DirecTV or ATT U-Verse? Is Sports Package Worth it?

[BrewCrewRising]

I'm hoping somebody can help me out here...

 

I'm moving in a few weeks (to my first house!) and the wife and I want to get cable or satellite TV or something. I'm in Chicago, and the choices I'm considering are Comcast, DirecTV, or ATT U-Verse. I want something where I can get the Crew when the season starts. If I get Comcast I can get MLB Extra Innings. But if I get DirecTV or ATT U-Verse, I can only get MLB EI with DirecTV (I think). I don't really want to do Comcast, and I think DirecTV or ATT U-Verse might be better in terms of HD offerings and the like.

 

Both DirecTV and ATT U-VERSE offer the "Sports Package" which includes FSN North, but then there is some language about it not including out of market teams for the sports pacakage, and in a different promotional paragraph they say that the Sports Package is great for college sports.

 

Does anybody out of Wisconsin have "The Sports Package" on DirecTV or ATT U-Verse, and did it allow to you watch the Crew during the regular season without having to get MLB Extra Innings?

 

Thanks!

[trwi7]

I have U-Verse and have gotten free previews of the Sports Package with a bunch of different FSN channels plus SNY and YES. You get everything that's on that channel except for games. I don't know if that's just because of the free preview or if that's standard for everybody with the sports package, but that's my experience with it.

[theavrock]

I live in Albuquerque, NM and have Direct TV. Its pretty much the only way to get out of market football and baseball, except for MLB.tv for baseball where you can watch out of market games on your computer. I'm not sure but they might consider Chicago to be a local market for MLB.tv. There is a map on the website you can check out. Anyways, I love Direct TV. Their customer service has always been outstanding and I haven't ever had service issues with them in 6+ years. I did have Uverse for a year in Milwaukee before I went back to Direct TV upon moving to Albuquerque. I do have the Sports Package and what trwi said I can confirm. You cannot watch the pro games on the sports channels. You can watch most college games but the pro games are a no go. The way Direct TV has it set up is that based on your geographic area they have certain channels that are considered in your local market. Chicago may or may not be, but you can call the Direct TV people and they will tell you. I did enjoy U-Verse but moving out of state, their is no one that I would rather have for viewing my Packers and Brewers. Uverse just doesn't compare. Even if they did I might choose Direct TV just because of the phenomenal experience I have had with them.

[BrewCrewRising]

Thanks for the replies. I've confirmed that U-Verse won't suit my needs, so it's either DirecTV or Comcast.

 

I've been hearing horror stories about DirecTV though, but mostly online reviews. People saying that the customer service is horrible, or that the reception is very touchy. I'm guessing Theavrock doesn't experience that.

 

But has anybody else had a horrible DirecTV experience? I'm wondering if certain regions are worse for DirecTV than others.

[MJLiverock]

I can tell you I have had DirecTV for about 10 years and have had very little to complain about, certainly less than I did with my years with Charter. Anyone who says the reception is touchy either has their dish aimed incorrectly or there is an obstruction in the signal path, period. I have a clear shot and a securely mounted dish and can say that living through Wisconsin snow storms and thunderstorms I have lost signal nor more than a couple times per year and usually only for 5 minutes during complete Biblical downpours. I may have had a problem with snow once a few years ago when we got like a foot in an hour.

 

Cetain regions shouldn't be worse than others if you are in the continental U.S. Every single friend or relative that has had a problem with reception was due to the dish aimed wrong, a loose mounting, or a tree growing into the signal path. You can easily check your signal strength on the TV, properly aimed ones will be i the 90's and be virtually rain fade free like mine. Signals will be receiveable down i nthe 60's and be watchable but will be "touchy," which is why those weak signals need to be checked out.

 

The customer service has been fantastic and regularly ranks as the best among pay TV providers. Check out JD Power awards and other surveys. I haven't had any problems and most of the time I see complaints from people who either A. expect the company to just give them something for free or B. just don't understand their equipment or package. Or people get upset when their game is blacked out because they think DirecTV set the blackout rules.

 

Check out dbstalk.com for message boards and news that is pretty thorough and helpful. You will see posts of complaints as well but I would say a lot of them are as I described, people expecting too much or free stuff, or failiing to understand how equipment or programming works.

 

Sure there are some legitimate complaints but I would say that is the case with any service. Some had problems with the HD DVR's when they dropped Tivo. I didn't have problems and actually prefer the new boxes to the Tivo models. There is a contant flame war going on about that decision. Some people love Tivo and couldn't see anything else, some are indifferent, and others hate Tivo's system. I always suggest go with what works for you or covers your needs. Some are ticked off about DirecTV dropping Versus because Comcast wants to nearly triple the carriage fee charged to DirecTV for the 61st rated channel out of 70 nationals. I haven't watched Versus in years and don't care a bit about getting the channel but others want the NHL coverege they provide but there just aren't that many or it wouldn't be 61st in ratings. So if Versus is important to you it could sway you.

[JimH5]

It is my understanding that DirecTV and Tivo have resumed their partnership, with a new HD DirecTV receiver with Tivo to be released in 2010.

 

I have had DirecTV since 2002 and have been very happy with my choice.

 

I don't personally see much need for the Sports Package, though I usually buy MLB extra innings.

[BrewCrewRising]

Thank you all for the time and input. This has been very helpful.

[blatzlight]

Many of the people I know who have Comcast in Chicago do not like it - except for the Hawks coverage. I had one friend have a technical issue and he said the customer service at Comcast was far worse than Time Warner Milwaukee, which I did not think was possible.

 

Also, I have not had one friend ever have an issue with Direct TV that wasn't just a minor one. Just remember to spray your dish with silicone spray each winter so you don't have to knock snow off the dish.

[jimmyjeromehardy7]

I am in Chicago too and had DirecTV for 6 years until I moved into my wife's place and didn't want to rip open the basement ceiling to run the wiring through the house since we don't plan to stay there more than a few years. But in 6 years I don't think I ever had an issue with the service with DirecTV. Comcast on the other hand is a different story. I've been on the phone with them a handful of times in just the past year.

 

As for the Brewer games down here, you need MLB package with either. And I assume it is still the same way but FSNorth on DirecTV's sports package is MN and there is nothing about any of the Wisconsin teams. The Wisc. games are on an alternate channel but are blacked out unless you have the league's package. Had the sports pack for a bit but never really watched anything on it. Mostly the same shows on half the different FSN's at any one time anyway.

[orca1963]

I live in Illinois (Rockton) about 90 miles west of Chicago. Every summer I get the Fox Sports pkg because I get the Brewer games on Fox Sports WI. I discontinue it in the off season to save a few bucks. Not sure if Chicago would be the same though.

 

Regardless, I would not use anyone other than DirecTV. There customer service is better than any cable company I have ever used and I use customer service far less than when I had the cable companies (Comcast was one). They have a number of packages that will fit any lifestyle. I highly recommend Direct TV!