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DIRECTV’s Choice XTRA vs DISH America’s Top 250
Last updated on April 20th, 2015 by George Levint
In our first installment of head-to-head plan battles between DIRECTV and DISH Network, we’ll profile two of the most popular packages going: Choice XTRA and America’s Top 250. They each have plenty of subscribers and share some quality features, but if you’re trying to decide between the two, there are a few important differences. In the table below, we’ll compare each of the major categories and give a nod to the winner (the larger the “advantage” text, the bigger the upside). If there’s no significant difference in a category, we’ll declare it a draw.
Quick conclusion: If you’re looking to maximize your long-term savings and want the NFL package, go with CHOICE XTRA. Otherwise, movie lovers will probably find a bit more value with the Top 250.
Note: visit each of the plans’ respective page for more details (linked in the header below).
Full-time HD channels: 50+ Promo: Free HD for life
– draw –
Full-time HD channels: 48+ Promo: Free HD for life
– draw –
Movie channels included in package
15 channels: IFC, REELZ, Fox Movie Channel, Hallmark, Turner Classic Movies, etc.
17 channels: Encore (7), The Movie Channel (2), Fox Movie Channel, Hallmark, Turner Classic Movies, etc.
✓ Advantage
Premium movies
Free for 3 months: HBO, Showtime, STARZ and Cinemax
– draw –
Free for 3 months: HBO, Showtime, STARZ and Cinemax
– draw –
Required contract length to qualify for specials
24 months
– draw –
24 months
– draw –
Best Exclusive Offer
Free NFL Sunday Ticket for entire season
✓ Advantage
Free Blockbuster @ Home (mix between Netflix and On Demand streaming) for 3 months
Total Potential Savings
$1,550
✓ Advantage
$1,400
Specs/rates last updated: 3/12/15
About the author
George Levint
George is the senior editor at DigitalFind and an expert in how technology at home impacts our lives. From funky analog radios to AI devices that try to out-think you, he's usually unfairly critical until proven otherwise. He also enjoys spending the occasional weekend off-grid to keep Skynet guessing.
