Which is better, U-verse or DirecTV?
In the case of pay TV services, AT&T Internet has two main service producers availed to consumers which are the U-verse TV and DirecTV. As for deciding which is better for you, it depends on several factors.
The extent of coverage The number and variety of communication channels is a measure of the extent of coverage of the communication process.
U-Verse brings packages with 550+ channels while DirecTV has more than 330 viewing channels in its basic offer. But in the aspect of sports programming, DirecTV does have a leg up with more programming choices due to their NFL Sunday Ticket. U-verse has a richer offer in this area, where there are feature channels for lifestyle, cooking, do-it-yourself, pets, and so on. Therefore, if the consumer requires more total number of avenues, then U-Verse is the best option but for sports enthusiasts, DirecTV is probably the best.
HD Programming
There is one area where DirecTV has even more compared to U-verse which is High Definition channels. DirecTV provides over 200 National HD channels while it is in the range of 130 in the case of the U-verse. So, if you own HDTV and you desire to watch the highest quality programs, then DirecTV will be more suitable for you.
DVRs, digital video recorders, and extra cable set-top boxes.
U-verse Company offers you an opportunity to add a DVR service to your plan, as well as DirecTV Company. However, DirecTV Genie DVR is surely one of the best digital video recorders that the provider can offer to clients with vast disk capacity and simple navigation. This can also support up to 8 TVs at home with DirecTV without the need for additional Genie DVR although U-verse will require more receivers for the number of TVs. Thus, the option of DVR service and the ability to connect several televisions makes DirecTV a more suitable solution in terms of convenience.
Bundled Services
Another thing that can be said about U-verse is that it is bundled with AT&T’s internet and home phone services, and this seems to be one of the main strengths of this company. That enables you to be able to get all three services in one bill and most of the time the costs are cheaper compared to when you order individually. Since U-verse is a wholly owned subsidiary of AT&T, the two are designed to complement each other as well in case of overlap. It also means that the company cannot offer TV as part of home Internet and phone deals.
Equipment and Installation
U-verse TV and DirecTV need customers to install satellite dishes or antennas on the roof as a precondition for service provision. However, it is important to note that the DirecTV installation process is much more intricate, which is why in some cases upgrading old building wiring to fit DirecTV needs may take a lot of time. Translation: Money for installation of DirecTV tends to be higher than that of U-verse which employs equipment that is easy to use and, thus, does not need many dramatic changes in the home.
Weather Related Interruptions
As it depends on satellite signals from space, DirecTV programming is somewhat more insecure and can be interrupted at times due to some occurrences like thunderstorms or heavy snowfall affecting signal transmission. This is advantageous to U-verse compared to satellite because cables are buried underground hence providing immunity from the vagaries of nature that may affect reception. This is true because U-verse has the benefit of being more reliable in bad weather compared to its competitors.
Availability
Direct Broadcast Satellite service provider: DirecTV: DirecTV is the second provider and also has large service areas; however, if you live in a very rural area, it is unlikely that U-Verse offers TV service, but DirecTV can offer satellite service if there is an unobstructed southern sky view. In this regard, the potential customers should look at the details of the coverage given their location. Most suburban and urban should have the two though since they are the most developed areas.
Customer Service Reputation
In most cases, while considering the cable and satellite majors, DirecTV appears to rank higher in customer satisfaction polls and surveys. There are more complaints about the difficult installations of U-verse and a long time of waiting when contacting the customer service department. However, service quality from local companies could still be an issue, depending on the company providing it. But in the general sense, the evidence leads to the conclusion that DirecTV has higher standards of customer support.
Pricing
U-verse TV and DirecTV are still going to have their distinct price points depending on which channel package you choose if you add any premium networks if you’ll include a DVR, and how many TVs you want to hook up. It is common for the initial packages to cost about $50+ per month each for the provider while the more extensive packages can easily go up to more than $100+ per month. On average, the consumer is likely to observe fairly similar retail costs in building comparable programming packages with the two companies. However, DirecTV does provide its customers with more long-term discount options compared to U-verses which has more of their offers within the first year.
Lastly, when the match is made, DirecTV is usually ranked slightly higher in categories such as high-definition channel options, sports packages, customer care, and superior TiVo-like digital video recorder functions. But U-verse fights back with more overall channel choices, simpler to install, the weather to destroy cable, and the convenience of bundling with home phone and internet. Whenever choosing between the different providers, make sure to assess all options in your area to select the one that suits the watching habits of your household, the price range you are willing to pay, and the accessibility of the service.
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