DIRECTV STREAM Is the Best Streaming Service for RSNs, but What Else Does It Offer?

When searching for a streaming solution, several factors drew me to DIRECTV STREAM. Most importantly, I found the transition from my cable/satellite to streaming incredibly smooth, making it an ideal choice for people new to cord cutting.

Another big selling point of DIRECTV STREAM is that it provides great sports coverage, including the best selection of regional sports networks in the industry.

In a hurry? New customers get a 5-day free trial with DIRECTV STREAM.

DIRECTV STREAM Pros and Cons

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DIRECTV STREAM Plans and Pricing

DIRECTV STREAM offers four plans. They all come with the ability to stream on unlimited compatible devices or TVs on your home wifi network and up to 3 when on the road. And they all include unlimited cloud DVR storage (for 9 months).

Although DIRECTV STREAM offers four plans, when it comes to everything but the premium channels, the Ultimate and Premier plans are the same.

What Channels Does DIRECTV STREAM Have?

DIRECTV STREAM offers all the channels that you expect from cable TV. That’s one of its best selling points.

The channel lineup includes A&E, AMC, Animal Planet, BBC America, CNBC, CNN, Comedy Central, Disney Channel, Food Network, Fox News, HGTV, MSNBC, MTV, Nickelodeon, Paramount Network, TBS, and TNT.

Our DIRECTV STREAM packages page has a complete list of all these channels divided by categories and plan.

DIRECTV STREAM’s Lineup of Local Channels

DIRECTV STREAM offers one of the best lineups of local channels in the industry. But as always, it will depend upon where you live. DIRECTV STREAM provides an easy-to-use zip code lookup tool that tells you exactly what local stations you will get.

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In most areas, DIRECTV STREAM offers these channels:

• ABC
• CBS
• Fox
• NBC
• The CW
• PBS
• Telemundo
• Univision.

For more information, see our DIRECTV STREAM Local Channel Guide.

DIRECTV STREAM’s Sports Channels

Sports channels can be divided into nationally televised stations like ESPN and regionally or locally broadcast stations like local network affiliates. You can see a full list in our DIRECTV STREAM Packages guide. It includes all the standard channels as well as many smaller and international channels.

Regional Sports Networks (RSNs) on DIRECTV STREAM

For American sports fans, regional sports networks (RSNs) are incredibly important. If you are a fan of the local team in MLB, NBA, or NHL, you will spend a lot of time watching your RSN.

Among most streaming services, RSN coverage is pretty thin. The best is Fubo, which provides access to all the same channels except for the Spectrum SportsNet channels in Los Angeles. The catch is that you must sign up with the Choice plan ($114.99/month) or higher to get access to the RSNs.

There is only one major RSN that DIRECT STREAM does not offer: NBC Sports Philadelphia, which covers Phillies, 76ers, and Flyers games. If it is critical to you, check out Fubo or Hulu + Live TV since they both do.

Premium Channels Available on DIRECTV STREAM

DIRECTV STREAM’s higher-priced plans really shine in terms of offering premium channels. The Entertainment and Choice plans do not come with these channels but they can be purchased as part of add-ons.

The Ultimate plan comes with 8 Starz Encore channels: Action, Black, Classic, East, Family, Suspense, West, and Westerns.

The Premier plan includes all of those channels and more as you might expect for $40 more each month. For that, you get various channels from Cinemax, HBO, Showtime, and STARZ.

DIRECTV STREAM’s Premium Channel Add-ons

All of the premium channels are also available as add-ons for the plans they are not included with. Additionally, three MGM+ channels are available as an add-on.

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There are other streaming services that you can get integrated with DIRECTV STREAM. These include Apple TV+, Peacock, Amazon Prime Video, Discovery+, BET+, Lifetime Movie Club, and more.

You can get a number of other channel-bundle add-ons like the Movies Extra Pack ($4.99/month), which includes Hallmark Drama, Smithsonian Channel, and more.

DIRECTV STREAM offers a number of language-specific add-ons:

• Korean ($30.99/month)
• Vietnamese ($20.00/month)
• Brazilian Portuguese ($30.00/month)
• Español ($15.00/month)
• Deportes ($5.00/month).

What’s the DIRECTV STREAM User Experience?

DIRECTV STREAM offers a modern user interface that can run on most devices. These include Amazon Fire TV, Android Mobile, Android TV, Apple TV, Chromecast, iOS, Roku, Samsung smart TVs, and web browsers. See our DIRECTV STREAM Devices page for details.

They also provide:

• Unlimited cloud DVR with 9 month storage
• Unlimited screens
• Large selection of on-demand content including archives of most channels
• Stream on unlimited devices at home (some channels limit you to 3)
• Stream on unlimited mobile devices away from home
• Use your account on countless apps using TV Everywhere

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What Are the Alternatives to DIRECTV STREAM?

• Fubo: A great all-around streaming service with an awesome selection of sports channels. Get 150+ for $79.99/month.
• Sling TV: This low-cost streaming service gives you 30+ channels for $45.99/month.
• Hulu + Live TV: The great on-demand streaming service adds an excellent selection of 95+ live TV channels for a great over-all cable replacement for $82.99/month.
• YouTube TV: Get 100+ channels for $82.99/month with a plan that is similar to Hulu Live, but without the Disney+ and ESPN+ goodies.

Our Choice

DIRECTV STREAM is a solid way to cut the cord.So it’s a good choice for people who don’t like to make major changes.

It’s also one of two go-to service if you want RSNs in your area.

Otherwise, I generally think that Fubo and Hulu + Live TV are better options for full-cable replacement services.

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FAQs

Is DIRECTV STREAM good for streaming the NFL playoffs?

DIRECTV STREAM is great for watching every football game in general and NFL playoff games in particular. It provides all the channels you need to watch the playoffs (including the Super Bowl) in the base package. It’s also great for watching preseason and regular-season games.

Is DIRECTV STREAM the same as DIRECTV?

They are both owned by the same company, DIRECTV, which in turn used to be owned by AT&T. In 2021, AT&T spun off all its TV provider services (DIRECTV, DIRECTV STREAM, and U-Verse) into a separate company (though it retained a 70% ownership in the new company).

Typically, “DIRECTV” is used to refer to the traditional satellite TV service, while DIRECTV STREAM is used for the streaming multichannel service.

Do you get local channels with DIRECTV STREAM?

You betcha. Almost anywhere in the US, you’ll get all the same local stations you would get with your cable provider. New this year, DIRECTV STREAM now has agreements in place to carry 250 PBS stations, giving it 99% coverage over the country. Who’s up for some Masterpiece?

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Frank Moraes

I am a Senior Content Editor at Hotdog.com, specializing in sports streaming and regional programming issues. With a PhD in Atmospheric Physics from the Oregon Graduate Institute of Science and extensive experience in remote sensing technology, including early video streaming, I bring a unique technical perspective to the streaming industry.

My expertise in sports coverage, particularly for out-of-market games and regional sports networks, stems from years of hands-on experience as an early adopter of streaming services and my work addressing fans' viewing challenges. As a longtime cord-cutter and subscriber to multiple streaming platforms, I combine my technical knowledge with practical user experience, making me a leading expert in the field of sports streaming and entertainment technology.

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