DIRECTV STREAM Launches New Sports-Centric TV Subscription – Technologist

Just as one door closed on sports fans, another one appears to have opened.

DIRECTV STREAM is the next to step to the plate in the quest to provide a cost-effective live TV streaming package for sports fans.

The premium live TV provider just announced that it will be launching niche-specific standalone packages for people who don’t want to pay for a full menu of channels.

First on the scene: The MySports package.

The sports-centric package launches with access to more than 40 channels that provide many of the live games and events that sports fans want to see most.

“The introduction of MySports from DIRECTV delivers consumers greater choice, flexibility, and control to select the type of content they want to watch at the right value,” said Bill Morrow, CEO of DIRECTV. “This is the first of several genre-based options we plan to launch over the coming months on our path towards a brighter TV future for consumers.”

This news comes just days after it was announced that the launch of Venu Sports, an all-sports streaming service from Disney, FOX and Warner Bros. Discovery, was canceled in the fallout of Disney’s recent acquisition of Fubo.

Is DIRECTV’s new sports streaming package a viable alternative to paying full price for a service like YouTube TV?

Let’s take a closer look.

DIRECTV’s New ‘MySports’ Package: What You Should Know

Here’s a quick rundown of the information you need on this exciting new option for sports fans.

1. Pricing Information

First thing’s first. Let’s set the expectation for what you’ll be paying for this package.

DIRECTV STREAM’s website lists this package, which includes more than 40 channels, at $69.99 per month. At launch, there was a limited-time offer that gave new customers the package for $49.99 per month for the first three months.

Note: Existing DIRECTV STREAM customers can switch to this package, but they would not be eligible for the new customer pricing.

This pricing is much cheaper than a full channel package from DIRECTV STREAM, which starts at more than $100 per month thanks to several price hikes in recent years.

The MySports package pricing more closely resembles paying for Sling TV, which has similarly-sized channel packages available for between $46 and $61 per month.

2. Channels Included

DIRECTV promises more than 40 channels. Those include the following, listed alphabetically:

• ABC (local affiliate)
• ACC Network
• Big Ten Network
• DIRECTV 4K Live
• DIRECTV 4K Live 2
• ESPN
• ESPN2
• ESPNews
• ESPNU
• FOX (local affiliate)
• Fox Sports 1
• Fox Sports 2
• Golf Channel
• MLB Network
• NBA TV
• NBC (local affiliate)
• NFL Network
• NHL Network
• SEC Network
• TBS
• TNT
• TruTV
• USA Network

DIRECTV says that local channels “will initially include any stations owned and operated by ABC, FOX, and NBC, with additional stations coming online soon.”

That means access to sporting events on CBS may be a blind spot, at least early on.

DIRECTV says that “additional networks, local stations and ESPN+, will be included in MySports at no extra cost in the near future.”

However, it appears that Regional Sports Networks (RSNs), such as FanDuel Sports Network (ex. Where Atlanta Braves are broadcast) will not be a part of this package. Presumably, you’d need to stick with a full-service subscription to get those channels at this time.

In addition to the “pay” sports channels, you’ll also get 15 “free” sports channels on the menu. These are already available for free via MyFree DirecTV.

This package also includes some popular “news and opinion” channels to go with all your sports:

• CNBC
• CNN
• FOX Business
• FOX News
• MSNBC

3. Access Is Limited To Select Markets at Launch

Ready to get started? Well, hopefully you live in one of the markets in which the MySports package is available at this time.

It appears that DIRECTV will be rolling this service out gradually, with 24 major television markets available during the intial “beta” launch in January 2025. Those include:

• Atlanta
• Austin
• Boston
• Chicago
• Dallas-Ft. Worth
• Detroit
• Fresno-Visalia
• Houston
• Los Angeles
• Miami-Ft. Lauderdale
• Milwaukee
• Minneapolis-St. Paul
• New York
• Orlando-Daytona Beach-Melbourne
• Phoenix
• Philadelphia
• San Diego
• San Francisco-San Jose-Oakland
• Seattle-Tacoma
• Tampa-St. Petersburg-Sarasota-Gainesville
• Washington D.C.

If you don’t see your market on this list, don’t panic. DIRECTV says that more markets are coming soon.

4. More Genre-Specific Offerings Are Coming

If sports aren’t your thing, you may find that DIRECTV can soon save you money by offering a skinnier bundle that does not include these expensive sports channels.

DIRECTV is set to roll out more genre-specific packages in the first half of 2025.

My guess is that at least one of them will be geared toward competing with Philo, which offers many of the top non-sports and non-news channels for just $28 per month.

Will you be giving this MySports package a try? What channels is it missing for you? We’d love to hear your thoughts in the Clark.com community.

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