DirecTV keeps its lineup simple: four packages, each a step up in channels and price, delivered either by satellite dish or streamed over your internet with no dish at all. Same package names, same base prices either way — but the terms and channel counts differ more than most people realize. Here’s the full breakdown, including the fine print other sites skip.
The Four DirecTV Packages
| Package | Base Price* | Channels (Streaming / Satellite) | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| ENTERTAINMENT | $89.99/mo | 90+ / 165+ | Everyday viewing: ESPN, CNN, HGTV, Food Network, family channels |
| CHOICE | $94.99/mo | 125+ / 200+ | Sports fans — adds regional sports networks (most popular) |
| ULTIMATE | $124.99/mo | 160+ / 270+ | Movie and entertainment lovers — adds FX Movie Channel, STARZ Encore, more |
| PREMIER | $169.99/mo | 185+ / 340+ | Everything — HBO Max, Paramount+ with SHOWTIME, STARZ, and Cinemax built in |
*Price locked for 24 months for new customers. Add a $10/mo device fee (Gemini lease / TV Access fee) and, on CHOICE and above, a Regional Sports Fee of up to $19.99/mo depending on your ZIP code — so all-in, CHOICE runs about $124.98/mo. Each additional TV adds $10/mo. Call (409) 273-7460 for the exact current total at your address.
Every signature package now includes Disney+, Hulu (with ads), and ESPN Unlimited at no extra cost — a genuinely big deal that no cable competitor matches. All packages also include local channels, unlimited Cloud DVR with unlimited simultaneous recordings, big On Demand libraries (70,000+ titles on Entertainment up to 100,000+ on Premier), and the DirecTV app for phones and tablets. Want the full channel-by-channel breakdown? See our complete DirecTV channel lineup guide.
Streaming or Satellite? Same Price, Different Rules
This is DirecTV’s biggest advantage — you pick the delivery method. The base price is identical; the terms aren’t:
DirecTV via Streaming (Gemini Air device)
- No dish, no installer — the Gemini Air plugs into your TV’s HDMI port and self-installs in minutes
- No annual contract, with a 2-year price guarantee — cancel anytime
- Needs solid internet: 25 Mbps per stream recommended — see our guide to choosing the right internet speed
- Unlimited streams at home, up to 3 on the go
- Fewer channels than satellite at every tier (see table)
DirecTV via Satellite (dish + Genie/Gemini equipment)
- Works virtually anywhere in the U.S. — the go-to for rural addresses and homes without fast internet
- The bigger channel lineups: up to 340+ on Premier
- Requires a 24-month agreement — early termination costs $20 per remaining month (up to $480) — plus a one-time $49.95 activation fee, and autopay/paperless billing to get the advertised price
- SignalSaver technology: if severe weather interrupts the dish signal, service automatically switches to streaming over your internet so the picture keeps playing — the classic “satellite goes out in the rain” problem, largely solved
Rule of thumb: good internet and commitment-averse → streaming. Rural address, maximum channels, or spotty internet → satellite (just read the agreement terms first).
Why Sports Fans Pick DirecTV
DirecTV carries more in-market regional sports networks than DISH, YouTube TV, and Hulu+Live combined — your local pro baseball, basketball, and hockey games, available on CHOICE and above (not on ENTERTAINMENT). ESPN Unlimited is now included with every package, PREMIER adds NFL RedZone and the full Sports Pack, and add-ons like NBA League Pass and MLB Extra Innings go deeper. If following your local team decides your TV service, CHOICE is the floor — and it’s only $5/mo more than ENTERTAINMENT.
Current Offers Worth Asking About
- Premium channel trial: your first 3 months of HBO Max, Paramount+ with SHOWTIME, STARZ, MGM+, and Cinemax — a $175 value — included on ENTERTAINMENT through ULTIMATE packages (they auto-renew at regular rates after, so calendar the date if you plan to cancel)
- PREMIER skips the trial because those premium channels are permanently built in
- Switcher promotions (reward cards) come and go — worth asking what’s active when you order
Offers change monthly and vary by address — we track the current ones: (409) 273-7460.
Watch the Fine Print
- The advertised price isn’t the all-in price: add $10/mo per device and the RSN fee on CHOICE+. Budget roughly $25–30/mo above the base price for a single-TV sports package
- Additional TVs cost $10/mo each — a four-TV satellite home adds $30/mo over the first receiver
- Leaving satellite early is expensive — up to $480 in termination fees, and unreturned equipment bills at $120 per Gemini device
- DVR recordings expire after 9 months — a quirk worth knowing if you archive shows
DirecTV + Internet: Complete Your Setup
DirecTV covers TV, but you still need home internet — and for streaming DirecTV, it’s the foundation. Local Cable Provider compares internet options at your address (Spectrum, AT&T, Frontier, and more) so you can pair the right internet plan with your DirecTV package in one call: (409) 273-7460. Start by checking what’s available in your area.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the cheapest DirecTV package?
ENTERTAINMENT at $89.99/mo base ($99.99 all-in with one device). If sports matter, CHOICE at $94.99 adds the regional sports networks for just $5 more — the best value jump in the lineup.
Do I need a satellite dish for DirecTV?
No — every package is available via streaming with the Gemini Air device, no dish and no annual contract. The dish remains the best option where internet is limited, and it carries larger channel lineups.
Does DirecTV include streaming services?
Yes — all signature packages include Disney+, Hulu (with ads), and ESPN Unlimited, plus unlimited Cloud DVR.
Which DirecTV package has regional sports?
CHOICE and above. RSNs are not available on ENTERTAINMENT.
Does DirecTV require a contract?
Streaming: no annual contract, with a 2-year price guarantee. Satellite: a 24-month agreement with early termination fees of $20 per remaining month.
Does satellite DirecTV go out in bad weather?
Less than it used to — SignalSaver automatically switches to internet streaming during signal outages on 240+ channels, so weather interruptions are largely covered if you have home internet.
The Bottom Line
Most households land on CHOICE — the $5 step up from ENTERTAINMENT buys the regional sports networks, and Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN Unlimited come included either way. Movie-heavy homes step to ULTIMATE; PREMIER only makes sense if you’d subscribe to the premium channels anyway (then it’s genuinely good value with RedZone and Sports Pack included). Then pick your delivery: streaming for no-contract flexibility, satellite for maximum channels and rural reach. Call Local Cable Provider at (409) 273-7460 — we’ll price every DirecTV package for your home, flag the current promotions, and pair it with the best internet deal in your area.
