Will DIRECTV Offer Genre Packs to Satellite Subscribers?

By Phillip Swann
The TV Answer Man – Follow me on X.
Former editor of Satellite DIRECT magazine. Reported on DIRECTV for more than 30 years.

TV Answer Man, will you please ask DIRECTV when DIRECTV satellite customers will get the genre packs like their streaming customers get already? – Jeff, town withheld.

Jeff, DIRECTV earlier this year launched four ‘genre packs’ for sports, entertainment, news and Spanish-speaking customers. The packages include fewer channels than the traditional pay TV bundle so they cost less. For example, the ‘My Entertainment’ genre plan offers more than 40 lifestyle and entertainment channels for $34.99 a month. The ‘My Sports’ plan has more than 20 national sports and news channels for $69.99 a month. See this article for more details and channel lineups.

DIRECTV’s Genre Packs Are Not Available to Satellite Customers

DIRECTV, which has lost at least 14 million subscribers over the last decade, hopes the genre plans will attract cost-conscious consumers who are looking for alternatives to the TV bundle. However, as of now, the genre packs are only available to DIRECTV’s streaming customers, not its satellite audience which is still larger than its streaming audience.

The omission seems odd considering that many satellite subscribers might want the smaller plans to save money, too. So, at your request, we asked a DIRECTV spokesperson this week if the company plans to offer the genre packs to satellite subscribers. Here was the response.

”Satellite customers who are using a Gemini device and outside of their (two-year) contract will be able to switch between service offerings in the future.”

So, some satellite subscribers will get the option to subscribe to genre plans at some point, but the spokesperson would not offer a timetable. ”Just the future for now,” she said when pressed for a more specific launch time.

Why DIRECTV Doesn’t Have Genre Packs For Satellite Customers

DIRECTV has repeatedly acknowledged that it’s emphasizing streaming over satellite now, believing that it’s the clear future of television. So the company wants to use the genre packs to build the streaming numbers, something that has not come easily despite first offering a multichannel live streaming service almost nine years ago. In fact, the company would be pleased if some DIRECTV satellite customers switch to DIRECTV streaming just so they can get the genre packs. It’s been DIRECTV’s stated goal to convert satellite subscribers to online subscribers.

Jeff, hope that answers your question. Happy viewing and stay safe.

Have More Questions? Ask The TV Answer Man!
Have a question about a favorite show, streaming service, or new TV technology? Send it to The TV Answer Man at swann@tvanswerman.com. Please include your first name and hometown in your message.

Phillip Swann

Who Is The TV Answer Man?
The TV Answer Man is veteran journalist Phillip Swann who has covered television for more than three decades. He will report on the latest news and answer your questions regarding new devices and services that are changing the way you watch TV. See the bio for Phillip Swann here.