DIRECTV STREAM Genre Packs Review: Channels, Pricing and More 2025
I researched and tested DIRECTV’s new genre packs—cheaper, smaller, more customized channel packages. Learn what I thought in my in-depth review.
What are DIRECTV STREAM Genre Packs?
Recently, I reviewed MyFree DIRECTV, the free ad-supported streaming TV (FAST) service from DIRECTV. With only 90+ FAST channels and 239 on-demand titles, MyFree DIRECTV is a tiny DIRECTV STREAM sampler (similar to DISH’s Sling Freestream)—but it’s also meant as a base plan to pair with cheaper, smaller, specialized DIRECTV STREAM channel packages they call genre packs.
I signed up for a genre pack free trial last week and took it for a spin. In my review, I’ll share my firsthand experience from signup through cancellation and tell you if I think DIRECTV STREAM’s genre packs are worth it.
Jump to:
How do I get DIRECTV STREAM Genre Packs?
First things first: Signing up for a DIRECTV STREAM Genre Pack was quick and easy. In less than five minutes, I was watching live TV, favoriting channels and browsing on-demand content. Here’s how I did it:
- Visit the DIRECTV STREAM sign-up page.
- Pick a DIRECTV STREAM Genre Pack (I chose MyEntertainment) and click “Try it free.”
- Choose any add-on packages, premium channels, or promotions.
- Click “Start 5-day free trial.”
- Enter your account info.
6. Review and accept DIRECTV STREAM’s Terms of Service.
7. Click “Continue to payment” and follow the prompts. You won’t be charged if you cancel on time.
8. Click “Complete order.”
9. Download the DIRECTV app, log in, and hit the couch!
10. Done!
DIRECTV STREAM Genre Packs and pricing
There are seven DIRECTV STREAM Genre Packs. Four are base packs (MySports, MyEntertainment, MyNews, and MiEspañol). The other three are mini packs (My Cinema, MySports Extra, and MyHomeTeam) that must be paired with one of the other four.
| Plan | Price | Channels | Incl. streaming services | Cloud DVR | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Base pack DIRECTV STREAM MyEntertainment |
$34.99/mo. | 40+ | Disney+ Basic, Hulu Basic, Max Basic with Ads | Unlimited | View Plan |
|
Base pack DIRECTV STREAM MySports |
$69.99/mo. | 60+ | ESPN+ | Unlimited | View Plan |
|
Base pack DIRECTV STREAM MyNews |
$39.99/mo. | 9+ | — | Unlimited | View Plan |
|
Base pack DIRECTV STREAM MiEspañol |
$34.99/mo. | 60+ | — | Unlimited | View Plan |
|
Mini pack DIRECTV STREAM MyCinema* |
$9.99/mo. | 7+ | — | Unlimited | View Plan |
|
Mini pack DIRECTV STREAM MySports Extra† |
$12.99/mo. | 20+ | — | Unlimited | View Plan |
|
Mini pack DIRECTV STREAM MyHome Team† |
$19.99/mo. | Varies by location | — | Unlimited | View Plan |
Data effective as of post date. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change.
* Requires MyNews, MyEntertainment, or MySports Base Pack
† Requires MySports Base Pack
DIRECTV STREAM MyEntertainment pack
I signed up for the MyEntertainment genre pack because I’m not a news junkie or sportsball fanatic, and my Spanish isn’t good enough for MiEspañol. Besides, I think MyEntertainment is the best of the genre packs (I will cover the others later in this review).
For $34.99 a month, MyEntertainment has 40+ reasonably popular channels, a small but decent on-demand library, and unlimited Cloud DVR. You also get three on-demand streaming services: Disney+ Basic, Hulu Basic, and Max Basic with Ads.
Pro tip: You must access MyEntertainment’s included streaming services via their respective apps with separate login credentials.
I’m usually not wild about streaming plans with ads, but DIRECTV STREAM’s MyEntertainment genre pack is a fantastic deal if you’re on a budget. The streaming services alone would cost $30.00 a month, so you’re getting the live channels and Cloud DVR for only $4.99 a month.
There is a significant downside to MyEntertainment, though: It has no local or sports channels. Fortunately, you can get your local channels by buying an over-the-air (OTA) antenna. I installed one of these at my mom’s place, and it was super easy to set up and start watching networks like CBS, NBC, and FOX.
Pro tip: The local channels you receive via an OTA antenna won’t integrate with the DIRECTV STREAM app—you’ll access them via a separate TV input.
DIRECTV STREAM MyEntertainment vs. the competition
| Plan | Price | Channels | Incl. streaming services | Cloud DVR | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DIRECTV STREAM MyEntertainment | $34.99/mo. | 40+ | Disney+ Basic, Hulu Basic, Max Basic with Ads | Unlimited | View Plan |
| Frndly TV | $6.99–$11.99/mo. | 50+ | — | Unlimited | View Plan |
| Philo | $28.00/mo. | 70+ | AMC+ | Unlimited | View Plan |
| Sling TV Blue | $45.99/mo. | 48+ | — | 50 hrs. (upgrade available) | View plan |
Data effective as of post date. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change.
Among the more affordable live TV streaming services, MyEntertainment’s closest competition includes Sling TV’s Sling Blue plan ($45.99/mo., 48+ channels, 50-hour Cloud DVR), Philo ($28.00/mo., 70+ channels, unlimited Cloud DVR), and Frndly TV ($6.99–$11.99/mo., 50+, unlimited Cloud DVR).
Here are more comparison points to consider if you’re choosing between them:
- Channel lineup: Philo’s 70+ channel lineup beats the other services handily, especially at only $28.00/mo..
- Streaming services: MyEntertainment’s Disney+/Hulu/Max offer is best, even with ads. But Philo has AMC+—with AMC, Shudder, BBC America, IFC Unlimited, and more—ad-free.
- Local channels: MyEntertainment, Philo, and Frndly TV have none; Sling TV has them only in select markets.
- News channels: My Entertainment has five news channels, Sling Blue has three, Philo has one, and Frndly TV has none.
- Sports channels: My Entertainment, Philo, and Frndly TV have none. Sling Blue has five, but three (TBS, TNT, and truTV) aren’t purely sports-related.
- On-demand content: All four services have on-demand movies and shows, but MyEntertainment has a slightly better selection.
- Wholesome content: Frndly TV is a streaming service that prides itself on affordable, family-friendly channels. If you want spicy content, look elsewhere.
Considering all of the above, I’d prefer Philo for its lower price, more robust channel lineup, and included ad-free AMC+ streaming service. That said, MyEntertainment also has a lot to offer for a pretty decent price. Check out the channel lineup below. Then we’ll talk about the other DIRECTV STREAM Genre Packs.
DIRECTV STREAM MyEntertainment channels
- A&E
- American Heroes Channel
- Animal Planet
- Aspire
- Bounce
- Bravo
- CNBC
- CNN
- Cooking
- Cozi
- Destination America
- Discovery
- Discovery Life
- Disney+ Basic (streaming service)
- E!
- EarthX
- Fetv
- Food Network
- Fox Business
- Fox News Channel
- Freeform
- FX
- FXM
- FXX
- Fyi
- Game Show
- GetTV
- HGTV
- HISTORY
- HLN
- Hulu Basic (streaming service)
- Investigation Discovery
- ION
- Lifetime
- Magnolia Network
- MSNBC
- Max Basic with Ads (streaming service)
- Nat Geo WILD
- National Geographic
- OWN
- Oxygen True Crime
- Science
- Syfy
- TLC
- Travel
- UPtv
- VICE
DIRECTV STREAM MySports (base pack)
We have a whole review dedicated to DIRECTV STREAM’s MySports genre pack, thanks to my fellow CableTV.com scribe, Eric Chiu. See his expert review for the full scoop—but here’s the gist while you’re here.
MySports has 60+ sports channels, plus the ESPN+ streaming service, for $69.99 monthly. That’s pretty pricey—you could get DIRECTV STREAM’s CHOICE package for only $5.00 more per month. And for only $12.00 more, you could go with YouTube TV (100+ channels, great for sports) or Hulu + Live TV (95+ channels, huge on-demand library).
But if you need nothing more than the dream sports-only package and you’re okay with the steep price, I say go for it.
DIRECTV STREAM MySports channels
- ACCN
- Big Ten Network
- CNBC
- CNN
- DIRECTV 4K
- ESPN+ (streaming service)
- ESPN
- ESPN2
- ESPNews
- ESPNU
- FOX
- Fox Business
- Fox News Channel
- FS1
- FS2
- Golf Channel
- MLB Network
- MSNBC
- NBA TV
- NBC
- NFL Network
- NHL Network
- SEC Network
- TBS
- TNT
- truTV
- USA Network
DIRECTV STREAM MyNews (base pack)
Are you such a news nerd that you have no use for entertainment and sports? That’s the only reason I can see anyone choosing the DIRECTV STREAM MyNews genre pack. It has 9+ channels for $39.99/mo.—that’s outrageous. But check out the channel lineup and decide for yourself.
DIRECTV STREAM MyNews channels
- Bloomberg Television
- CNBC
- CNBC World
- CNN
- CNN International
- FOX
- Fox Business
- Fox News Channel
- I24 News
- MSNBC
- NBC
- Newsmax
DIRECTV STREAM MiEspañol (base pack)
The MiEspañol genre pack gives you 60+ Spanish-language channels for $34.99 monthly. That’s on the expensive side. In my research, I’ve found a variety of Latino/Spanish streaming plans and add-ons, all with wildly different pricing and channel counts.
| Plan | Price | Channels | Cloud DVR | Streams | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DIRECTV STREAM MiEspañol | $34.99/mo. | 60+ | Unlimited | 10 home, 3 mobile | View Plan |
| Fubo Latino | $14.99/mo. | 50+ | Unlimited | 2 | View Plan |
| Hulu + Live TV Español Add-On | $4.99/mo. | 9+ | — | — | View Plan |
| Sling Latino | $10.00/mo. | 22+ | 50 hrs. (upgrade available) | 3 | View Plan |
| YouTube TV Spanish | $34.99/mo. | 28+ | Unlimited | 3 | View Plan |
Data effective as of post date. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change.
* Requires Hulu + Live TV base plan priced $81.99–$95.99/mo.
DIRECTV STREAM MiEspañol channels
- Atreseries (A3S)
- Antena 3
- A3Cine
- BabyTV
- Bandamax
- Canal 22 Mexico
- Caracol Internacional
- CATV
- Cine Estelar
- Cine Mexicano
- Cine Nostalgia
- Cine Latino
- Cinema Dinamita
- CNN Español
- Daystar Español
- De Película
- Película Clásico
- Discovery en Español
- Discovery Familia
- Ecuvisa Internacional
- Enlace
- ESPN Deportes
- Estrella News
- Estrella TV
- EWTN Español
- FOROtv
- Fox Deportes
- Galavisión
- GOLtv
- HITN
- Hogar (HGTV)
- ¡Hola! TV
- Mega TV
- MN Canal
- Multimedios
- Nat Geo Mundo
- NTN24
- Nuestra Tele Internacional
- Nuestra Vision
- Once México
- Pasiones
- Perú Mágico
- Sony Cine
- SUR Perú
- TV Internacional
- TeleCentro
- Telefe
- Telemundo (local)
- Telemundo (Este)
- TUDN
- TV Chile
- Tve
- TyC Sports
- UniMás
- Universo
- Univision (local)
- Univison (Este)
- Tlnovelas
- Ve Plus
- Video Rola
- VMe
- WAPA América
- Zoo Moo
DIRECTV STREAM MySports Extra (mini pack)
If you choose the MySports genre pack but want a beefier sports channel lineup with cricket, football, outdoors, and racing networks, you can add this mini pack for $12.99/mo. (sorry, it’s not available a la carte). Like MyNews, MySports Extra feels a bit too pricey for what you get.
DIRECTV STREAM MySports Extra channels
- MavTV
- MOTOR TREND
- NFL RedZone
- Outdoor Channel
- Pursuit
- Sportsman Channel
- Willow HD
DIRECTV STREAM MyHomeTeam (mini pack)
Similarly, you can add this regional sports network (RSN) package to MySports for an extra $19.99/mo.. It includes 15+ channels (mostly FanDuel Sports Networks—see below), but you only get the in-market coverage that’s available in your area. Beware the combined monthly payment, though. Paying $90.00 a month for a package that appeals only to sports fans is bonkers—unless you own a sports bar.
DIRECTV STREAM MyHomeTeam channels*
- Altitude Sports
- Chicago Sports Network
- FanDuel Detroit
- FanDuel Florida
- FanDuel Midwest
- FanDuel North
- FanDuel Ohio
- FanDuel SoCal
- FanDuel South
- FanDuel Southeast
- FanDuel Southwest
- FanDuel Sun
- FanDuel West
- FanDuel Wisconsin
- Marquee Sports Network
* Channels vary by zip code.
DIRECTV STREAM MyCinema (mini pack)
If you already have MyEntertainment, you can add this mini pack of mostly “meh” movie channels for an additional $9.99/mo.. I know I can get a lot more on-demand movies and shows than this for my ten bucks (Prime Video, Disney Duo Basic, Shudder, Arrow Player, and Screambox are solid alternatives), so I’d never go for MyCinema.
DIRECTV STREAM MyNews channels
- FMC
- Great American Family
- Grit
- INSP
- LMN
- ShortsTV
- Sony Movies
- Turner Classic Movies (TCM)
DIRECTV STREAM Genre Pack add-ons
Besides the mini packs, DIRECTV STREAM also offers the following premium add-ons and streaming services:
DIRECTV STREAM MyNews channels
- A&E Crime Central ($4.99/mo.)
- Cinemax® ($10.99/mo.)
- Fox Nation ($7.99/mo.)
- Hallmark+ ($7.99/mo.)
- HISTORY Vault ($5.99/mo.)
- Lifetime Movie Club ($4.99/mo.)
- MaxTM ($16.99/mo.)
- MGM+TM ($6.99/mo.)
- STARZ® ($10.99/mo)
DIRECTV STREAM Genre Pack specs and features
With DIRECTV STREAM’s genre packs, you get the same unlimited Cloud DVR and stream allotment (10 at home, 3 mobile). See our full DIRECTV STREAM review for more about specs and features.
How do I cancel DIRECTV STREAM Genre Packs?
Canceling my DIRECTV STREAM genre pack free trial was almost as fast as signing up. Let me walk you through it:
- Visit the DIRECTV STREAM website.
- Log in and follow the prompts.
- Click on “Manage My TV Package.”
- Select the “Cancel my service” link and follow the prompts.
- Done!
DIRECTV STREAM Genre Packs review FAQ
What is the genre pack on DIRECTV?
DIRECTV Genre Packs are smaller, more affordable, and more customized channel packages than what DIRECTV usually offers. They’re intended to supplement DIRECTV’s FAST service, MyFree DIRECTV.
How much do DIRECTV STREAM genre packs cost?
Base DIRECTV STREAM genre packs cost $34.99–$69.99 a month. Mini DIRECTV STREAM genre packs require subscriptions to the base packs and cost $9.99–$19.99 monthly.
Why you should trust our DIRECTV STREAM Genre Packs review
I’ve spent more than five years covering DIRECTV, DIRECTV STREAM, and competing TV providers and live TV streaming services. For this DIRECTV Genre Packs review, I signed up for the MyEntertainment genre pack and spent a week testing it in the DIRECTV STREAM app, doing hands-on testing and rigorous research.
I evaluated everything about DIRECTV Genre Packs: sign-up process, channel lineup, features, performance, and cancellation process. All recommendations and insights come from my first-hand experience and testing, which I cross-referenced with CableTV.com’s existing live TV streaming service coverage.
Check out our How We Rank page to learn more about our methods.
