DISH Satellite TV Review

Dish
4.5 out of 5 stars
4.5
  • pro
    $84.99–$114.99/mo.
  • pro
    3-year price guarantee
  • pro
    ESPN, History, AMC, and more
  • con
    No NFL SUNDAY TICKET

Kristin Cooke
Feb 07, 2024
Icon Time To Read9 min read

DISH® satellite TV delivers a wide variety of entertainment, a best-in-class DVR, free installation and HD, a voice remote, and . . . (drumroll) a price guarantee for two years (which is pretty sweet, if you ask us, especially since it offers a three-year price guarantee for extra measure).

But, before you sign up, bear in mind that you’ll be under contract for two years, you’ll miss a lot of Sunday football games, and you’ll need space for a satellite dish on your home or apartment.

DISH TV plans and pricing

Package
Channels
Price (locked for 2 years*)*
Highlights†

America’s Top 120

190

$97.99/mo.

USA Network, ESPN, HGTV, MSNBC, CMT, Disney Channel, E!

America’s Top 120+

190+

$102.99/mo.

All America’s Top 120 plus college and regional sports

America’s Top 200

240+

$112.99/mo.

All America’s Top 120+ plus BBC America

America’s Top 250

290+

$122.99/mo.

All America’s Top 200 plus 17 movie channels, beIN Sports

All information contained herein is confidential and subject to change. Offer for new and qualifying customers only. Other restrictions may apply a 2-year price guarantee.

If you’re looking for the most bang for your buck, we recommend America’s Top 120, which gives you 190 channels to choose from for $97.99 per month. Sports fans will want to bump up to America’s Top 120+ for the college and regional sports, although this isn’t a complete sports package. Or you could always get America's Top 120 and a separate OTA antenna to fill in the RSN gap instead. 

DISH doesn’t offer NFL SUNDAY TICKET, which could be a turnoff for diehard football fans. But with local networks, you'll still get four NFL games every Sunday for free. If you have a specific team you follow that isn't generally aired on local networks, we recommend you look elsewhere.

DISH’s top two plans (America’s Top 200 and America’s Top 250) give you the widest variety of channels, including more movie networks, kids channels, and sports. If your household includes a broad range of entertainment tastes, you’ll like these options.

DISH TV Fees

Like you’ll find with other TV providers, DISH does charge some fees that you’ll want to plan for. Installation is free, but equipment rental costs can add up if you have a lot of TVs.

  • Activation fee: None
  • Installation fee: None
  • Cancellation fee: $5–$15 ea.
  • Receiver rental: $15/mo.
  • Joey rental: $7/mo. (for additional TVs, per Joey)
  • DVR service fee: $15/mo.

When you sign up, you can get a discounted rate by signing up for eBill and AutoPay. Also, look for other discounts and ways to save money. If you don’t use the DVR, stick with the main receiver and you won’t have to worry about paying for extra Joeys for every room with a TV.

Another thing to keep watch for is internet data usage. Watching TV through your DISH subscription won’t use any internet data or ever give you that dreaded buffering signal. It's worth noting, however, that although you won't ever get a buffering signal, it does have to load the signal or reconfigure it every once in a while. Especially is the weather is kind of bad. So it would be good to clarify expectations with that here.

But TV shows you record on your DVR will use internet data. This isn’t a problem if you have unlimited data, but if you’re using satellite internet or another kind of internet that meters data, be prudent about not recording shows you won’t have time to watch. We’ve heard of some people recording shows all night in HD to find out the next morning that they’ve maxed out their meager internet data allowance for the month.

DISH internet bundling

Are you wondering if DISH offers internet? DISH offers TV and internet bundles with multiple internet providers in your area. You can top off your home entertainment package by adding high-speed internet from CenturyLink, Earthlink, Hughesnet, Spectrum, and Windstream, among others.

By partnering with nationwide internet companies, DISH offers bundle pricing with many high-speed internet providers, giving you the opportunity to save on TV and internet in one.

You can get more details about how to bundle high-speed internet with your DISH TV package by visiting the USDISH.com website or by calling 1-877-397-3141.

DISH contracts

To get DISH as a new customer, you’ll sign a two-year contract for service, which is consistent with most other TV providers. If you cancel service while still under your initial 24-month contract, you will be required to pay an early termination fee of $20 per month for each month remaining on your contract. (Ouch!)

Thinking of moving?
Info

No worries. DISH offers flexibility for snowbirds, travelers, and people who move frequently. If you move, you can easily transfer your service to your new address by contacting customer service. If you’ll be traveling for a while, you can also put your service on hold for a few months without it affecting your contract.

DISH channels

The DISH channel lineup includes up to 290+ channels, depending on the package you select. That’s more options than the channel lineup from Xfinity by Comcast (up to 240) and DIRECTV (up to 185). All of these providers offer you a ton of choices, any way you look at it.

DISH has about every channel you can think of except for HBO, which is a surprising omission. DISH also doesn’t include NFL SUNDAY TICKET, but it does bring you the most in college sports. Here’s the scoop on the different channel packages.

America's Top 120

Channel count: 190

Cost: $97.99/mo.

Channel highlights: ESPN, CMT, Disney Channel, E!, HISTORY, USA Network, Nickelodeon, HGTV, AMC, Animal Planet, and Almavision

Best for: Family entertainment on a budget

America’s Top 120 is a classic TV package with mainstream hits. It offers the best value per channel of any of the packages by not including higher-priced sports channels (although you will get ESPN). This plan gives you all the major networks, kids channels, and more.

All information contained herein is confidential and subject to change. Offer for new and qualifying customers only. Other restrictions may apply a 2-year price guarantee.

America's Top 120+

Channel count: 190+

Cost: $102.99/mo.

Channel highlights: All channels in America’s Top 120 plus NFL Network, SEC Network, and Big Ten Network.

Best for: Sports and family entertainment

America’s Top 120+ is perfect for budget-minded people who want sports coverage along with all the channels in America’s Top 120. This package gives you college and regional sports with ESPN, FOX Sports 2, Fox Sports West, Fox Sports Prime Ticket, Big Ten Network, and more, plus access to over 100 top channels and major network entertainment.

All information contained herein is confidential and subject to change. Offer for new and qualifying customers only. Other restrictions may apply a 2-year price guarantee.

America's Top 200

Channel count: 240+

Cost: $112.99/mo.

Channel highlights: MLB Network, NBA Network, NHL Network, Golf Channel, A&E, Hallmark, Bravo, Disney XD, BBC America, DIY Network, and SundanceTV

Best for: Channel variety

America’s Top 200+ is the most popular DISH package, thanks to its robust sports lineup that includes MLB Network, NBA TV, and Golf Network. It goes beyond the basics with extra channels for the whole family that you won’t find in budget packages, like Bravo, SundanceTV, Disney XD, Hallmark Channel, DIY Network, and more.

All information contained herein is confidential and subject to change. Offer for new and qualifying customers only. Other restrictions may apply a 2-year price guarantee.

America's Top 250

Channel count: 290+

Cost: $122.99/mo.

Channel highlights: Includes everything in previous plans plus 17 additional movie channels and extras like Bloomberg TV, Great American Country, and Smithsonian Channel

Best for: The ultimate entertainment package

Got both movie lovers and sports fans at your place? America’s Top 250 pleases everybody with an action packed lineup of sports, news, drama, reality TV, comedy, documentaries, and more. This package has the most robust movie channel lineup, including Turner Classic Movies, STARZ ENCORE, and THE MOVIE CHANNEL™.

All information contained herein is confidential and subject to change. Offer for new and qualifying customers only. Other restrictions may apply a 2-year price guarantee.

International Basic

Channel count: 50+
Cost: $20.00/mo.
Channel highlights: Euronews, BBC America, France 24, and TVB Pearl

Perfect for the global connoisseur, the International Basic plan brings you a wide range of international channels and news coverage from around the world at an affordable price.

All offers require credit qualification and 24-month commitment and early termination fee with eAutopay. Offer ends 01/13/21. Call for details.

DishLATINO

En español

Channels/canales: 180–270

Cost/precio: $69.99–$107.99/mo.

Packages/paquetes: Clásico, Plus, Dos, Max

Channel highlights: Telemundo, Univision, ESPN Deportes, History en Español, Pasiones, plus top English channels like CNN, Disney HD, and E!

DishLATINO packages deliver the most popular Spanish-language and English-language entertainment channels, including sports, movies, children’s shows, and more. Pick your package and cozy up on the couch to enjoy all your favorite shows.

All offers require credit qualification and 24-month commitment and early termination fee with eAutopay. Offer ends 01/13/21. Call for details.

If you’re wondering about whether a specific channel is listed in a package, check out the DISH channel guide for more info.

Premium add-on channels

You can customize your TV experience with add-on channel packages, which you will have to pay for per channel in most cases. If you’re interested in a specific channel or language, you can create a customized channel lineup.

Select from over 270 international channel add-ons in 28 languages, or select from special interest channels like Paramount+ with SHOWTIME®, DOGTV, or Playboy TV. You can also add sports packages, like MLB Network for $178 per season.

DISH installation and equipment

DISH is available for installation in every ZIP code in the US. Most locations enjoy next-day installation. So if you’ve just moved to a new place, you won’t even have time to put away the boxes before your favorite shows start playing.

Installation price

All DISH Network packages come with free installation for up to six TVs, which is a $199 value. Sounds great, right? Who doesn’t like free stuff? Just remember, for each additional TV you connect, you’ll be paying extra equipment rental each month. Gulp.

DISH installation process

When you sign up, you’ll give DISH your email and phone number and set an installation appointment. DISH will give you a 75-minute installation window and a reminder the day of the appointment. You can track your DISH technician’s location so you know the minute they arrive at your front door.

When your technician arrives, the credit card holder will need to be at home and let them in while they install the equipment. Your technician will assess the best place to mount the satellite dish and perform the installation. Then they’ll set up the DISH receivers and remote controllers you’ve ordered with your service.

If you rent your home or apartment or belong to a homeowners association, you may need to fill out a landlord permission form prior to having your technician install the satellite dish

Equipment lease

You’ll get a DVR/receiver with your installation package. DISH DVRs are called Hoppers®, and they get our vote as the best performing and highest storage DVRs available anywhere.

There are two Hopper sizes to choose from, based on how many TVs you want to have connected in your home.

Hopper 3 Whole-Home HD DVR features

Storage
Simultaneous channels
Simultaneous recording
Max # of TVs

2 TB (up to 500 hrs. of HD)

Up to 4 channels on 1 screen

Up to 16 shows

Up to 6 (with 5 Joeys)

Capabilities measured relate to in-home hardware and do not reflect cloud DVR functionality or capacity.

Hopper Duo DVR features

Storage
Simultaneous channels
Simultaneous recording
Max # of TVs

125 hrs. of HD recording

Up to 2 channels on 1 screen

Up to 2 shows

Up to 2 (with a Joey)

Both the Hopper and Hopper 3 are integrated with Amazon Alexa and offer Voice Control and Remote Finder. The Hopper 3 has a massive amount of storage capacity (perhaps too much for some folks), plus it enables you to automatically skip commercials with AutoHop.

With the Hopper, it’s easy to program and record your shows and watch them on your own time. You can even program your Hopper remotely from your phone with the DISH app. Just remember, with up to 500 hours of HD programming at your disposal, you may forget you recorded a show (or two).

Your DISH installation technician can connect your Hopper to the internet to give you access to advanced features like the voice remote and any of your online streaming accounts, such as Netflix, Pandora, or Sling TV.

DISH equipment fees

DISH offers free installation on up to six TVs per household, although each additional TV requires the monthly rental of a mini receiver (Joey). If you have more than two TVs, you’ll need a Hopper 3 rather than the Hopper Duo, which also incurs an additional fee. These extra rental costs can add up quickly and pack a punch if you’re on a tight budget. Our advice is to connect just one or two TVs and use the DISH TV app to watch free on other devices if you’re in other rooms.

  • No additional cost for your first Hopper Duo DVR
  • $5/mo. to upgrade to the Hopper 3 DVR
    • $15/mo. for an extra Hopper
  • $5–$10/mo. for each additional Joey (to connect multiple TVs)
  • No setup fee for up to 6 TVs

DISH TV app

With the DISH Anywhere mobile app, you can enjoy DISH TV on any internet-connected device. Watch while you’re on your lunch break, waiting in line, on vacation, or during the long train ride home.

The app lets you watch live cable TV, recorded content on your DVR, or on-demand titles. It can also schedule your DVR recordings remotely and look up TV listings.

If you’re traveling somewhere without an internet connection or you want to watch offline to save data, download content to your device beforehand.

Award-winning customer satisfaction

DISH TV is one of the top-rated satellite TV service in the nation. So if you’re ever troubleshooting a problem with your DISH, you will deal with customer service, and you’ll appreciate the fact that they’re helpful and efficient. (Hopefully they will be great for you too.)

If you need to contact DISH directly, the customer service number is 1-800-333-3474. For additional information on DISH, look at our DISH FAQ page.

Our verdict: DISH is a crowd pleaser.

Dish
  • pro
    $97.99–$122.99/mo.
  • pro
    2-year price guarantee
  • pro
    ESPN, History, AMC, and more
  • con
    No NFL SUNDAY TICKET

With such a wide variety of entertainment options, we found that DISH has something binge-worthy for everyone. Our favorite features of DISH are the 2-year price lock and the top-rated DVR. If you’re trying to decide between satellite TV providers, DISH comes out on top as the most affordably priced (thanks to the 2-year price lock).

However, given the lack of HBO on DISH, we think that Succession or Westworld fans might prefer DIRECTV. If HBO isn’t a top station at your house, and you like college sports more than the NFL, DISH will fit your tastes to a tee.

Pros
pro 2-year price lock
pro Nationwide availability
pro Intuitive DVR with lots of storage
pro Free installation
Cons
con Limited sports
con No TV/internet bundle options
con No HBO (but HBO GO is available)

We recommend DISH satellite TV to people who want a wide variety of entertainment options for an affordable price. And if you want to go beyond the basics, there are loads of extra channels you can pile on. In fact, it has all the premium channels you could hope for—except for HBO. With DISH you can get Max online, though, which makes up for anything lacking there.

*All offers require credit qualification, 24-month commitment with early termination fee and eAutoPay. Prices include Hopper Duo for qualifying customers. Hopper, Hopper w/Sling or Hopper 3 $5/mo. more. Upfront fees may apply based on credit qualification.

Kristin Cooke
Written by
After graduating with a degree in English from the University of Utah, Kristin learned to geek speak while working as a technical recruiter, interviewing software developers and tech companies. For over 20 years, she has created award-winning content for technology, health, and finance companies. Kristin is an advocate for affordable internet for all and writes about rural internet solutions, satellite internet news, and tech products at SatelliteInternet.com. Her work has been featured in New York Post, PCMag, Forbes, Business Insider, Telecompetitor, Space.com, and The Benton Institute for Broadband & Society.