DirecTV raised prices across Signature Packages and Genre Packs on June 25, 2026. There are now two completely different plan families — Signature Plans for traditional full-channel bundles and Genre Packs for sports-first or entertainment-first viewers — and the real monthly cost on either is materially higher than the advertised base. Here is every plan, every mandatory fee, and the all-in number you should be budgeting.
Key Answers Before You Sign Up
DirecTV’s two plan families target different situations and different budgets. Understanding which family you’re buying into — and what the fees add on top — is the only way to know what your actual monthly cost will be.
Signature Plans are what most people picture as “DirecTV” — four full bundles (Entertainment, Choice, Ultimate, Premier) with 90–340+ channels, available via both satellite dish and streaming. They carry the highest channel counts, mandatory multi-year contracts on satellite, and a pile of mandatory fees. Genre Packs are a newer family — MySports, MyEntertainment, MyNews, MiEspañol — available streaming-only with no contract and lower base prices. Genre Packs give you a focused set of channels for a specific interest rather than a broad bundle. Most first-time DirecTV callers don’t know Genre Packs exist and end up defaulting into a Signature Plan when a Genre Pack might be a better fit for their actual viewing. Both families rose in price on June 25, 2026.
Every advertised DirecTV base price excludes three categories of charges that appear on every bill. First, the Broadcast TV Fee ($21.99/month on satellite) or Advanced Service Fee ($15/month on streaming) — these are mandatory on all plans and cover infrastructure costs DirecTV passes through to subscribers. Second, the Regional Sports Fee (up to $19.99/month) on Choice, Ultimate, and Premier plans — mandatory even if you never watch a regional sports game. Third, a device fee of roughly $7–$10/month for the Gemini receiver on satellite accounts. Add all three to any Signature Plan base price and you’re 30–50% over the advertised number before a single tax or local surcharge applies.
DirecTV implemented a broad price increase across both plan families effective June 25, 2026. The Signature Package base prices increased — the exact per-plan amounts varied but the company confirmed adjustments to all four tiers. Genre Pack prices also rose, with most packs increasing by approximately $5–$8/month. MySports, which had been priced at $69/month, saw an increase that moved it above $70. New subscribers signing up after June 25 are automatically on the new pricing. Existing subscribers on month-to-month streaming plans saw their bills rise; satellite subscribers locked into a two-year price guarantee were protected until their guarantee period ended. If you see a jump on your July or August bill and you’re on streaming, this is why.
The Signature Plan base prices are the same for satellite and streaming at each tier. But the fee structure differs, which changes the all-in cost. Satellite adds a $21.99 Broadcast TV Fee — streaming does not charge this. Streaming adds a $15 Advanced Service Fee — satellite does not charge this. The Regional Sports Fee applies to both. Satellite also adds a receiver device fee (~$7–$10/month) and a one-time $49.95 activation fee. In practice, satellite bills typically run $5–$10 higher per month than streaming for the same Signature Plan tier, once all fees are counted — but satellite gives you more channels at each tier and works without internet.
Yes — MyFree DirecTV is a legitimate no-cost tier with approximately 100 ad-supported FAST (Free Ad-Supported Streaming TV) channels plus on-demand content. It requires a DirecTV account login but no credit card and no contract. In our testing, it covers a reasonable mix of news, lifestyle, and older entertainment content — not live sports, not premium cable, and not local broadcast affiliates. It is available through the DirecTV app on Roku, Fire TV, Apple TV, and other devices. If you’re evaluating DirecTV but aren’t sure how much of the lineup you’ll actually use, start with MyFree DirecTV before committing to a paid plan. Genre Pack subscribers also get access to MyFree DirecTV channels included in their plan at no extra charge.
The Regional Sports Fee is a mandatory monthly surcharge — up to $19.99/month on satellite, up to $14.99 on streaming — charged on the Choice, Ultimate, and Premier Signature Plans. It covers carriage of your local regional sports networks (RSNs): channels like Bally Sports, NESN, and similar that carry local NBA, MLB, NHL, and professional soccer games in your market. It is not optional — you cannot remove the RSN channels to avoid the fee. The exact amount varies by ZIP code based on which RSNs DirecTV carries in your area. The only way to avoid it entirely on a Signature Plan is to stay on Entertainment, which intentionally excludes RSNs. This is the single most common unexpected charge on DirecTV bills we see from readers.
Yes — two paths avoid the contract entirely. First, DirecTV Streaming Signature Plans are month-to-month with no early termination fee, though they carry fewer channels than the satellite equivalent at the same base price and the $15 Advanced Service Fee. Second, Genre Packs are all streaming, all contract-free, and generally lower in base price than Signature Plans. The tradeoff on either path is fewer channels and dependence on your home internet connection. Satellite Signature Plans are the only DirecTV product that requires a 24-month contract — at $20 per remaining month if you exit early, the maximum penalty is $460 (canceling in month one of a 23-month remaining term).
No. NFL Sunday Ticket moved exclusively to YouTube TV and YouTube Primetime Channels starting with the 2023 NFL season and has remained there through the current season. DirecTV held the exclusive NFL Sunday Ticket rights for over two decades before losing them. DirecTV does still offer extensive NFL coverage through ESPN, NFL Network, Fox Sports, CBS, and NBC — and the Sports Pack add-on ($14.99/month) adds NFL RedZone and additional college sports channels. But the out-of-market Sunday afternoon package that lets you watch every game is no longer a DirecTV exclusive and must be purchased separately through YouTube if that is your primary reason for evaluating DirecTV.
Signature Plans — Base Prices and What They Include
Four plans, same names for satellite and streaming, same base prices — but very different channel counts by delivery method and very different real bills once fees stack. Channel counts shown are for satellite; streaming carries fewer channels at the same base price.
- ESPN, ESPN2, FS1, CNN, MSNBC
- HGTV, Hallmark, Lifetime, TLC, AMC
- Disney Channel, Nickelodeon, Cartoon Network
- Local ABC, CBS, NBC, Fox, PBS affiliates
- No regional sports networks
- Everything in Entertainment
- Regional sports networks (local team games)
- NFL Network, NBA TV, MLB Network
- SEC Network, Big Ten Network
- History, A&E, Cooking Channel, FYI
- Everything in Choice
- NHL Network, Golf Channel, MotorTrend
- Starz Encore, FXM, IFC, WE tv
- 55,000+ on-demand titles
- Includes ESPN+ at no added cost
- Everything in Ultimate
- Max (HBO), Starz, Cinemax included
- Paramount+ with Showtime included
- MGM+ included
- Most complete DirecTV lineup available
DirecTV consolidated satellite and streaming under a single pricing structure, but the channel counts are not equal. At every tier, satellite delivers substantially more channels than streaming at the same advertised monthly price — Entertainment is 175+ satellite vs. 90+ streaming; Choice is 220+ vs. 125+. The gap exists because streaming rights for some channels are more expensive or restricted. If channel depth matters to you, satellite is the stronger product. If contract-free flexibility matters more than channel count, streaming is the trade-off worth making.
Genre Packs — DirecTV’s Newer, Cheaper, No-Contract Alternative
Genre Packs launched in early 2025 and have driven a meaningful share of new DirecTV sign-ups. They are streaming-only, contract-free, and aimed at viewers who want a focused set of channels — not a 200-channel bundle where 80% sits unwatched. All Genre Pack subscribers also get MyFree DirecTV’s 100+ FAST channels at no added cost.
| Genre Pack | Price (post June 25) | Key Channels | Contract | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MySports | ~$75/mo | ESPN, ESPN2, FS1, SEC Network, Big Ten, TNT, USA, ACC Network + ESPN+ | None | Sports-first households; skip the full bundle |
| MyEntertainment | ~$55–$60/mo | Top entertainment + premium streaming apps; 70+ channels including local news | None | Non-sports viewers who want cable + streaming apps in one bill |
| MyNews | ~$35–$40/mo | CNN, MSNBC, Fox News, local affiliates, national news networks | None | News-heavy viewers; most affordable paid DirecTV option |
| MiEspañol | ~$35–$45/mo | Spanish-language entertainment, news, and sports networks | None | Spanish-language primary households |
| MyFree DirecTV | $0 | 100+ FAST channels, on-demand library — no live sports or premium cable | None | Light or background viewers; test before buying a paid plan |
Any Genre Pack subscriber can bolt on two optional add-ons. MyCinema adds a curated selection of movie channels on top of any Genre Pack. MySports Extra (available to MySports subscribers) adds MotorTrend, NFL RedZone, Willow TV, and additional niche sports channels for roughly $13/month. A separate MyHomeTeam add-on adds your local regional sports network for subscribers who primarily want one RSN rather than the full Choice tier cost. These mini-packs are the most flexible — and most budget-efficient — way to build a DirecTV subscription that matches what you actually watch.
Every Fee DirecTV Charges — And Which Plans They Hit
No DirecTV bill is just the base price. We tracked fees across dozens of reader accounts. Here is every charge that can appear, what it covers, and whether you can avoid it.
| Fee Name | Amount | Satellite? | Streaming? | Avoidable? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Broadcast TV Fee | $21.99/mo | Yes — all plans | No | No — mandatory |
| Advanced Service Fee | $15/mo | No | Yes — all plans | No — mandatory |
| Regional Sports Fee | Up to $19.99/mo (sat) · Up to $14.99/mo (streaming) | Choice, Ultimate, Premier only | Choice, Ultimate, Premier only | Only by staying on Entertainment tier |
| Gemini Device Fee | ~$7–$10/mo | Yes | No (app-based) | No — required for satellite |
| Activation Fee (one-time) | $49.95 once | Yes | No | Sometimes waived — ask before signing |
| Early Termination Fee | $20 × months remaining (max ~$460) | Yes — 24-month contract | No — streaming is month-to-month | Yes — choose streaming or Genre Packs |
| Sports Pack Add-on | $14.99/mo | Optional | Optional | Yes — optional add-on |
| State / local taxes | Varies by ZIP code | Yes | Yes | No — government taxes |
DirecTV’s 24-month satellite agreements include a two-year price guarantee on the base plan price. What many subscribers discover mid-contract is that the Broadcast TV Fee, Regional Sports Fee, and device fees are not covered by that guarantee — they can and do increase during your contract term. We found this on multiple reader accounts in 2025 and 2026. When DirecTV says your price is “locked,” confirm in writing exactly which line items are protected and which are not. The base rate lock is real; the all-in bill lock is not.
What Your Actual Bill Will Be — Plan by Plan
These are the all-in monthly estimates based on actual bills from reader accounts we tracked, not DirecTV’s advertised base prices. Figures are for satellite service; streaming runs roughly $5–$10 lower at the same tier due to the lower Advanced Service Fee versus Broadcast TV Fee gap.
| Plan | Base Price | Broadcast TV / ARS Fee | RSN Fee | Device Fee | Approx. All-In (satellite) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Entertainment | $89.99 | +$21.99 | $0 — none | +$7–$10 | ~$120–$130/mo |
| Choice | $104.99 | +$21.99 | +up to $19.99 | +$7–$10 | ~$145–$165/mo |
| Ultimate | $134.99 | +$21.99 | +up to $19.99 | +$7–$10 | ~$175–$195/mo |
| Premier | $169.99 | +$21.99 | +up to $19.99 | +$7–$10 | ~$210–$225/mo |
| MySports (Genre Pack) | ~$75/mo | $0 (streaming) | $0 (RSN via add-on) | $0 (app) | ~$75–$80/mo (+ taxes) |
| MyEntertainment (Genre Pack) | ~$55–$60/mo | $0 (streaming) | $0 | $0 (app) | ~$55–$65/mo (+ taxes) |
| MyNews (Genre Pack) | ~$35–$40/mo | $0 (streaming) | $0 | $0 (app) | ~$35–$45/mo (+ taxes) |
Which Plan Fits Which Household
If your address has slow or no broadband, satellite is the only DirecTV product that works independent of your internet. Entertainment is the most cost-controlled tier — it avoids the Regional Sports Fee and keeps your satellite bill in the $120–$130 range. Step up to Choice only if you follow a local pro sports team on a regional sports network; the RSN fee adds up to $240/year on top of what you’d pay on Entertainment. We found that the most common buyer regret in this segment is choosing Choice at sign-up because an agent suggested it, then paying the RSN fee for 24 months for channels nobody in the house watches.
If sports content is your main reason for wanting DirecTV and you have reliable broadband, the MySports Genre Pack is worth a serious look before signing a satellite contract. At roughly $75/month post-increase, it covers ESPN, ESPN2, FS1, SEC Network, Big Ten, TNT, USA, the ACC Network, and includes ESPN+ — no contract, no device fee, no Broadcast TV Fee. The MyHomeTeam add-on can layer in your local RSN. This is now the most credible mid-cost option for sports viewers who were previously defaulting into Choice Satellite at $145–$165/month all-in. We tracked several household switches from Choice satellite to MySports + MyHomeTeam that saved $60–$70/month.
DirecTV introduced a bundled deal combining MyEntertainment and MyNews for $59.99/month for the first two months ($15/month off the combined price). Together they deliver 70+ channels covering entertainment, local news, and national news networks — plus four streaming apps. For households that watch cable news, lifestyle networks (HGTV, TLC, Food Network, Hallmark), and local affiliates but have no interest in sports, this bundle lands under $65/month all-in with no contract or device fees. It is the closest thing to a light-viewer DirecTV option without signing a satellite agreement.
If you watch regularly across entertainment, sports, and premium movies and want Max, Starz, Cinemax, and Paramount+ bundled in rather than paid separately, Premier satellite eliminates several standalone subscriptions. Those premium apps alone would cost $50–$70/month purchased separately. Budget $210–$225/month all-in and accept the 24-month commitment — but if you’re confident you’ll stay for two years and you’re currently paying $170 in satellite plus $50+ in separate streaming apps, Premier may actually consolidate costs rather than increase them.
A free over-the-air antenna delivers ABC, CBS, NBC, Fox, and PBS in HD at zero monthly cost in most U.S. markets. If the rest of your viewing is one or two cable networks — HGTV, Hallmark, CNN — services like Philo ($25/month, no contract) or Sling TV’s basic Orange or Blue package ($40/month, no contract) cover those channels for a fraction of any DirecTV all-in cost. DirecTV’s value is in the depth of its lineup for active multi-channel viewers. If 80% of a 200-channel bundle would go unwatched, the $120+ monthly bill is not the right tool.
Pricing reflects DirecTV’s published rates effective June 25, 2026, post-increase. All-in bill estimates are based on real reader account data tracked through September 2026 and include mandatory fees (Broadcast TV Fee, Advanced Service Fee, Regional Sports Fee, device fees) not included in advertised base prices. Individual bills vary by ZIP code, plan tier, and equipment configuration. Genre Pack exact prices post-June 25 increase: confirmed as increased; exact new amounts vary and should be verified at directv.com before signing up. Early termination fee math: $20 × remaining months on a 24-month satellite contract. This page is independent and is not affiliated with DirecTV. Always confirm current pricing, fee structure, and contract terms directly with DirecTV before signing any agreement.
Key sources: DirecTV.com · CordCuttersNews.com · Clark.com · BudgetSeniors.com reader bill data · CableTV.com · TheDesk.net
Featured image: Photo by Rattakarn_ on Pixabay · Pixabay Content License