Is there the possibility to watch DIRECTV without having satellite?
DIRECTV is one of the leaders in the industry of satellite television services in the United States. Since its inception in 1994, DIRECTV has provided television service through a satellite dish placed in the consumer’s premises that is used to capture signals from satellites that orbit the earth with those from DIRECTV. This gives DIRECTV’s customers the opportunity to get access to hundreds of channels, the picture and sound quality of which cable companies cannot provide.
But one limitation that many would-be DIRECTV subscribers find prohibitive is the need to have a satellite dish mounted on the roof or in the yard. Also, people today are canceling cable services and only using streaming services such as Netflix, Hulu, Disney plus, and sling TV. This leads to the following reasonable question – is it possible to get a DIRECTV programming without having a satellite dish installed? So let’s look at the details.
AT&T TV Now – Enjoy DIRECTV Programming Without Satellite
The answer is yes, it is possible to watch popular DIRECTV channels without having to use satellite equipment. AT&T TV Now (formerly known as DIRECTV Now) provides an option to watch live and On Demand content through the internet on various devices, including mobile, computers, streaming media players such as Roku, Fire TV and more.
There are several channel bundles by AT&T TV Now that mimic the DIRECTV channels include the following: These packages consist of the major broadcast networks such as ABC, CBS, NBC, FOX, and the options of cable networks such as ESPN, TNT, USA, Bravo, FX as well as the option of premium networks like HBO and Showtime. Local stations are also available in most places. All in all, AT&T TV Now offers more than 125 streaming channels.
It is quite similar to the DIRECTV satellite service in its functioning – you can watch programs as they are broadcasted, record shows on a cloud DVR, and use program guides to know what is airing and what is up for recording. But it’s all given through the internet rather than through the satellite dish. No contracts, no credit checks, no waiting for installation, and cancel easily at any time.
AT&T TV Now begins at $69. 99 monthly for more than 45 channels. Pricing goes up to the 125+ channel Premier plan offered at $139. 99 per month. HBO can be added for $14. 99 per month while Showtime, Cinemax, and Starz are $11 per month each. Several streams are possible depending on the package, and streaming is possible only in the United States of America.
If you want the DIRECTV experience without the dish and installation, AT&T TV Now has many of the same popular channels and features.
What Platforms Are Not Available in AT&T TV Now?
As much as AT&T TV Now offers almost all the popular channels belonging to the DIRECTV package, they do not match completely. AT&T TV Now lacks some regional sports networks and international channels as well as a few niche DIRECTV channels. First and foremost, AT&T TV Now does not include NFL Sunday Ticket at the present moment, which is considered an essential package for many DIRECTV satellite customers.
Here are some examples of live channels offered on DIRECTV satellite service but NOT available on AT&T TV Now:Here are some examples of live channels offered on DIRECTV satellite service but NOT available on AT&T TV Now:
NFL Sunday Ticket Longhorn Network Many regional sports networks – check local listings Some international channels like DIRECTV Latin America, Filipino, Korean, and Vietnamese programming Other forms such as the DIRECTV PPV and few of the adult programming channels. Various audio-only music channels
Thus, although AT&T TV Now mimics DIRECTV very closely, satellite viewers who frequently indulge in niche sports, international, and audio programming may find the streaming channel list to be somewhat deficient. Football lovers will also feel the pinch as they will be devoid of NFL Sunday Ticket. Visit attnow. com/tv to check out where it stands with its live channel offering against the traditional DIRECTV.
DirecTV Stream: Another Satellite-Free Offer
AT&T TV Now was rebranded to DIRECTV Stream in August 2021. Therefore, all of the above-discussed details about AT&T TV Now are also valid for the new DIRECTV Stream service.
Aside from the rebranding, DIRECTV Stream is the same streaming television service that AT&T sold under the AT&T TV Now moniker. Same channel packages, prices, cloud DVR, etc The name change is set to continue going forward, with AT&T set to advertise the DirecTV Stream service as AT&T TV Now instead. But for existing AT&T TV Now subscribers, they are not affected because it is essentially the same underlying offering.
In conclusion, as the name suggests, it is a service from which you can watch most-watched DIRECTV channels online in real-time and on demand without any satellite dish unit. Although it is not an exact replica of the original DIRECTV channel listing, DIRECTV Stream is the closest streaming option available to the satellite platform and is the only legal means to access the DIRECTV programming without requiring a satellite dish.