet providers in your area to bring you satellite TV and internet bundles. Depending on which providers are available in your area, you may be able to snag discounts by bundling multiple home services. AT&T internet and DIRECTV bundles, for example.

Can satellite TV provide internet?

While neither satellite TV provider offers internet directly, you can combine their TV packages with an internet plan. Call today to build your satellite TV and internet bundle with providers such as:

Availability, pricing and internet speeds will vary by location and provider. Call to check satellite TV and internet bundle availability and pricing for your address.

See other providers available in your area

Is cable or satellite TV better?

Satellite TV companies will likely give you more channel options and lower introductory pricing, but cable is less likely to be affected by inclement weather. Both satellite and cable TV will give you similar channel packages and picture quality. Take a look at some other differences between the two to find the right TV service for you.

What makes satellite TV services different from cable TV?

Satellite TV uses a dish to get the TV signal to a customer’s home instead of cable lines
Satellite TV packages deliver all the typical cable TV channels to areas where cable does not reach
Satellite TV providers are known for carrying a variety of international and sports programming

Why we like satellite service

Availability – Satellite TV is available throughout all 50 states. Cable service and providers vary by location
Channel selection – Satellite TV typically has more channel variety and package selections than cable. If you’re looking for a basic package with little more than local channels, cable may be your better option
Picture quality – Satellite TV supports higher bandwidth than cable, which can allow for more 1080p HD channels or even 4K programming
Customer satisfaction – DISH and DIRECTV had higher American Customer Satisfaction Index (ACSI) ratings than most major cable TV providers in 2024, both scoring a 68 out of 100, respectively

Things to consider

Service disruptions – Inclement weather such as rain, snow, strong winds and heavy cloud coverage can interfere with your signal and cause a temporary service outage. However, your recorded programming will likely still be available
Contracts – Both DISH and DIRECTV require a two-year contract
Dish installation – To get satellite TV, you need a satellite dish, so your installer will need to affix the dish to your roof or another exterior surface on your home

Our verdict: Satellite service can be a better option for you if you live in a rural area with fewer TV options, want to spend less on TV service or prioritize high customer service ratings.

Cable can be a better option if you don’t want a TV contract or if a cable provider offers special incentives for bundling TV and internet. Cable is less vulnerable to bad weather, such as heavy rain, which can affect satellite TV service.

Satellite TV FAQs

What’s the difference between cable TV and satellite TV?

The main difference between cable TV and satellite TV is how you receive the channel signal at your home. Cable TV uses a wired connection and receiver box to bring the TV signal into your house. Satellite TV uses a satellite dish to receive the signal and display the channels on your TV.

Are there any free satellite TV channels?

Yes. Just as you can use a TV antenna to pick up free over-the-air TV broadcasts, there are “Free to air” (FTA) satellite TV channels that are broadcast via satellite. These FTA channels are typically local news or sports channels, or government-sponsored public TV stations such as PBS. To pick up these channels, you’ll have to invest in an FTA receiver box in addition to your satellite dish.

What other satellite TV companies are there?

While there are niche satellite companies, such as Christian satellite network Glorystar, the two main satellite TV companies are DIRECTV and DISH. If cable or fiber TV is also available where you live, you may be able to choose from providers such as Cox, Mediacom, Optimum, Spectrum, Verizon or Xfinity.

Can you self-install a satellite TV dish?

Yes. Some satellite providers offer a self-installation kit in place of your installation appointment with a technician. The kit price will vary by provider, but you’ll generally save more money by purchasing a kit and DIY-ing it than you would scheduling an appointment with a professional and paying the fee for installation. Self-installation does run some risk as most providers will not fix any errors for free that you make during setup. Video tutorials are typically available online in the provider’s customer support or forums.

Written by

Robin Layton

Senior Editor, Broadband Content

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