Two of the big companies in the cable TV landscape today are Charter cable and Direct TV satellite service.  If these two companies are on options for you when it comes to selecting a satellite or cable provider, you may be confused about what they claim to offer, and how much it is going to cost. The smart thing to do is sit down and make a chart of what each company offers, and of course price out the services including everything they offer.  Here are a couple of things to consider when shopping for Direct TV vs Charter.

Hi Definition - While both cable and satellite now offer hi def content, Dish beats Charter cable hands down as far as the actual number of channels. Direct TV promotes they have 130 hi definition networks, but on close examination that number is inflated.  They in reality have about 90 when you remove the pay per view channels. Charter TV tops out at 60 in the best case, and many areas have far fewer depending on the network upgrades.

Sports content - You will be able to find plenty of sports with either provider, as both carry all of the local networks and ESPN. But if you want out of market sports content, DirecTV satellite is the best choice over Dish and Charter. They have the rights to the NFL Sunday Ticket bundle, but it doesn’t end there. Other packages found on satellite TV but missing from Charter cable include the NBA League Pass and the NASCAR Hotpass serires.

Packaged service - One downfall of satellite TV service is that they do not have the network to compete with cable TV when it comes to the triple play bundle. Charter communications can offer bundled services which also add high speed internet access and long distance calling through your home phone. Consolidating these services with your cable TV company is convenient as far as customer service and billing issues can be resolved quickly.

So which company is right for you? Only you can decide which is best for your situation and for your family.  While HD channels and premium sports programming may be top priorities for many, they are not important to others. Reviewing both options and the overall costs will insure that you make the right decision for your particular situation.