DIRECTV STREAM Review: 5 Things to Know Before You Sign Up (August 2021)

UPDATE: As of January 2022, all new customers get unlimited cloud DVR with DIRECTV STREAM! (This change coincides with a price increase.)

UPDATE: As of February 2022, DIRECTV STREAM added a 5-day free trial.

==QUICK LINKS==

0:00 Introduction to DIRECTV STREAM
0:44 How Much Does DIRECTV STREAM Cost?
2:07 What Channels Does DIRECTV STREAM Offer?
3:40 Does DIRECTV STREAM Offer Cloud DVR?
4:51 What Equipment Do I Need to Use DIRECTV STREAM?
6:02 How Is the DIRECTV STREAM User Experience?
9:05 Key Takeaways About DIRECTV STREAM

==EPISODE NOTES==

I used a Roku Express 4K+ in today's video. Here is an Amazon link if you want to buy one. I may receive a small commission if you use one of my links.

==RELATED CONTENT==

FOLLOW MICHAEL SAVES:

[chrisettner]

Originally the attraction to these streaming services was price. Now they are priced almost as high as cable

[vickithress]

Our problem is the recording options (or lack of). You cannot extend the record time on a program. Also, the episode/series titles are terrible. For example, if you want to record a particular MLB game series, it records every single MLB game, not just the one you are wanting to watch. So, you must record each game individually. I am hoping Direct TV programmers will fix this problem since the former satellite system has been doing it for years.

[jolawil]

Thank you for making this video. We had the traditional DTV with a DVR, but the price never went down. Add to that the price of the ESPN sports package, it was to much. We cut the cord last year and haven't looked back.

[TomTom-gnmp]

Streaming only services should be at least 25% less than traditional pay TV since there is no equipment required besides a new smart TV or a cheap remote and dongle to connect to the play store on older smart TVs.

[vagrante]

Directv Stream has Dolby 5.1 and in my opinion, has the best picture quality of all of them. For me, the regional sports are the main reason I go with them.

[NYCKNP]

I liked that they updated the user interface and still have the channel selection. However, the price tag is too much and they make it hard to cancel. You have to talk to an agent in a live chat in order to cancel. I cancelled it after three days and got the refund. It’s not worth having a streaming service if they make it hard for customers to cancel

[napathon]

I subscribe to Sling, but this was my second choice when cutting the cord if I had been unable to get a workable setup for local channels. Unfortunately, the price is so expensive that there wouldn't have been much if any savings over cable if I had gone this route.

[TomTom-gnmp]

Pricing needs to be as follows:
65+ = $60, 90+ = $70, 130+ = $80, 140+ = $100
The plans above would include a 1 TB or 1000 hour DVR standard with no expiration date.
Keep in mind that Youtube TV is the same price as the cheapest package listed above but offers over 90 channels and a 9 month Unlimited DVR.

[bigman]

YouTube TV still kicks the crap out of Directv Stream from the standpoint you can have multiple user accounts, each with their own truly unlimited DVR. YouTube TV also doesn't seem to care of the users are in different households (different IP addresses), or even different zip codes. The UI on YTTV is pretty good with a Roku. Now, if Directv would add the ability to have multiple user accounts, each with their own DVR, I might consider changing, so we could get the RSN's. Hopefully Bally's pulls their head out of their ars and comes up with competitive pricing on their RSN's, so other streaming services can carry them.

[spaceghost]

I would have to get the Ultimate package to get ALL of the channels I want, and then $10.00 more for the DVR upgrade, which makes it way too expensive for me.
With tax it would cost me almost $117.00, and the DVR only keeps your stuff for 90 days.
If Philo can include an unlimited DVR and keep your recordings for 1 YEAR, this service, with it's high price should certainly be able to match it.

[richardsmith]

You have to go through customer retention just like regular Direc tv and cable to cancel. That takes it off my list.

[paulward]

I enjoy direct tv stream and I recommend it to anyone who wants cable but doesn't want to deal with a cable company

[natemekis]

Not only no Sunday ticket but no Redzone? For $85 I need everything.

[whitneyfan]

They use to have reasonable prices when they first came out as directv now. I canceled them last week. Prices are just as much as cable.

[cxa]

We switched because it is significantly cheaper than staying with att uverse where our bill was easily $150 a month and we still watched the same channels

[mrtadreamer]

another way to emulate premium cable are sideloading apps that permit automatic launching any streaming service. Selecting Directv Stream when a firetv stick powered by the USB port on the back of the TV will launch a fire stick directly into Directv Stream on each cold boot up of a firestick. This does not work with the Amazon Fire TV smart tv.

[oldedwardian]

I have DIRECTV Stream and dealing with ATT WAS A NIGHTMARE.
We have talked to at least 10 people at ATT to try to understand the change over from the conventional service.
Everybody tells you something different and even after we sorted it out and agreed to a specific plan, we get bills that are anything up to $100 OVERCHARGED.
Then you must return the old set top boxes, that is handled by ups. UPS were great but they warned us hold onto the receipt that UPS gives you.
They say that almost everyone will receive charges saying you HAVE NOT RETURNED THE EQUIPMENT.
UPS say that ATT WILL TRY ANYTHING TO CHARGE YOU FOR THE EQUIPMENT YOUR ONLY PROOF IS THE UPS RECEIPT.
As soon as I can change from ATT I WILL.
Everyone I speak to has a similar story they say that dealing with ATT IS A NIGHTMARE.
Even UPS says they just hate to deal with ATT.

[zw]

Basically if you need regional sports networks mainly MLB fans then this is the cheapest and only streaming plan currently for you. But like he says once season is over you can cancel it and go with a cheaper option for offseason

[MA-lgcf]

Some TV manufacturers don't have the Direct TV app available.

[fortminorproject]

This was a very interesting surprise to see this sounds similar to AT&TV now . It’s cool to see they went this way and not worrying about the satellite. I might give it a try .