Which DIRECTV Package Is Best for You?
Price is a huge factor when we’re settling on any kind of digital service, especially when contracts are involved.
Still, choosing your TV provider isn’t as simple as going with the cheapest offer. Maybe you can say no to local sports on demand, but take away your Sopranos reruns? Never. With that in mind, here’s a look at what our three top DIRECTV packages look like: who they’re for, how much they cost, and how they compare to close competitors.
FYI: TV has changed completely since it went digital. Now we can watch our favorite shows and movies whenever we want, or on demand. The best thing about on-demand content (besides getting to watch The Crown five times back to back)? You can pause to get up and make more popcorn!
There are some semi-hidden costs that mostly apply to satellite plans, but don’t worry about those. I’ll cover them in detail below.
The Entertainment Plan for Seniors Who Aren’t Picky
Is 40,000 programs enough for you? Then the Entertainment plan will probably be a good fit. If you go with DIRECTV’s starter package, just be aware that you won’t get any regional sports on demand. However, you will get ESPN, ESPN2, NBC Sports Network, and TNT, plus plenty of your old favorites: CNBC, CNN, Animal Planet, Discovery, and the Disney Channel, to name only a few.
I think you get the picture — a lot of stuff, but maybe not the stuff you’re looking for. If you’re addicted to your favorite HBO series, you may consider upgrading to a Choice plan or higher (see below).
In terms of value for money, starting at $64.99 per month, DIRECTV’s starter plan is around $15 more expensive than an Xfinity TV plan that offers even more channels than DIRECTV. You will notice a $10 difference between DIRECTV’s entry-level plan and a basic plan from Cox TV, which costs around $56 per month for a similar number of channels.
The Choice Plan for Older Sport Fans Who Want Variety
The big perk with DIRECTV’s Choice plan, which starts at $84.99 per month, is regional sports. This is a plan for serious sports fans who want complete coverage of their local teams, plus a little more variety in channels and on-demand titles. The Choice package also includes three free months of premium channels like HBO Max and STARZ, and one season of NFL Sunday Ticket, but you won’t have any premium channels after that.
Did You Know: Regional sports programs are probably the most expensive cable television offerings, because the rights to broadcast local sports cost more than the rights to any other content. When a TV provider charges viewers extra fees to access RSN content, it isn’t necessarily because they’re greedy. Some of those fees go to footing those extra large bills.
The Premier Plan for Golden-Age Cinephiles Who Want It All
This is the package for golden-agers who want the TV equivalent of a Shoney’s breakfast buffet. With 65,000 on-demand titles, the best RSNs, HBO Max, Cinemax, SHOWTIME, and STARZ, DIRECTV’s Premier package for $154.99 per month offers a tremendous selection for households that see a lot of traffic and want to make sure there’s something for everyone.
If sports are your thing, DIRECTV is the king of regional sports coverage. Since we’re on the subject of deals, I’ll also suggest DIRECTV’s Choice package + AT&T Fiber 1 GIG bundle if you can make do with HBO alone. For about the same price as their TV plan, you’d be getting lightning-fast internet too. Scroll down for the full story on that.