What is DirecTV Stream: plans, pricing, channels, and more

DirecTV has been around for a long time, and now you can get the channels you want without a pesky satellite dish with DirecTV Streaming. Previously known as AT&T TV, this streaming service might not be one of the most popular streaming services, but it’s worth peeking at. It gives you access to both live TV and an on-demand library like Hulu Plus Live TV, or YouTube TV. While it does tend to be a bit on the pricier side, you get plenty in return.

DirecTV is isn’t as well known as some other live streaming services, but it isn’t a dud either. It delivers four tiers of subscription options, with a VOD library of over 65,000 titles. Since it doesn’t release streaming numbers, we have no real insight on how many people are watching. The last time we got numbers was at the end of 2020, when the service was at about 656,000 subscribers, or about half that of Fubo, or no bigger than 12% of YouTube TV’s base.

We’ve got the details for you here.

Phil Nickinson / Digital Trends

What channel options does DirecTV Stream have?

DirecTV Stream features a robust channel lineup, buoyed by it’s one of the only services that adds more channels if you pay more money. DirecTV Stream has a full channel listing, so you can check which channels are available. The basic Entertainment package gives you access to more than 90 channels, while the Premier subscription tier balloons that number to up over 185.

They feature not just national networks but some local programming as well, depending on your ZIP code. You can also compare which channels are available with which packages. DirecTV Stream also has a number of premium channels, or bundles that you can add to customize your viewing experience.

• AMC Plus & IFC Films Unlimited ($9 per month): Get access to AMC Plus, Shudder, Sundance Now, and IFC Films Unlimited. This bundle gives you access to tons of movies, along with original programming from AMC and IFC.
• Peacock ($5 per month): Stream new movies, rewatch your favorite shows, and take a peek at new original programming.
• Discovery+ ($5 per month): This bundle includes HGTV, Food Network, TLC, ID, Animal Planet, Discovery and more. The perfect option for folks who love learning more about the world.
• Acorn TV ($8 per month): Mysteries, dramas and thrillers from Britain, France, Australia, Ireland, and more.
• ALLBLK ($6 per month): Black cinema, exclusive original series, independent films, WE tv originals and stage plays.
• A&E Crime Central ($5 per month): A collection of A&E’s classic crime series.
• BET+ ($11 per month): The streaming hub for the Black Entertainment Network features over 2,000 hours of content including movies, TV series, and exclusive original programming.
• Fox Nation ($6 per month): Fox’s hub for streaming, with access to original content, exclusive shows, FOX news personalities.
• History Vault ($5 per month): Thousands of hours of documentaries available ad-free from The History Channel.
• Lifetime Movie Club ($5 per month): Lifetime delivers ad-free access to over 200 new and classic movies, all ad-free.

Get access to 250 channels, including live sports from the NFL, NBA, NFL, the PGA Tour, and more, instant access to over 36,000 free On Demand titles, with steep discounts available for both new and returning subscribers. Best of all, prices are locked in for two years, so you can wave goodbye to unprecedented price increases. Oh, and did we mention you can watch up to four different sports games at the same time, skip commercials on select primetime shows, and watch and record up to 16 shows at once? Do cable the right way and try Dish today.

Is DirecTV Stream different from DirecTV?

In a word, yes. DirecTV requires a satellite dish, and doesn’t use internet-based streaming. DirecTV Stream is the internet option, where you stream video over your internet connection. The channel lineup is similar, but since these are completely separate services you may run across small differences.

DirecTV Stream and DirecTV now share a site so you can make quick comparisons — just make sure you don’t get them confused. Also, note that they both support recording content via DVR, but Stream uses cloud-based recording to store shows.

What are the pricing and packages for DirecTV Stream?

DirecTV Stream offers four different subscription tiers. Let’s take a look:

• Entertainment — $75 per month ($90 with fees): This is the base package with the fewest channels (90-plus) at the lowest cost. It includes live TV, most on-demand titles (more than 40,000 of them), and unlimited recording. You’ll also get a three-month trial to Max, Paramount+ with Showtime, Starz, Cinemax, and MGM+.
• Choice — $80 per month ($109 with fees): Choice is a significant upgrade that adds more channels (125-plus), such as additional ESPN channels, the Cooking Channel, and more. You also get access to 5,000 more on-demand titles on the service (over 45,000 in all), and access to regional sports networks that make it easier to watch local games. You’ll also get a three-month trial to Max, Paramount+ with Showtime, Starz, Cinemax, and MGM+.
• Ultimate — $110 per month ($139 with fees): This includes everything that the Choice package has, plus a further 35 more channels (160-plus) that include things like the NHL Network, Starz Encore channels, and FXM, along with even more on-demand titles (now up to 55,000). You’ll also get a three-month trial to Max, Paramount+ with Showtime, Starz, Cinemax, and MGM+.
• Premier — $155 per month ($184 with fees): The Premier package bumps up the price significantly to throw in subscriptions for Max, Starz, Cinemax, MGM+, and Paramount Plus with Showtime. You’ll still have to pay for entirely separate apps with no AT&T partnerships, like Netflix or Hulu. The number of channels is also increased to more than 185, and you have access to the full list of 65,000-odd on-demand titles.

DirecTV Stream also includes free unlimited cloud DVR storage, so its easy to save your favorite programs to watch later. AT&T recommends an internet speed of at least 24Mbps, and limits users to three concurrent out-of-home streams at a time. Additionally, DirecTV and U-Verse TV customers cannot apply for AT&T TV: You’ll have to contact an AT&T rep and discuss stopping those older subscriptions and switching over to this service.

If you aren’t sure whether DirecTV Stream is right for you, they do offer a free five-day trial as a new subscriber It’s worth reading the fine print though. Every tier has a $15 ARS fee each month, and the Choice, Ultimate and Premier tiers also include a $14 Regional Sports Fee. The prices above reflect those additional fees and are what you should expect to pay when signing up. There may also be other associated fees hiding as well, like equipment rental or early termination fees, so its worth scanning through everything before signing up.