DIRECTV got its start in 1990 and has since grown into a successful Fortune 100 company. The company offers over 190 full-time HD channels as well as high-speed internet and a streaming service. In a side-by-side comparison with other digital satellite providers, it holds up very well.
In June 2015, AT&T officially acquired DIRECTV, creating one of the largest television and communications companies in the world. The projections for this merger are positive for DIRECTV customers, giving them bundling opportunities on internet and phone service not available before.
DIRECTV is a digital satellite entertainment service provider that offers homeowners and businesses more than 250 channels throughout all 50 states.
Read what other DIRECTV customers are saying about their service (below).
Each DIRECTV package offers a variety of channels each designed to entertain clients of all ages. Customers can enjoy hit shows, movies, sports, and more.
DIRECTV is transparent about what each package includes (even mentioning notable channels), allowing customers to make an informed decision about which package will work best for them.
SELECT™
*Plus taxes for 12 mos. w/ 24-mo. agreement. Autopay & Paperless bill required. Pay $40/mo + taxes until discount starts. $78/mo. in months 13-24 (subject to change).
ENTERTAINMENT
*Plus taxes for 12 mos. w/ 24-mo. agreement. Autopay & Paperless bill required. Pay $45/mo + taxes until discount starts. $90/mo. in months 13-24 (subject to change).
CHOICE™
*Plus taxes for 12 mos. w/ 24-mo. agreement. Autopay & Paperless bill required. Pay $50/mo + taxes until discount starts. $105/mo. in months 13-24 (subject to change). Regional Sports Fee up to $7.49/mo. is extra & applies.*
XTRA
*Plus taxes for 12 mos. w/ 24-mo. agreement. Autopay & Paperless bill required. Pay $60/mo + taxes until discount starts. $117/mo. in months 13-24 (subject to change). Regional Sports Fee up to $7.49/mo. is extra & applies.*
ULTIMATE
*Plus taxes for 12 mos. w/ 24-mo. agreement. Autopay & Paperless bill required. Pay $65/mo + taxes until discount starts. $128/mo. in months 13-24 (subject to change). Regional Sports Fee up to $7.49/mo. is extra & applies.*
PREMIER™
*Plus taxes for 12 mos. w/ 24-mo. agreement. Autopay & Paperless bill required. Pay $115/mo + taxes until discount starts. $181/mo. in months 13-24 (subject to change). Regional Sports Fee up to $7.49/mo. is extra & applies.*
In decades past, TV plans came with one remote for one television. Now any iPhone mobile device can act as a DIRECTV remote, and viewers can watch up to four different shows in four different rooms at any given time. Android devices can be used as well. but only if they are running on at least an IOS 6.0.
The Genie HD can be used to record shows. Better yet, those shows can be recorded in HD, meaning customers can fully enjoy them without viewing them live.
The ability to view different TV channels in multiple rooms has many customers asking, "How much extra equipment will I need?" With DIRECTV, all you'll need is a Genie Mini in each additional room. Also, if you have a Samsung or Sony Direct Ready TV, you don't need any external devices to run multiple TVs through the network.
With each of the plans listed above, customers will receive a set-top box in the mail that allows them to do their own installation. Instructions for setting up your DIRECTV set-top box are sent with the package and customer support is also available.
DIRECTV has plenty of channels to offer. The TV provider has over 200 live HD channels and a plethora of movie channels. Customers can enjoy HD and 4K programming with each of its channel packages; however, you'll need to purchase a higher tier plan or upgrade to gain access to a larger variety of HD channels. You'll also need a 4K TV to access the 4K channels.
DIRECTV's PREMIER package gives consumers access to premium channels. If you're obsessed with HBO's Game of Thrones or if you can't miss an episode of Showtime's Billions, then this DIRECTV package is perfect for you.
Sports fans love DIRECTV because it is the exclusive TV provider for the NFL Sunday Ticket. This sports package lets consumers watch live, HD, out-of-market games every Sunday. This plan particularly appeals to football fans, but if you're a fan of another major sport, no need to panic — DIRECTV still has you covered. You can select from any of these sports packs:
Every DIRECTV channel pack has plenty of options for even the pickiest entertainment buffs. There is plenty of original content, classic movies, and sports channels for everyone. Just be sure to pick a channel lineup that satisfies your entertainment needs.
The DIRECTV App lets subscribers stream live news, sports, along with their favorite shows and movies. The app gives customers flexibility as they can decide when and where they want to watch. Users can watch live, On Demand, or download their DVR recordings to their device, to view it anywhere. The DIRECTV app comes at no extra cost, can stream on up to 5 screens at once, and uses no data when customers have AT&T wireless.
The DIRECTV App can be downloaded from the App Store or Google Play.
When bundling your DIRECTV Satellite TV services with other services (phone and internet service), you can save a decent amount of money. The AT&T internet plan costs $50 per month and the most basic DIRECTV package costs $35 per month. The DIRECTV and AT&T Internet bundle costs $75 per month, saving customers $10 a month. What customers get is over 155 channels, internet speeds up to 100 Mbps, over 99 percent reliability, and the professional installation fee waived — a $99 value. Customers can even sign up for a 3-month preview of HBO®, SHOWTIME®, STARZ®, and Cinemax® at no extra charge.
Before signing up with DIRECTV, it is essential to review the terms and conditions for each service to be sure of any additional fees or taxes. Too often, customers sign up and don't find out the terms until it's too late. Here are some possible fees a DIRECTV customer might run into:
Activation and Installation:
For each of the DIRECTV packages, there is a $19.95 activation fee.
While installing DIRECTV, the technician may need to make changes to a telephone line or provide extra equipment, etc. and a custom work fee may be applied. The technician should prepare a Custom Work Rate sheet to explain what was needed and the cost.
However, customers should also be aware that there is a non-activation fee. DIRECTV will charge $150 per receiver if it is not activated within 30 days of installation.
Equipment:
There is an Equipment Lease Fee. The fee for the first receiver is waived; after that, each additional receiver costs $5 per month.
At the end of their agreement, customers should return their equipment to avoid DIRECTV's Unreturned Equipment Fee, which can range from $55-$470 per receiver.
Cancellation and Deactivation:
Customers who don't fulfill their Programming Agreements may be charged a pro-rated fee of up to $480.
There is a disclaimer at the bottom of DIRECTV's site that states there is an "early termination fee" or cancellation fee of $20 per month, for each month remaining on the TV agreement.
If a customer deactivates their service or if DIRECTV deactivates the service, there may be a charge of $15. This charge is made apart from the termination fee.
Extra Fees:
DVR Service Fee: Choosing a DVR or HD DVR receiver will automatically enroll customers in a DVR service. The cost is $6 per month, no matter how many DVR or HD DVR receivers they've selected.
HD Access Fee: For an additional $10 per month customers can receive HD channels
Late Fees: If a customer misses their monthly bill and fails to pay within the grace period, DIRECTV will charge $5 or the maximum amount permitted by law.
DIRECTV is known for locking customers into great promotional packages for the first year of their contract; however, once the first year of the contract is complete, year two can bring a substantial increase in monthly programming prices. While this is stated in the contract, it comes as an unwelcome surprise to many customers. A number of DIRECTV reviews mention these price hikes as one of the top frustrations with this satellite tv service. If this is a deal breaker for you, there are other service providers that offer set pricing for the length of your contract.
DIRECTV is satellite-based and is subject to all the disadvantages that come with a satellite dish: reception is at the mercy of weather conditions. Heavy storms are likely to affect the satellite connection. Weather does not affect the quality and availability of cable tv or fiber optic programming to the same extent as satellite TV service. Be prepared to deal with spotty live tv connections as connections to local channels during considerably adverse weather.
There are plenty of reasons to consider signing up with DIRECTV.
DIRECTV offers an incredible assortment of specialty and local channels, and its initial promotional packages are hard to beat. However, be aware that after your one or two year contract is up, there will be a price hike; while this isn't unusual in the industry, this catches many customers off guard. Customer reviews did not take this lightly.
DIRECTV is the exclusive provider for the NFL Sunday Ticket. This is great for football fans who want to watch those out-of-market games, but if football isn't your game, then there are plenty of other sports packages to select from. You'll also have access to plenty of channels, so you can pick the perfect TV package. These perks make DIRECTV hard competition for a number of Satellite and Cable TV providers.
If you're looking for a TV provider that provides a plethora of HD channels, amazing sports packages, and gives you access to exclusive content, then it might be worth looking into DIRECTV.
Call our recommended rep over at DIRECTV below.
1-(866) 416-5157
Star Rating
1,245 Reviews
Review Breakdown
Sentiment Criteria
Laura Garza
Affordable and great service. I have been a customer for 5 plus years. I definitely would recommend!
aoelberg
Directv is a fine company. They offer decent services at an OK price. I do wish the price was better. It seems like the price goes up and the channel selection goes down every year. Also if you can afford to let me pay a lower amount for a year you can afford to let me keep paying that for the rest of the time. They also need to let their current customers take advantage of new deals that come out. Only offering them to new customers does not instill loyalty in your customers.
Carolyn Cannady
Cost of service keeps increasing every year but products for the cost keeps declining. Product is reliable but they should provide some discounts to customers that are loyal. I've been a customer for 15 years.
Anthony Brunson
Direct TV is outstanding, the price and quality of service is excellent. My service rarely goes out and the prices are the best compared to other companies.
Armando Prado
Decent when the weather is good. Plenty of channels that nobody watches but all providers do that.
nichele thau
Great customer service and they helped every step of the way with all of my questions
Makaela Mahoney
Having a satellite has a lot of downsides. DIRECTV is not available everywhere, it's not available to a lot of people and who is watching and paying for cable anymore aside from people who have had cable most of their lives and aren't ready to cut the cord? DIRECTV is world's better than Comcast in any arena so i can commend them for that.
Virginia Scott
Was good until they combine with ATT, price is to high n service is poor, price goes up all the time
Don Rogers
I have been off work due to Covid-19 since April 2020 to present, and had put my DirecTV account on hold for 6 months. I was billed for nearly $300.00 at the end of the 6 month period with no notification that DirecTV had turned on my dish services. Since I was not notified, DirecTV sent me a bill for 6 weeks of 'turned on' services (of which I was unaware of serviced being turned on), and refused to not charge me for these services even though I never hooked up my dish to my TV, and never used any of the dish services. I will NEVER do business with AT&T again in any manner. THIS WAS THE WORST CUSTOMER SERVICE I'VE EVER EXPERIENCED!!!! I do not have a job, I cannot pay this $300.00 bill, and AT&T will not budge and will send this to collections and most likely varnish my credit rating.
Maria Sena Torres
DirectTV is a good service and has a lot of good channels. There was always some good movies on.
Claudia
I had Directv for so many years. I loved all my choices that were available. I hade over 240 channels plus HBO/ Cinemax, Stars/Encocre, plas an extra package with 6 other movie channels, DVR, and a HD receiver on 3 other TVs and paid around $72 per month. When they announced that AT&T bought them out, I knew my bill was going up. The month after they took over, my bill was for $179. I had to cancel all movie channels, go down to the lowest package of less than 125 channels (with most being telemarketing channels), get rid of the DVR, and cancel receivers on 2 of the other TVs, just to get my bill back down to $75 and wait for my contract to expire.
Lauren Pernie
They company is too expensive. They charge too much for their packages and everything like that.
Dave
I've been a loyal customer since 2003. My monthly bill increases yearly. There are no incentives for being a loyal customer. Once you're locked in, they will continue to gouge you. Depending on who you talk to will depend on your answer. I've received 6 different answers, talking to 6 different people in 2 months. The most recent lie was to call today for the best price, to find out that was a complete lie again.
Kathie J Jones
My son likes their remote best. I think they are Ridiculously high! Not counting his add ons it's still highway robbery. Reception good.
Coffee
I use to be with direct T.V. the only thing I didn't like is changing your bill when you don't expect it.
Barbara Marini
Love having the use of three TV's in my home that can be use with only one box. Recording and play back feature.
Michelle Hall
Too expensive for service and customer support is bad. I was licked into a bad contract
Desiree Smith
they also like to jack your bill up.. it don't understand why a cable bill would be different every month
Natalie Gatten
I like the variety of different channels that are available. I also really enjoy when they do free movie weekends.
Sks1969
We get good service with them. Very rarely have an outage. Love the NFL package! However the prices are a little bit high
Keith Anderson
I had DirecTV for about seven or eight years The service out in Nevada is pretty good it's never really gone out because it hardly ever rains or never snows obviously out in Nevada so I can't complain about service ever going out but customer service is okay but my bill would go up every year they would add small little service charges or service for the same channels would go up when I asked about a discount or a price drop with customer service because I'd been a customer for almost 10 years they said no it's only for new customers so I canceled and went with the local cable company
Bruce Boiter
Direct TV has slways been a very hassle free TV provider. The price is fair and the quality is A1 in my opion.
Angelica Del razo
The charges are so high, after being a customer for so long I decide to cancel the services
Rob321x
Great service. Can get a lot of channels I love using this site. I’ve been a customer over 10 years
sexyj76
Directv is great when it comes to some of their packages. I prefer them over cable companies. However, when it comes to the service, it can get spotty. There are times the tv will just glitch out for no reason. This happens on all 4 of our boxes. The TVs never do it when using streaming services or anything else. They have told us to replace the boxes with newer ones...that would put us in another 2 year contract. And that’s a bit shady for a company that huge.
Lamont Young
I've had Direct TV for over 3 years, and because of the great quality and choices, i will never give it up, nor switch. And because of the great customer service and response, i am a customer for life.
Judith Ballew
I’ve had direct tv for about four years and I’m very satisfied with the services I have received when I have a problem. The only complaint I have is during a rain I loose the screen but that’s it. I recommended them heartily to everyone.
Mary Green
If I could give minus stars I would. Worst company ever. They treat customers like crap.
Brittany Alshawy
Pretty good. The cost is high for the value though. They also partner with ATT to get you to use them more. Which has it's benefits, but also seems strange. There are a lot of cannels. It's good enough.
Andrew Hyde
The service from DirectTV was mostly reliable except when dealing with storms, which caused the signal to be lost. Getting the dish repointed could be problematic, then getting a service tech out would always cost money.
Antonia Montague
Directv is a decent service. A bit expensive after the promo rate, and you get channels you're not really that interested in depending on the package you choose, but overall they're pretty reliable. I thought the quality of the picture was good. If there was a storm, I would lose service but you'll get that with any satellite company. Returns are a bit difficult so be sure to plan some time to have things picked up or they'll charge you for the equipment. Overall I'd say I'd recommend them.
“Sunpro ballers” this is for y’all especially our mr boss :-)
Some of the best people they have working there! Amazing workers hands down! Very helpful in the call center and when the people come to your home
Cynthia
Easy to get a hold of them is very easy. Technical support is awesome. Prices are so so but for the amount of channels you get it is very good.
Christopher Whiting
We are long time customers, overall I am happy though we have had issues in the past. The biggest issue we have had is the disruption of local channels due to contract issues. With that said we have liked it for the most part.
Michele Heist
I would recommend DIRECTV to everyone. I was very happy with the service when I had it. The only reason I had to get rid of it was because I had to quit my job and go on disability! If I could get it back I would.
Jim Ballantyne
The variety of channels and the overall quality of service is excellent. Where I believe they fell short was the ease of searching for programs. and the guide was cumbersome.
Bryant Ramsey
Don't like remote control and channel lineup, I have used it twice but switched service
Brenda K Thompson
The reason I chose 4 is because they didn't provide me with great service and also everything they said bb about the contract was a lie
Tosha Sayle
I like the fact they offer a wide range of channels; however, the packages are costly.
Doris Aguirre
DirectTV do offer a lot of plans . Although their channels are great I do suggest to read through the contracts
Tariana Hendry
Never enough shows for what we paid. Always having problems with the service and connections.
Carol Lewis
Had this service for 2 years and won't go back. Every time a storm popped up the service would go out. Customer service was the worst ever. I would avoid at all cost.
odessa wright
Most of the time the satellite works. But when it rains the services will glitch. I like the prices when I first signed up, but the price increased the longer I was signed up for the services.
Lorraine Johnson
Very expensive and your monthly bill goes up every three months, you don't know why but it shows you charges for special channels you did not know you had. Plus you get channels that you don't watch but they still charge you for them!
boscoe16
Very good selection and easy to work with. To get through on the phone is sometimes difficult.
Emilie Price
Good customers service were like direct tv than any other carrier if you got problems they walked with you and help you till resolve the problem.
Debbie Jackson
Loved it but got very expensive in the end and financially had to go back to cable.
Shay Che'
I've been a DirecTV customer since 2007. Through the years, the service has been good. A few mishaps over the years due to reps not notating my account for billing issues which resulted in my account being closed and early termination fees being applied. I always kept the service, even through price hikes. Since the AT&T merge, customer service has went downhill. Hard to get reps that understand your issues; package pricing being out of this world. Channels are in higher tiered packages which has you paying $20+ to access one channel that is not included in a smaller package. With the news of DirecTV not being a good purchase for AT&T, I don't know what the future is for my service, but for the most part I appreciate them providing me with loyal customer promos to discount my bill over the cost of 12 months. Helps a lot.
Tiffany Johnson
The packages are pricey so, you don’t have the popular tv networks. The picture quality is good til the rain and storms come
Jose Castillo
Cable is ok. Not the best when it rains. Iv has Direct Tv in the past. It is decent !