Newsletter
It’s official: DIRECTV Stream is finally here. On the surface, DIRECTV Stream is really just a rebrand of AT&T TV (which was a rebrand of DIRECTV NOW). But there are some changes here that you need to be aware of. So we are going to tell you everything you need to know about DIRECTV Stream. And whether it’s worth using as your new Live TV Streaming service.
When did DIRECTV Stream launch?
DIRECTV Stream officially launched on August 26, 2021.
As mentioned, it’s really just a rebrand of AT&T TV (and AT&T TV NOW), and that’s because AT&T kinda sold off DIRECTV. So it needed to branch out its streaming TV service, and get rid of the “AT&T” name from it. But instead of going back to DIRECTV NOW, it’s now DIRECTV Stream.
How much does DIRECTV Stream cost?
Update: Prices for DIRECTV Stream have increased a second time this year. Starting in November 2023, prices will start at $79.99 per month
DIRECTV Stream offers four different tiers, similar to AT&T TV. Their no-contract plans start at $94.98 per month for their Entertainment Plan, which includes 65 channels. Then there’s the Choice Plan that begins at $123.98, with Ultimate at $134.98. DIRECTV Stream has also added its Sports package to every plan, so now you’re paying $15 more than you would without sports, which is rather unfortunate, especially if you don’t like sports or don’t watch them.
What different tiers are available?
As mentioned already, there are four tiers available for DIRECTV Stream. Entertainment will cost you $79.99 per month and includes 90+ channels. If you want to get your regional sports channels (DIRECTV Stream is the only streaming service that has these now), you’ll want to get Choice or higher. This includes 125+ channels for $123.98, which includes the Sports Pack.
If that’s not enough channels, Ultimate is available for $134.98 with 160+ channels, and this also includes the Sports Pack.
Contract vs no-contract plans?
DIRECTV Stream is available as a no-contract streaming TV service, which is honestly how you should sign up for it. While the contract plans are cheaper, they then jump to a much higher price in the second year. It’s also almost impossible to sign up for DIRECTV Stream on a contract. And that’s probably a good thing.
Does DIRECTV Stream offer a free trial?
Yes. AT&T does offer a free trial for DIRECTV Stream. Currently, they are offering the Sports Package included in the regular price for the Choice and Ultimate plans. That deal won’t last forever, though.
What channels does DIRECTV Stream offer?
So, what channels are available on DIRECTV Stream? Well, most of them, to be quite honest. In the table below, you can see how the channel lineups stack up for each tier.
Update: DIRECTV Stream has just added eight more CW affiliates. These include Boston, Charlotte, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Hardford-New Haven, Phoenix, San Diego, and Seattle-Tacoma.
Update 2: DIRECTV Stream has added seven new FAST channels. These are all free and included in every DIRECTV Stream package. These new channels include The Bob Ross Channel, Comedy Dynamics, Dog Whisperer with Cesar Milan, and the Dove Channel. Scripps is adding Court TV and Scripps News.
It has also been confirmed that DIRECTV will be removing A&E, History, Lifetime, and Vice TV from the Entertainment Package for new customers. If you’re a current customer, you can keep these channels by logging into your online account and opting in. Or they can call DIRECTV customer service to get them restored at no cost.
| Entertainment $95 |
Choice $124 |
Ultimate $134 |
Premier $170 |
|
| A&E | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
| AMC | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| BET | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Bravo | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Cartoon Network | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| CNN | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Comedy Central | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Discovery | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Disney Channel | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Disney Junior | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| E! | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| ESPN | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Food Network | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Fox News | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Freeform | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| FX | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| FXX | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Hallmark Channel | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| HGTV | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| History | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Investigation Discovery | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Lifetime | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
| MSNBC | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| MTV | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Nickelodeon | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Paramount Network | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Syfy | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| TBS | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| TLC | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| TNT | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Travel Channel | X | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| truTV | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| USA Network | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| VH1 | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| WE tv | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
And here’s how DIRECTV Stream stacks up against the competitors.
| DIRECTV Stream Sign Up $69 |
Fubo TV Free Trial $80 |
Hulu + Live TV Free Trial $77 |
Sling TV Free Trial $40 |
YouTube TV Free Trial $72 |
|
| A&E | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | X |
| AMC | ✓ | ✓ | X | ✓ | ✓ |
| BET | ✓ | ✓ | X | ✓ | ✓ |
| Bravo | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | Blue only | ✓ |
| Cartoon Network | ✓ | X | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| CNN | ✓ | X | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Comedy Central | ✓ | ✓ | X | ✓ | ✓ |
| Discovery | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | Blue only | ✓ |
| Disney Channel | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | Orange only | ✓ |
| Disney Junior | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | +$6 | ✓ |
| E! | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | Blue only | ✓ |
| ESPN | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | Orange only | ✓ |
| Food Network | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Fox News | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | Blue only | ✓ |
| Freeform | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | Orange only | ✓ |
| FX | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | Blue only | ✓ |
| FXX | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | +$6 | X |
| Hallmark Channel | ✓ | ✓ | X | +$6 | ✓ |
| HGTV | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| History | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | X |
| Investigation Discovery | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Lifetime | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | X |
| MSNBC | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | Blue only | ✓ |
| MTV | ✓ | ✓ | X | +$6 | ✓ |
| Nickelodeon | ✓ | ✓ | X | X | ✓ |
| Paramount Network | ✓ | ✓ | X | $6 | ✓ |
| Syfy | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | Blue only | ✓ |
| TBS | ✓ | X | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| TLC | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | Blue only | ✓ |
| TNT | ✓ | X | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Travel Channel | $84.99 | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| truTV | ✓ | X | ✓ | Blue or +$6 | ✓ |
| USA Network | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | Blue only | ✓ |
| VH1 | ✓ | ✓ | X | +$6 | ✓ |
| WE tv | ✓ | ✓ | X | +$6 | ✓ |
What sports channels does DIRECTV Stream have?
Given the fact that a number of streaming TV services have been forced to drop regional sports networks, you may be interested in seeing which ones DIRECTV Stream actually has. Let’s see how they stack up in both national and regional sports networks.
| DIRECTV Sign Up $69 |
Fubo TV Free Trial $80 |
Hulu + Live TV Free Trial $77 |
Sling TV Free Trial $40 |
YouTube TV Free Trial $73 |
|
| ESPN | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | Orange Only | ✓ |
| ESPN2 | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | Orange Only | ✓ |
| FS1 | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | Blue Only | ✓ |
| FS2 | $94.99 | ✓ | ✓ | +$11 | ✓ |
| NBCSN | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | Blue Only | ✓ |
| TBS | ✓ | X | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| TNT | ✓ | X | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
And these are the regional sports networks that DIRECTV Stream currently has.
| DIRECTV Stream Sign Up $69 |
Fubo TV Free Trial $80 |
Hulu + Live TV Free Trial $77 |
Sling TV Free Trial $40 |
YouTube TV Free Trial $73 |
|
| Altitude | $85 | X | X | X | X |
| AT&T SportsNet Pittsburgh | $85 | ✓ | X | X | X |
| AT&T SportsNet Rocky Mountain | $85 | X | X | X | X |
| AT&T SportsNet Southwest | $85 | ✓ | X | X | X |
| Bally Sports Arizona | $85 | X | X | X | X |
| Bally Sports Carolinas | $85 | X | X | X | X |
| Bally Sports Detroit | $85 | X | X | X | X |
| Bally Sports Florida | $85 | X | X | X | X |
| Bally Sports Indiana | $85 | X | X | X | X |
| Bally Sports Kansas City | $85 | X | X | X | X |
| Bally Sports Midwest | $85 | X | X | X | X |
| Bally Sports New Orleans | $85 | X | X | X | X |
| Bally Sports North | $85 | X | X | X | X |
| Bally Sports Ohio | $85 | X | X | X | X |
| Bally Sports Oklahoma | $85 | X | X | X | X |
| Bally Sports Prime Ticket | $85 | X | X | X | X |
| Bally Sports San Diego | $85 | X | X | X | X |
| Bally Sports South | $85 | X | X | X | X |
| Bally Sports Southeast | $85 | X | X | X | X |
| Bally Sports Southwest | $85 | X | X | X | X |
| Bally Sports Sun | $85 | X | X | X | X |
| Bally Sports Tennessee | $85 | X | X | X | X |
| Bally Sports West | $85 | X | X | X | X |
| Bally Sports Wisconsin | $85 | X | X | X | X |
| LA FC Sports Network | X | X | X | X | ✓ |
| Longhorn Network | X | X | X | X | X |
| Marquee Sports Network | $85 | X | X | X | X |
| MASN | $85 | X | X | X | X |
| MASN2 | $85 | X | X | X | X |
| MSG | $85 | ✓ | X | X | X |
| MSG+ | $85 | ✓ | X | X | X |
| NBC Sports Bay Area | $85 | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| NBC Sports Boston | $85 | ✓ | ✓ | X | ✓ |
| NBC Sports California | $85 | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| NBC Sports Chicago | $85 | ✓ | ✓ | X | ✓ |
| NBC Sports Northwest | X | ✓ | ✓ | X | ✓ |
| NBC Sports Philadelphia | X | ✓ | ✓ | X | ✓ |
| NBC Sports Philadelphia+ | X | ✓ | ✓ | X | ✓ |
| NBC Sports Washington | $85 | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| NBC Sports Washington+ | X | ✓ | ✓ | X | X |
| NESN | $85 | ✓ | X | X | X |
| Root Sports Northwest | $85 | X | X | X | X |
| Spectrum SportsNet | $85 | X | X | X | X |
| Spectrum SportsNet LA | $85 | X | X | X | X |
| SportsNet NY | $85 | ✓ | ✓ | X | ✓ |
| SportsTime Ohio | $85 | X | X | X | X |
| YES Network | $85 | X | X | X | X |
What local channels are available?
While local channels are indeed free, and you can get them just by buying an antenna for your TV, it is definitely convenient to have it included in your TV service. And DIRECTV Stream does have all of your locals. Here’s how it stacks up to the competition.
| DIRECTV Sign Up $69 |
Fubo TV Free Trial $80 |
Hulu + Live TV Free Trial $77 |
Sling TV Free Trial $40 |
YouTube TV Free Trial $73 |
|
| ABC | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | X | ✓ |
| CBS | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | X | ✓ |
| FOX | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | Blue Only | ✓ |
| NBC | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | Blue Only | ✓ |
| Telemundo | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | X | ✓ |
| The CW | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | X | ✓ |
| Univision | ✓ | ✓ | X | X | X |
What features are included with DIRECTV Stream?
The features available on DIRECTV Stream are very similar to AT&T TV (NOW). That includes DVR support, a ton of simultaneous streams, and more. Let’s go over the features of DIRECTV Stream.
Is there DVR included in DIRECTV Stream?
All new customers will get unlimited DVR with DIRECTV STREAM. If you are on a grandfathered plan, you will stick with your current DVR plan – that could be as little as 20 hours.
Unlimited DVR is included in the price, and recordings will remain on your account for up to 9 months. However, there is a caveat. In a series, DIRECTV STREAM will only keep the most recent 30 episodes. Deleting the oldest recordings. So you won’t be able to keep episodes of something like Friends on your account, to watch whenever.
How many simultaneous streams are included?
AT&T gives you unlimited simultaneous streams on your home network and up to three streams when you’re not at home. That’s pretty similar to what YouTube TV and Hulu + Live TV have been doing as of late, where you can watch on every device at home at the same time.
There are some caveats here, though: some networks only let you have three simultaneous streams, period – that’s at home and on the go. These include the Fox channels: Big Ten Network, Fox News, Fox Business, FS1, FS2, Fox Deportes, and Fox Local Channels. As well as STARZ and the NHL Network.
On older plans, you get two streams but can purchase an additional stream (equaling three) for $5. These include the Live a Little, Just Right, Go Big, and Gotta Have It plans. Which have not been offered in about five years. All other plans come with 3 streams, and you cannot purchase additional ones.
What devices work with DIRECTV Stream?
DIRECTV Stream works on pretty much every device you would expect it to. But if for some reason you don’t have any of these devices, you can “rent” a box from AT&T, which is essentially an Android TV box with DIRECTV Stream pre-loaded on it. And they will happily charge you $5 per month for it. If you don’t have one of the devices below, we recommend buying the Chromecast with Google TV or even a Roku, which can be as cheap as $20.
These devices work with DIRECTV Stream:
- Amazon Fire TV (2nd generation and newer)
- Android
- Android TV
- Apple TV (4th and 5th generation)
- Chromecast with Google TV
- Chromecast Built-in TV (select models)
- DIRECTV Stream device
- iOS (devices running iOS 11 and later)
- Roku
- Samsung Smart TV (2017 and later models)
What is the DIRECTV Stream device?
The DIRECTV Stream device is essentially an Android TV box that AT&T is renting to customers. It has the DIRECTV Stream app pre-installed, of course. However, you can also install other apps from the Google Play store. It also has Google Assistant available, and it’s super easy to set-up. There’s no need to have someone come and install it for you.
AT&T will “rent” this to you for $5 per month. Or you can pay $120 upfront. This is pretty overpriced for what it is. When the Chromecast is combined with Google TV, it will likely perform better for less than half the price.
What internet speed do I need for DIRECTV Stream?
How fast does your internet need to be for DIRECTV Stream? Honestly, not that fast. You need a minimum of 8Mbps per stream for optimal viewing, according to AT&T. However, we’d recommend having closer to 50Mbps if you plan to have two simultaneous streams – maybe one in the living room and one in a bedroom.
Can I watch DIRECTV Stream offline?
Unfortunately, AT&T does not offer an offline feature for DIRECTV Stream. So you will need to be connected to the internet. It’s also worth noting that for those who travel a lot, you’ll only be able to watch it within the US. If you go to another country, you’ll need to set up a VPN to watch DIRECTV Stream.
This might change in the future, as other Live TV Streaming services are offering offline viewing for DVR’d content. But that is also generally in the form of an add-on.
Can I keep my existing plan & price from AT&T TV?
Existing DIRECTV Now, AT&T TV, and AT&T TV Now customers are grandfathered in. So you can keep your current plan and price.
However, you may find that these plans are better than what you currently have even though the prices are now higher. But the bottom line is, if you had DIRECTV Now, AT&T TV, or AT&T TV Now, you won’t be moved to one of these new plans, which is a good thing.
Do AT&T TV customers need to do anything to use DIRECTV Stream?
Nope. Like with most service rebrandings, the current AT&T TV app will be rebranded to DIRECTV Stream. That update will likely begin rolling out on August 26. All you need to do is update the app on all of your devices, and you’re good to go. It’s very likely that the update will happen automatically. So there’s even less to worry about here, which is really nice.
Is it worth it to switch to DIRECTV Stream?
This really depends on what channels you need and what content you watch. And if you really want your regional sports networks back. As DIRECTV Stream is the only service with the regional sports networks right now. And that is also why it is more expensive than other services like YouTube TV.
However, DIRECTV Stream is becoming a very competitive service with this rebrand. It offers more channels and an unlimited DVR option. It has me looking twice at the service, considering that was the biggest reason I was sticking with YouTube TV – that unlimited DVR. But it is quite a bit more expensive than YouTube TV when you add the DVR and regional sports. Looking at $95/month plus tax. At the same time, YouTube TV is still $65. Are sports really worth an extra $30? Perhaps to some people.
This is what we need in the streaming live TV space, though. We need more competition, and forcing these services to compete with each other is going to either drive the price down or give us more channels and features to justify that price because cable is indeed dead.