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Home » TV » Streaming » TV Streaming Services » DIRECTV NOW Review, Channels, and Cost

DIRECTV NOW Review, Channels, and Cost

Published 2019-03-13 By Dennis Restauro

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Dennis Restauro

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Dennis is the editor in chief at Grounded Reason. Before writing about using technology to save you money he spent 20 years working in the tech sector as a sysadmin, an analyst, and an enterprise architect.
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UPDATE:  AT&T  has rebranded DIRECTV NOW.  DIRECTV NOW is now AT&T TV NOW.

DirecTV Now has reduced the number of packages down to 2 and the cheapest option starts at $50 a month. In a time where cord cutters are looking to go more a la cart, DirecTV Now has gone the opposite direction and has bundled HBO into both available plans.

Furthermore, the new plans will not carry cable favorites like A&E, Lifetime, Discovery, Food Network, OWN,  AMC, IFC, and WeTV.

Basically, DirecTV Now will be a lot more expensive, with fewer package options, and fewer channels. It’s difficult to even recommend the service as an option to cord cutters.

For current customers, AT&T confirmed that the prices of all DirecTV Now base packages will increase by $10 per month effective April 12, 2019. That’s the second price increase in less than a year.  If you had the “Live a Little package those price hikes amount to a 43% price increase.

Customers with those packages — Live a Little, Just Right, Go Big, Gotta Have It, and the Spanish-language Todo y Más will retain their current lineups as long as they keep the service.

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 includes 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 many local markets.

DIRECTV NOW streams local broadcast affiliates in over 200 markets. Where local channels aren’t available customers will be able to watch prime time shows the next day on-demand. You can even watch your local network channels when you are outside your local market. 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.

Package Price Channels
Plus $50/month 40+
Max $70/month 50+

Plus

The “Plus” tier is priced at $50 per month and contains ABC, AccuWeather, Audience, Boomerang, Bravo, Cartoon Network, BET, Comedy Central, MTV, Nick, Nick Jr., VH1, CBS, CNBC, CNBC World, CNN, CW, Disney Channel, Disney Junior, Disney XD, E!, ESPN, ESPN2, FOX, FOX Business Network, FOX News Channel, FS1, Freeform, FX, FX Movie Channel, FXX, Hallmark Channel, HBO, HBO Family, HBO Latino, HLN, MSNBC, My Network TV, Nat Geo World, National Geographic Channel, NBC, NBCSN, Ovation, Oxygen, Pop, Revolt, SYFY, TBS, TCM, Telemundo, TNT, TruTV, Universal Kids, Universo, USA Network,  and VME.

Max

The Max tier will include ABC, AccuWeather, Audience, Big Ten Network, Boomerang, Bravo, Cartoon Network, CBS, CBS Sports Network, Cinemax, CNBC, CNBC World, CNN, CW, Disney Channel, Disney Junior, Disney XD, E!, ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNews, ESPNU, FOX, FOX Business Network, FOX News Channel, FS1, FS2, Freeform, FX, FX Movie Channel, FXX, BET, Comedy Central, MTV, Nick, Nick Jr., VH1, CMT, Paramount, TV Land, Golf Channel, Hallmark Channel, HBO, HBO Family, HBO Latino, HLN, Longhorn Network, MSG, MSG+, MSNBC, My Network TV, Nat Geo World, National Geographic Channel, NBC, NBCSN, Olympic Channel, Ovation, Oxygen, Pop, Revolt, SEC Network, SNY, SYFY, TBS, TCM, Telemundo, TNT, TruTV, Universal Kids, Universo, USA Network, VME, and Yes Network

Regional sports networks will only available only in certain markets

Cloud DVR

DIRECTV NOW has made its cloud DVR available to all customers. 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

Premium Channels

Showtime, Starz, and Cinemax can be added to any tier for just $11 each. HBO is included in both the Plus and Max packages.

Local Channels Streaming on DIRECTV NOW

City State ABC CBS FOX NBC
Ames IA CBS
Atlanta GA ABC CBS Fox NBC
Baltimore MD ABC CBS Fox NBC
Boston MA ABC CBS Fox NBC
Chicago IL ABC CBS Fox NBC
Cleveland OH ABC CBS Fox NBC
Columbus OH ABC CBS Fox
Dallas TX ABC CBS Fox NBC
Dayton OH ABC CBS Fox
Denver CO ABC CBS Fox NBC
Des Moines IA CBS
Detroit MI ABC CBS Fox NBC
Ft. Lauderdale FL ABC CBS Fox NBC
Ft. Worth TX ABC CBS Fox NBC
Greensboro NC ABC CBS Fox NBC
Hagerstown MD ABC CBS Fox NBC
Houston TX ABC CBS Fox NBC
Hutchinson KS CBS
Jacksonville FL ABC CBS Fox
Kansas City MO ABC CBS Fox NBC
Knoxville TN CBS
Lexington KY ABC CBS Fox NBC
Little Rock AR ABC CBS
Los Angeles CA ABC CBS Fox NBC
Louisville KY ABC CBS Fox
Miami FL ABC CBS Fox NBC
Minneapolis MN ABC CBS Fox NBC
Modesto CA ABC CBS Fox NBC
Nashville TN ABC CBS Fox NBC
New Orleans LA CBS NBC
New York NY ABC CBS Fox NBC
Oakland CA ABC CBS Fox NBC
Oklahoma City OK ABC CBS Fox
Pheonix AZ ABC CBS Fox NBC
Philadelphia PA ABC CBS Fox NBC
Pine Bluff AR ABC CBS
Pittsburgh PA ABC CBS Fox NBC
Roanoke VA ABC CBS NBC
Sacramento CA ABC CBS Fox NBC
Salem NC ABC CBS Fox NBC
San Antonio TX ABC CBS Fox
San Francisco CA ABC CBS Fox NBC
San Jose CA ABC CBS Fox NBC
Seattle WA ABC CBS NBC
St. Louis MO ABC CBS Fox NBC
St. Paul MN ABC CBS Fox NBC
St. Petersburg FL ABC CBS Fox
Stockton CA ABC CBS Fox NBC
Tampa FL ABC CBS Fox
Tulsa OK ABC CBS Fox NBC
Washington DC ABC CBS Fox NBC
Wichita KS ABC CBS Fox
Winston NC ABC CBS Fox NBC
Albany NY NBC
Albuquerque NM ABC NBC
Anchorage AK Fox
Asheville NC ABC NBC
Austin TX ABC Fox
Bangor ME
Bend OR Fox
Biloxi MS Fox
Birmingham AL ABC NBC
Bozeman MT
Brunswick GA ABC Fox
Buffalo NY ABC Fox
Butte MT
Charleston WV ABC Fox NBC
Charolette NC ABC Fox NBC
Cincinnati OH ABC NBC
Columbia MO Fox
Columbus MS Fox
Daytona Beach FL ABC Fox NBC
Durham NC ABC NBC
El Centro CA
Eugene OR Fox
Evansville IN
Fresno CA ABC Fox
Ft. Myers FL ABC Fox NBC
Ft. Pierce FL ABC NBC
Gainsville FL Fox
Grand Rapids MI ABC Fox
Great Falls MT
Green Bay WI ABC Fox NBC
Green Bay WI Fox
Greensville SC ABC NBC
Gulfport MS Fox
Harrisburg PA Fox NBC
Hartford CT Fox NBC
Honolulu HI ABC
Huntington WV ABC Fox NBC
Indianapolis IN ABC Fox NBC
Jefferson City MO Fox
Joplin MO Fox
Juneau AK Fox
Kalamazoo MI ABC Fox
Lafeyette LA Fox
Lancaster PA Fox NBC
Las Vegas NV ABC
Lima OH
Melbourne FL NBC
Memphis TN Fox
Milwaukee WI ABC Fox NBC
Missoula MT
Mobile AL ABC
Myrtle Beach SC Fox
Naples FL ABC Fox NBC
New Bedford MA ABC
New Haven CT Fox NBC
Newport News VA ABC
Norfolk VA ABC
Orlando FL ABC Fox NBC
Palm Springs CA Fox
Pensacola FL ABC
Petersburg VA Fox
Portland OR ABC NBC
Providence RI ABC
Raleigh NC ABC NBC
Richmond VA Fox
Salt Lake City UT Fox NBC
San Diego CA ABC Fox NBC
San Luis Obispo CA Fox
Santa Barbra CA Fox
Sante Fe NM ABC NBC
Schenectady NY NBC
Scranton PA Fox
Spartanburg SC ABC NBC
Springfield MO Fox
St. Joseph MO Fox
Tacoma WA ABC Fox NBC
Troy NY NBC
Tupelo MS Fox
Visalia CA Fox
Visalla CA ABC
West Palm Beach FL ABC NBC
Wilkes Barre PA Fox
Yuma AZ

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 Review Rating

Due to the lack of channels on the service, combined with the expense, I rate DIRECT TV Now 2 stars out of 5.

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Filed Under: TV Streaming Services Last Updated 2019-10-10

About Dennis Restauro

Dennis is the editor in chief at Grounded Reason. Before writing about using technology to save you money he spent 20 years working in the tech sector as a sysadmin, an analyst, and an enterprise architect.

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