Is DIRECTV Still the Sports Leader? It’s Not That Simple Anymore
TV Answer Man, I am enjoying your sports coverage. What is your opinion on what is the best sports service now? Do you think it’s still DIRECTV? – Todd, New Haven, Connecticut.
Todd, is DIRECTV still the best pay TV service for sports, a title it arguably held for roughly three decades? The short answer for many football fans: No. But it’s not that simple, particularly if you love baseball, basketball and hockey.
YouTube TV Has the Sunday Ticket
YouTube TV has become the favorite for many gridiron enthusiasts because it took the exclusive rights to the NFL Sunday Ticket away from DIRECTV in 2023. In addition, YouTube TV is a bit cheaper than DIRECTV with a base price of $83 a month while DIRECTV’s Choice plan, the cheapest plan that has regional sports networks, is $94.99 a month.
DIRECTV Is the King of Regional Sports
However, DIRECTV has more than 30 regional sports networks and/or team channels – and the MLB Network and NHL Network. YouTube TV does not have those two league channels and it carries just the four NBC branded regional sports nets. (Otherwise, both services have roughly the same national sports lineup.)
If your favorite team’s local games air on a RSN (Regional Sports Network), DIRECTV is often the only streaming option. For those fans, there is just no comparison between the two companies.
Both DIRECTV and YouTube TV offer live sports in 4K, but DIRECTV satellite has the MLB Extra Innings plan (DIRECTV streaming has MLB TV), NBA League Pass and the NHL Center Ice package. Again, those are must-have services for some fans.
Bottom Line: Like everything else in television these days, the question of which TV service to get for sports is complicated and rejects an easy answer. Each sports fan has to determine what’s most important – NFL Sunday Ticket, local team channel, league-sanctioned channels, etc. – and make his or her own decision on which one to subscribe to.
Todd, I hope that makes sense for you. Happy viewing and stay safe!
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