MUMBAI: For the fourth consecutive year, Echostar and its pay TV service the Dish Network ranked above the competition for customer satisfaction among satellite and cable TV companies in the US. The survey was conducted by the American Customer Satisfaction Index (ACSI).

Dish posted the highest index score 71 out of 100 among all the cable and satellite television companies included in the ACSI. DirecTV also had the same score. Comcast which is America's largest cable company scored 56 points. The ACSI study surveyed consumers this year on the criteria of quality, overall value, loyalty and retention.

Echostar customer service executive VP Michael Kelly added, "This demonstrates the Dish Network's commitment to provide the best value in pay television for our more than 9.7 million customers. We continue to work hard to deliver more than 500 channels of all digital programming, local broadcast channels in 128 markets and in all 50 states.

"We also deliver new technologies such as digital video recorders and high definition TV, at the lowest prices in the country."

The overall average for the four largest cable TV companies in the ACSI survey was 58.75. DirectTV customer satisfaction executive VP Peter Giacalone added, "Our position shows a sustained commitment by all our employees to provide our more than 12.6 million customers with a great product backed by first-rate service. We constantly scrutinise all the facets of customer service."

The Rupert Murdoch owned Fox Entertainment Group has a 34 per cent stake in DirecTV.