DIRECTV Pricing for 2024
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Over the past few years, DIRECTV's pricing and how they setup their plans have changed a handful of times. Years ago, they featured "all-included pricing", where every cent of your bill (including fees) was wrapped into the advertised price. That lasted for about a year - we praised it at the time but it did present a bit of a sticker shock for some. Soon after, they shifted to a pricing model that highly discounted the first year with the second year and thereafter at the regular price.
Their current model is a nice compromise. You get your first two years discounted under a price guarantee. So, no price increases for at least 2 years. Thereafter, it shifts to the prevailing price at the time (which could cost more or less). Let's dig into their current plan prices a bit deeper and find out where most of the value lies...
Advantages
- Above-average value across all plans
- Prices locked in for 2 years
- Receiver & HD fees free for 1st TV
- Auto-pay discount
Disadvantages
- Extra fees
- Can't remove channels you don't want
Current Prices for DIRECTV's Packages
For starters, let's take a quick look at all of DIRECTV's plans in the table below. All prices you see are locked in for up to 2 years (2-year minimum contract). Their cheapest option is Entertainment. The most popular, for nearly a decade now, is the Choice plan. Most new subscribers choose it first as it's a solid mix of price and channel value (and includes most of their favorites).
Speaking of which, the last column in the table specifies the "Cost per channel" of each package. That is, it's the relative channel value of each plan for the price (lower the better). Entertainment and Ultimate offer the most value, though all four plans come in at similar levels.
DIRECTV's cheapest plan
DIRECTV's lowest-cost option is Entertainment. It features 165 channels for $69.99/mo. Its the first DIRECTV plan (out of four) and, while not packed with movies or sports, it's a great way to get all the basics covered.
As you'll find with all of DIRECTV's plans, Entertainment includes all your local channels. Compared to streaming plans which usually don't include locals, that's a big plus. It also includes a good number of popular channels, some of which include AMC, CNN, Disney Channel, ESPN and Nickelodeon (view all).
Auto-pay lowers your bill even more
With all its plans, DIRECTV gives subscribers an option to setup auto-pay to save $10/mo. You also need to enroll in Paperless billing to qualify. Both must be setup within the first 30 days of service (otherwise, you're out of luck). Once activated on your account, you'll save an additional 14% off the Entertainment plan.
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DIRECTV's most popular plan
DIRECTV Choice was one of their original plans - it's stuck around all these years because it's in the middle of the pack (price-wise) yet still has a bunch of quality programming. There's plenty of value here (channel value of $0.42) as you get 200 channels for $84.99/mo . Some of the more popular channels new to this plan include: A&E, ACC Network, Big Ten Network, CNBC World, Cooking Channel, ESPNEWS, ESPNU, Golf Channel, Lifetime, MLB Network, NBA TV, NFL Network, Nick Jr, OWN, Science and SEC Network. So, quite a nice list and plenty of new options for an entire family.
Of note, for years, Choice used to be immediately followed by a slightly larger plan, XTRA. It offered 35 more channels for an extra $10/mo. A lot of those channels were solid, and it was right up there in popularity with Choice (compare Choice and XTRA channels). Soon after DIRECTV Stream launched, XTRA got phased out and we were pretty bummed about that. In some cases, you can still get it though. If interested, bring it up to your customer service agent.
Locals, Premium channel bundles and add-on packs
If you want to customize your options or consolidate your streaming plans (and save), DIRECTV lets you purchase a variety of add-on programming. From blockbuster movies to more of your favorite TV shows, there's something for everyone. Let's quickly cover the best options:
Local Channels now an option
As of early 2024, you can now spin off local channels and add or remove them at will (and as many times as you like). The cost of local channels has been set at $12/mo. So, if you don't watch 'em at all, you can now remove them and save $144 over 12 months. Quite a good discount, especially with the smaller plans, and partially offsets the extra fees you pay with DIRECTV. For new subscribers, if you don't see the option to remove locals, just give them a call after your account is activated to get it removed.
Streaming add-on packs
DIRECTV has brokered special deals with some of the top streaming services out there. So, you'll save anywhere from 10% - 50% signing up through DIRECTV versus getting it directly. These packs are available to all DIRECTV customers, Satellite and Stream (internet). They include:
- AMC+ - get the best programming from AMC, BBC America, IFC and Sundance TV. Also gives you complete access to Shudder, Sundance Now and IFC Films. 7 channels for $7.99/mo.
- discovery+ - get mainstream classics like HGTV, Food Network, TLC, ID, Animal Planet and Discovery Channel. 7 channels for $4.99/mo.
- Peacock Premium - watch everything Peacock and NBC's diverse network has to offer (including exclusive MLB and WWE). Full access for $2.99/mo (save nearly 50%).
- Fox Nation - a mix of original/exclusive daily shows and live events like Cops and Yellowstone. Full access for $0.99/mo.
- ALLBLK - a variety of exclusive content - shows, movies and established favorites - by Black creators. Full access for $5.99/mo.
Channel add-on packs (Satellite only)
These comprehensive channel packs combine a bunch of new and difficult-to-find classics. It's all on-demand as well, making it super easy to watch when and where you want. Since a lot of the content is from grandfathered satellite licensing deals, these packs are for DIRECTV Satellite customers only.
- A&E Crime - if you watch plenty of A&E crime shows, this is the pack for you. You'll get ALL their classic shows, ad-free and on demand: Cold Case Files, 60 Days In, I Survived, etc. Full access for $4.99/mo.
- Acorn TV - bunch of thrillers and drama from Britain, Ireland and Australia. Full access for $6.99/mo.
- DOGTV - no, this isn't cute dog shows and documentaries. It's programming FOR dogs (to watch). Perfect for dogs home alone a lot or that get unnerved easily. Full access for $4.99/mo (first month free).
- Hallmark Movies Now - extra and exclusive content from Hallmark Channel and Hallmark Movies & Mysteries. Full access for $5.99/mo.
- HISTORY Vault - remember those super-cool mini-series from History like America, The Story of Us and Abraham Lincoln? This pack collects them all, ad-free and easily searchable. Full access for $4.99/mo.
- Lifetime Movie Club - if you appreciate Lifetime movies, this is an excellent pack to get. Library of over 200 new and classic movies. Full access for $4.99/mo.
- Revry - one of the largest sources of LGBTQ programming (movies, news, exclusives, podcasts and more). Full access for $6.99/mo.
- UP Faith & Family - for faith-related, feel-good programming, this is a great option for the entire family. Full access for $5.99/mo.
Fees and Hidden Charges
No one likes fees tacked on to their plan, especially if they're not made clear before sign-up. DIRECTV adds on a couple extra fees but, to their credit, they're very clearly disclosed while shopping on their site (during plan comparisons and checkout).
The two extra charges are an Advanced Receiver fee and Regional Sports fee. They apply to all DIRECTV plans except Entertainment (no sports fee as it doesn't include local sports channels).
DIRECTV's highest monthly fees
So, $24 gets added to the Choice plan and all larger packages, though the exact total depends on your area. While the Regional Sports fee is quoted as $9 above, that's the average. Depending where you live, you'll be charged anywhere from $4 to $14/mo. The lowest-cost plan, Entertainment, only has a $15/mo receiver fee added to the base price (another reason to choose it if price is a big factor). Finally, unlike DISH's price structure, DIRECTV doesn't spin out the cost for local channels. So, you'll pay for them whether you watch 'em or not.
DIRECTV Satellite vs Internet Pricing
As you may know, you can now get DIRECTV with a traditional satellite dish or via just the internet (no outside dish and no installation date). They share the same plans and prices. The biggest advantage with the "Connect by Satellite" option is you get a bunch of extra channels (50+ more). A lot of DIRECTV's licensing deals still in place don't allow anything other than transmission via satellite. Both options require a 2-year contract.
DIRECTV Stream is different
Another internet-only service from DIRECTV, DIRECTV Stream is different from the rest. It's a bring-your-own-device (BYOD) service that requires you use your own device to stream DIRECTV (Apple TV, Roku, etc). It's a carryover from the AT&T days and generally has the same programming as DIRECTV via internet. The big upside with Stream is there's no contract involved (sign-up or cancel whenever you want).
Wrapping up
In conclusion, DIRECTV's pricing has changed quite a bit over the past 15+ years, though that's pretty common with residential TV providers. The current 2-year price-locked plans are one of our favorites. They're easy to understand and while there are a couple extra fees, the total price is reasonable and you know exactly what you'll pay for 24 months.
Overall, DIRECTV's satellite service is certainly no spring chicken but if you want a legitimately full channel line-up with local channels/sports, a ton of movies and a top-tier receiver with no cloud DVR to contend with, consider going with DIRECTV. Read our DIRECTV review to get a closer look at their entire service (plans, tech, support and more).
- Plans starting as low as $69.99/mo
- Over 165 live TV channels
- Bonus: Get up to a 100 Visa Gift Card! (new)
- FREE Genie DVR or Gemini Air device
- FREE Max™, SHOWTIME®, STARZ® & Cinemax® for 3 Mths
- Note: DIRECTV's best offer since June 2021
