DirectTV Now Review – What is DIRECTV NOW and How Does it Work

I had a lot of you asking for a DirectTV Now Review, so I put this article together to help you navigate this awesome program! Now called AT&T TV Now.

It sure seems like Cable TV is on the run with all of the cheaper and more flexible alternatives to cable there are. Well, one of the newer kids on the block is DIRECTV NOW (Also knows at AT&T TV Now).  The number of DIRECTV NOW channels you can get is pretty impressive. Depending on the size of the package you have, you can have anywhere between 60 and 120+ channels!

It is a little more expensive than SlingTV, but it falls in line with SlingTV‘s pricing structure with what you get. SlingTV offers 40+ Channels for $25/mo as their midline package, and DIRECTV NOW‘s base package is $35/mo for $60+ Channels. So in terms of dollars per channel, they’re about the same in value.

BUT… if you’re an AT&T Customer already, DIRECTV NOW gives you a very compelling advantage over SlingTV (see below).

Here’s a breakdown of the three main questions people have about DIRECTV NOW:

1. What is DIRECTV NOW?
2. How does it work?
3. What is the DIRECTV NOW Channel list?

DirectTV Now Review:

1. What is DIRECTV NOW?

DIRECTV NOW is an internet streaming service that offers live and On Demand* programming for many of your favorite TV channels… yes, even sports channels. Some of the main features they offer are:

• A Free 7-day trial – Sign up HERE
• 4 Pricing packages ranging from $35 for 60+ channels up to $70 for 120+ channels
• No Credit Check
• No Contract
• 2 streaming devices at once

*On Demand Programming means that you can watch pre-recorded shows whenever you want (on demand). Similar to how you watch on Netflix or Hulu.

2. How does it work?

DIRECTV NOW uses many of your internet connected devices to watch shows and movies.

You can use your computer and head over to their website and log into to your account to watch. Or, you can use their app on your:

• Amazon Fire
• Android Devices
• iPhones
• iPads, and
• Apple TV (4th Generation)
• Roko and Roku Sticks
• Google Chromecast

Here’s my FAVORITE part of DIRECTV NOW–

If you sign up, and you already have AT&T as your phone carrier, streaming in the DIRECTV NOW app doesn’t count against your data! Yup. That’s right. I’m not talking about your wifi streaming, I’m talking about cell data. So, you can stream whatever you want in the app (like on long car trips) and it won’t eat up your precious GB’s or make you go over on your data!

Unlimited streaming with their app… in a world with ever-increasing competition among streaming services, this is a great differentiating feature!

3. What Channels does DIRECTV NOW have?

Knowing the DIRECTV NOW Channel list is going to make or break the decision for most people. What stinks is that they make you sign up for the free 7-day trial before you can really see what channels they offer!

Well, I did the heavy lifting for you.

Here is the full list of DIRECTV NOW Channels for each package. There’s some pretty sweet stuff on there!

The $35 package:

• A&E (live/on demand)
• ABC (on demand)
• AMC (live/on demand)
• Animal Planet (live)
• Audience (live/on demand)
• AXS TV (live/on demand)
• Baby First (live)
• BBC America (live/on demand)
• BET (live/on demand)
• Bloomberg TV (live)
• Bravo (live/on demand)
• C-Span (live)
• C-Span 2 (live)
• Cartoon Network (live/on demand)
• CMT (live/on demand)
• CNBC (live/on demand)
• CNN (live/on demand)
• Comedy Central (live/on demand)
• Discovery (live/on demand)
• Disney Channel (live/on demand)
• Disney Junior (live/on demand)
• Disney XD (live/on demand)
• E! (live/on demand)
• ESPN (live/on demand)
• ESPN2 (live)
• Food Network (live/on demand)
• Fox (on demand)
• Fox Business (live)
• Fox News (live)
• FOX Sports 1 (live/on demand)
• Freeform (live/on demand)
• FX (live/on demand)
• FXX (live/on demand)
• Galavision (live/on demand)
• Hallmark Channel (live/on demand)
• Hallmark Movies & Mysteries (live/on demand)
• HGTV (live/on demand)
• History (live/on demand)
• HLN (live)
• Investigation Discovery (live/on demand)
• Lifetime (live/on demand)
• MSNBC (live/on demand)
• MTV (live/on demand)
• MTV2 (live/on demand)
• National Geographic (live/on demand)
• NBC (on demand)
• Nick Jr. (live/on demand)
• Nickelodeon (live/on demand)
• RFD-TV (live)
• Spike (live/on demand)
• Syfy (live/on demand)
• TBS (live/on demand)
• TCM (live/on demand)
• TeenNick (live/on demand)
• Telemundo (on demand)
• TLC (live/on demand)
• TNT (live/on demand)
• TruTv (live/on demand)
• TV Land (live/on demand)
• Univision (live/on demand)
• USA Network (live/on demand)
• Velocity (live)
• VH1 (live/on demand)
• Viceland (live/on demand)
• WE tv (live/on demand)
• WeatherNation (live)

To check out the full channel list of the other packages, sign up for a free trial HERE.

Now, remember that Enjoying life on a budget is important. It’s my mantra here! So, I definitely wouldn’t recommend using SlingTV or a full cable package in addition to this. If you’re interested, you should probably cancel one of (or all of) your other entertainment services before you sign up for DIRECTV NOW.

Make sure the plan you decide on fits within your budget. If a $70 cable package didn’t fit in your budget before, then a $70 streaming service package won’t either. But, DIRECTV NOW, could cut your bill significantly and give you exactly what you wanted without having to pay for a bunch of extra channels you won’t use.