Should I switch from DIRECTV to DIRECTV STREAM?

Should You Dump DIRECTV for DIRECTV STREAM?

DIRECTV has been one of the most popular satellite TV providers for years, but cord-cutting has led them to introduce a new streaming option: DIRECTV STREAM. While there are numerous similarities and differences between the two services, you might be thinking of switching from regular DIRECTV to DIRECTV STREAM. Each of them has its advantages and disadvantages and that is why it is important to think about which of them is more suitable for you in particular.

Price You may want to switch from DIRECTV to DIRECTV STREAM because the service is cheaper. Traditional paid television often has higher tariffs than streaming services, and DIRECTV is no exception. DIRECTV comes with terms and conditions such as entering into a two-year contract, incurring penalties if one cancels the contract, and paying for the installation of satellite dishes and receivers. DIRECTV STREAM is available without contracts, installation fees, and offers more affordable monthly rates. DIRECTV STREAM starts at 69. 99 for the Entertainment package while similar DIRECTV packages cost 10 15 more per month. But, at times, DIRECTV has better introductory offers for its customers as well.

Number and quality of Channels Another area where DIRECTV might be superior to streaming is the number of channels available: DIRECTV provides up to 330 channels depending on your package, and these includes premium movie channels such as HBO and Starz. DIRECTV STREAM has a lower maximum limit in the number of channels as it offers up to 140 plus with the Premier package. DIRECTV also offers most channels with a 720p or 1080 HD picture resolution rather than the 480p SD streaming quality that you can receive with other streaming services. DIRECTV STREAM does have some of its channels available in impressive 4K quality nonetheless:

Ease of Use If you are not much into managing menus and technology then the no-nonsense approach of DIRECTV could be more appealing than DIRECTV STREAM. DIRECTV employs a physical channel guide and a dedicated DIRECTV receiver while DIRECTV STREAM features more options that can be accessed through applications for mobile devices, smart TVs, streaming devices, and computers. However, one has to appreciate the fact that the interface of the DIRECTV STREAM is easy to navigate and well-designed. In contrast to DIRECTV, for example, there is no need to wait for an installer if you want to switch your programming packages.

DVR and On Demand Another key benefit of choosing DIRECTV over other TV providers is Genie, which is their state-of-the-art DVR service. It provides you with hundreds more recording hours at no additional cost than DIRECTV STREAM that cost 10 more per month for DVR service with only 20 hours of space. Directly, DIRECTV STREAM offers tens of thousands of titles on-demand with the basic package. From this, DIRECTVs on-demand library is significantly less extensive than it would be if one subscribed to the service for an additional fee.

Premium Channels and Bundles While they provide premium movie channels such as HBO, the prices for these options are higher when compared to DIRECTV STREAM. For instance, if you wanted Starz, you would have to pay 12 on top of your existing DIRECTV bill, but only 8. 99 per month if you had it as part of your DIRECTV STREAM package. NFL SUNDAY TICKET and MLB EXTRA INNINGS are exclusive to DIRECTV, with regards to its sports packages. Other examples of the service bundles include the Spanish-language DIRECTV Mas.

Internet Requirements Internet connection is one of the biggest problems of transitioning from satellite to streaming. Although DIRECTV does not rely on the Internet, DIRECTV STREAM does and it must have a minimum speed of 10 Mbps. If you do not have enough bandwidth and Wi-Fi signal, what you will get is a buffer, delay, and poor video quality. This can be a challenge if you reside in a remote area that is served by a few Internet service providers.

Weather Related Outages Another reliability aspect that DIRECTV has over streaming is that it will not be interrupted by storms, snow, heavy rain, or wind. One major advantage of DIRECTV is that it is not affected by weather as much as streaming since it uses satellites in space. DIRECTV STREAM relies on the Internet connectivity of your location, and that is why you can experience streaming outages due to extreme weather conditions.

Sports Coverage The sports enthusiasts have always found that the DIRECTV presents more extensive packages in sports. NFL SUNDAY TICKET lets you watch all the out of market Sunday Football games. DIRECTV STREAM only offers SUNDAY TICKET for their CHOICE Package and above. In the same way, MLB EXTRA INNINGS is available for DIRECTV customers but for DIRECTV STREAM users, it comes with an additional fee. Soccer, racing, college sports, and many others are also offered with DIRECTV exclusive packages.

Number of Concurrent Streams If a household requires simultaneous viewing on several devices, the DIRECTV STREAM offers up to 20 concurrent streams based on your subscription tier, while standard DIRECTV service restricts simultaneous viewing to one television per receiver. DIRECTV STREAM also makes it easier for other traveling family members to use the login credentials since they can install the application on other devices without having to use the same one given to the traveler. However, DIRECTV allows you to integrate the receivers on as many as four television sets in your house.

Availability This is because, although DIRECTVs satellite base of operations entails that they provide service to more households across the United States of America, there are some limitations to the geographical reach of DIRECTV STREAM. Some of the regional sports networks like Bally Sports and YES Network are regional networks with limited coverage. DIRECTV STREAM also limits streaming to your home plus some out-of-home mobile streaming is also allowed. DIRECTVs satellite dishes do not have these location limitations unless a barrier hinders the reception of the satellite signal.

Setup, Installation and Contracts New customers may be influenced by how easy it is to set up the software. DIRECTV has specific satellite dishes and wiring that have to be installed by a professional whereas DIRECTV STREAM does not need any installation; it only needs an online account and a compatible device to start streaming. DIRECTV forces you to commit to a two-year contract, and if you want out early, there are hefty cancellation fees; DIRECTV STREAM offers no contract so there are no cancellation penalties.

The layout, design and readability of the interface and the overall viewing experience The use of remote on the TV is the basic idea of the DIRECTV where the channel surfing is the main activity done. DIRECTV STREAM mimics browsing rather than channel surfing, which is the way most streaming services work when suggesting content to watch. DIRECTV STREAM has a lot of options to watch your favorite shows on the go on tablets, phones, computers, and more.

In summary, DIRECTV remains ahead of streaming services when it comes to streaming sports, bundled premium networks, DVR space, 4K HDR content, and coverage across the country. But DIRECTV STREAM is cheaper in comparison to this package as it does not have contracts and equipment prices and is compatible with more devices.