Cable vs Dish

I'm getting quite sick and tired of the hold that cable operators have in this country. They seem to revel in the fact that they can do as they please notwithstanding the exorbitant rates they charge. The recent blackout and strike by the cable operators is making us keener on getting a satellite dish. The Dish Network TV has over 230 channels to choose from which I personally would not want, as I like to watch my favorite programs only and rarely channel surf. What I would love about the dish network would be freedom from the local cable chap's control.