DIRECTV Stream - Entertainment Package

DIRECTV's streaming plans come in four flavors with Entertainment being the first (and least expensive). It features 90 channels at a price of $89.99/mo. As with all their streaming plans, local channels and a full lineup of channels are included. Being the first package, it saves you the most by excluding a fair amount of sports channels. So, this plan is best suited for non-sports fans.

Specifically, Entertainment has 35 less channels than the next, Choice. Some of those missing sports channels include MLB Network, NFL Network, NBA TV, ESPNews and ESPNU. Still, Entertainment includes a very well-rounded lineup that satisfies a bunch of tastes. Let's dig into that programming a bit more...

Check out the table below for a complete list of all the channels included:

Entertainment Channel Lineup

	Questions? Call 1-855-239-7313				Compare to other plans
Channel	Number	Base	Movies	Sports	Local	Spanish	Music
20/20	4484	•
50 Cent Action Channel	4228	•
ABC	local				•
ABC Localish	4008	•
ABC News Live	4007	•
ACC Digital Network	4151	•
AccuWeather	361	•
Alien Nation	4490	•
Always Funny	4303	•
Always Funny: Pranks & Fails	4302	•
AMC	254		•
America's Test Kitchen	4357	•
American Crimes	85	•
Anger Management	4321	•
Animal Planet	282	•
Are We There Yet	4322	•
ASPIRE	381	•
Ax Men	4264	•
AXS TV	340	•
BabyFirst TV	293	•
BBC America	264	•
Beach Day	4380	•
beIN Sports Xtra	4122			•
BET	329	•
Big 12	4152			•
Bizarre Foods with Andrew Zimmern	4379	•
Bloomberg TV	353	•
Bob Ross	4219	•
Boomerang	298	•
Bravo Vault	4250	•
BUZZR	4335	•
C-SPAN 1	350	•
C-SPAN 2	351	•
Cartoon Network (East)	296	•
CBS	local				•
Cheddar News	354	•
Cleo TV	341	•
CMT	327						•
CNN	202	•
CNN en Español	419	•				•
CNNi	358	•
Cold Case Files	4271	•
Comedy Central	249	•
Comedy Dynamics	4305	•
Confess by Nosey	4254	•
Cosmic Frontiers	4476	•
Court TV	4230	•
Cozi TV	80	•
Crime 360	4272	•
Curiosity Now	4481	•
CW	local				•
Dance Moms by Lifetime	4256	•
DangerTV	4268	•
Daystar	369	•
Deal Zone	4340	•
Declassified	4485	•
DIRECTV 4K Live	105	•
DIRECTV 4K Live 2	106	•
Discovery	278	•
Disney Channel (East)	290	•
Disney Junior	289	•
Disney XD	292	•
Documentary+	4540	•
Dog Whisperer	4346	•
Dove TV	4416	•
DraftKings	4106			•
Drool	4356	•
Duck Dynasty	4262	•
Earth Touch	4473	•
EarthX	267	•
Ebony TV	4404	•
El Rey Rebel	4229					•
ESPN	206			•
ESPN2	209			•
ESPN8: The Ocho	4108			•
FailArmy	4301	•
Family Feud (Steve Harvey)	4336	•
Family Handyman	4367	•
Family Movie Classics (FMC)	314		•
Fight Network	4130			•
FM	386	•
Food Network	231	•
Fox	local				•
Fox Business Network	359	•
Fox News Channel	360	•
FOX SOUL	4401	•
Fox Weather	363	•
Freeform	311	•
FS1	219			•
FUEL TV	4110			•
FX	248	•
FXX	259	•
Galavisión	404					•
GolfPass	4116			•
GoTraveler	4388	•
Great American Adventures	4368	•
Gusto TV	4372	•
Hallmark Channel	312	•
Hallmark Mystery	565		•
Heroes & Icons	385	•
HerSphere	4209	•
HGTV	229	•
History & Warfare	4486	•
HLN	204	•
Horror by Alter	4221	•
HSN	240	•
Ice Road Truckers	4263	•
IFC	333		•
INFAST	4328	•
Investigation Discovery	285	•
INWONDER	4329	•
ION TV (East)	305	•
Jamie Oliver	4361	•
Jewelry TV	72	•
Joel Osteen	4418	•
Let's Make a Deal	4337	•
LooLooKids	308	•
Love Nature	4470	•
MagellanTV Wildest	4482	•
MeatEater	4370	•
MeTV	77	•
Military Heroes	4484	•
Million Dollar Listing Vault	4352	•
Modern Marvels	4480	•
Motor Trend	281	•
Movie Favorites by Lifetime	4504		•
MovieSphere	4501		•
MTV	331						•
MTV 2	332						•
Mythbusters	4477	•
National Geographic	276	•
Newsmax	349	•
NewsNation	307	•
Nickelodeon (East)	299	•
Nicktoons	302	•
Nosey	4255	•
Ovation	274	•
Oxygen True Crime Archives	4287	•
Paramount Network	241		•
PBS	local				•
PBS Kids	288	•
Pickleball TV	4141			•
Players TV	4190			•
PokerGO	4140			•
Powernation	4191	•
Pureflix TV	4421		•
Pursuit	604	•
QVC	275	•
QVC 2	315	•
QVC 3	318	•
Racer Network	214			•
Racing America	4192			•
Real Housewives Vault	4251	•
Reelz	238		•
Revolt	334	•
RFD-TV	345	•
Rig TV	4265	•
RVTV	4366			•
Say Yes To The Dress	4257	•
Scientology Network	320	•
Scripps News	4009	•
Shop LC	226	•
SNL Vault	4310	•
Somos Novelas	4720					•
Speedvision	4194			•
SportsGrid	4105			•
Stadium Stream	4150			•
Start TV	84	•
SundanceTV	239	•
Supermarket Sweep	4341	•
Surf Cinema	4118		•
Swerve Combat	4132			•
Tastemade	235	•
Tastemade Home	4359	•
Tastemade Travel	4358	•
TBS	247	•
TeenNick	303	•
Tennis Channel 2	4117
The Design Network	4365	•
The First	347	•
The Jim Rome Show	4181			•
The Pet Collective	4721	•
The Price is Right: Drew Carey	4338	•
The Price is Right: The Barker Era, Jamie Oliver	4339	•
theGrio	342	•
Three Stooges	4218	•
Tiny House Nation	4363	•
TLC	280	•
TNA	4131			•
TNT	245	•
Top Chef Vault	4351	•
Torque by History	4193	•
Total Crime	4273	•
Tribeca Festival +	676		•
True Crime Now	4274	•
TV Land	304	•
TV One	328	•
Univision (Este)	402					•
VH1	335						•
Waypoint TV	4175	•
WE tv	260	•
Willow Sports US	4123	•
WNBA on ION	515520			•
Women’s Sports Network	4125			•
Yahoo Finance	4021	•
Yu-Gi-Oh!	4449	•

Where to find this package:

As of today, you can get the Choice plan at the lowest price available online at DIRECTV's official site...

The Fine Print

Here at Provider Check, we're pretty fanatical about checking the soft underbelly of most home services... the fine print. Over the years, a lot of fees have been hidden behind that tiny font. Thankfully, there's been a lot more truth-in-advertising over the past decade but it's still a murky area at times. Below is our evaluation of the actual terms & conditions for the Entertainment plan. Simply put, we'll approve it if the fine print matches the advertised and large-font copy throughout the provider's official site:

Overall, the Entertainment plan checks out just fine (with no extra device or regional sports, there's not much to tack on).

Cost and feature breakdown: Entertainment Plan

Gemini Air device

Once you've picked your plan, you're faced with one last big option... whether to get the DIRECTV Gemini device. It goes for $10/mo. per TV and is completely optional. Get none, one or five. If you already have a smart TV device (Roku, Chromecast, etc), you may not need it. Of course, each device produces their own type of program guide. The look and usability of a Roku is quite different than Gemini. Not better or worse, just different. If you're already used to DIRECTV's program guide, going with Gemini probably makes more sense. A few cool features with Gemini include: MultiView (four channels at the same time, perfect for sports), Google voice remote, universal search, comprehensive "My Library" screen, etc.

Either way, DIRECTV streaming accounts without the Gemini device are tagged as "BYOD" (bring your own device). Those with it are "Streaming App w/ Device". They qualify for slightly different deals and bonuses (not surprisingly, you get more perks and value when you get the Gemini)...

Option A: Streaming App with Device

When you get the Gemini, you'll qualify for the full 24-month discount and entire suite of bonuses: ESPN Unlimited and Disney+, Hulu bundle. Instead of a 5-day free trial (iffy to offer a trial if they're mailing you a physical device), you get a 14-day refund window. If things don't work out, you can cancel and return the Gemini, no questions asked and you'll be refunded. Here's what your bill will look like with 1 Gemini device:

Shop this plan

Option B: Streaming App - BYOD

When you choose to use your own device, the monthly discounts are either reduced by the number of months (from 24 months to 3) or removed altogether. With Entertainment being the smallest plan, you won't actually get a discount at all. On the flip side, though, you won't pay that monthly $10/mo. rental fee for the Gemini.

With respect to the bonuses, you still get ESPN Unlimited but because the Disney+, Hulu bundle is tethered to the Gemini, you won't get those. Here's what it all looks like:

Shop this plan