Up next in 10
I Put DIRECTV STREAM to the Test in 2024! Is It Worth It?
8K views
Jul 15, 2024
After canceling YouTube TV, I signed up for DIRECTV STREAM to see what's changed since my last review. 📺 Start your DIRECTV STREAM free trial here: https://bit.ly/4eWPWT3 💰 Get the latest deals: https://michaelsavesdeals.com/ 💻 Find a better internet plan: https://michaelsaves.com/internet-plan-comparison-tool/ Start your regular Amazon shopping with my link to support the channel: https://www.amazon.com/shop/michaelsaves NOTE: This description box includes an affiliate link. If you use my link, I may receive a small commission. It helps offset the 80% decline in YouTube revenue my channel has experienced since November 2022. Need a personal recommendation for streaming TV, phone or internet service? Email [email protected]! FOLLOW MICHAEL SAVES: Website: https://michaelsaves.com/ Deal Alerts: https://michaelsavesdeals.com/ Newsletter: https://michael-saves.ck.page/f5bd405e84 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/themichaelsaves X (Formerly Twitter): https://twitter.com/michaelsaves Buy Me a Coffee (Support the Channel): https://buymeacoffee.com/michaelsaves
View Video Transcript
0:00
You know, I wasn't really planning to sign up for Direct TV Stream this year
0:04
but I am glad that I did. After canceling YouTube TV, I resubscribed to Direct TV Stream
0:10
and discovered there's been a whole lot of changes since my last review
0:14
Today, I'm going to share everything I learned and help you decide if it's worth it for you. Let's get started
0:19
Now, we all know Direct TV as the big satellite company, and recently they've been heavily marketing Direct TV via Internet
0:26
I know you've seen the ads. Stream Direct TV without the satellite dish
0:30
The first thing you got to know, Direct TV via Internet, it is not the same as Direct TV Stream
0:37
Direct TV Satellite and Direct TV via Internet represent what a lot of people are trying to get away from in the cord cutting era
0:45
You have to sign a 24 month contract. Equipment and most plans include a regional sports fee
0:51
For all these reasons, I don't typically recommend Direct TV Satellite or Direct TV via Internet to most people who watch my channel
1:00
Now, Direct TV Stream is a separate service. I've tested this one since it launched in 2016 as Direct TV Now
1:07
Direct TV Stream is almost hidden. You won't find any mention of it on Direct TV's home page
1:13
Instead, you're going to find it by going to the address on your screen
1:17
I'll leave a direct link to it down below. Direct TV Stream offers similar channel bundles as Direct TV
1:23
with top cable networks as well as your local stations. But there are some differences you've got to consider
1:29
Most importantly, you don't have to sign a 24 month contract and you don't have to pay any hidden fees
1:36
More now on the pricing and Direct TV Stream. It is not cheap
1:40
This is a premium live TV streaming service similar to YouTube TV and Hulu Live
1:46
At recording time, the base entertainment plan costs $7 a month more than YouTube TV
1:52
But the most popular Direct TV Stream plan, that is the Choice plan
1:56
And it comes in at more than $100 a month. And it includes regional sports networks
2:02
Now, I've resubscribed in May 2024 to redeem a limited time offer
2:06
one that I shared on my channel, $49.99 a month for three months
2:11
This was a rare offer. More often, the service is going to offer deals like $10 off a month
2:17
for your first three months of service. You can find a link to the latest offer, also a free trial
2:23
That's on michaelsavesdeals.com. So with Direct TV Stream being so expensive, why would anyone pay more when they can just get YouTube TV
2:32
Well, the rest of this video, it's going to help answer that question
2:36
Moving on to the channel lineup. Like other premium cable 2.0 services
2:41
Direct TV Stream offers cable networks as well as local broadcast TV stations
2:47
What sets it apart? Well, that's the availability of regional sports networks
2:51
I just touched on that. And those RSNs are available in the Choice plan or higher
2:56
So if you watch RSNs and you can't get them with YouTube TV or Hulu Live
3:01
it makes sense why you'd consider a Direct TV Stream, right? But what about the Base Entertainment plan
3:06
This one doesn't include RSNs. It does offer more than 90 popular cable TV networks
3:12
as well as your local stations. Slightly less than YouTube TV's Base plan
3:16
that one has more than 100 channels. Recently, Direct TV Stream has added some channels and removed others
3:23
The best example I can think of, Direct TV Stream removed A&E networks from the Entertainment plan
3:28
That's A&E, History and Lifetime. If you want those channels, you'll have to pay more for the Choice plan or go with another service
3:35
With so many TV networks struggling right now, I expect more channel changes from Direct TV Stream and its competitors
3:43
They've got to focus on what's still working, and that's primarily sports networks and local stations
3:49
Also some cable news. Direct TV Stream's user experience. Well, I found that it's really popular with people who want a traditional cable TV
3:57
feel, and I'm going to show you. The service launched this new home screen for Roku users
4:02
but not all devices are going to have this new look. The video screen displays the last channel you were watching
4:08
And right above that, you see shortcuts to these recently watched channels
4:13
Further down the home screen, recommendations. There are also other sections of the app
4:18
Guide, Library, Sports Central, and On Demand. I'm going to take you to the live guide next
4:24
You can see there are various filters to sort the channels, including your favorites
4:29
Select and hold the heart next to a channel logo. Then it's added to your favorites list
4:34
Also options here to sort channels alphabetically or by channel number. More on that one later
4:40
The Jump Today feature also handy. It lets you select a day and preview the live guide up to two weeks in advance
4:47
When you're in the live guide and select something that's coming up later, you're going to see the option to record it
4:53
But if you select something airing right now, you'll be taken to the live programming and these options appear along the bottom
5:00
of the screen. You can use the playback controls to pause, rewind
5:03
fast forward. Also an option to set a recording. While watching live TV
5:09
arrow up, then you're going to see a list of recent channels and you don't have to return
5:13
to the main live guide to switch to them. If you want to return to the home screen
5:17
just arrow down while watching live TV. And one more feature that I like
5:22
I was able to use the left and right arrows on my Roku remote
5:26
And that way I could quickly flip through the channels. Direct TV Stream has progressively made changes to its DVR over the years
5:34
It did not used to be the best. Now I think it probably is
5:38
You get unlimited cloud DVR storage. You can save those recordings for up to nine months
5:43
During my latest test of the service, Direct TV Stream announced it was lifting a 30 episodes max restriction
5:50
when recording a series. This update still rolling out at recording time solves my one and only major
5:57
complaint about the DVR. Some people actually prefer Direct TV Stream's DVR over YouTube TV
6:04
because you've got more control over your recordings. With Direct TV Stream
6:09
you can record a single episode or an entire series. And if you want to, you can also delete single episodes
6:16
YouTube TV's DVR is all or nothing for most recordings. And that means you will not have the option to record or delete single episodes
6:25
Quick word about the on-demand section. This is separate from your library
6:29
And I don't really use the on-demand section much because the shows and movies
6:33
that you find here have unskippable ads. That's why you got to take advantage of the DVR
6:39
If you want to skip through the ads, just make sure to set a recording before it airs
6:44
Let's keep it moving now. And with Direct TV Stream, you bring your own device to the service like a Roku
6:50
I mostly used a Roku for my testing, but other devices are compatible with the Direct TV app for watching on a TV set
6:58
Devices like Apple TV, Fire TV Stick, Google Chromecast. Longtime viewers may remember this
7:04
It was called the Direct TV Stream device. I tested it out a couple of years ago
7:08
but the company stopped selling this device when it introduced Direct TV via
7:13
internet. The Direct TV Stream device was rebranded. It's now called Gemini. Here's the catch
7:19
If you really want that Gemini device, you need Direct TV via internet
7:23
The service with a contract and all those additional fees. Gemini, formerly the Direct TV Stream device
7:30
delivers the old cable feel with a number pad where you can enter the channel
7:34
numbers from the live guide. But I don't think it has a whole lot of other advantages over a Roku
7:40
I honestly don't think it's worth it for most people. The next three things you got to know, quick and important updates
7:46
And there are updates on things that people email me about all the time when
7:50
they're asking for a free streaming TV recommendation. The multiple streams policy. Direct TV Stream's got a generous one
7:57
When you're at home, you can get up to 20 streams at the same time
8:01
And that's across all your compatible devices, not just TV sets, also phones
8:06
tablets, and computers. You can take the service with you on the go like while traveling and stream on up
8:12
to three devices, including two TV sets. This is a lot less restrictive than some competitors. And I like it
8:20
I get asked all the time about picture quality. So I wanted to point out that Direct TV Stream includes 4K at no extra charge
8:28
With YouTube TV, that's extra. Don't get too excited, though. There's really not much 4K content
8:34
The service has a few channels in the guide dedicated to 4K, including one that
8:39
has entertainment content. Two other 4K channels seem to be dedicated to live events like sports
8:46
I use Direct TV Stream's search function and typed in 4K. Here you can see how few programs are available
8:53
Nearly all content is in HD, not 4K. And by the way, that's true for all of the live TV streaming services
9:02
Direct TV Stream previously confirmed to me that it was compatible with 5G home
9:07
Internet services from T-Mobile and Verizon. I used both of these providers for my recent test, had no error messages or
9:14
buffering. It worked out great. Whether you're using a Wi-Fi or wired connection, here's the official word from
9:21
Direct TV Stream, 8 megabits per second per stream that's in use
9:26
If you are looking for a new Internet provider, I've got a tool below
9:30
You can enter your address and see the best options. Another update for you, as I mentioned before, Direct TV Stream has no contracts
9:37
so you can evaluate whether the service is working out on a monthly basis and just
9:42
cancel if it's not working out. In the past, the service made you chat or call in to cancel, but not anymore
9:49
That's the update. To cancel, all you got to do is sign into your account, go to
9:54
manage my TV subscription, cancel my service, and then follow a few prompts
9:59
There are a few prompts, but no interaction with customer service is needed
10:04
anymore. Know this, when you cancel the service, you will continue to have access
10:09
to it until the end of your billing cycle. So you might as well make use of it
10:13
You've already paid for the month. Now I'm personally moving away from big bundle services and shifting my viewing to
10:20
more affordable on-demand services, some free services as well. But I definitely understand why people who want regional sports networks are going to
10:29
give Direct TV Stream a closer look. If you're thinking about signing up, I update limited time deals for Direct TV
10:35
Stream and more on michaelsavesdeals.com
#Cable & Satellite Providers
#Consumer Electronics
#Entertainment Industry
#Events & Listings
#Film & TV Industry
#Live Sporting Events
#Media Streaming Devices
#Online Video
#Service Providers
#TV Networks & Stations