Choosing a satellite TV package shouldn’t require reading six pages of fine print. The two U.S. satellite providers — DirecTV and DISH Network — each offer four main tiers. The difference between tiers is not just channel count. It’s which sports networks are included, whether you need a second TV receiver, and whether the package that costs $30 more per month actually has any of the channels you watch. This guide breaks each package down by what’s actually inside.
Key Answers About Satellite TV Packages
These questions come up constantly — and the answers are rarely where people expect to find them.
Channel count is the headline number, but it’s rarely the deciding factor. What changes between tiers is much more specific: whether regional sports networks (your local pro team’s dedicated channel) are included, whether sports specialty networks like NFL Network, NBA TV, and NHL Network are part of the package, and at the top tier, whether major premium channels like Max (HBO), SHOWTIME, STARZ, and Cinemax are bundled in. Most of the additional channels between tiers are specialty feeds, music channels, and international content — not programming most households actively seek out. Before upgrading tiers, compare the specific channel list for each tier and check whether the two or three channels you want are actually available as cheaper add-ons rather than requiring a full tier jump.
On DirecTV satellite, local broadcast channels (ABC, CBS, NBC, FOX, PBS, and The CW) are included in every package in most markets at no additional cost. DISH’s situation is slightly different — local channels are included in the price guarantee for its standard packages in most areas, but some markets may involve a separate local channels fee. Local channel availability depends on your address, and in a small number of very rural markets, a provider may not carry your local affiliates via satellite at all. Before signing any satellite TV contract, confirm with the provider whether your specific local channels — including your preferred news station and network affiliates — are available at your address. DISH’s website and DirecTV’s website both have address-based local channel checkers.
The entry package from either provider covers this comfortably. DirecTV’s ENTERTAINMENT package ($89.99/month base, 175+ channels on satellite) includes CNN, Fox News, MSNBC, Hallmark, HGTV, Food Network, Disney Channel, ESPN, and all local channels. DISH’s America’s Top 120 ($89.99/month, 190+ channels) covers the same core lineup. Neither requires an upgrade for this viewing profile. The Hallmark Movies & Mysteries channel — a different, dedicated channel from the main Hallmark Channel — is worth checking specifically, as it appears at different tier levels depending on the provider. If Hallmark Movies & Mysteries is a must-have, confirm its inclusion in the base package at your address before signing, rather than assuming it’s the same as the regular Hallmark Channel.
Regional sports networks — the channels that carry your local MLB, NBA, NHL, and some NFL team broadcasts — are not included in either provider’s base package. On DirecTV, they begin with the CHOICE package ($104.99/month base). On DISH, they begin with America’s Top 120 Plus ($99.99/month). Both providers charge an additional Regional Sports Fee on top of the plan price for including these channels — up to $19.99/month on DirecTV and up to $15/month on DISH depending on your ZIP code. If you only want national sports — NFL Network, ESPN, ESPN2, FS1 — those are included in the entry packages from both providers. Regional team coverage is the upgrade trigger. Call either provider with your ZIP code to confirm your exact regional sports network and fee before choosing a package tier.
Yes — premium channels are available as add-ons on any satellite TV package from either provider. You do not need to upgrade to a higher tier to get Max (HBO), SHOWTIME, STARZ, or Cinemax. Add-on prices vary but typically run $10–$14/month per network. The math matters here: DirecTV’s PREMIER package includes Max, Paramount+ with SHOWTIME, STARZ, and Cinemax bundled together, and the combined retail cost of subscribing to all four separately is roughly $45–$50/month — meaning PREMIER’s $35 premium over ULTIMATE can represent genuine savings if you want all four. But if you only want one or two premium networks, adding them individually to a lower tier costs less than upgrading the whole package. DISH offers Paramount+ with SHOWTIME, STARZ, and Max as add-ons; check dish.com for current add-on pricing for your plan.
For traditional satellite TV delivered via a dish, both DirecTV and DISH require a 24-month contract. Early cancellation triggers a fee of $20 per remaining month, with a maximum of $480. However, DirecTV offers a separate streaming service — DirecTV Streaming — that delivers the same four package tiers (ENTERTAINMENT, CHOICE, ULTIMATE, PREMIER) over your home internet connection with no contract, no dish installation, and the ability to cancel any month without penalty. The base prices are similar to satellite, but the Broadcast TV Fee of $21.99/month that satellite customers pay does not apply to streaming customers. DISH does not have an equivalent no-contract streaming service — their streaming brand, Sling TV, is a separate, much thinner channel product starting at $40/month and is not the same as DISH’s full satellite lineup.
You can upgrade to a higher tier mid-contract without penalty on both DirecTV and DISH — moving from ENTERTAINMENT to CHOICE, for example, simply adjusts your next billing cycle. Downgrading is where it gets complicated. Dropping to a significantly lower tier on either provider may be treated as a contract modification that restarts your commitment term, potentially extending the period before which you can leave without an early termination fee. Before downgrading, call the provider and ask specifically: “Will downgrading my package restart my contract term or add any new commitment?” Get the answer confirmed in writing or by a supervisor before making the change. The safest time to adjust your package is at the natural end of your 24-month contract, when you also have leverage to negotiate a better promotional price for the next term.
This is the question that trips up the most new subscribers. DirecTV satellite customers pay the advertised base price plus a mandatory Broadcast TV Fee of $21.99/month (applies to every satellite package, cannot be removed), a Regional Sports Fee of up to $19.99/month if they choose CHOICE or above, and equipment fees of $7–$10/month per additional TV beyond the first. A DirecTV ENTERTAINMENT package that advertises $89.99/month realistically costs $111–$115/month before taxes. DISH’s pricing is more transparent — their advertised package prices already fold in HD service and most fees, making their bills closer to what was quoted. Always ask for the all-in monthly total for your specific address — not just the base rate — from any satellite provider before signing. Request it in writing before the installation appointment.
All Satellite TV Packages at a Glance
Eight packages across two providers — compared on the factors that actually drive the decision. Prices shown are advertised base prices requiring autopay and paperless billing; actual monthly total will be higher after provider-specific fees.
| Package | Provider | Base Price | Channels | RSN Included? | Premium Channels | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ENTERTAINMENT | DirecTV | $89.99/mo. | 175+ (satellite) | No | Not included | News, lifestyle, basic sports (ESPN) |
| CHOICE | DirecTV | $104.99/mo. | 200+ (satellite) | Yes + RSN fee | Not included | Local pro sports fans + college networks |
| ULTIMATE | DirecTV | $134.99/mo. | 270+ (satellite) | Yes + RSN fee | Starz Encore suite only | Deeper sports + movies without full premium |
| PREMIER | DirecTV | $169.99/mo. | 340+ (satellite) | Yes + RSN fee | Max, SHOWTIME, STARZ, Cinemax — all included | Premium movie fans — bundle saves ~$45/mo. |
| America’s Top 120 | DISH | $89.99/mo. | 190+ | No | Not included | Budget-focused — news, lifestyle, ESPN |
| America’s Top 120+ | DISH | $99.99/mo. | 190+ | Yes + RSN fee | Not included | Sports fans — NFL Network, Big Ten, RSNs |
| America’s Top 200 | DISH | $109.99/mo. | 240+ | Yes + RSN fee | Not included | Family households — broader sports + movies |
| America’s Top 250 | DISH | $119.99/mo. | 290+ | Yes + RSN fee | STARZ Encore + 17 movie channels | Movie lovers — Turner Classic Movies, deep library |
All prices require autopay and paperless billing. DirecTV satellite adds mandatory $21.99/mo. Broadcast TV Fee not shown above. Both providers require 24-month contract. Prices confirmed from CableTV.com (September 2026) and provider documentation.
DirecTV Satellite Packages — What’s Inside Each Tier
DirecTV’s four satellite packages escalate clearly — each tier adds to everything below it. The channel counts shown are for satellite delivery, which carries more channels than DirecTV Streaming at the same price.
DirecTV’s entry satellite package covers the channels most households use daily. News is well represented: CNN, Fox News, MSNBC, HLN, Headline News, and all major local affiliates (ABC, CBS, NBC, FOX, PBS, CW) in most markets. Entertainment staples include HGTV, Food Network, Hallmark Channel, Hallmark Movies & Mysteries, TLC, Discovery, A&E, Lifetime, Bravo, USA, TNT, TBS, AMC, and Disney Channel. Sports: ESPN and ESPN2 are included. NFL Network, regional sports networks, NBA TV, NHL Network, and MLB Network are not — those require CHOICE or higher. The ESPN Unlimited Plan is bundled at no extra charge. This package covers the full needs of households that watch news, Hallmark, HGTV, and network television without any sports upgrade. Add $21.99/month Broadcast TV Fee for the satellite total.
CHOICE is DirecTV’s most popular satellite package and the first tier that includes regional sports networks — the channels that carry your local MLB, NBA, and NHL team’s game broadcasts. It also adds major national college sports networks: SEC Network, ACC Network, Big Ten Network, MLB Network, NBA TV, NFL Network, Golf Channel, and FS2. CHOICE is the package for households where someone routinely watches a local professional team. The mandatory Regional Sports Fee of up to $19.99/month is added on top of the base price for CHOICE and above — call DirecTV with your ZIP code to get the exact surcharge before signing, as it varies by market. The all-in CHOICE cost typically runs $145–$165/month for most markets, including the Broadcast TV Fee, RSN fee, and base price.
ULTIMATE adds to everything in CHOICE with sports depth and entertainment breadth that CHOICE lacks. The notable additions: NHL Network, CBS Sports Network, BBC News, Discovery Family, FX Movie Channel, BBC Earth, and the STARZ Encore suite (a package of older movie channels, not to be confused with the full STARZ premium network). It’s the right package for households where sports coverage spans more leagues, or where the household wants more movie channels without paying the full PREMIER price for the complete premium bundle. The jump from CHOICE to ULTIMATE is a $30/month increase — before signing up at this tier, list the specific ULTIMATE-exclusive channels you’ll actually use weekly and confirm the math makes sense against adding them individually as add-ons instead.
PREMIER is where DirecTV bundles Max (HBO), Paramount+ with SHOWTIME, STARZ, and Cinemax into the package at no extra charge. If you currently pay for any two of these networks separately, PREMIER’s premium over ULTIMATE becomes easier to justify: Max alone costs about $17/month standalone, SHOWTIME about $11/month, STARZ about $10/month, and Cinemax about $11/month — totaling roughly $49/month if subscribed individually. PREMIER also includes NFL RedZone (the commercial-free channel showing every red zone play of every Sunday game) during the NFL season, and 36,000+ On Demand titles. The package makes the most financial sense for households that would otherwise subscribe to two or more premium networks. New subscribers receive three months of premium networks free on any DirecTV plan — if you choose CHOICE or ULTIMATE and add the trial, set a calendar reminder to cancel individual network subscriptions before they auto-renew.
DISH Network Packages — What’s Inside Each Tier
DISH’s four main English packages are built differently from DirecTV’s — they include the Hopper 3 DVR (recording up to 16 shows simultaneously), and the 2-year price guarantee locks the core programming cost for the full contract term.
DISH’s America’s Top 120 is more channel-dense than its name suggests — 190+ channels for the same $89.99/month entry price that DirecTV charges for 175+. It covers the full core lineup: ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNEWS, Disney Channel, HGTV, Food Network, Hallmark Channel, Hallmark Movies & Mysteries, CNN, Fox News, MSNBC, CMT, TNT, TBS, USA, AMC, Bravo, E!, Lifetime, TLC, Discovery, Animal Planet, National Geographic, and all major local affiliates in most markets. What it does not include: regional sports networks, NFL Network, NBA TV, or NHL Network — those require AT 120 Plus or higher. One practical limitation: America’s Top 120 supports one TV at a time. If you have two or more televisions in different rooms that may be in use simultaneously, you’ll need America’s Top 120 Plus, which includes a second receiver.
America’s Top 120 Plus adds the sports tier that AT 120 lacks — and it’s the most efficient upgrade in DISH’s lineup. For $10/month more, you get regional sports networks (your local team’s dedicated broadcast channels), NFL Network, Big Ten Network, NFL RedZone, and additional college sports coverage. Channel count stays similar (190+) because the upgrade is about adding specific sports channels rather than a broad content expansion. It also unlocks a second TV receiver, making it the right choice for households with two active televisions. This is the package to choose if your primary reason for upgrading from AT 120 is local pro sports or NFL Network — there’s no reason to pay for AT 200 or AT 250 purely for sports unless you also want the additional movie and entertainment depth those tiers provide.
America’s Top 200 is the package DISH promotes most aggressively as its best-value tier — and the channel additions over AT 120 Plus genuinely earn that designation. The jump to 240+ channels adds NBA TV, NHL Network, Golf Channel, Sundance Channel, A&E, History Channel, FYI, Viceland, BBC America, Starz Encore, and more movie and specialty content. Up to three TVs can watch simultaneously. For households with varied tastes — one person watches sports, another watches movies or cooking shows, and someone else has nature documentaries on in a third room — AT 200 covers the full range without requiring the premium channel bundle at the AT 250 price. DISH considers this its flagship package for family homes, and the per-channel cost at this tier is competitive with any pay-TV offering.
America’s Top 250 builds on AT 200 with seventeen additional movie channels that shift this from a solid general package to a destination for film enthusiasts. Turner Classic Movies, STARZ Encore Channels, The Movie Channel, Flix, and more specialty movie feeds are added at this tier. It also includes beIN Sports (international soccer), Outdoor Channel, and additional specialty content. Three TVs are supported with the Hopper 3. The core decision between AT 200 and AT 250 is almost entirely about the movie channels — specifically Turner Classic Movies and the expanded movie library. If TCM is a household staple, AT 250 is the right tier. If it isn’t, the $10/month difference between AT 200 and AT 250 rarely delivers proportional value for most households. DISH sometimes bundles Paramount+ with SHOWTIME into promotional AT 250 offers — confirm whether this applies to current new-subscriber deals when you call.
Add-Ons — What You Can Add Without Upgrading Your Whole Package
The most overlooked cost-saving move in satellite TV: adding the one or two channels you want for $6–$14/month instead of paying $30/month more to upgrade the entire package. These are the add-ons worth knowing before you commit to a tier.
Max (HBO), Paramount+ with SHOWTIME, STARZ, and Cinemax are available as individual add-ons on any package tier from both DirecTV and DISH. DirecTV bundles all four into PREMIER; DISH makes them available à la carte. Individual premium network add-on pricing runs roughly $10–$14/month per network. If you only want one — Max for HBO originals, or STARZ for Outlander — adding it to a lower-tier package costs far less than upgrading your entire plan for channels you don’t watch. New subscribers to both providers typically receive a 3-month free trial of premium networks on any tier — the catch is these trials auto-renew at full price without notification. Set a calendar reminder for day 85 of your service to decide which trials you want to keep and cancel the rest before the first billing cycle hits.
Both providers offer sports-specific add-on packages for viewers who want specific leagues without upgrading their entire package tier. DirecTV’s Sports Pack ($14.99/month) adds NFL RedZone, MLB Strike Zone, and more specialty sports channels to ENTERTAINMENT or CHOICE plans. DISH offers the Multi-Sport Pack and a Regional Action Pack as add-ons covering college conference networks and additional sports feeds. NBA League Pass, MLB Extra Innings, and NHL Center Ice are available as seasonal add-ons from both providers — priced annually and billed in installments. NFL Sunday Ticket is not available on any DirecTV or DISH satellite package — it moved to YouTube TV in 2023 and remains exclusive there. If watching out-of-market NFL games every Sunday is a priority, YouTube TV with the Sunday Ticket add-on is the only option.
DISH offers several genre-specific add-on packs that let customers on any tier customize their lineup without a full package upgrade. Options include the Kids Pack (Disney Channel, Nick Jr., Boomerang — ~$10/month), the News Pack (Fox News, MSNBC, CNBC, Fox Business — ~$10/month for markets where these aren’t in the base package), the Outdoor Pack (Outdoor Channel, Sportsman Channel), the Heartland Pack (family and wholesome programming), and a Variety Pack. These are ideal for households that subscribe to AT 120 but want one specific category — a children’s pack for a grandchild’s visits, for example, at far less cost than moving to a higher tier for a handful of extra channels.
Which Package Is Right for Your Situation
Either provider’s entry package handles this fully. DirecTV ENTERTAINMENT at $89.99/month base and DISH America’s Top 120 at $89.99/month both cover CNN, Fox News, MSNBC, Hallmark, Hallmark Movies & Mysteries, HGTV, Food Network, TLC, Cooking Channel, and all major local affiliates. ESPN is included in both — whether you use it or not. The real-world cost difference: after DirecTV’s Broadcast TV Fee, DISH comes out more predictably priced. If billing simplicity matters, DISH’s AT 120 at a locked rate for two years is the cleaner starting point. If you already have a DirecTV dish on your roof from prior service, the installation hurdle disappears. Call both providers, ask for the all-in monthly cost at your address, and choose based on that confirmed number.
Local professional team games air on regional sports networks — and those start at the second tier from both providers. On DirecTV, that’s CHOICE at $104.99/month base (plus RSN fee up to $19.99/month). On DISH, that’s America’s Top 120 Plus at $99.99/month (plus RSN fee). Before choosing between them, call each provider with your ZIP code and ask: “Which regional sports networks carry my team, and what is my exact RSN fee?” The answer varies by market — some ZIP codes carry fewer regional networks and pay a lower RSN fee. Verify your specific team’s channel is carried at your address, because RSN carriage agreements occasionally lapse during contract negotiations, potentially blacking out games even on a plan that normally includes the network.
For Max (HBO originals and HBO’s full library), you don’t need a top-tier package — you can add it as a standalone add-on to any tier from either provider for about $17/month. DirecTV’s PREMIER bundles it in alongside SHOWTIME, STARZ, and Cinemax — making PREMIER the right choice if you want two or more of those networks, since the bundled cost at PREMIER is lower than subscribing to them individually. For classic films specifically, DISH’s America’s Top 250 includes Turner Classic Movies — one of the best film libraries on any cable or satellite platform — plus 17 additional movie channels at $119.99/month base. Turner Classic Movies is available on DirecTV’s ENTERTAINMENT package at channel 256, which may save AT 250 subscribers money if TCM is their only reason to upgrade beyond AT 200.
Multi-room viewing is handled differently by each provider. DirecTV charges roughly $7–$10/month per additional receiver beyond the first TV — so a three-TV household adds $14–$20/month to the base package cost. DISH builds multi-TV support into its package tiers more directly: America’s Top 120 supports one TV, AT 120 Plus and AT 200 support up to two and three TVs respectively, with the Hopper 3 DVR managing whole-home playback for all connected screens. For three TVs, DISH’s AT 200 at $109.99/month with three TVs included is often the more cost-effective structure than DirecTV’s approach of paying per-receiver fees on top of a lower base price. Ask both providers to quote your total monthly cost explicitly for the number of TVs you need before comparing packages.
Start with the entry package from whichever provider gives you a lower all-in confirmed monthly cost at your address. For rural households on fixed incomes, DISH’s 2-year price guarantee is particularly valuable — it protects the core programming price for the full contract term, eliminating the billing surprises that hit DirecTV satellite customers whose Broadcast TV Fee and RSN fees can adjust independently. Before signing, ask the provider directly: “If I need to downgrade my package later, will that restart my contract term?” Some providers treat a downgrade as a contract modification. The lowest sustainable tier — one you’ll be comfortable paying for 24 months — is almost always the right starting choice. Upgrading mid-contract is easier than absorbing 18 months of a package you chose in haste.
DirecTV satellite package prices ($89.99–$169.99/mo.), channel counts (175–340+ satellite), and Broadcast TV Fee ($21.99/mo.) confirmed from CableTV.com (September 16, 2026) and DirecTV official channel lineup PDF effective July 29, 2026. DISH Network package prices (AT120 $89.99, AT120+ $99.99, AT200 $109.99, AT250 $119.99/mo.) and channel counts (190–290+) confirmed from satelliteinternet.com provider documentation, goodfec.westfield.com DISH review (June 2026), and DISH official terms. DISH 2-year price guarantee structure confirmed from dish.com terms and conditions. Early termination fee of $20/month remaining (max $480) confirmed for both providers. NFL Sunday Ticket exclusivity to YouTube TV confirmed 2023, current as of September 2026. Premium channel add-on pricing (Max ~$17/mo., SHOWTIME ~$11/mo., STARZ ~$10/mo., Cinemax ~$11/mo.) from provider and standalone streaming pricing. This page is independent and not affiliated with DirecTV or DISH Network. All prices, package contents, and contract terms change frequently — verify at directv.com or dish.com before subscribing.
Key sources: DirecTV.com (official channel lineup, July 2026); CableTV.com (September 2026); dish.com (terms and conditions); satelliteinternet.com (DISH provider documentation).