TV Answer Man, I am no longer in a contract with DIRECTV so I am thinking about switching services. DIRECTV Stream seems like an interesting choice, but what is different from DIRECTV? What wouldn’t I have if I switch to DIRECTV Stream? — Gerri, Madison, Wisconsin.
Gerri, AT&T, which now owns 70 percent of DIRECTV, started DIRECTV Stream (formerly known as AT&T TV) more than five years ago to be an alternative to DIRECTV. AT&T executives have professed that today’s consumers prefer a TV service that’s easier to manage and use. (Translation: You don’t need to install a dish.)
With either an DIRECTV Stream-provided set-top, or another streaming device, DIRECTV Stream allows you to watch live channels no matter where you live or where you are by using the Internet.
Of course, that’s not helpful to the millions of Americans who don’t have a reliable Internet service in their neighborhood. But if you live in an area with access to the Net, DIRECTV Stream is an interesting alternative to cable or satellite.
For starters, DIRECTV Stream is cheaper than DIRECTV for existing subscribers. The service’s base package, called the Entertainment plan, costs $69.99 a month. By contrast, DIRECTV’s Entertainment base package costs nearly $110 a month for existing subscribers. The same price gap exists for other packages for both services.
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However, with DIRECTV, you get far more channels in each plan compared to DIRECTV Stream. For example, DIRECTV’s Entertainment plan has around 165 channels compared to just 65 for DIRECTV Stream’s Entertainment plan.
So you pay less, but you get less, too.
Another big difference between the two services is that DIRECTV has the NFL Sunday Ticket as well as the NFL Network and the RedZone Channel (available in the Sunday Ticket’s Max package). If you’re a rabid football fan, that might give you pause before switching.
But on the plus side for DIRECTV Stream, the service carries all the regional sports channels that DIRECTV does. (And it’s the only major live streaming service that does.) Bally Sports. MASN, SportsNet LA, Altitude, NESN, Marquee Sports Network, the AT&T Sports networks and the NBC Sports nets. They are all there.
However, on the minus side, the regional sports channels are only available in DIRECTV Stream’s Choice plan and above. Choice is now available for $84.99 a month, but will increase to $89.99 a month on January 23.
Bottom line: If you’re willing to forgo the Sunday Ticket and a few other football faves, and live with a smaller channel selection, DIRECTV Stream could be a good alternative to DIRECTV. You will definitely pay less money each month.
Gerri, hope that helps. 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
@TVAnswerMan
DIRECTV is on LIFE SUPPORT as well as what is left of AT&T…IF you continue to buy from them you will GET LESS and LESS and pay MORE AND MORE…it WILL take whatever TV viewing satisfaction OUT of your enjoyment and continue to be a plague in your pocketbook. AT&T is FINISHED…they will NOT survive into the TV future OR the TELECOM future…ON THAT you can depend !!
Personally I get way better deals from DIRECTV than anything you (Charlie) has offered me… probably none of these currant ways of tv programming will last another 50 yrs but neither will I or YOU, btw, isn’t it time you dropped the DAVE, eh Charlie?
updated now DISH missing 236 channels due to fee fights
soon you will be defending and EMPTY BAG
I worked at ATT up until fairly recently and let me tell you, they dont know what they are doing unless its robbing the general public. So I completely agree with you. What’s really gonna happen when ATTs marketing strategists convince people to “cut the cord” and go streaming is most people don’t realize that when ATT purchased DTV they also aquired all their installers, which thank God are currently unionized. When you go into a store and you purchase one of their streaming devices or even order online there is no need for an installer to go and connect the box. Its pretty much plug and play. Now, while convenient for the customer ATT is all about cutting costs and charging the customer more. So eventually all these DTV installers are going to be let go and then they will come up with some odd extra fee. Unless ATT completely sells DTV and that company decides to keep all those installers, sadly there will be no need for them. They already had their own installers so they can continue installing Internet for them at no extra cost. Unless you live in a big city, don’t count on getting good Internet service with ATT. Also dont let them fool you. If its within your budget dont go with anything or any provider that cant garuntee you at least 100mbps for a good streaming experience even if you have a few other devices connected. I tried the free trial through the app (I downloaded the app on my TV) and it was the most annoying experience EVER! Hulu, Netflix, Prime Video and even Pluto TV work excellent! This app is buggy and laggy. Sometimes I would put a show on and then check it on my DTV satellite to compare and this is no lie, the streaming service would be like 5mins behind!!!
Also dvr is missing from stream. On demand doesn’t carry everything. How do you record on streaming?
Record in the cloud: https://www.directv.com/stream/technology/cloud-dvr/
Recordings expire after 90 days! Unlimited hours but what’s the point if they expire? It’s definitely better than the limited storage plan. Things are definitely getting interesting and moving to 100% streaking. So 4K and storage time limit is the only thing stopping me now. I currently have 9 tvs connected to 7 boxes. Full programming package. $$$$
Yes and you get to keep your recordings for a whole 90 days! Whoopee. So they give you storage but very little and after 90 days your recordings are deleted. On Directv satellite you can keep your recordings as long as you want. You also have the ability to add a hard drive to get even more storage.
Lastly, if you lose the internet — you lose your TV service. You may need rabbit ears to get your local channels, if you can even get them. If there is an emergecy, like a hurricane, you’ll need to use a radio to get information. With satellite, as long as I have power, I have TV.
Why do I pay only $ 69.99 for the Entertainment package on Satellite DTV ?
Not $ 110.00
Since AT&T has publicly stated they will NOT launch and new satellites AND they station keping fuel is now ANOTHER YEAR lower AND the outages WILL get worse as they try to “stretch” the use of fuel…DIRECTV is DEAD…and CHARLIE only has to WAIT until they have NOTHING LEFT to sell ..
Charlie, you are losing a higher % of subs than DTV and considering you don’t have half the subs to start with, you will be long gone before DTV
Well :Thom” Charlie CAN and WILL live a LOT LONGER and BETTER on what he gets from subscribers LONG after Directv is DEAD. (AND…since AT&T chose to NAP while Verizon, T mobile and Dish ran CIRCLES around then and now have NO MONEY left except to try ans stay alive to keep paying the Stanker and his clown pals paid, then you can have a front t row seat to Directv AND AT&T’s funeral)
I recently switched after being a long time DTV satellite user. If you like watching tv do not get the streaming service as the interface will take you back 40 years. There are also sorts of issues related to the Directv Stream and I don’t anticipate ATT addressing them. As far as price I don’t agree that it is all that much cheaper. I think it’s actually more expensive on a per (useful) channel basis.
I dumped DTV like a bad habit on Christmas day. No longer paying to watch content on the idiot box.
Will Dish ever get Bally sports channel?
A big issue for me is, cloud record time being offered. I get around 150 hours on my receiver and DTV Stream is only offering 20 hours.
For $10 they offer unlimited hours storage but recordings expire after 30 days sooooo….
DISH keeps sending me a $400 pre paid card offer to switch. Starting package is $69.95 a month. Current DTV customer but that offer from DISH keeps looking better and better. Any input from others/pros and cons?
be careful looking a gift horse in the mouth, pro’s n cons Dish loses channels left n right, look it up.. pricing can be slight of hand. i looked into that 400$ offer called and went over everything top to bottom including per receiver personally I refer the range of options on Direct but I’ve had them for over 20 yrs and I’m happy
I had Dish for many years. For the channels I watch, DTV was the better option. I know those $400 offers are tempting, but I’m satisfied with DTV and can’t see cancelling it.
Stream has only major network locals, lacks all the channels on broadcast sub-channels as well as independents. In my dma, that results in less than 1/3rd of the locals; why? Worse than the streamers they are competing against.
Went with Roku and you tube. Very happy. Sick of the price changes of cable.