Making a Choice Between Dish Network vs Direct TV

Are Dish Network and Direct TV basically the same? I mean, is there any real advantage to choosing one company over the other? I would like to find out if anyone has had any experience, good or bad, with these companies. I am ready to have my TV hooked up, I have just moved to a new city, and my apartment does allow satellite to be hooked up. I am concerned, not just about price, but also about the level of service provided when it comes to Dish Network vs Direct TV. I have heard good and things about both companies.