We have had Direct TV for almost two years. The cable company wouldn't dig a shallow (Think Florida. Think sand, not soil) 50' ditch to connect us. We waited a year. With Direct TV the pros: Immediate service and troubleshooting if necessary. No trouble with lightning storms. Good quality on HD shows. Vacation shut-off of service is immediate and there are no re-hook-up fees. So far, we have no negatives.