DirecTV Stream is the latest name for what once was AT&T’s live tv and on-demand streaming service, previously called AT&T TV, among other names. It’s now jointly owned by AT&T and private equity firm TPG Inc., if you’re concerned about such things. That new venture means that we no longer have insight into how many subscribers DirecTV Stream has, but it’s believed to be the smallest of the live streaming services in the United States. (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 13 percent of YouTube TV’s base.)
In any event, you’re looking to cut the cable cord, DirecTV Stream is on more service to consider among others such as Hulu With Live TV, Sling TV, and the aforementioned YouTube TV.
Let’s break it down.
DirecTV Stream’s lineup has always been pretty extensive, buoyed by the fact that it’s one of the only services that offers multiple tiers that adds more channels the more you pay.. DirecTV Stream has a full channel lineup guide so you can check which specific channels are included in each package and what certain channels can be added on for an additional fee. It’s an impressive lineup when compared to other options like Hulu With Live TV and Sling TV.
Recommended VideosYes, it is, and it’s important to know the difference. DirecTV refers specifically to the satellite subscription, which requires a satellite dish and doesn’t use internet-based streaming. DirecTV Stream is the internet version where you stream channels over your home network, or on your mobile device. The channel lineup is very similar, but you may run across small differences since they’re completely separate services.
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.
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.
They are very similar to AT&T’s packages and even have the same names. Let’s take a look:
You are also able to sign up for a free five-day trial period as a new subscriber. Previously, DirecTV Stream required an extra fee for unlimited cloud storage for TV recordings. Now unlimited cloud DVR storage is automatically included in every package. However, note that additional taxes may apply to all packages, as may periodic discounts AT&T offers. AT&T also 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.
