By Cammy Harbison Published 11/30/16 EST
On Monday, AT&T announced its latest changes to DirecTV, which include a brand new streaming television app, DirecTV Now. The new service offers an alternative to a traditional cable subscription and falls in line with models set up by competitors like SlingTV and Playstation View. Potential customers are able to sign up for a free 7-day trial of the new DirecTV Now service starting today. The service starts at $35 a month and boasts a list of over 120 channels, but how does the service compare to other streaming TV options currently available? What channels are on its list? How many streams are allowed at once? What are the pricing options? Below we’ve compiled an answer guide for all the big pertinent questions people are asking about AT&T’s new streaming television service to help you decide if it's worth signing up for or not.
DirecTV Now comes in four neat packages, but the company is currently pushing its “Go Big” package, which has been promotionally priced at $35 a month. Those who miss out on the promotion will later pay $60 a month for the same package. Below we’ve outlined the 4 tiers of service and accompanying channel list. Each tier adds on more channels to the previous tier.
This tier runs just $35 per month and includes over 60 channels, which are as follows:
** The following are only available to some customers
This tier runs $50 a month and includes all the channels in the “Live a Little” package, but adds the following channels to its list:
This tier is the one receiving the promotional price of $35 a month currently, but will later cost $60 a month for new subscribers. This tier offers over 100 channels which include all channels in the Live a Little and Just Right tier, but also adds the following:
This is the largest package, priced at $70 a month and includes over 120 channels and has all the channels from the previous three tiers, along with these channels:
Unfortunately, DirecTV NOW is missing Showtime and NFL Sunday Ticket from its lineup, but HBO and/or Cinemax can be added to any tier for just $5. This is a nice discount from HBO Now price of $15 dollars.
Additionally, those who want service from networks like ABC, FOX and NBC may or may not have those services available to them, depending on if the customer lives in a city where those networks run the local station. If this isn’t an option, then customers will only have access to shows a day after they’ve aired.
DirecTV NOW comes in app form for a growing number of devices. At launch the following devices are supported:
There is currently no Roku app or Fire tablet support, but these options are in the works for early 2017.
DirecTV Now allows for two streams at a time on an account. While two is better than one, for some, the limited number of streams may be a downfall of the service. The service also has no DVR capability in place
AT&T’s DirecTV service is available starting today. Potential customers can open and account sign up for a 7-day trial at the DirecTV Now website, and then download and sign into the app on their supported devices.
Have you tried AT&T’s DirecTV Now service? What are your thoughts? Is it worth the price? Share with us in the comments below.
