Are you shopping for a reliable TV service provider and stalked between choosing Verizon FiOS TV or DirecTV? Well, you’re welcome to read further as today’s post has all the information you’re looking for. And unless you want to spend hours researching and talking to reps from both FiOS TV and DirecTV to compare services and pricing, it can be pretty difficult to understand how both TV services compare.
Good for you, we have you covered, and you don’t have to waste your time as we have done the bulk of the research for you.
In today’s post, you’ll learn exactly how DirecTV and Verizon FiOS TV stacks up in terms of pricing, unique features, availability, channel lineup, customer satisfaction, and more.
Note: Please keep in mind that FiOS TV and DirecTV are constantly evolving, and their services and prices change now and then. But not to worry, you can stay up to date with current pricing and promotions by visiting DirecTV.com and Verizon.com.
Let’s dive into the nitty-gritty of today’s post, shall we?
Table of Contents
Verizon FiOS TV Overview
Verizon FiOS TV has built a solid reputation in the TV landscape, and if you take a look at their brilliant services, you’ll not agree any less. Featuring brilliant channels, a decent DVR, impressive on-demand content, and brand new look, Verizon FiOS TV is poised to deliver an experience you’ll not enjoy with other TV service providers.
Plying their trade in an industry that is popular for offering contracts to customers, it’s good to see Verizon FiOS TV doing things differently as they don’t tie their customers to contractual agreements. If you’ve been shopping for a TV service provider that is transparent with pricing and puts you first, you’ll find Verizon FiOS TV worth giving a try.
The only real downside to their services is their limited coverage. As things stand, Verizon FiOS TV is only available in a few western states. That said, Verizon FiOS TV is doing a brilliant job, and you’ll love their services.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Impressive channel lineup
- Don’t tie you down to contracts
- Highly reliable and performance excellently
Cons
- Can be a tad expensive
- Very limited sports offering
- Lags in terms of availability
DirecTV Cable Overview
DirecTV offers one of the most brilliant TV services you’ll ever come across in the TV world. Thanks to its powerful channel lineup, quality services, and affordable pricing, DirecTV has become the go-to TV service provider for thousands of people in the United States and beyond. That’s not all; their impressive DVR is prepped to deliver a fantastic experience you’ll always relish.
Although DirecTV still falls behind Verizon FiOS TV in terms of sheer channel offering, there is no denying that DirecTV features brilliant channels that will keep you glued to your TV screens all day.
Sadly, DirecTV has joined the bandwagon of TV service providers that require their customers to agree to a contract before they start enjoying their services. What this means is that you’ll have a pretty tough time cancelling your subscription if you’re no longer satisfied with their services.
That said, DirecTV remains a pretty solid choice, especially considering their lower prices and a wide variety of sports options. So if you’re looking for a decent TV service provider that lives up to its promises, then now will be an amazing time to give DirecTV a try.
Pros and cons
There are lots of fantastic things to love about DirecTV as well as some not so cool things that make them fall below the pecking order. Here are some pros and cons you should be aware of while exploring DirecTV.
Pros
- Brilliant sports offering
- Fantastic pricing
- Decent suburban and rural coverage
Cons
- Users must agree to contractual agreements
- Limited channel selections
- Satellite connections can be a bit unreliable
Installation and Bundled deals
There are lots of unbelievable differences between DirecTV and Verizon FiOS TV. But one that stands out for us is the installation process for each provider. For avid TV lovers who find themselves in Verizon coverage areas, there is a huge chance you’ll be hooked with a flawless fibre-optic connection, which is among the best you’ll get in this industry.
The icing on the cake is that the installation process for Verizon FiOS TV is super easy and hassle-free. And this isn’t surprising because Verizon FiOS TV comes with easy to install equipment and self-installation kit that makes the process super easy for you. Thanks to their self-installation kit and easy to follow installation guide, you can do it yourself without sweating it.
On the flip side, because DirecTV is a satellite TV provider, the installation process can be quite complicated. What this means is that you’ll require the services of a technician to set everything up for you. For a lot of people, this can be a deal-breaker as you have to pay extra charges for installation. More so, you may run into issues if you live in a rented apartment where the landlord doesn’t let tenants set up a satellite TV on his/her property.
Another thing you should be wary of is that satellite connections come with lots of disadvantages compared to fibre optics, especially in terms of reliability and picture quality. For instance, bad weather conditions can greatly impact the quality of signals you get with DirecTV while Verizon’s services remain unbothered. So if you live in an area that is prone to terrible weather conditions, you may want to give Verizon FiOS TV a try.
The good thing, however, is that it wouldn’t cost you a fortune to set up DirecTV. And despite the complicated and labour-intensive installation process, it is pretty much affordable.
Although Verizon boasts of a hassle-free installation process, they charge as high as $99 for installation, even if you opt to set everything up yourself.
At the end of the day, it boils down to what works for you and where you currently live. And don’t forget that both providers offer fantastic deals, so always double-check to see which provider offers the best deal.
Bundled services
Some of the best deals in the TV landscape comes from bundling services together. And for people who want to get more from their TV subscription, bundling is a fantastic option they won’t say no to.
For people who would like to bundle TV services, alongside a robust internet and phone service, you’ll be better off exploring Verizon FiOS TV. While DirecTV offers reliable internet service, thanks to its partnership with AT&T, they have very limited bundle deals as it is evident the company is only primarily focused on offering a reliable satellite TV service.
If you’re only shopping for a reliable TV service provider, both DirecTV and Verizon FiOS TV will make a solid option. However, if you want to bundle TV service with internet or phone, then Verizon will make a perfect pick.
Channel comparison
Although pricing is a significant factor to consider when looking for a reliable TV provider to sign up to, but more than that, the channel selections, services and features that you’ll get with your money are just as important.
Now the million-dollar question is, how does DirecTV and Verizon FiOS TV stack up? What’s unique about their TV packages? What makes them so special? Read on, and you’ll find out in a bit.
Verizon FiOS TV packages
Both Verizon FiOS TV and DirecTV offer a unique blend of TV packages that feature an exciting variety of channels.
While FiOS TV rolls out 60 to 425 channels depending on which of their packages you opt for, DirecTV boast of having 155 to over 330 channels you can stream on the go.
And thanks to the recent launch of a new service its calls FiOS TV Test Drive, FiOS users can now easily shop for the best package that works for them. So if you are not exactly sure of which package is right for you; you can jump on the newly launched Test Drive service that lets you explore over 400 channels for 60 days.
After 60 days of test driving, FiOS TV analyses your streaming pattern and recommends a TV package that is best for you.
We particularly love this feature because many times, customers think they need a particular channel on their TV subscription, even though they don’t watch this channel enough to justify the expenses.
To learn more about FiOS Test Drive service and explore the full Verizon FiOS channel selections on each of their packages, please feel free to visit Verizon.com, as they have all the information you’re looking for.
DirecTV packages
DirecTV offers TV lovers a vast array of fantastic channels. Today, they have become the powerhouse for sports content in the TV landscape.
They offer a base package called Select. With DirecTV Select Package, users will enjoy seamless access to essential channels, but nothing extra.
If you want to step things up a bit, you’ll want to check out their Entertainment Package. With this awesome package, you’ll get a handful of extra channels that are not available on their select package. More so, you’ll have to pay a little more than you currently pay for their base package.
For avid sports lovers who just want to keep up with their favourite sports content, the DirecTV Choice package is just what you’re looking for. This package is DirecTV’s only lowest package that offers users’ exclusive access to NFL Sunday Ticket. With this package, you’ll enjoy a live broadcast of every NFL game holding on Sunday.
Note: Both DirecTV and Verizon FiOS TV offer their teeming viewers NFL RedZone at no extra cost. But because RedZone bounces from game to game, you’ll not be able to watch every game from your favourite teams.
And because NFL Sunday Ticket is exclusive to DirecTV, no other streaming service including FiOS TV can broadcast every live NFL game.
For instance, let’s say you are a die-hard fan of the Seattle Seahawks and you reside in Boston, Massachusetts. Unless the Seahawks are slugging it out with the Patriots or playing a nationally broadcasted game, you’ll need access to NFL Sunday Ticket to watch the game live.
Other DirecTV packages including Xtra, Ultimate and Premiere also feature NFL Sunday Ticket in their channel selections. With each of these packages, you’ll enjoy more exclusive channels. But guess what, you’ll have to pay more.
For premium channels like HBO, Showtime, Cinemax and Starz, you’ll want to explore the DirecTV’s Premier package. On FiOS TV, their most expensive package is the Ultimate HD and comes with top channels like Showtime and Starz. However, if you want to get other premium channels like HBO and Cinemax, you’ll have to pay extra.
To check out the full breakdown of channels available on DirecTV’s packages, head over to DirecTV.com, and you’ll find all the information you’re looking for.
On-demand content
When it comes to on-demand content, both FiOS TV and DirecTV aren’t lacking. As a matter of fact, both providers offer thousands of titles via their on-demand services.
With over 225,000 on-demand titles on FiOS TV, users will never run out of content to watch. The best part is that you can easily find what you’re looking for by leveraging their simple menu and unique search functionality. And like most popular Live TV streaming services, FiOS provides recommendation based on your streaming preferences.
Although DirecTV’s on-demand library isn’t as expansive as FiOS, they still grant users access to over 50,000 movies and shows. And if you ask us, this is more than enough to keep you glued to your screens for many years to come.
Verizon FiOS TV and DirecTV Pricing comparison
We are sure you’re already wondering which of these providers cost more? Well, the answer is simple; it depends on a lot of factors.
As things stand, the total costs for either DirecTV or FiOS depend on the package you opt for, extra add-ons you subscribed for, and the number of TV’s in your home. Let us break everything down for you, so you have a clear picture of what we are saying.
When it comes to pricing for either of these TV providers, there are all sorts of fees to look at, but let’s start with the basic, which is the cost of TV service.
Cost of TV service
DirecTV offers its users a blend of TV packages that range from $59.99 to $134.99 per month. On the flip side, Verizon FiOS TV offer packages that range from $40 to $90 per month. Here, check out a breakdown of packages from both providers, along with their pricing.
DirecTV packages
- Select package: Has over 155 channels and cost $59.99
- Entertainment package: Features over 160 channels and starts at $64.99 per month
- Choice Package: Boast of having over 185 channels and costs $69.99
- Xtra Package: Features over 235 plus channels and costs $79.99
- Ultimate Package: Has over 250 unique channels and starts at $84.99
- Premier Package: Offers exclusive access to over 330 channels and costs only $134.99
FiOS TV packages
- FiOS Test Drive: This package boast of having over 425 channels and costs $50 per month
- Your FiOS TV: Unlocks access to 125 channels and goes for $125 per month.
- More FiOS TV: This special package has over 300 channels and starts at $70 a month.
- The most FiOS TV package: Features over 425 channels and only costs $90 per month.
- Local TV: Grants access to over 60 local channels for $40
Cost of equipment and DVR
DirecTV includes the cost of their main receiver as part of their services. That said, you’ll have to pay an extra $7 per month for every additional receiver. What this means is that the more TV you have in your home, the more fees you’ll pay for equipment.
On the flip side, FiOS TV requires its customers to pay for all receivers, and that includes the main one. With FiOS TV, you’ll pay $12 per month for every receiver. And compared to DirecTV, FiOS is way more expensive.
However, if you decide to get three FiOS TV receivers, they offer you a slight discount, and you only have to pay $30 per month.
The cool thing with DirecTV is that they include an HD DVR to sweeten the deal. Plus, their DVR can record up to 5 shows simultaneously.
On the other hand, FiOS offers two options for DVR. And both of them will cost you an extra monthly fee. There is the single-room DVR that costs $12 per month and a multi-room DVR that costs $20 per month. The single room DVR can record up to two shows at a time while the Multi-room DVR can record up to six shows simultaneously.
Extra fees you should consider
Although both providers are pretty transparent with their pricing, there are several additional fees you should be aware of. Trust us when we say you don’t want to be surprised with a series of unexpected fees you can’t afford.
While conditions, additional fees and terms may vary by location and package, here are some highlights we think you should be aware of.
Activation fee and installation
With DirecTV, you’ll be charged a $19.95 activation fee. Amazingly, their installation fee is included in the TV service, so you wouldn’t have to pay extra fees for installation.
With Verizon FiOS TV, there are no charges for activation; however, you’ll have to pay an extra $99 for installation.
Contracts and cancellation
DirecTV comes with a 2-year contract their customers have to agree to. And if you decide you’re no longer interested in their services, they will charge you a $20 early termination fee for every month left on your contract. And since you’re with their equipment, you’ll need to have them returned, or they will keep hitting you with additional bills.
With FiOS, you can either chose to sign a 2-year contract to lock in your price or choose not to commit to a contract at all.
According to FiOS, their termination fee is prorated. Meaning, you’ll pay less to terminate their services as more time passes. To put things simply, their early termination fee will cost a maximum of $350 and will decrease by $15 every month. More so, you’ll have to return all their equipment within 30 days of sending in termination requests.
DVR options
FiOS offers two impressive DVRs you can select from. There is the single-room DVR and the Multi-room DVR. The single room DVR from FiOS cost $12 per month and can effectively record up to 2 shows at a time. The multi-room DVR, on the other hand, cost $20 per month and can record up to six shows simultaneously.
DirecTV has one of the most powerful DVRs on the market, and with their Genie HD DVR, you can do so much. The icing on the cake is that this DVR is included in all their packages at no extra cost. With this powerful DVR from DirecTV, you can record up to 5 shows simultaneously.
Frequently asked questions
Why is my FiOS TV reporting no signal?
This may be due to some issues with your router, and you can fix this easily by unplugging the power cable from the router. Having done that, reconnect the power cable. Wait for 30 seconds to see if the issue has been resolved. If not, reach out to their customer care team, and they will have everything sorted out.
How can I unfreeze my FiOS TV?
To unfreeze FiOS TV, simply press the power button for 15 seconds or disconnect the power cable from the equipment for 10 seconds, then reconnect. That should do the magic.
How many TV’s does DirecTV support?
DirecTV allows users to connect up to 8 TV’s to one HD DVR. You can also record up to 5 shows simultaneously.
How much does a genie mini cost per month?
Unlike standard DVR, the Genie Mini isn’t included in your service. Plus, each Genie Mini DVR costs $7 per month.
Conclusion
Choosing between DirecTV and Verizon FiOS TV can be quite tricky. And as we have highlighted earlier, there are several factors to consider, including channel selections, availability, monthly cost, customer services, on-demand library, DVR capabilities, and more. To make a perfect choice, please go through this post once again and find unique features that interest you.
