If you are subscribed to Time Warner Cable you are bad and you should feel bad. Essentially every other provider (I'm not going to count Centurylink Prism in Las Vegas) has the padres. I'll also go ahead and outline the financial reasons that Time Warner Cable is horrible.

For this cost comparison we will take the biggest package that doesn't include movie channels (I consider Encore and Sundance as movie channels). We will also assume two HD televisions with whole home DVR service.

Time Warner San Diego

Despite my rules above, I'm going to not include the "HD Pass/HD VIP Pack" as $10 is a lot of money for 4 channels (Smithsonian, MavTV, MGM, Universal).

One Time Charges

Whole House DVR Professional Installation Fee = $50

Second Outlet (I didn't select that I needed any sort of work on a second outlet, but obviously TWC doesn't care; maybe you can get around paying this fee) = $19.99

Total = $69.99

Monthly Charges

Digital TV = $49.99

Sports Pass = $8.99

Whole House HD-DVR & HD Box Package = $41.98

Total = $100.96

Two Year Cost

$69.99 + ($100.96 * 24) = $2493.03

Lineup Notes

Missing Fox Sports San Diego and Primeticket

Has TWC SportsNet , 4SD, Pac-12 National, Pac-12 LA, BigTen, Fox Sports West

Cox San Diego

One Time Charges

none

Monthly Charges

Cox Advanced TV Preferred = $39.99

Whole Home HD DVR = $8.50

TV Paks - Sports and Information Pak = $8.50

Residential Television Plus Package (some sort of extra fee for the whole home, different from the receiver fee) = $10.00

Residential Television DVR Service (some sort of extra fee for the DVRs, different than the plus package fee and receiver fees) = $9.99

Whole Home HD Receiver = $8.50

Total = $84.48

Two Year Cost

$84.48 * 24 = $2027.52

Lineup Notes

Has Primeticket, Fox Sports West, Big Ten, Fox Sports San Diego, Pac12 (the national channel I guess?), 4SD, TWC Sportsnet

AT&T U-verse

The U300 package includes Starz, Showtime, and encore. It was chosen as it was the minimum package for the MLB Network. CBS Sports Network is available in the U450 package or can be added as "the sports pack" ($10/mo).

One Time Charges

U-Verse Activation Fee = $49.99

Online Activation Fee Waiver = -$49.00

Total = $0.00

Monthly Charges

AT&T U-verse U300 = $89.00

$30 off TV for 6 months = -$30.00 (6 months)

1 wired DVR Receiver = $0.00

1 Wired non-DVR Receiver = $7.00

Total = $66.00 for first 6 months, $96.00 for additional months

Two Year Cost

($66.00 * 6) + ($96.00 * 18) = $2124.00

Lineup Notes

Has Fox Sports West, Fox Sports San Diego, TWC Sportsnet

Missing Primeticket, Big Ten,Pac12, 4SD

CBS Sports Network costs extra

Dish

One Time Charges

Leased Receiver = $199.00

Leased Receiver credit = -$199.00

Total = $0.00

Monthly Charges

America's Top 200 = $64.99

DVR Service = $10.00

Joey Receiver = $7.00

Online Bonus = $10 for 12 months

New Customer = $20 for 12 months

Total = $51.99 for 12 months, $81.99 for additional months

Two Year Cost

($51.99 * 12) + ($81.99 * 12) = $1607.76

Lineup Notes

Has Big Ten, Fox Sports San Diego, Pac12 (the national channel I guess?), Fox Sports West, Primeticket

Missing 4SD, NBC Sports Network (needs Top 250 package), and TWC Sportsnet.

DirecTV

One Time Charges

Genie Advanced Whole-Home HD DVR = $299.00

Genie Mini Client = $99.00

Receiver Discounts = -$398.00

Total = $0.00

Monthly Charges

Choice Xtra $68.99

months 1-12 credit = -$29.00 for first 12 months

second year credit = -$10.00 for second 12 months

Advanced Receiver Service = $20.00

discount Advanced receiver service = -$10.00

additional TV = $6.00

regional sports fee = $3.00

Total = $58.99 for first year, $77.99 for second year

Two Year Cost

($58.99 * 12) + ($77.99 * 12) = $1643.76

Lineup Notes

Has Primeticket, Fox Sports West, Big Ten, Fox Sports San Diego, 4SD, TWC Sportsnet

Missing Pac12, 4SD

PRICE SUMMARY

Time Warner = $2493.03

U-Verse $2124.00

Cox = $2027.52

DirecTV =$1643.76

Dish =$1607.76

Time Warner is by far the most expensive....and they don't even have the padres. The satellite providers are cheaper but they require 2 year contracts.