Dish vs. DirectTV as a Brewer fan (Latest: DISH providing few Brewers games in HD)

[Iron Chef Napalm]

I've grown tired of my cable bill fluctuating every month with a general trend toward the moon. It appears satellite could save me a few bucks while adding and an HD DVR. Currently, I've got two HD TVs and a HTPC that only can record in SD with an xbox 360 as an extender.

 

I bring this up here because the main reason I bother with extra services like cable is to watch the Brewers. I remember reading some grumbling about games not being shown properly on satellite and I would like to avoid those kind of problems if I make the switch.

 

So which satilite service do you guys prefer and which is better for the Brewers?

[fondybrewfan]

I am buying a house and I am switching to Dish Network so their Brewers service better be sweet or I will be P.O.d. I took Dish over Direct TV simply because it was cheaper. I will pay about $100/month for HD Dish Network and AT & T internet, right now I am paying $120 a month to Charter for non HD cable and internet.

 

I guess I don't anticipate any problems. I was assured that when the Brewers broadcast a game in HD that it will be carried by Dish.

[honuswagner21]

I am a Directv subscriber and did not experience any problems with watching the Brewers during the 2008 season (and I watched well into the 100's in terms of numbers of games watched at home). The games on FSN Wisconsin are designated on channel 669 and doesn't jump around. I think that the channel may change on Dish. They also didn't miss any High Def broadcasts last season if that interests you. I also signed up for the Sports Pack in March to get the spring training broadcasts from across MLB. Can't speak for totally for Dish but I have been pretty pleased with Directv.

[1992casey]

Brewers games tend to be easier to find on DirecTV. Most of the time, they're on channel 669. There are a few games per year when they're on another alternate channel. That's usually when they're on WMLW and FSN-WI is carrying another live game.

 

Members report that on DISH, the Brewers tend to jump channels on a game to game basis. That's probably not a big deal if you learn the drill.

[OglivieHomePerm]

Strictly as a Brewer fan, there is probably no difference between Dish and DirecTV. You will get all the games on either one. As mentioned, on Dish, you need to check a range of channels versus having a set channel that all the games are on.

 

Now if you are a baseball fan in general, DirecTV wins because of the availability of the Extra Innings package. You can't get that on Dish...and even if you don't subscribe to it, you will get a free preview of it on DirectTV every season for a couple of days.

 

Also, at the moment, DirecTV carries the MLB Network, and Dish does not.

 

Those differences are not enough for me to switch from Dish to DirecTV, but if I were to go back in time, I would probably choose DirecTV over Dish as a new subscriber.

[Invader3K]

Slightly off topic...but has anyone heard if indeed all the games will be in HD this year?

[TSack27]

On DirecTV, FSN-WI is only turned on for pre-game, game, and post-game shows. They don't currently carry other FSN related Wisconsin shows (classic games, str8 up, and other local programming).

 

Everyone once in a while, I would have to search the Extra Innings channels to find a Brewer broadcast being shown on the opponents alternate channel when they'd screw up the blackout rules on 669.

[1992casey]

What TSack27 says applies to DISH, too. For whatever reason, when the switch isn't flipped to make a Brewer game available, it's not surprising to come to the in-game thread and find that both services are screwed up.

[temke]

Slightly off topic...but has anyone heard if indeed all the games will be in HD this year?

yes...that is what they claimed at the end of last season.

 

if it is available, i am a strong supporter of AT&T. i got it in october and it is pretty solid. dont have to worry about signals and the prices are reasonable. i am saving about $30 a month over time warner and got nearly $400 ($350 in cash) in sign-up incentives.

 

i also think they are offering a cheap rate (like $30 a month for cable) for the first 12 months for new subscribers.

 

as for the brewers, they show FSN wisconsin as well as an alternate channel when there are two sporting events on.

[pitchleague]

I'm guessing that the original poster is from Wisconsin so this is a non-issue but I thought I'd put it out there for those out-of-staters (out-of-marketers, technically speaking), so they don't get confused:

 

You will not get Brewers baseball on your Dish Network or Directv receiver unless you have the Extra Innings package (and I'm pretty sure it's STILL not being offered on Dish Network anyways.) And channel 669 will only work if you have the Sports Pack activated (that's another $12/month fee). Extra Innings channels are something like 725-740 or so.

[endaround]

Dish is significantly cheaper than DirecTV, especialy after the first year when DirecTV's rate skyrockets up. The biggest thing is that Dish gives you more package choices so you don't have to take all the non-premium channels to get HD DVR service. And if you do get the top tier, they include all Encore movie channels as part of the tier.

[1992casey]

And channel 669 will only work if you have the Sports Pack activated (that's another $12/month fee). Extra Innings channels are something like 725-740 or so.

 

Likewise, if you live in Brewers territory, the Brewers will also show up on the Extra Innings channel even if it's supposed to be blacked out. Since it's the same feed that you're entitled to anyway via Channel 669, you're not getting away with anything by being able to tune in on the Extra Innings channel. (If you're watching other games on Extra Innings, watching the Brewers in the 700s makes it handy to use your up and down channel button.)

[lodiness]

I had Dish, and it seemed that with every little storm I lost service. Have DirecTV now, and couldn't be happier.

[GormanHarvey]

I have a couple of Dish Network/DirecTv questions that I was hoping someone could help me out with.

 

First, I am looking to switch from Dish to DirecTv for several reasons, including the fact that Dish just raised my rates, they don't carry the MLB Network, and I can get my locals in HD through DirecTv. My question is does anyone know if there is a way I can get out of my commitment with Dish and not get charged for it? I am halfway through the 24 month contract.

 

Secondly, I do not have a land telephone line at my house so Dish charges me $5 per receiver a month for that. Does anyone know if DirecTv does the same? I do have Clearwire wireless internet now - would that make a difference? Could they plug into that so I wouldn't have to pay that fee?

 

Thanks in advance for any help!

[GormanHarvey]

Anyone? Help? Please?

[TheCrew07]

you can hook up your dish DVRs to your internet connection and avoid the $5 per receiver. Not sure on the contract thing, Dish will pick up MLB eventually, same as they did with the Big 10 network.

[TSack27]

Can't help you with the Dish contract issue, but can let you know that I don't have a landline with DirecTV, but still get all the sports stuff I want. I can't order through the remote control, but can off their website. I haven't gotten into the DVR thing, so don't know if that is landline related.

[SoundsFan17]

Direct Tv is the best service out there hands down. So you have to pay a little more, it's worth it.

You just have to ask yourself this question: Do I want the best service (channel availabilty, picture clarity) available? Am I willing to pay for it, or will I miss that game I want to see?

ALL games-Directv,yes

Dish,no

100% HD games-Directv,yes

Dish,no

MLB Network-Directv,yes

Dish,no

 

Everybody wants to save money, but there are some things you have to pay for.

[lodiness]

I've had both, Dish service really sucked when I had it, every little storm you lost your signal. Yes, it is a bit cheaper, but you get what you pay for. I have Directv now, and love it. No problems in storms, and I think that the rates are fairly reasonable. I pay around 70 a month for top 150, and HBO and Showtime, once the trial is over it jumps up to 90, but if it works well I'll take it. When I had dish, the DVR sucked, I don't know if the upgraded that yet. Also, when I canceled my service with Dish, I kept on getting bills, for like the next 3 months, and it was a real bear to get that taken care of. My parents also had the same issue when they changed. didn't care for their customer service much.

[GormanHarvey]

Direct Tv is the best service out there hands down. So you have to pay a little more, it's worth it.

You just have to ask yourself this question: Do I want the best service (channel availabilty, picture clarity) available? Am I willing to pay for it, or will I miss that game I want to see?

ALL games-Directv,yes

Dish,no

100% HD games-Directv,yes

Dish,no

MLB Network-Directv,yes

Dish,no

 

Everybody wants to save money, but there are some things you have to pay for.

First of all, thanks for the info and advice guys. I appreciate the help.

 

I guess its not much of a decision because even if I have to pay the pro-rated portion to Dish for the next 12 months for canceling I will still come out ahead. They can charge you a max of $300 for canceling ($12.50 x 24 mo) so I would owe them $150, but my current Dish monthly bill is $110 and with the promos DirecTv has going right now I can get what amounts to the same programming package (only more channels, like MLBN and more HD, including my locals in HD) and HD receivers for both my HDTV's (I currently only have 1 HD receiver) for $65/mo for the first 12 months. Adding the $65/mo and the$12.50/mo still gets me a net gain of $22.50/mo. Plus I get free HBO, Starz, and Cinemax for the first 3 months. After the first year when the promo is up it goes up to $88/mo. I do have to pay $100 up front for an extra HD box with DirecTv and would have only 1 DVR with DirecTv as opposed to the 2 I currently have with Dish, but no matter what I would still be coming out ahead. Seems like a no brainer to me. Still curious if Direc charges you extra for each receiver for not having a land line?

[1992casey]

You might want to look through the links in this Google search. I quickly scanned through them without finding anything super-dependable--otherwise I would have posted something better. http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/smile.gif

 

It does look like at least one receiver (HR20-700 0x1EA) will substitute an internet connection for a landline. However, it wasn't clear to me if this would work wirelessly or if it needed to be connected with an Ethernet cable.

[GormanHarvey]

Thanks Casey and again to the other posters that provided help!

[YostInfection]

So I have been on the phone with DISH for 23 minutes, and they cannot answer this question:

 

If I live in Minneapolis and have DISH, is there any way at all for me to watch the Brewers telecasts on FSWisconsin? Or am I not able to because DISH does not carry MLB Extra Innings?

 

If that is the case, is my best bet MLB.TV?

[GormanHarvey]

I'm thinking there isn't a way for you to get the Brewers through Dish living in MPLS. They have a multi-sports pack that gets you all of the regional FSN affiliates, but they black out when games come on. Dish does not offer MLB Extra Innings. I'm in the process of switching to Direc but currently have Dish and I live in Eau Claire and I get both the Brewers and the Twins because they apparently consider us to be in the Twins market but enough people complained about not getting the Brewers that we get them I think.

 

I would think MLB.TV is your only bet if you are going to stay with Dish. I would definitely check to make sure they wouldn't black you out from the Brewers though.

[OglivieHomePerm]

I don't work for Dish, but I do not believe that you can get the Brewer games with Dish. You would need to get the Extra Innings package, which Dish does not carry. You could use MLB.TV to see the games...since you are outside of the broadcast area. You should not have any blackout issues with mlb.tv