Watching live television online has gained immense popularity in the recent past. Platforms such as Hulu Live, YouTube TV, Sling TV, and others let you watch live TV channels over the internet with no need to subscribe to cable or satellite. This leads many to ask—can I stream DIRECTV too?
The answer is both yes and no, as DIRECTV provides a streaming service, but it is mainly a satellite television service that utilizes a satellite dish and a receiver.
Here is what you need to know about streaming DIRECTV:
Yes, DIRECTV does offer an internet TV streaming service, known as DIRECTV Stream. DIRECTV Stream is a platform that allows you to watch live TV channels of DIRECTV over the internet without having to install a satellite dish.
DIRECTV Stream has packages such as Entertainment, Choice, Ultimate, and Premier with 65+ live TV channels and up to 140+ channels considering the package type. Other options include local channels and regional sports networks depending on the user’s location. They support streaming on up to 20 devices in your home, and you are not bound to any annual contracts or any other additional fees.
So in that sense, yes, you can “stream” DIRECTV by subscribing to an online TV streaming service known as DIRECTV Stream. It is a web-based version of the DirectV channel listing that is delivered through the World Wide Web.
However, that is a different thing from the conventional DIRECTV satellite television service, which is still the largest subscriber base of the company. They are marketed as a separate product under the name of DIRECTV Stream, but they require a separate subscription.
While DIRECTV Stream provides a streaming version of DIRECTV, there are some limitations to the streaming service compared to the traditional satellite platform: While DIRECTV Stream provides a streaming version of DIRECTV, there are some limitations to the streaming service compared to the traditional satellite platform:
Less programming options: DIRECTV satellite has more than 295+ programming choices as opposed to a maximum of 140 from DIRECTV Stream. Some niche and specialty channels that are not available on the streaming platform include the following:.
No 4K HDR—DIRECTV satellite has 4K HDR programming that is not yet offered through streaming services. As of now, DIRECTV Stream has a maximum resolution of 1080p HD quality.
Internet service cannot be bundled with the streaming service. While you can easily combine DIRECTV satellite service with an AT&T internet connection, you cannot do that with the streaming service.
As you will see, you can get a watered-down version of it via DIRECTV Stream, but that does not mean everything you get with satellite TV is available there. Despite this, there are still some perks of the classic DIRECTV satellite service that this one can’t offer.
For most existing DIRECTV customers with the satellite dish setup, you can utilize some streaming capabilities to supplement your existing satellite service e: For most existing DIRECTV customers with the satellite dish setup, you can utilize some streaming capabilities to supplement your existing satellite service:
DIRECTV App: The DIRECTV mobile application is available to stream on devices such as Roku, Fire TV, Apple TV, and many others. The app enables you to watch your content from the DIRECTV satellite service on these other devices in your home. However, you still require the fundamental satellite service for this app to be functional.
On-Demand programming Additional streaming devices like the ones listed below enable You to stream DIRECTV on-demand movies shows and programming by signing into the DIRECTV app using the satellite account. This increases the total number of Directv On Demand programs that you can view from TVs in the house.
However, similar to what has already been seen, this is complementary to the basic satellite service. Still, to enjoy such streaming perks, you require a DIRECTV satellite dish and subscription. It is not a substitute for the satellite itself and does not offer all the services provided by the satellite.
So to answer the initial question, yes, DIRECTV does stream content now, but this is through the relatively new service called DIRECTV Stream, which is an internet TV service. Nonetheless, the streaming service has some drawbacks when compared with Directv satellite; therefore, many customers prefer satellite dish over this streaming service due to better channel offers, 4K HD, R, and cossavings through bundling. Be sure to compare services while making preparations to cut the cord!
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