DIRECTV Review
Best known for its wide availability and large selection of channels, DIRECTV is a satellite television provider with service throughout the United States. With DIRECTV, you can select from three packages that offer everything from news and sports channels to kids’ programming and movie channels.
But is DIRECTV right for you? We’ve gathered the details and put together a complete rundown of what you need to know about DIRECTV.
- Who is DIRECTV for?
- Key considerations
- What others say about DIRECTV
- How does DIRECTV compare to other providers?
Who is DIRECTV for?
All DIRECTV plans include a broad selection of channels and a Genie digital video recorder (DVR) to record your favorite movies and shows. While DIRECTV’s base-level plan will meet the needs of many households, sports fans or movie enthusiasts may want to consider a higher-tier package.
The DIRECTV Entertainment plan offers 160+ channels at $64.99/month for 12 months. With this plan, you can access family favorites like Disney Channel, HGTV, and CNN.
If you want a bigger selection of channels for a slightly higher price, you can opt for the Choice plan. With 185+ channels at $69.99/month for 12 months, this plan is only slightly more expensive than the entry-level DIRECTV plan. Sports enthusiasts in your household will love the NFL Network and the NFL SUNDAY TICKET channels that come with this package.
With 250+ channels, the Ultimate plan comes at $84.99/month for 12 months. It also includes NFL SUNDAY TICKET, along with channels for people with special viewing interests, such as Discovery Family, Universal Kids, CBS Sports Network, and National Geographic Wild.
If you want everything that DIRECTV has to offer, you can go with the Premier plan, which offers 330+ channels at $134.99/month for 12 months. This plan includes premium channels, including HBO, CINEMAX, STARZ, and SHOWTIME, along with NFL SUNDAY TICKET and international sports channels like Fox Deportes and Fox Soccer Channel.
Key considerations
Reviewing additional costs is important before signing up for DIRECTV service. You’ll also need to budget for the price fluctuations that occur after your initial contract with DIRECTV ends.
Installation fee
DIRECTV offers free installation.
Early termination fee
DIRECTV requires a two-year contract. If you cancel early, you’ll have to pay up to $20 for each month left on your contract.
DVR service
DIRECTV offers one whole-home DVR free of charge with all of its packages. If you opt to have more than one DVR, you may have to pay an additional set-up fee.
Regional sports fee
DIRECTV charges a regional sports fee of up to $11.99/month, with some price differences across various DIRECTV markets.
Rate increases
To secure DIRECTV’s advertised introductory price, you’ll need to commit to a two-year agreement. However, you should only expect to receive the introductory rate for the first year. On its website, DIRECTV notes that prices are higher for the second year.
What others say about DIRECTV
According to data from the American Customer Satisfaction Index, DIRECTV tied with rival DISH for the top satellite TV provider with a score of 66 on a scale of 100. That score is higher than the industry average for subscription TV. However, satellite TV providers scored lower overall than fiber-optic providers who earned top rankings.
In J.D. Power’s Residential Television Service Provider Satisfaction Study, which surveyed more than 21,000 people in the US, DIRECTV ranked second in the nation. The study looked at various topics, including pricing, reliability, channel selection, customer service, and others, to assess TV providers’ overall performance.
How does DIRECTV compare to other providers?
How do other TV service providers stack up against DIRECTV? One of DIRECTV’s top rivals is DISH, a satellite TV provider. The big difference between the two companies is that DISH only offers only 190 channels in total compared to DIRECTV’s 330+. While shopping around, you may also want to look at fiber-optic TV providers, such as Verizon Fios. However, while you may be able to access more channels with fiber providers, availability is far more limited compared to DIRECTV’s coverage.
*Pricing varies by location and availability. Speeds may vary. All prices subject to change; for current pricing and availability visit our TV service page. Prices as of 1/25/22.
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Disclosure | Updater articles are based on our own data and research, independent from partner relationships. We are not compensated by partners for information and opinions presented here. Our Editorial Terms of Service can be found here.
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