Stream with DIRECTV Review

One of the first things to know about streaming with DIRECTV is that their lineups don't include any fluff or channel fillers. That means no music or part-time channels you get with a lot of providers. So, while their channel counts are quite a bit smaller than satellite, the channels that matter are just about the same.

Speaking of value, it's quite a well-rounded lineup. DIRECTV specializes in sports and that adds a ton of value here. For starters, you'll get more regional sports networks (RSNs) than ANY streaming provider out there. That includes Fubo, the other top sports streamer. The rest of DIRECTV's lineup is pretty comprehensive as well. A broad and even coverage of movies, news, locals, family entertainment and more. Again, it's right up there with the top streaming providers.

No licensing issues

As you may have seen around the streaming industry, licensing issues abound. It's not uncommon for providers to have at least a couple active disputes going. That means a fair amount of high-value channels missing from their lineups. That's not the case with DIRECTV, however. As of this writing, they have no major licensing disputes with a studio. So, you'll get absolutely everything you pay for.

Unlike with their satellite service, streaming DIRECTV doesn't require any equipment (you rent their Gemini dongle or it's BYOD - bring your own device). With BYOD, simply download the DIRECTV app to your device like a Roku, Fire TV, Apple TV, Chromecast, etc. Log into your DIRECTV account and you're all set. Literally takes a few minutes from beginning to end. We prefer the Apple TV route as it seems to work best with the DIRECTV app and ecosystem.

Unlimited Cloud DVR storage

Kept for 9 months, 30-episode per series limit

Keeping up with the trend in the streaming industry, DIRECTV gives you unlimited cloud storage space. Recordings are kept for up to 9 months and you'll get a warning about 7 days before one expires.

When recording a series, you get a maximum of 30 episodes. When the system tries to record the next one, it'll automatically delete the oldest recorded show. So, if you're close to 30, probably best to prune episodes manually.

Simultaneous screens: Unlimited

Unlimited from home, max of 3 from the road

While at home, DIRECTV features unlimited streams for ANY type of screen (phone, table, TV, whatever). If you have a large household or use a bunch of devices at the same time, that's a pretty big deal. A lot of other providers cap your simultaneous streams and/or devices (see the comparison table below). DIRECTV doesn't nitpick with any of that and lets you watch exactly how you want. For large families, this feature alone could tip the scales towards DIRECTV.

While on the road, you're allowed up to 3 streams at a time. Compared to competitors, that's still generous and at/near the top of the pack. And, yes, you can share your login with family that doesn't live with you. Just be sure you're not too liberal with that or your device could be the 4th and "locked out". DIRECTV doesn't have a way to prioritize connections/devices so it's always first come, first served.

Gemini Air device

For $10/mo, you can rent DIRECTV's Gemini. It's a dongle-type device that gives you access to all your programming and other streaming services (it also uses your home's WiFi and can not be hard wired with an ethernet cord). The Gemini Air has the look and feel of traditional DIRECTV guides so if you're already familiar with those, the transition should be seamless. It comes with a full-featured voice remote that has plenty of quick-button functions, making navigation as easy as any other we've tried. A few key features include: Multiview (view up to four channels at once), Google voice search, comprehensive "My Library" and 4K-ready streaming.

What if you don't want to pay the extra fee? Use your own device. With DIRECTV streaming, we typically recommend an Apple TV or Roku. The former tends to work the best and seems to always be more stable. If you already have a Roku, give that a try first and see if it checks all the boxes. In our experience, Rokus tend to lag a bit with DIRECTV's app (and are tougher to navigate) but your mileage will vary. Last thing, if you do use your own device, you won't see channel numbers in the guide, if that matters to ya.