DirecTV’s lineup looks straightforward until your first bill arrives. Four packages, two delivery options, and a fee structure that adds $30–$60 on top of the advertised price before taxes even enter the picture. This guide separates what each package actually includes, what you will really pay month to month, and which situations each plan was built for.
Key Answers — What People Look for First
Most of the confusion around DirecTV pricing comes from the gap between what’s advertised and what lands on the bill. These answers close that gap before you commit to anything.
There are four: Entertainment (175+ channels, $99.99/month all-in), Choice (200+ channels, $124.98/month), Ultimate (270+ channels, $154.98/month), and Premier (340+ channels, $199.98/month). All four prices include the mandatory $10/month TV Access Fee and require a 24-month contract with autopay and paperless billing. Choice and above also carry a Regional Sports Fee of up to $19.99/month depending on your ZIP code. The Broadcast TV Fee of $21.99/month adds to satellite bills across all tiers — it covers your local ABC, CBS, Fox, and NBC affiliates. The number you see in advertising is the base package price without those surcharges.
Run these numbers for a real estimate. Start with the base package price, add the $21.99 Broadcast TV Fee (satellite only), add the Regional Sports Fee if you’re on Choice or above (up to $19.99 based on ZIP code), add $7/month per extra TV receiver if you have more than one TV, add $10/month for the Gemini device lease, then add state and local taxes (usually 5–10%). A Choice satellite subscriber in a high-RSN market, with two TVs, pays roughly $145–$165/month before taxes. The promotional introductory price holds for the first year, then moves to the standard rate in year two. DirecTV’s two-year price guarantee covers the base rate only — surcharges and fees can still increase.
Satellite sends your TV signal via dish from space, requires a professional installation, and locks you into a 24-month contract — but works without home internet and delivers the biggest channel counts. Streaming sends the same core packages over your home internet, requires no dish or technician, and runs month to month with no cancellation fee. The streaming option skips the $21.99 Broadcast TV Fee and starts at $89.99/month vs. $99.99/month for satellite. Trade-offs: satellite packages carry more channels than the equivalent streaming tier (270+ vs. 160+ on Ultimate, for example), and satellite is the only option for NFL Sunday Ticket — which left DirecTV for YouTube TV in 2023 and no longer comes back with any DirecTV plan. For rural households without reliable internet, satellite remains the only viable choice.
DirecTV does not publish a dedicated senior discount, but the Entertainment package at $89.99/month base (satellite: $99.99 all-in) is genuinely the entry point, and DirecTV regularly offers promotional pricing for new customers that can cut the first-year cost by $20–$30/month. The most reliable way to find current promotions is to call 1-800-531-5000 and ask what’s available — retention and new-customer departments frequently have offers not listed on the website. Seniors on fixed income in areas without cable or fiber internet often find satellite is simply their only option for live TV, which makes the package choice a matter of features rather than competition.
Satellite plans require a 24-month service agreement. Canceling before that ends triggers an early termination fee of $20 for every month remaining on the contract, up to a maximum of $480. You have a 24-hour cancellation window after signing up where no fee applies. Streaming DirecTV operates month to month with no termination fees — you can cancel anytime from the app or by calling customer service. If you’re unsure whether satellite is right for you, the streaming side is the lower-risk way to test DirecTV’s channel lineup before committing to the dish.
Yes — local channels (ABC, CBS, Fox, NBC, PBS, The CW) are included with every package where available. Coverage reaches roughly 99% of U.S. households for satellite, though small markets in rural areas may not receive all four major networks. The $21.99 Broadcast TV Fee on satellite bills is what funds that local channel access — it’s not optional, but it’s also not a hidden junk fee; it’s the actual carriage cost passed through to subscribers. Satellite customers who prefer not to receive local channels can opt out and receive a $12/month discount, though this only makes sense if you already have an over-the-air antenna for local news.
Yes. Satellite customers can watch through the DirecTV app on smartphones, tablets, computers, and smart TVs. Live TV, on-demand content, and cloud DVR recordings are all accessible in the app. One limitation: away-from-home streaming on the streaming plan is capped at 3 simultaneous streams (a maximum of 2 on TV screens), and Fox channels are limited to 3 concurrent streams at home. Satellite customers with the Gemini device also get access to third-party streaming apps — Netflix, Max, Hulu, and others — through a single interface, which reduces the number of remotes and input-switching needed. DirecTV recommends at least 8 Mbps internet per stream for clean playback.
No. NFL Sunday Ticket moved exclusively to YouTube TV and YouTube Primetime Channels starting in 2023 and has not returned to DirecTV. This is a significant change for households that subscribed to DirecTV primarily for out-of-market NFL games. DirecTV satellite still carries NFL Network and, at certain tiers, NFL RedZone — but the out-of-market Sunday afternoon game package is now only available through YouTube TV. Choice package and above includes regional sports networks for local team games. If Sunday Ticket is the reason you’re considering DirecTV, YouTube TV is the only source for it.
All Four DirecTV Satellite Packages, Explained
Each tier adds to the one below it rather than swapping anything out. Picking the right level means knowing which channels you’d actually watch in the next step up — not just which tier sounds more complete.
Entertainment covers 175+ channels via satellite (90+ via streaming) with the staples most households actually watch every week: ESPN, ESPN2, CNN, HGTV, Food Network, Hallmark, USA, TNT, TBS, Disney Channel, Nickelodeon, FX, AMC, and all four local network affiliates where available. What’s missing from Entertainment that drives most upgrades: regional sports networks, so you won’t get your local NBA, MLB, or NHL games if they air on Bally Sports or a similar RSN. If you watch sports only on ESPN and the major networks — Monday Night Football, Sunday Night Football, college games on ESPN — Entertainment covers it. If your team’s games primarily air on a regional sports channel, you need Choice or above. The $21.99 Broadcast TV Fee applies to satellite subscribers; streaming skips it. Autopay and paperless billing are required for the advertised rate.
Choice adds regional sports networks to everything in Entertainment — the defining upgrade for households where someone watches their local NBA, MLB, NHL, or professional soccer team. You also get specialty sports channels: ACC Network, Big Ten Network, MLB Network, NBA TV, NHL Network, and SEC Network are all included. Total channel count rises to 200+ via satellite (125+ via streaming). The Regional Sports Fee applies here: Choice and above carry this surcharge of up to $19.99/month depending on your ZIP code and how many RSNs your market has. This fee is mandatory — you can’t drop the RSNs and keep the other Choice channels. A typical Choice satellite bill with Broadcast TV Fee and maximum RSN Fee runs roughly $135–$155/month before taxes and extra-room receivers. For a household with one sports fan and one entertainment viewer, Choice usually covers both without upgrading further.
Ultimate steps up to 270+ channels via satellite (160+ via streaming) and meaningfully expands the movie side of the lineup. It adds Starz Encore, the Hallmark Movies & Mysteries channel, Outdoor Channel, and a deeper catalog of entertainment and lifestyle networks. This is the right tier for households where two or more people have different viewing habits — one watching sports on the regional networks, another wanting a broader movie and drama selection — and where Premier’s full premium bundle feels like too much. Documented mid-2026 price increases pushed Ultimate from $173.99 to $186.99 for some existing subscribers; new customers should confirm current promotional pricing before signing. The $30/month jump from Choice to Ultimate is worth evaluating against whether those specific added channels would actually get watched, since Premier’s premium bundles often attract subscribers who end up at Ultimate.
Premier bundles 340+ channels via satellite (185+ via streaming) with every major premium network included in the base price: Max (HBO), Paramount+ with Showtime, STARZ, Cinemax, and MGM+. NFL RedZone is also included. The honest math on Premier: if you subscribe to two or three of those premium networks separately — Max at $16/month, Paramount+ with Showtime at $13/month, STARZ at $10/month — that’s $39/month on top of an Ultimate subscription, which nearly closes the $55/month gap between the two tiers on its own. For households that watch premium cable regularly, Premier can be the cheaper all-in option over Ultimate-plus-add-ons. For households that mostly use one streaming service and occasionally watch movies, the gap is harder to justify. Promotional pricing often cuts the first year significantly — always ask what’s currently available before ordering at the standard rate.
DirecTV Packages Side by Side
All prices reflect current standard rates including the mandatory $10/month TV Access Fee. Regional Sports Fee and Broadcast TV Fee are listed separately since they vary by delivery method and ZIP code. Confirm with DirecTV before ordering.
| Package | Channels (Satellite) | Base + TV Access Fee | Broadcast TV Fee | RSN Fee | Key Inclusions | Contract |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Entertainment | 175+ | $99.99/mo. | $21.99/mo. | None | ESPN · CNN · HGTV · Locals | 24 months |
| Choice | 200+ | $124.98/mo. | $21.99/mo. | Up to $19.99/mo. | + Regional sports · MLB Network · NBA TV | 24 months |
| Ultimate | 270+ | $154.98/mo. | $21.99/mo. | Up to $19.99/mo. | + Starz Encore · 14 movie channels | 24 months |
| Premier | 340+ | $199.98/mo. | $21.99/mo. | Up to $19.99/mo. | + Max · Paramount+ · STARZ · Cinemax · NFL RedZone | 24 months |
The Fees That Appear on Your First Bill
These aren’t surprises once you know to expect them. Every fee below is standard and disclosed in DirecTV’s terms — but they’re not always front and center when you’re comparing packages online.
This is the carriage cost DirecTV passes through for carrying your local ABC, CBS, Fox, and NBC affiliates. It applies to all satellite tiers and does not apply to the streaming product. You cannot remove it and keep local channels — it’s either pay it or opt out of locals entirely (saving $12/month, not the full $21.99). If your bill says $89.99 for Entertainment but you signed up via satellite, your actual base cost is $111.98 before equipment and taxes. Streaming DirecTV avoids this fee entirely, which is one of the biggest practical reasons to consider it over satellite.
This fee funds carriage of regional sports networks like Bally Sports, YES Network, and Spectrum SportsNet. It applies to Choice, Ultimate, and Premier, and the exact amount depends on which RSNs are active in your ZIP code market — some subscribers pay $5/month, others pay the full $19.99. You cannot drop the regional sports channels to avoid this fee while staying on Choice or above. Subscribers in markets with no local RSNs pay a lower rate or none at all. Before ordering Choice, look up your market’s RSN fee at directv.com or by calling customer service so you’re budgeting the real number.
The primary Gemini device lease runs $10/month for satellite subscribers (this is what the $10 TV Access Fee covers for the main receiver). Each additional TV receiver — for a bedroom, kitchen, or other room — costs $7/month per device. A household with a living room and two bedrooms on satellite is paying $14/month in extra receiver fees on top of everything else. The Gemini stores up to 450 hours of HD recordings; if your signal drops, SignalSaver technology keeps 240+ channels running through your internet connection automatically. Non-return fees if you cancel: up to $135 per Gemini or Genie receiver, $45 for mini clients. Return all equipment in the provided packaging within the specified window after cancellation.
If you cancel your satellite service before the 24-month contract ends, DirecTV charges $20 for each month left on the agreement — up to a $480 maximum. Cancel 12 months early and you owe $240. Cancel at month 23 and you owe $20. The 24-hour cancellation window after initial sign-up is penalty-free. One workaround: DirecTV’s streaming product has no contract and no termination fee at all — switching to streaming before the satellite contract ends still triggers the ETF, so time the switch carefully. Customers who move to an address where DirecTV satellite is unavailable can typically exit the contract without penalty; ask customer service about your specific situation.
New satellite customers pay a one-time $49.95 activation fee at setup. Professional installation for up to three receivers is included at no additional charge, and the technician mounts and aligns the dish. Online orders sometimes have this fee waived through promotional pricing — worth asking before you call. Streaming DirecTV requires no installation and no activation fee; setup is self-service through the app. If you’re comparing satellite to streaming purely on cost, factor the activation fee into your first-year math by spreading it across 24 months (roughly $2.08/month).
Find Your Situation
For live TV in areas without cable infrastructure, satellite is usually the only full-channel option, and DirecTV has broader coverage than most providers. You’ll need a clear southern sky exposure for the dish — a DirecTV technician checks this before installation, but you can also use the DirecTV signal check in their app to pre-screen. Start with Entertainment if your household watches mostly news, entertainment, and ESPN-type sports. If someone in the house follows a local pro team whose games air on a regional sports network, go directly to Choice and budget for the RSN fee. One thing rural households often miss: DirecTV’s satellite signal doesn’t depend on your internet connection for live TV, which matters when storms knock out power to cell towers and broadband. The dish keeps working as long as it has power and the sky is reasonably clear.
Choice is the minimum for regional sports networks, and it’s what most sports-focused households need. It includes every major RSN available in your market plus national sports networks: MLB Network, NBA TV, NHL Network, NFL Network, ACC Network, Big Ten Network, and SEC Network. The one thing DirecTV no longer has is NFL Sunday Ticket for out-of-market Sunday afternoon games — that’s now exclusive to YouTube TV, and no DirecTV subscription brings it back. If you need Sunday Ticket, YouTube TV is the only option. If you want your local team’s regular season games plus national sports coverage, Choice covers it. Budget for the Regional Sports Fee on top of the package price — in markets with multiple active RSNs, it reaches $19.99/month. Call 800-531-5000 and give your ZIP code to find out your specific RSN fee before committing.
DirecTV streaming is the answer. It carries the same four package tiers — Entertainment, Choice, Ultimate, Premier — delivered over your home internet instead of a dish. No 24-month contract, no installation, no activation fee, no early termination fee. You can sign up for a 5-day free trial, test the channel lineup, and cancel without paying anything if it doesn’t fit. The streaming product also skips the $21.99 Broadcast TV Fee that satellite subscribers pay, making the streaming price the lower starting point. Trade-off: streaming packages have fewer total channels than satellite — 90+ vs. 175+ on Entertainment, for example. If you’re in a rural area without reliable internet, the streaming option won’t work and satellite is the practical path.
Run your own math. Premier costs $45/month more than Ultimate (base price difference). What you get in that gap: Max (HBO), Paramount+ with Showtime, STARZ, Cinemax, and NFL RedZone. Priced separately, Max runs around $16/month, Paramount+ with Showtime around $13/month, and STARZ around $10/month — that’s $39/month for just three of the included services before you count Cinemax and RedZone. If you currently subscribe to two or more of those networks, Premier saves money versus Ultimate-plus-individual-subscriptions. If you use none of those premium networks and mainly want sports and entertainment, Ultimate or even Choice is the smarter buy. Don’t upgrade to Premier for channels you’ll forget to watch.
Call DirecTV’s customer service at 1-800-531-5000 and ask specifically to speak with the retention department. DirecTV routinely offers existing customers bill credits, package discounts, and promotional rates to prevent cancellation — offers that are never listed online and only accessible by asking. Have your current bill in front of you and know which channels you actually watch before calling; being specific about what you’d drop helps the agent find a matching discount. If you’re past your two-year contract term, you have more leverage — you can switch to streaming or cancel without penalty, which the retention team is very aware of. Most customers who call with a clear ask get something: a temporary monthly credit, a free upgrade to the next tier, or a rate reduction for the next 6–12 months.
For news and locals only, DirecTV is likely more than you need. An antenna picks up ABC, CBS, Fox, NBC, and PBS in HD for free in most U.S. markets — no monthly fee. For cable news channels like CNN, Fox News, and MSNBC, streaming services like Sling TV Blue (around $40/month) or Philo (around $28/month) carry them without a contract and without the layer of fees that satellite adds. DirecTV’s real value is depth — the channel count and sports coverage that smaller services don’t match. If your watchlist is mostly local news, network primetime, and national cable news, a streaming TV service plus an over-the-air antenna often covers it for $30–$50/month less than an entry-level satellite package.
Contact & Order
Confirm current pricing, promotions, and your ZIP code’s RSN fee directly with DirecTV before ordering. Promotional rates change frequently and aren’t always reflected on third-party comparison sites.
Pricing, package contents, channel counts, and fees are based on DirecTV’s published terms and rates current as of late 2026. Package prices shown include the mandatory $10/month TV Access Fee. The Broadcast TV Fee ($21.99/month) and Regional Sports Fee (up to $19.99/month) are additional charges for satellite subscribers; RSN fees vary by ZIP code. Satellite service requires a 24-month agreement; early termination fees apply. All prices are subject to change; verify current rates directly at directv.com or by calling 1-800-531-5000 before signing up. This page is independent and not affiliated with DirecTV, LLC or any of its parent or partner companies. DirecTV and all DirecTV marks are trademarks of DirecTV, LLC.