Well, we’ve already spilled the beans about DISH being our pick for best overall and best for kids. Now it’s time to explain what the beans mean.
DISH doesn’t have the best prices, but it does have the third-best cost per channel (CPC) at $0.32–$0.39. That’s handy for gauging the value of a package.
Also, DISH has a two-year pricelock, which keeps your payment from increasing during your contract period. This rules because many contract-based TV providers have steep price increases in the second year. So DISH’s price for peace-of-mind is sweet.
As for channels, DISH doesn’t carry the premium channels HBO or CINEMAX—but it does have virtually all the other most popular channels in its packages. Plus, you can always subscribe to HBO Max ($14.99 a month) on the side.
And then there’s the DISH Hopper 3 DVR. It might cost an extra 15 bucks a month, but it has more storage than any other provider’s DVR (except for AT&T TV’s cloud DVR).
And you can record up to 16 shows at once, which is incredible. Also, for a small fee ($5–$10 per month), you can have multiroom viewing with the DISH Joey.
As for kid stuff, DISH has the channels you want from Disney, Nickelodeon, and local PBS affiliates. And the DISH parental controls (courtesy of a partnership with Common Sense Media) are top-notch.
So if you’re worried about the rugrats stumbling into a bloodbath, a sexy shower scene, a deluge of dirty words, a tornado of fake news, or a cesspool of consumerism, you can prevent it with only a few clicks.
And, with the DISH Parental Guide’s content-focused movie and show reviews, you can steer your brood toward educational value and positive messages and role models, which is nice to see in a censorship tool.
