If you’re tired of paying a big cable bill each month, you could save some money by cutting the cord and subscribing to DIRECTV Stream (formerly AT&T TV) in 2023.
This live TV streaming service is one of the most expensive options on the market, but it may be the closest experience to traditional cable or satellite TV for cord-cutters who want to maintain that feeling while shifting to streaming.
Feeling the heat from popular streaming services such as YouTube TV, Hulu +Live TV and Sling TV, DIRECTV has leveraged legacy satellite TV technology into creating a competitor in this space.
But is it good enough? Are its prices palatable, especially in light of the price hike in 2023? And will you be able to avoid all the fees that DIRECTV tries to hook you with along the way?
In this article, I’ll walk you through everything you need to know about DIRECTV’s live television subscription service.
This article was updated in May 2023 and I review it once per month. Detailed notes on all updates can be found here.
May 2023 Updates:
Latest DIRECTV STREAM Updates
- As of May 10, 2023, DIRECTV STREAM is offering $30 off the first three months of service for new users. This will come in the form of a three $10 monthly credits on the package of your choice.
- As of May 10, 2023, new customers have the option to enjoy a complimentary three months of HBO Max, SHOWTIME, STARZ, Cinemax and EPIX. That’s up to a $160 value for those who choose to opt in, but it’s worth noting you will be automatically billed for all of these in the fourth month of service if you don’t remember to cancel.
- Newsmax returned to DIRECTV STREAM on March 22, 2023 after being removed from the channel menu for all packages in February 2023 amid a carriage dispute.
- DIRECTV STREAM raised prices on all packages effective January 22, 2023. The cheapest monthly subscription is now $75 per month.
What Is DIRECTV STREAM? Team Clark Reviews the Live TV Streaming Service
Monthly Price:
$99.99
Channels:
124 (Full list)
Free Trial:
5 Days (Sign up)
Cloud DVR Hours:
Unlimited
Simultaneous Streams:
20
Local Channels:
ABC, CBS, FOX and NBC included
Regional Sports:
Bally Sports, AT&T SportsNet and NBC Sports channels
Supported Streaming Devices:
Roku, Amazon Fire, Chromecast, Apple TV and select smart TVs (Full list) |
DIRECTV STREAM is a live TV streaming service offered by DIRECTV, which has been responsible for popular satellite television products in recent years. This service previous was known as AT&T TV until a rebranding in August 2021. AT&T is no longer involved with this streaming service.
While this service does away with many of the junk fees that you might have come to expect from a DIRECTV satellite subscription, you’re going to find that this service is on the expensive side of the live TV streaming market.
The cheapest package, branded as the “Entertainment Package”, offers roughly 80 channels for a monthly base price of $74.99. That’s higher than top competitors YouTube TV and Sling TV.
If you want regional sports networks, you’ll have to pay at least $99.99 per month. And it only gets more expensive from there with a package menu that goes as high as $154.99 per month for the Premier option.
The pitch from DIRECTV STREAM is that you’re getting a more premium streaming experience with some of its packages, which include channels that many other streaming services don’t carry.
In fact, due to contract disputes with other streaming services, many customers may find that DIRECTV STREAM is the only streaming option for the regional sports networks that carry the games of their favorite MLB, NHL and NBA teams.
Read on for my detailed analysis of DIRECTV STREAM’s channel lineup, cloud DVR offering, supported devices and more.
Table of Contents:
1. What Channels Do You Get With DIRECTV STREAM?
With DIRECTV STREAM, the questions you’ll be asking about channels are probably a little different from those you might about a cheaper streaming service.
Instead of, “Does this service offer my favorite channel?” you’re probably more likely to ask, “Can I find the channels I like in a DIRECTV STREAM package and still save money?”
DIRECTV STREAM is not short on channels. But with four subscription tiers that start at $75 per month and go up from there, things can start to add up pretty quickly.
If you’re looking to use DIRECTV STREAM as a streaming service because it offers the regional sports network that broadcasts the games of your favorite team, it’s worth noting that you’ll probably have to upgrade to the Choice Package ($99 per month effective Jan. 22, 2023) to get those channels.
DIRECTV STREAM carries local channels (ABC, NBC, CBS, and FOX affiliates) and regional sports networks (Bally Sports South, YES Network, etc.), but you’ll want to verify exactly what’s available in your area by entering your ZIP code on the DIRECTV STREAM website.
It’s worth noting that you will be eligible to get HBO Max, SHOWTIME, STARZ, EPIX and Cinemax at no additional charge for the first three months of your new subscription. DIRECTV STREAM previously offered a free year of HBO Max, but that’s no longer available.
Below is a list of channels offered on each DIRECTV STREAM subscription tier. If you want to compare DIRECTV STREAM’s channel lineup to other streaming TV services, see our side-by-side chart or use our live TV streaming channel tool.
| DIRECTV STREAM – Choice Package ($99.99) | DIRECTV STREAM – Entertainment Package ($74.99) | DIRECTV STREAM – Premier Package ($154.99) | DIRECTV STREAM – Ultimate Package ($109.99) |
|---|---|---|---|
| A&E | A&E | A&E | A&E |
| ABC | ABC | ABC | ABC |
| ACC Network | ACC Network | ACC Network | |
| AccuWeather | AccuWeather | AccuWeather | AccuWeather |
| AMC | AMC | AMC | AMC |
| American Heroes Channel | American Heroes Channel | ||
| Animal Planet | Animal Planet | Animal Planet | Animal Planet |
| aspireTV | aspireTV | ||
| AXS TV | AXS TV | AXS TV | AXS TV |
| BabyFirst | BabyFirst | BabyFirst | BabyFirst |
| BBC America | BBC America | BBC America | BBC America |
| BBC World News | BBC World News | ||
| BET | BET | BET | BET |
| BET Her | BET Her | ||
| Big Ten Network | Big Ten Network | Big Ten Network | |
| Bloomberg TV | Bloomberg TV | Bloomberg TV | Bloomberg TV |
| Boomerang | Boomerang | Boomerang | Boomerang |
| Bounce TV | Bounce TV | Bounce TV | |
| Bravo | Bravo | Bravo | Bravo |
| C-SPAN | C-SPAN | C-SPAN | C-SPAN |
| C-SPAN2 | C-SPAN2 | C-SPAN2 | C-SPAN2 |
| Cartoon Network | Cartoon Network | Cartoon Network | Cartoon Network |
| CBS | CBS | CBS | CBS |
| CBS Sports Network | CBS Sports Network | ||
| Cheddar | Cheddar | Cheddar | |
| Cinemax | |||
| Cinemax ActionMax | |||
| CLEO TV | CLEO TV | CLEO TV | CLEO TV |
| CMT | CMT | CMT | CMT |
| CNBC | CNBC | CNBC | CNBC |
| CNBC World | CNBC World | CNBC World | |
| CNN | CNN | CNN | CNN |
| CNN HD | CNN HD | CNN HD | CNN HD |
| CNN International | CNN International | CNN International | CNN International |
| CNÑ | CNÑ | CNÑ | CNÑ |
| Comedy Central | Comedy Central | Comedy Central | Comedy Central |
| Comedy.TV | Comedy.TV | Comedy.TV | |
| Cooking Channel | Cooking Channel | Cooking Channel | |
| Cozi TV | Cozi TV | Cozi TV | |
| Dark Matter TV | |||
| Destination America | Destination America | ||
| Discovery Channel | Discovery Channel | Discovery Channel | Discovery Channel |
| Discovery Family | Discovery Family | ||
| Discovery Life | Discovery Life | ||
| Disney Channel | Disney Channel | Disney Channel | Disney Channel |
| Disney Junior | Disney Junior | Disney Junior | Disney Junior |
| Disney XD | Disney XD | Disney XD | Disney XD |
| E! | E! | E! | E! |
| ESPN | ESPN | ESPN | |
| ESPN HD | ESPN HD | ESPN HD | ESPN HD |
| ESPN2 | ESPN2 | ESPN2 | ESPN2 |
| ESPNews | ESPNews | ESPNews | |
| ESPNU | ESPNU | ESPNU | |
| Fail Army | |||
| FanDuel TV | FanDuel TV | FanDuel TV | |
| FM | FM | ||
| Food Network | Food Network | Food Network | Food Network |
| FOX | FOX | FOX | FOX |
| FOX Business Network | FOX Business Network | FOX Business Network | FOX Business Network |
| FOX News Channel | FOX News Channel | FOX News Channel | FOX News Channel |
| FOX Sports 1 | FOX Sports 1 | FOX Sports 1 | FOX Sports 1 |
| FOX Sports 2 | FOX Sports 2 | ||
| FOX Weather | FOX Weather | FOX Weather | FOX Weather |
| Freeform | Freeform | Freeform | Freeform |
| Fuse | Fuse | Fuse | |
| FX | FX | FX | FX |
| FX HD | FX HD | FX HD | FX HD |
| FXM | FXM | ||
| FXX | FXX | FXX | FXX |
| FYI | FYI | ||
| GAC Family | |||
| Galavision | Galavision | Galavision | Galavision |
| Game Show Network | Game Show Network | Game Show Network | |
| Golf Channel | Golf Channel | Golf Channel | |
| Great American Country | Great American Country | ||
| Grit | Grit | Grit | |
| Hallmark Channel | Hallmark Channel | Hallmark Channel | Hallmark Channel |
| Hallmark Movies & Mysteries | Hallmark Movies & Mysteries | ||
| HBO | |||
| HBO Comedy | |||
| HBO Family | |||
| HBO Latino | |||
| HBO2 | |||
| Heroes & Icons | Heroes & Icons | Heroes & Icons | |
| HGTV | HGTV | HGTV | HGTV |
| History | History | History | History |
| HLN | HLN | HLN | HLN |
| HSN | HSN | HSN | HSN |
| IFC | IFC | IFC | IFC |
| Infast | |||
| Investigation Discovery | Investigation Discovery | Investigation Discovery | Investigation Discovery |
| Ion | Ion | Ion | Ion |
| Jewelry Television | Jewelry Television | Jewelry Television | Jewelry Television |
| Jewish Life TV | Jewish Life TV | Jewish Life TV | Jewish Life TV |
| JusticeCentral.TV | JusticeCentral.TV | JusticeCentral.TV | |
| Lifetime | Lifetime | Lifetime | Lifetime |
| Lifetime Movie Network | Lifetime Movie Network | ||
| LOGO | LOGO | ||
| Magnolia Network | Magnolia Network | ||
| MLB Network | MLB Network | MLB Network | |
| MotorTrend | MotorTrend | MotorTrend | MotorTrend |
| Movie Max HD | |||
| MSNBC | MSNBC | MSNBC | MSNBC |
| MTV | MTV | MTV | MTV |
| MTV Classic | MTV Classic | ||
| MTV2 | MTV2 | MTV2 | MTV2 |
| Nat Geo Wild | Nat Geo Wild | ||
| National Geographic | National Geographic | National Geographic | National Geographic |
| NBA TV | NBA TV | NBA TV | |
| NBC | NBC | NBC | NBC |
| NBC Universo | NBC Universo | ||
| Newsmax | Newsmax | Newsmax | Newsmax |
| NewsNation | NewsNation | ||
| NHL Network | NHL Network | ||
| Nick Jr. | Nick Jr. | Nick Jr. | |
| Nickelodeon | Nickelodeon | Nickelodeon | Nickelodeon |
| Nicktoons | Nicktoons | Nicktoons | |
| Origin Sports | |||
| Ovation TV | Ovation TV | Ovation TV | |
| OWN – Oprah Winfrey Network | OWN – Oprah Winfrey Network | OWN – Oprah Winfrey Network | |
| Oxygen | Oxygen | ||
| Paramount Network | Paramount Network | Paramount Network | Paramount Network |
| PBS | |||
| PBS Kids | PBS Kids | PBS Kids | PBS Kids |
| POP | POP | POP | |
| QVC | QVC | QVC | QVC |
| QVC2 | QVC2 | QVC2 | QVC2 |
| Realmadrid.tv | |||
| Reelz | Reelz | Reelz | Reelz |
| Revolt | Revolt | Revolt | |
| RFD-TV | RFD-TV | RFD-TV | RFD-TV |
| Science Channel | Science Channel | Science Channel | |
| Scientology Network | Scientology Network | Scientology Network | Scientology Network |
| SEC Network | SEC Network | SEC Network | |
| Shop LC | Shop LC | Shop LC | Shop LC |
| ShortsTV | ShortsTV | ShortsTV | |
| SHOWTIME | |||
| SHOWTIME 2 | |||
| SHOWTIME Extreme | |||
| Showtime FamilyZone | |||
| Showtime Next | |||
| Showtime Showcase | |||
| SHOxBET | |||
| Smithsonian Channel | Smithsonian Channel | ||
| Sportsman Channel | Sportsman Channel | ||
| STARZ | |||
| STARZ Encore | STARZ Encore | ||
| STARZ Encore Action | STARZ Encore Action | ||
| STARZ Encore Black | STARZ Encore Black | ||
| STARZ Encore Classic | STARZ Encore Classic | ||
| STARZ Encore Family | STARZ Encore Family | ||
| STARZ Encore Suspense | STARZ Encore Suspense | ||
| STARZ Encore West | STARZ Encore West | ||
| STARZ Encore Westerns | STARZ Encore Westerns | ||
| STARZ Kids & Family | |||
| SundanceTV | SundanceTV | SundanceTV | |
| Syfy | Syfy | Syfy | Syfy |
| Tastemade | Tastemade | Tastemade | |
| Tastemade Home | |||
| TBS | TBS | TBS | TBS |
| TCM | TCM | TCM | TCM |
| TeenNick | TeenNick | TeenNick | TeenNick |
| Tennis Channel | Tennis Channel | Tennis Channel | |
| The Big Dish | |||
| The Bob Ross Channel | |||
| The CW | |||
| The First | The First | The First | The First |
| The Weather Channel | The Weather Channel | The Weather Channel | |
| TheGrio | TheGrio | TheGrio | TheGrio |
| ThrillerMax | |||
| TLC | TLC | TLC | TLC |
| TNT | TNT | TNT | TNT |
| Toon Giggles | |||
| Toon Giggles Junior | |||
| Travel Channel | Travel Channel | Travel Channel | |
| truTV | truTV | truTV | truTV |
| TUDN | TUDN | ||
| TV Land | TV Land | TV Land | TV Land |
| TV One | TV One | TV One | |
| TVG | TVG | ||
| UniMás | UniMás | UniMás | |
| Universal Kids | Universal Kids | ||
| Universo HD | Universo HD | ||
| Univision | Univision | Univision | Univision |
| UPtv | UPtv | UPtv | |
| USA Network | USA Network | USA Network | USA Network |
| VH1 | VH1 | VH1 | VH1 |
| Vice | Vice | Vice | Vice |
| WE tv | WE tv | WE tv | WE tv |
| WGN America | WGN America | WGN America | |
| Womensports Network |
Available Premium Subscriptions
You may have noticed that DIRECTV STREAM does not offer add-on channel packages like some of its competitors. Rather than one base subscription level like YouTube TV or Hulu + Live TV have, DIRECTV STREAM works from a four-tier subscription menu.
But you can add premium channel subscriptions to your DIRECTV STREAM package.
Here are some of the premium options available:
- HBO Max
- Cinemax
- Showtime
- STARZ
The Premier package, which is the most expensive, includes all of the above at no additional charge.
2. Does DIRECTV STREAM Come With DVR Capabilities?
| DIRECTV STREAM – Choice Package | DIRECTV STREAM – Entertainment Package | DIRECTV STREAM – Premier Package | DIRECTV STREAM – Ultimate Package | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cloud DVR Hours | Unlimited | Unlimited | Unlimited | Unlimited |
With an entry price of $75 per month, one would hope that DIRECTV STREAM would offer a great cloud DVR solution included with the subscription.
And the service is delivering on that in 2023. After initially offering just 20 hours of cloud DVR functionality with each package, DIRECTV STREAM now offers unlimited DVR space.
Here’s a look at how DIRECTV STREAM’s cloud DVR storage space stacks up against some of its top competitors.
| Hulu + Live TV | Philo | Sling Orange + Blue | YouTube TV | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cloud DVR Hours | Unlimited | Unlimited | 50 | Unlimited |
3. How Do You Stream DIRECTV STREAM?
One of the biggest perks of cutting the cord and opting into a service like DIRECTV STREAM is the variety of ways in which you can enjoy the content.
Not only can you move seamlessly from device to device, but you can also take your recorded content with you thanks to the portability of the cloud DVR.
You can stream DIRECTV STREAM on your smartphone, tablet, computer or your TV. All you need is high-speed internet access to enjoy.
If you’re planning to watch on your television, you’ll need a streaming device like a Roku or Amazon Fire TV stick.
Here’s a list of compatible devices according to DIRECTV STREAM’s website:
- Amazon Fire TV devices
- Apple TV
- Roku devices
- Chromecast with Google TV
- Android phones and tablets
- ioS (Apple) phones and tablets
- Samsung smart TVs
DIRECTV STREAM also sells its own streaming device that is customized for its service. It uses Google technology for voice commands and has one-click options for accessing your channel guide and cloud DVR.
Be careful! This could be a real money trap.
The device costs $120 upfront or $5 a month for 24 months.
This is an unnecessary device that can rope you into a pseudo-contract if you choose to pay for it monthly.
Remember: One of the huge benefits of switching from cable or satellite to streaming is getting AWAY from that type of arrangement.
Paying out of pocket for a device like a Roku or Amazon Fire TV stick is not only significantly cheaper, but it keeps you from any obligation to DIRECTV in the process.
4. Does DIRECTV STREAM Allow for Multiple Streams?
If you are considering cutting the cord and have a household with more than a couple of viewers, you’re probably concerned with how many people can watch your streaming service at once.
This is one area in which DIRECTV STREAM does shine.
No matter which package you choose, you’re going to get access to up to 20 simultaneous streams at once on your home network. If you’re away from your home network, you still get three concurrent streams.
Each DIRECTV STREAM account is allowed one user profiles for customization of content.
| DIRECTV STREAM – Choice Package | DIRECTV STREAM – Entertainment Package | DIRECTV STREAM – Premier Package | DIRECTV STREAM – Ultimate Package | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Simultaneous Streams | 20 | 20 | 20 | 20 |
| User Profiles Allowed | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
Here’s a look at how the simultaneous streams and user profiles stack up against some of the top competitors in the space.
| Hulu + Live TV | Philo | Sling Orange + Blue | YouTube TV | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Simultaneous Streams | 2 | 3 | 3 | 3 |
| User Profiles Allowed | 6 | 10 | 1 | 6 |
Pros and Cons for DIRECTV STREAM
| Pros | Cons |
| One of the best streaming services for regional sports networks. | Among the most expensive live streaming TV packages on the market |
| Local channels are included | The cheapest package that includes regional sports networks is $90 per month. |
| Up to 20 concurrent streams on your home network | Only one user profile allowed |
DIRECTV STREAM has its strong points, but it is the most expensive live TV streaming service on the market.
Many prospective customers may find that a service such as YouTube TV offers many of the same things for a lower cost.
The one exception is regional sports networks. This is one area where DIRECTV STREAM enjoys a competitive advantage over YouTube TV and many of the other top competitors.
But before you pay what will probably be $100 per month (or more) to get those channels, check our guide for watching sports without cable for alternative solutions.
If you’re streaming on a budget, it’s really hard to recommend DIRECTV STREAM. There are comparable options on the live TV streaming market that will keep more money in your wallet each month.
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