AT&T has officially released DirecTV Now, their new internet TV streaming service to rival Sling TV and Playstation Vue. The service is available on all Amazon Fire TV and Fire TV Stick models, as well as Apple TV, Chromecast, Android, and iOS devices. Roku compatibility is said to arrive some time next year. If you prepay for just 1 month of service, you can get a free Fire TV Stick, or a free Apple TV for 3 months of service. Read on for an overview of what the service offers.
Service
DirecTV Now offers a 7-day free trial. Channel packages range from $35 a month to $70 a month. The mid-tier $60 a month package is currently discounted to $35 a month, but DirecTV Now has not said when the promotional price will expire. Anyone who signs up for the discounted plan will continue paying $35/month for the life of their service, even after it returns to $60/month. If you cancel your service or change to a different package, you will lose the $35/month promotional price.
Subscribers can stream on 2 devices simultaneously. Quality is “up to 1080p” and “up to 60 fps,” but it varies by channel and programming. 5.1 surround sound is supported on both the Fire TV and Fire TV Stick, but again, it’s probably on a show-by-show basis. AT&T mobile subscribers can stream DirecTV Now without using their data.
Channel Packages
“Live A Little” – 60+ channels – $35/month
A&E, AMC, Animal Planet, AUDIENCE, AXS TV, Baby First, BBC America, BET, Bloomberg, Bravo, C-SPAN, C-Span2, Cartoon Network, CMT, CNBC, CNN, Comedy Central, Discovery, Disney, Disney Jr, Disney XD, E!, ESPN, ESPN2, Food Network, Fox Business, Fox News, FOX Sports, Freeform, FX, Galavision, Hallmark, Hallmark Movies, HGTV, History, HLN, Investigation Discovery, Lifetime, MSNBC, MTV, MTV2, National Geographic, Nick Jr, Nickelodeon, RFD-TV, Spike, Syfy, TBS, TCM, TeenNick, TLC, TNT, TruTV, TV Land, Univision, USA Network, Velocity, VH1, Viceland, WE tv, Weather Nation
“Just Right” – 80+ channels – $50/month
All channels above plus:
Comedy TV, Cooking Channel, ESPNEWS, ESPNU, Fuse, Fusion, GSN, IFC, Justice Channel, LMN, Longhorn Network, MLB Network, NBC Sports, Nicktoons, Own, Science, SEC Network, Travel Channel, Weather Cannel, UniMas
“Go Big” – 100+ channels – $60/month – Introductory price of $35/month
All channels above plus:
American Heroes, BBC World News, Centric, Destination America, Discovery Family, Discovery Live, DIY Network, FM, FOX Sports 2, FX Movie Channel, FXX, Fyi, Golf Channel, Logo, MTV Classic, Nat Geo Wild, NBA TV, NBC Universo, NHL Network, Oxygen, Revolt, Sprout, Sundance TV, Tennis Channel, TVG
“Gotta Have It” – 120+ channels – $70/month
All channels above plus:
Boomerang, Chiller, Cloo, El Rey, STARZ Action, STARZ Black, STARZ Classic, STARZ East, STARZ Family, STARZ Suspense, STARZ West, STARZ Westerns, Univision Deportes
Premium
HBO and Cinemax can be added to any package for an extra $5/month. It is likely this is an introductory promotional price that will go up in the future.
Local Channels
Select regions will have access to some local channels, including ABC, NBC, FOX, and Telemundo. Notably missing is CBS. The regions and channels with local access are:
Atlanta, GA: FOX (WAGA)
Austin, TX: FOX (KTBC)
Boston, MA: Telemundo East
Charlotte, NC: FOX (WJZY)
Chicago, IL: ABC (WLS), NBC (WMAQ), FOX (WFLD), Telemundo East
Dallas, TX: NBC (KXAS), FOX (KDFW), Telemundo East
Daytona, FL: FOX (WOFL)
Denver, CO: Telemundo East
Detroit, MI: FOX (WJBK)
Durham, NC: ABC (WTVD)
Fresno – Visalia, CA: ABC (KFSN), Telemundo East
Ft. Lauderdale, FL: NBC (WTVJ), Telemundo East
Ft. Worth, TX: NBC (KXAS), FOX (KDFW), Telemundo East
Gainesville, FL: FOX (WOGX)
Hartford, CT: NBC (WVIT)
Houston, TX: ABC (KTRK), Telemundo East
Las Vegas, NV: Telemundo East
Los Angeles, CA: ABC (KABC), NBC (KNBC), FOX (KTTV), Telemundo East
Miami, FL: NBC (WTVJ), Telemundo East
Minneapolis, MN: FOX (KMSP)
New Haven, CT: NBC (WVIT)
New York, NY: ABC (WABC), NBC (WNBC), FOX (WNYW), Telemundo East
Oakland, CA: ABC (KGO), NBC (KNTV), FOX (KTVU)
Orlando, FL: FOX (WOFL)
Philadelphia, PA: ABC (WPVI), NBC (WCAU), FOX (WTXF), Telemundo East
Phoenix, AZ: FOX (KSAZ), Telemundo East
Raleigh, NC: ABC (WTVD)
San Diego, CA: NBC (KNSD)
San Francisco, CA: ABC (KGO), NBC (KNTV), FOX (KTVU)
San Jose, CA: ABC (KGO), NBC (KNTV), FOX (KTVU)
St. Petersburg, FL: FOX (WTVT)
Tampa, FL: FOX (WTVT)
Washington, D.C.: NBC (WRC), FOX (WTTG)
There are also regional sports networks in some areas.
Network App Activation
Subscribers of DirecTV Now will be able to use their login credentials to activate a small selection of network apps, assuming they’re subscribed to a plan that includes that network. More apps will be added in the future, but the initial apps are:
ABC, Disney, Disney Junior, Disney XD, ESPN (WatchESPN), Freeform (not available on Fire TV), HBO GO, MAX GO (not available on Fire TV)
DVR & On-Demand Content
DirecTV Now does not have a cloud DVR function to save programming, like you find with Playstation Vue and soon with Sling TV. AT&T has said they will be adding DVR function “in 2017.” Some channels do allow pausing live TV. DirecTV Now does have a lot of on-demand content, but it is very sporadic and inconsistent when it comes to what shows and episodes are available.
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just signed up and got the free apple tv. i’ll probably just ebay it and get 3 months free basically. this actually looks promising although im a cable cutter and have most apps i need and kodi to clean up.
anyone having problems with the fire tv app? I’m rooted gen2 – was asked and granted SU access and i just get Error 40. it loads the channel for just a second then goes to error screen
Same thing here. I tried granting su access and still got error 40. Looks like they are detecting root and bailing on the video feed.
bogus. ill have to dig for a work around i guess. or maybe just keep the apple tv i guess
This showed up in logcat:
I/drm_oal ( 4862): IsDeviceRooted: 0x0000000000000002
Then I got the error 40 again.
So I’m going to play with bypassing this…
Also this:
D/NewRelicGateway(14071): ERROR event was recorded. Error description = Failed preparing the player because device security check failed due to: (FileSystem)(com.quickplay.vstb.core:1005)
After I installed Hide My Root all is well.
I tried a couple different options and nothing worked. but thanks for the suggestion, Hide My Root worked.
Does anyone know how many fire tv’s you can use at the same time? PlayStation Vue allows 5 to stream at the same time.
I have 5 fire tvs in my house, all logged into the same prime account. We use sling tv… 4 stream package.
2 streams at a time.
Thanks, sorry I did not see it in the info that was posted. not sure how i missed it bu I was reading it fast. Not gonna work since I have 5 devices and Directtv Now only allows 2 streaming at once.
Too bad xfinity/Comcast is restricting my area to 1tb a month without incurring extra charges. I’m haVing a hard time staying under 1tb With Kodi NetflIx and trying out new 4k Roku tv.
I Don’t get the trend of increased streaming and cloud services while ISP continue to put caps on data.
So they can charge you coming and going.
100 channels for $35 a month (you need to prepay 3 months) + free apple tv. Says limited time offer on the price so hopefully it’s permanent for early adopters. 7 day free trial added to end of your 3 months.
I did sign up and just quickly glancing it will be a playstation vue killer, especially if this price holds.
Like the previous poster I will ebay or craigslist the apple tv to offset costs.
Thanks for the heads up.
If it stays at that price yeah. Although I would miss NBC and FOX and still no mention of DVR.
The wording of the promotion terms seems to indicate that when the promo ends, those who signed up during the promo will keep paying the $35 price. However, I highly doubt it will stay $35 forever. A year at $35/month would be as good as I’d expect.
CORRECTION: I’ve learned that the $35/month promotional price is forever as long as you don’t cancel service or change plans.
For me, it’s very much not a Vue killer. Works well, and decent interface, but…
1) No deal with CBS at all, so no live CBS, no on demand.
2) Local channel coverage inferior. For example, in Miami, NBC but only on phones. Vue offers Fox, NBC and CBS.
3) No DVR
4) What makes #3 worse… horrible on Demand. For example, I sampled five random Fox and ABC shows. Nothing newer than episodes that were 4 weeks old or so.
5) I’m a bit put off by the 100 channels for $35/month we’ve been hearing for week after week after week. Now we see it’s a temporary pricing promotion, and the real cost is more like double that.
6) Two streams instead of five.
Some pros… slick interface, streaming starts fast, excellent device and browser coverage from day one. And Viacom channels are included, although Viacom seems to have disputes eventually with everybody, so I’m not holding my breath on them being there next year.
Looking forward to Hulu’s offering, holding out for an Apple offering. Personally I find Vue to be #1, Sling #2, and this service #3. But the more competition, the better. It will hold cord cutting prices down, and continued cable subscription downturns will only help with company’s negotiating power moving forward. Lack of a monopoly in the space + traditional subs going down will only help keep those carriage fees in check a bit.
I just got clarification that the $35/month promo price is forever if you sign up during the promotional period.
Thanks for checking. Feel even better about signing up.
Scott, the $35 price is the current promo of the $60/100 channel package. According to the website, this price is good forever, as long as you are a subscriber or change programming package.
I just signed up for this package for $40 plus tax (paid in advance) I received 7 days free service, 120+ channels plus HBO and a free Amazon Fire TV Stick. (I don’t know if its a first or second generation with Alexa-we’ll see when it arrives) Apparently this is a limited time offer, but it’s good as of 2 December.
We’ll see how it goes but reviews look good! If it socks, at least I’ll have a free streaming stick
Does it have a Dvr? I’m using the Vue but I don’t like the fact you are forced to watch commercials through some shows.
No, there is no cloud DVR like on Playstation Vue. AT&T says they’ll be adding it in 2017. There is on-demand content, but I don’t know if there are commercials or if you can skip them.
What quality is the stream?
1080P / 720?
Up to 1080p right now with 4k coming in the future but no date given.
Where is the fire stick app. Don’t see it anywhere on the fire stick?
It’s on Amazon. Just log on and search Directv app. Amazon will send it to your device.
Have tried it no go.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01J62Q632/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1480550121&sr=8-1&keywords=directv+now
Directv Now to be more precise
I can’t get it on my 2nd Gen fire tv either. I was able to get it on my galaxy s7 and then mirrored it to the fire tv. Annoying.
Figured it out! I had to go onto the amazon website from my computer, find the app and send it to my device from there. I couldn’t do this from my phone or tablet.
Some extract the apk and upload it please.
so confirmed, directvnow doesn’t work on rooted fire tvs?
Yes, they definitely have a DRM check in place that disables if you’re rooted.
Love TV NOW for $35 for 100 channels and cloud dvr coming in 2017. I’m disconnecting Vue.
Don’t know if its been mentioned but you can pause live tv.
I only want 4 channels NBC sports, Fox sports 1, ESPN, ESPN 2. For that it would cost me $50. F- that!!!
That’s $2 more than my old cable bill was. No point.
Sling (DishNetwork), Vue & DTVNow needed to come up with this price point (Under $40) about 5 to 8 years ago
I have used Playstation Vue and Sling and today I signed up for DirectTV Now and I can already say it blows Vue and Sling out of the water.
100 Channels for $35 and it covers all the channels I want, Sling and Vue doesn’t even come close.
I do not care about local channels, I have a OTA Antenna so I get ABC, CBS, NBC, Fox, PBS and CW.
I do not care about DVR. I got a free 4th Gen Apple TV. I get both Fox Sports Detroit and Fox Sports Ohio. Vue and Sling only gave me Fox Sports Ohio and I want FSD, I am a Tigers and Red Wings Fan.
So in my opinion, DirectTV Now is the WINNER hands Down.
Rooted users – see http://forum.xda-developers.com/fire-tv/help/directv-love-root-users-t3510461 and let’s work out a fix!
How long is the “promotional period”?
DirecTV Now hasn’t said. But if you sign up during the promotional period, you keep the promo price until you decide to cancel service or change your plan.
Just tried it today on Amazon Fire TV. The interface is pathetic: confusing and illogical (pressing back arrow sometimes get you back to video, and sometimes – back to the previous channel), no settings can be changed except for the ability to start next episode right away (even Close Caption font size/color/background cannot be adjusted – BTW, it is possible in Windows version).
Although the guide is generally better than in Vue (font and channel icons are way larger and brighter – hence, easy readable from a distance), the Favorites seem not working well, and the focus does not stay on the same channel if you leave the guide and then come back. Not a big deal but annoying.
All in all, it looks like AT&T took the app version for some other device, quickly patched it to be barely compatible with the Fire TV, and threw it to the Amazon Store. It’s a shame really because the video quality is really good, and the service is pretty fast.
I agree completely with all of these points.
Are the programs current or are they years old and limited like sling tv?
No android TV deal buster for me will stick with vue
I wanted to make a standalone post since I’ve seen more posts about rooted devices after I replied to someone above. I have a rooted Fire TV2 running on 5.0.5, and Hide My Root worked for me. Streamed for a couple hours last night, and tried it again this morning. Everything is a go.
Be sure to clear cache and data of Now after you install Hide My Root, if you haven’t uninstalled it beforehand.
what does ‘rooted’ mean, my firestick has KODI on it, will this stop it from running?
Frustrating… And reminds me why I became a cord cutter. Dirty has no customer service. If you call for help they require you pay a fee to talk to someone that might not even be able to help you. I started the registration for DirecTV Now and got an error on registration. Somehow I got a registration email. I go to login and I get error message. Try again later or contact customer support. Their chat is even too busy to reach out to anyone and it seems their FAQ don’t even acknowledge DirecTV Now. Back to Kodi!
Update *** It seems either their servers were down or overloaded. I was finally able to complete the registration. I did have to clear cache for the app and restart it. I am now able to stream through the app. I took the Apple TV offer considering I will probably turn around and resell it. It is streaming fine on my FireTV.
ok everyone calm down. directv now just launched 24hrs ago! while ive had a few issues with it on firetv. like the most current episodes not in the vod library. the remote not quite working right on the live channel guide( like not having a ‘last channel’ button option). and not having this 72hr channel playback ive been hearing about, like ps vue has. and no cloud dvr yet. but give it at least a cpl months. im sure most of these issues will be sorted out.
ive been using ps vue for a while now. paying 55$ a month and compared to dtv now the channel lineup sucks. the final straw for me w/ vue was loosing all viacom channels. comedy central, spike, all the mtvs, vh1. and they never even had a&e, history, viceland etc. the only channel i wish directv now had that vue has is the nfl network. but the nfl network is really only worth watching sept. thru jan. but dtv now has mlb network & nhl network which vue doesnt. and 5$ for hbo is a great deal. its 15$ everywhere else.
overall for the cheaper price and for the better selection of channels. and thank god for a normal channel guide, instead of the upside down tiny print guide of psvue. im happy to switch.
and for people freaking out about their local channels. just go buy a 10-20$ digital antenna. and you’ll have all your local channels in live hd. thats what ive been doing. i just switch my tv input when i want to watch cbs,nbc,abc,wgn,pbs,fox etc..
I have 2 AFTV Gen 1 boxes, and a new Gen 2 AFTV Stick. My problem is that I can only ‘push’ the DTV Now app to my newer stick, with Amazon’s site telling me that my Gen 1 boxes are not compatible.
Is anyone else experiencing this, not having compatible AFTV Gen 1 devices? Is it a software version update scenario for me?
same amazon telling me is isn’t compatible on fire tv 1, maybe you have to be on the current firmware.
There’s a new firmware update for the 1st generation Fire TV Stick. Check it out: http://www.aftvnews.com/tag/update/
Might solve the problem
I don’t know why there are so many problems. Mine has worked flawless so far. I mean it could end up messing up. But Vue always buffered on me.
Do u have to have a Directv customer to get it? I want to cancel my satellite!
No, this is a stand-alone service. You don’t need to have a satellite DirecTV account/subscription. You can just install the app and sign up.
Im not rooted and still error 40
Does anybody know if DirecTV Now will be a provider for the Fox Sports Go app? On Vue we get Fox Sports Wisconsin through the Go app but DirecTV Now doesn’t seem to be a provider yet. This could be a deal breaker come baseball season but otherwise this new service is a better deal than Vue with the promotional price lock.
Has anyone actually gotten 5.1 audio using the Fire TV? Directv states that it supports 5.1 on the Fire TV but I’ve yet to find a single channel with 5.1 audio. Stereo only.
Service is bad.
Buffers all the time in the evening. If I see that stupid blue animated box I am going to stab it with a knife and break my TV screen and don’t forge the Error 40’s and I am not rooted.
On the 4th Gen Apple TV is it better just some small pauses when it is not giving you Error 60.
4K forget about it. Not all channels are even in HD. TeenNick, Nicktoons, CSPAN 1&2 and Telemundo so far browsing is only inh 480i and I got DirecTV now mainly for Nicktoons after Vue dropped them. Sling carries Nicktoons and TeenNick in HD.
I signed up in NY and no NBC channel, there’s NBC sports and NBC Universo… What gives?
Let’s see…NBC is Comcast/Xfinity…maybe they’re pissed about additional competition. Just a guess, but probably closer to the truth than not.
The website says if the NBC Station is an affiliate, it’s not carried, only NBC Corporate stations.
Just caught Sling’s latest Ad on the NBC Network. They’re offering a free Roku Stick with a new subscription. They’ll have to do better than that, especially on their channel lineup. Pretty lame.
Thought i’d chime in on some different platform results on the Directvnow app. I have in on my FTV2, FTV1, FTVS1, and the AppleTV4 I just got in the deal.
The FTVS1 was horrible, like with Sling, but with the latest firmware update it is tolerable for my kitchen TV. The FTV1 is ok, the FTV2 better. But the AppleTV4 is by far the best app wise. Its guide on the guide and not buffering at all.
The FTV is buffering for about 3-5 seconds. I have 70Mb downspeed now, so it is not my internet.
Hopefully so updates to the software will get it better, closer to the AppleTV4 performance.
I preferred Sling, but I was missing too many channels I wanted.
In all, I like where all the streaming services are going and the competition will make it great and at a faster rate.
We need do our part in REALISTICLY reviews these services. I see too many ‘I want it perfect and I want it now’ reviewers for all these services: Sling,Vue,Directvnow. Think were doing good with the AFTVnews people… everyone just keep giving true solid experiences and things will sort out well for these services.
Come along way from WinMCE…….
Just thought i’d add my review for the Roku, since they just did the beta channel for it.
Basically, it’s the same as on the Ftv1, slow at bringing up next channel.
The Appletv is still doing the best at video speed bringing up channels. My FTV2 is just behind it in performance.
I just discovered the hard way that Playstation VUE WEB View DOES NOT work on my 64 bit Linux Lite 2.8 systems which are based on the Ubuntu 14.04 LTS Operating System. I have tried it on both Google Chrome 64bit and Firefox and keep getting the message to update my browsers. Very Disappointing !!! Playstation Vue Tech Support doesn’t have an answer either, but I have seen others mentioning this problem in posts, but not in any public articles. However, PS Vue works great on my Android 4.4.2 Smartphone and also on the Amazon Fire TV 2nd Gen and Amazon Fire Stick 2nd Gen.
Directv now is good with my apple tv air play but it sucks witth fire tv. I think theyvhace to work on their android app for fire tv, it has some glitches. Because all my apps works on fore tv except for directv now app.