DIRECTV NOW Review, Channels, and Cost

What is DIRECTV NOW?

DIRECTV NOW is a live TV streaming service from AT&T that offers most of the channel you would receive through a more traditional pay TV services. It’s essentially a way to watch live TV online without needing cable. I go over the features of the service in this post, but you can try the service out yourself through a 1-week free trial.

The service will allow customers to watch 2 streams simultaneously per subscription and offers a cloud-based DVR. An additional 3rd stream can be added for an additional $5 per month.

You will need some type of internet access once you drop your current pay-TV provider. Check out this article on home internet providers for more information. Let’s take a look at the channels available on this new streaming service.

DIRECTV NOW Channels

With DIRECTV NOW,  you can stream the broadcast networks ABC, NBC, CBS, and Fox in Chicago, Dallas, Ft. Lauderdale, Ft. Worth, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, Oakland, Philadelphia, San Francisco, and San Jose.

Furthermore, DIRECTV NOW streams local broadcast affiliates in 100 mid and smaller markets. Where local channels aren’t available customers will be able to watch prime time shows the next day on-demand. Check the table in the section below to see which local broadcast affiliates are available in your city.

When it comes to channels like AMC, HGTV, and Discovery, DIRECTV NOW simulates traditional pay-TV services better than most solutions out there. They offer just about every channel you can find on cable. However, the channels are offered through three package ties.

DIRECTV NOW Packages and Prices

The table and information below provide an overview of DIRECTV NOWs packages and prices.

Live a Little

The “Live a Little” tier is priced at $35 per month and contains Fox News, CNN, Nickelodeon,  MSNBC, Hallmark Channel, ESPN, Disney, HGTV, USA, ID, TNT, Food, TBS, History, Discovery, Disney Jr, TV Land, Nick Jr, AMC, FX, FXX, Bravo, Lifetime, A&E, Animal Planet, BBC America, Bloomberg, BET, Cartoon Network, CMT, CNBC, Comedy Central, Disney XD, E!, ESPN2, Fox Business, FS1, Galavision, HLN, MTV, MTV2, Paramount Network (formerly Spike), Syfy, TCM, TLC, Univision, VH1, and more.

Just Right

Priced at $50 per month the “Just Right” package contains everything in “Live a Little,” but adds the following channels; ESPN News, ESPNU, NBCSN, MLB Network, Fox Sports Prime Ticket, CNBC World, SEC Network, IFC, BTN, Cooking Channel, Fusion, Own, Yes, Travel Channel, Science, Unamas, The Weather Channel, GSN, Comedy TV and more.

Go Big

Normally priced at $60 per month, the “Go Big” package includes all the channels from the “Just Right” tier and adds the following channels:

FS2, CBS Sports Network, Golf, NBA TV, DIY, NHL Channel, FXM, FYI, Discovery Family, Nat Geo Wild, Oxygen, Sundance TV, Tennis Channel, MTV Classic,  BBC World News, and more.

Gotta Have It

The “Gotta Have It” tier includes everything from the “Go Big” tier and costs $70 per month. It adds all the Stars and Encore channels along with Boomerang, Cloo, El Rey, Univision Desportes and more.

Cloud DVR

DIRECTV NOW has made its cloud DVR available to all customers. It’s currently supported on Apple iOS/tvOS devices and supported web browsers. The new version of the DIRECTV NOW app will be available for Android, Amazon Fire TV, and Roku devices very soon. The free version of the cloud DVR is included with all tiers of service and includes the following:

• Skip commercials on a whim
• Stream at home or on-the-go
• Get 20 hrs of digital recording time
• Keep your favorites for up to 1 month

While this free version of the DVR includes 20 hours of recording, a $10 per month option that lets users record up to 100 hours and store it for up to 90 days will be available later this summer.

Premium Channels

HBO, Starz, and Cinemax can be added to any tier for just $5 each. Showtime is now available for just $8 per month.

Regional Sports Networks

Direct TV does have the local market NBA, MLB, and NHL teams through various regional sports networks. DIRECTV Now presently carries the regional sports networks for NBC SportNet, Fox Sports, along with the MSG network. The availability is broken down by zip code. This PDF outlines what regional sports network and teams are available through DIRECTV NOW by zip code.

Local Channels Streaming on DIRECTV NOW

DIRECTV NOW and AT&T Data Usage

As a benefit to AT&T data plan customers, DIRECTV NOW will not count against their data usage. This practice is referred to as “zero rating” and allows AT&T to provide preferential treatment to their service leaving internet service providers that don’t own TV networks at a competitive disadvantage.  But I digress.

Free HBO for AT&T Mobile Customers

AT&T Unlimited Plus customers can enjoy free HBO with their wireless plan. According to an AT&T press release, starting Friday, September 15th, 2017 AT&T, Unlimited Choice customers will enjoy the same benefit. AT&T Mobile customers can watch HBO through the DIRECTV NOW and HBO GO apps.

Furthermore, AT&T mobile customers get a $25 monthly bill credit that can be used towards a DIRECTV NOW subscription. This means AT&T mobile customers can get the DIRECTV NOW live a little package with Free HBO for only $10 a month. I know that seems too good to be true, but it is.

With the new iPhone being released it may make sense to switch your wireless service to AT&T and get HBO and DIRECTV NOW for $10 per month. Check out AT&T Wireless offers.

Sign up for a 1-week free trial to DIRECTV NOW

DIRECTV NOW Supported Devices

DIRECTV NOW is supported on the following devices:

• Roku
• 4th Gen Apple TV
• Google Chromecast, 2nd gen and higher
• Amazon Fire TV
• Fire TV Stick
• iOS devices
• Android
• Chrome and Safari browsers

DIRECTV NOW Deals

DIRECTV NOW occasionally runs various deals and promos. I will publish them below when they are available.

Right now you can get 3 months of DIRECTV NOW for just $10 a month if you prepay for 3 months. Just enter YESNOW3 during checking when you sign up.

Get an Amazon Fire TV on us! Just prepay 2 months of DIRECTV NOW to get 120 live channels and 25,000 on-demand titles on your biggest screen.

Get a 4K Apple TV (32 GB) for $0 with 3-month prepay of DIRECTV NOW

You can sign up for a free trial and take advantage of those deals on their website.

DIRECTV NOW TV Everywhere Apps

Not only can you watch these channels through the DirecTV Now app, but you can watch the following channels on their own TV Anywhere App. Be aware that viewing through these apps will count against AT&T Wireless Data.

• ABC
• AMC
• BBC America
• BET
• Bravo Now
• BTN2GO (Big Ten Network)
• CMT
• CNBC
• Comedy Central
• CSN BayArea
• CSN California
• CSN Chicago
• CSN Mid-Atlantic
• CSN New England
• Disney
• Disney Jr.
• Disney XD
• E! Now
• ESPN (WatchESPN)
• FOX Now
• FOX Sports Go
• Freeform
• FX Now
• HBO GO (Requires subscription to HBO)
• IFC
• LOGO
• MAX GO (Requires subscription to Cinemax)
• MSNBC Now
• MTV
• NatGeo
• NBC
• NBC Golf
• NBC Sports
• NBC Universo Now
• Nick
• Nick Jr.
• Oxygen Now
• Paramount Network
• Sprout Now
• SundanceTV (Web only)
• Syfy Now
• Telemundo Now
• TV Land
• USA NOW
• VH1
• WEtv

DIRECTV NOW Review Rating

Due to the channel availability of local markets, combined with the quality of service, I rate DIRECT TV Now 5 stars out of 5.

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