TV Answer Man, I have had DIRECTV for six years and I am not in a two-year agreement so I can cancel now without a penalty. I am thinking of switching to DIRECTV Stream so I can get free HBO Max and eliminate my fees for DIRECTV equipment and so forth. I have a Roku already so I could just watch DIRECTV Stream by streaming. Is there anything that I should know before I switch? — Tom, Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
Tom, there are a few things you definitely need to know before you make that switch, particularly as it relates to free HBO Max.
First, while DIRECTV Stream can be more convenient because it does not require a dish nor a two-year agreement, note that its channel lineup is less than half the size of the DIRECTV lineup. (For instance, Stream does not carry the NFL Network while DIRECTV does.) You might want to scan the channel list for each to ensure that you won’t lose a favorite network after switching.
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You also need to know that DIRECTV Stream does not offer the NFL Sunday Ticket, which is a DIRECTV exclusive. This might give you pause if you’re a big football fan.
And finally, it’s true that DIRECTV Stream offers three free months of HBO Max to new customers who subscribe to its Choice plan or above. But that offer is not available to DIRECTV and U-verse TV customers who are switching to DIRECTV Stream.
If you switch from either to DIRECTV Stream, you’ll have to pay the regular HBO Max subscription rate from the start. (HBO Max’s plans start at $9.99 a month with an ads-included version.)
Tom, hope that helps in your decision. Happy viewing, and stay safe!
Have a question about new TV technologies? Send it to The TV Answer Man at swann@tvpredictions.com. Please include your first name and hometown in your message.
— Phillip Swann
Don’t do it, i had DirecTV, before AT&T pushed me to DirecTV Stream/AT&T TV and it isn’t 100% ready for prime time, I’ve had it for 2 years. The boxes need to be reset about once every 2 week, sometimes out of the blue you can’t pause or rewind live TV, the box doesn’t support Apple TV Android app, I have to log back into Showtime Anytime about every 2 or 3 weeks if I haven’t watched it and the boxes have fairly limited memory if you add many apps and you can’t delete some of the unused factory apps. Granted DirecTV has a rain fade issue, especially in SFL but it’s a much better platform and has more features/functionality the DirecTV Stream.
Don’t forget that you cannot download your DVR content on stream. If you travel a lot, this is a deal breaker. I was going to make this switch a year or so ago, and realized about a week in that it didn’t do that. So I returned (then) ATT TV before the (then) contract kicked in.
Well Tom’s complacency is clear to see lives in Florida and says he’s had DirecTV for blah blah blah fails to mention that he doesn’t watch it at all when it gets rained on which is relatively regular in Florida thinks stream is a better idea and getting in bed with a company who is still losing 10,000 customers a day is a great idea with all the other options out there Tom would be so much better off to just get in bed with the local cable company and buy their service because there is no more advantage to anything that AT&t DirecTV or dish Network has for that matter unless you have no other option which obviously Tom has because he can get internet service bottom line run like hell from anything AT&t and DirecTV have anything to do with and you’ll be far happier
I agree. I was talked into switching to DIRECTV by a customer service young man. He stated it would lower my bill by $10. It increased it by $10. The satellite dish had to be put on the side of my condo. When I changed companies I asked AT&T to come and get the satellite dish. I argued I didn’t pay for it. I didn’t rent it. It was installed by their tech guy. They said it was my responsibility to remove it. A relative removed it for me. Cloudy weather caused blackouts. Changing channels took 4 to 5 seconds to connect. I live in a big city.
I am not sure what equipment fees Tom is referring to for DirectTV satellite service. Also does DirectTV Stream have the 4K channels that the satellite service has?
NO directv stream does not carry any 4k channels ,The equipment fees refer to fees for dvrs.
IGNORE DAVE!!!
He’s got a bug up his rear about Direct,,,, LOL
Local cable company’s suck, for content, Dave, unless you only watch main stream networks…. I live in Oregon, and have NO problem with rain! However when I’m on Roky streaming (free content) I lose internet FAR MORE OFTEN! I’ll stick with Direct, who, by the way, calling the rewards program, i was granted 3 months free Showtime
Definitely. Too bad that there is no way to block this guy who has apparently nothing else to do with his life.
There has to be. TV Answer man blocked me a few years ago by my IP address.
What is the rewards program? I’ve had DirecTV satellite since 2000
I don’t pay a fee for my DVR. It was included for free with the installation 10+ years ago.
How do you get out of paying for your Receivers and the Monthly DVR and HD FEE ?
Never heard of any customer getting that for free with DirecTV Satellite.
You may NOT know how to Read your bill.
DirecTV is good at HIDING FEES.
10 Years ago, “Installation was FREE” for “4” Boxes.
BUT that did NOT Included Free MONTHLY
DVR, HD Service or Receivers.
The 1st Receiver Monthly RENTAL was Included 10 Years ago.
Also I think Direct TV’s satellite service picture beats any streaming service.
ALL MUST UNDERSTAND that AT&T and what is left of “DIRECTV” (Satellite) will be in BAD SHAPE when the AGING ( well aging) satellites run OUT of “station keeping fuel” and DIEand they have ALREADY CONFIRMED that they WILL NOT LAUNCH any NEW satellites.
THAT means that the death clock is ticking louder EVERY DAY for what is left of ALL satellite to home markets.
THIS is EXACTLY why they are prompting “streaming” in a world that has to now compete with multiple OFF AIR tv programs that are in many cases as GOOD as
ANY that are left on satellite.
SPORTS FANS will doubtless have OTHER ways IN THE FUTURE to watch tier programing BUT…UNTILL the ENTIRE COUNTRY has sufficient internet access the SATELLITE TV GAME will NOT be here forever to “save” you…
THIS i FACT that MANY of the readers here have NO CLUE of NOR, have ANY followed the incompetent calamity of how AT&T accelerated the demise of BOTH DirecTV AND warner media… !!
Love me some Dave. And he is totally correct. Had Directv for 21 years. One of the sadest days in my life leaving it. It was the best service and company I had ever done business with. I convinced so many pɛople to sign up. They did not need me to convince them to leave. I do not have a good alternative at this point either. Chad.
Directv Stream checks all of the boxes for me except no NFL Network (not the Sunday Ticket) Any timing on that? In speaking to them, they are working through “contracts”. I tried this out a year ago, but needed more streams…. sure am happy they fixed that. Still pricey, but less than my satellite service. Side note, a RedZone option would be awesome in the future…. not sure how Sling can offer it but not an ATT variant.
NFL is the golden egg that DIRECTV has but it will be gone in 2023. Either Amazon or Apple will secure the rights because they have deeper pockets and the NFL wants money. It’s inevitable that we will all switch from satellite based DIRECTV to some sort of Internet based content. It’s just a matter of win and who to stay with. Stream appears to be a viable option now and of course it will have glitches and it is more expensive but they have the best content now
I checked my bill carefully, and I have no equipment charges.
Past and Copy it here.
What are you paying and for what package ?
Dave Taylor… Direct is, for now, is much better the choice than streaming for most of the country. Asking anyone to disclose their bill on a public forum, just to satisfy YOU?
You don’t believe? BFD!, I’m getting the Sunday ticket max FREE and free Showtime too. Direct has blessed me with more extras over the years for me to ever want to leave. ‘
Someday, the satellitres will die, but guess what? So will you, and so will I.
Whatever you use for watchtv, I promise you doesn’t compare!
I was curious about streaming because our basic plan on direct TV is over $160. We have one box. I think its outrageous. We have to pay for wifi separately. We pay total $260 with out tax. Any suggestions?
Frankly $260 a month for TV how can you possibly enjoy your time in front of the tube at that criminal rate dump AT&t and DirecTV and never look back
I bundle my Direct TV and AT&T internet, and have 4 boxes and HBO for $69/month. Also 2 years in a row I got NFL Sunday ticket for free. All I did was call them and tell them what I could afford to pay, and they worked out a deal to keep me. I am also a disabled veteran, so that might help. Bottom line is, they may negotiate to retain you as a customer.
I think “disabled” says it all…
Yes, but you should call them and ask to talk to customer retentioin anyway. They often willl do things for you.