Quick Answer
DIRECTV offers four main TV packages: ENTERTAINMENT, CHOICE, ULTIMATE, and PREMIER. It also offers lower-cost Genre Packs such as MyEntertainment, MySports, MyNews, MyKids, and MiEspañol, plus smaller add-on packs and premium channels. All of it is available by satellite or by streaming, with channel counts and some fees differing between the two.
Package | Satellite channels (approx.) | Streaming channels (approx.) | Advertised price (24-month agreement, Oct 2026) |
|---|---|---|---|
ENTERTAINMENT | 175+ | 90+ | $94.99 per month |
CHOICE | 215+ | 125+ | $99.99 per month |
ULTIMATE | 270+ | 160+ | $129.99 per month |
PREMIER | 350+ | 185+ | $174.99 per month |
Advertised prices exclude taxes and fees. See our DIRECTV monthly bill guide for what a real statement looks like.
Key Findings
Four signature packages form a ladder. Each tier adds channels to the one below it, so you never lose channels by moving up.
CHOICE is the pivot tier. It costs only $5 more than ENTERTAINMENT and, according to reviewers, adds regional sports networks plus ACC Network, SEC Network, Big Ten Network, MLB Network, and NBA TV.
The expensive jumps come later. Moving from CHOICE to ULTIMATE adds $30 a month, and from ULTIMATE to PREMIER another $45.
Genre Packs unbundle TV. They are smaller, lower-priced packs aimed at one interest, such as sports, news, kids or Spanish-language programming, and reviewers describe them as contract-free.
Dallas sports rights are scattered. Before you pay extra for a sports tier to follow a Dallas team, confirm which channel or app carries that team on your DIRECTV account.
NFL Sunday Ticket is not on DIRECTV. Reviewers report it is exclusive to YouTube TV in 2026. Cowboys games still air on local FOX, CBS, and NBC stations and national networks.
The Four Signature Packages Explained
ENTERTAINMENT
The entry tier, with about 175+ channels by satellite and 90+ by streaming. Reviewers say it includes local channels where available, ESPN and a set of popular cable networks, plus access to apps such as ESPN Unlimited, Disney+ and Hulu with ads. It generally does not include the regional sports fee that applies to higher tiers.
Best for: Households that mainly want local channels, news, family and entertainment programming.
CHOICE
About 215+ channels by satellite and 125+ by streaming. Reviewers describe this as the most popular tier because it adds regional sports networks and the college and league networks listed above.
Best for: Sports fans who want more than the national networks, and anyone who wants a larger lineup for a small price step.
ULTIMATE
About 270+ channels by satellite and 160+ by streaming. Reviewers say it adds channels such as CBS Sports Network, NHL Network, FX Movie Channel, and STARZ Encore, with deeper movie and niche lineups.
Best for: Movie fans and large households that watch many different channel types.
PREMIER
About 350+ channels by satellite and 185+ by streaming. Reviewers report it includes premium services such as HBO Max, Paramount+ with SHOWTIME, STARZ and Cinemax, and NFL RedZone, so no separate premium add-ons are needed.
Best for: Households that want everything in a single bill and would otherwise subscribe to several premium services separately.
New customers on ENTERTAINMENT, CHOICE, or ULTIMATE have been offered three months of premium channels such as HBO Max, Paramount+ Premium, STARZ, Cinemax, and MGM+. After the trial, those services bill at full price unless you cancel, so set a reminder.
Pack | Focus | Reported monthly price range |
|---|---|---|
MyEntertainment | General entertainment, reported to include HBO Max, Disney+, and Hulu apps | About $35 to $43 |
MySports | 20+ sports channels | About $50 to $70 depending on promotion |
MyNews | News channels | About $40 to $45 |
MiEspañol | Spanish-language channels | About $35 |
MyKids | Children’s channels | About $21 |
Mini-packs (MySports Extra, MyHome Team, MyCinema) | Add-ons for sports and movies | About $13 to $20 |
Prices vary by source and promotion, so confirm the current figure at checkout. DIRECTV also sells a Spanish-language signature package, and international add-ons for several other languages.
What Matters in Dallas
Local channels
The Dallas–Fort Worth market has ABC, CBS, NBC, and FOX affiliates, and DIRECTV’s packages carry local channels where available. That matters for Cowboys games, which air on local FOX, CBS, or NBC depending on the week, and for local news and weather during severe storm season.
Sports in Dallas have been reshuffled
Dallas fans have lived through several changes in how local games are carried, and the picture keeps moving:
Dallas Mavericks: The team moved its local games to free over-the-air television in 2024, according to Fort Worth sports columnist Mac Engel.
Dallas Stars: Victory+ is reported to have dissolved on September 1, 2026. CableTV.com reports that Prime Video now carries non-national Stars games in market for the 2026–27 season.
Texas Rangers: The team has produced its own Rangers Sports Network since the 2025 season, and its streaming component left Victory+ in July 2026, according to Wikipedia’s summary of the network.
The practical consequence is that the regional sports fee on higher DIRECTV tiers may not buy what Dallas fans assume. Before choosing CHOICE or above mainly for a local team, ask which exact channel or app carries that team in your ZIP code today.
College sports
Dallas has a large college fan base. CHOICE reportedly includes ACC Network, which carries SMU, and the SEC Network, which carries Texas and Texas A&M. Big 12 games, which include TCU, appear mainly on ESPN and FOX channels. Check your team’s schedule against the lineup before you order.
NFL
Cowboys fans should know that NFL Sunday Ticket is not part of DIRECTV in 2026. Local broadcast stations carry the Cowboys games that air in the Dallas market, and DIRECTV’s PREMIER package or the MySports Extra pack reportedly includes NFL RedZone.
Spanish-language programming
Dallas has a large Spanish-speaking population, and DIRECTV offers a Spanish-language signature package and the MiEspañol Genre Pack. Compare them with ENTERTAINMENT, since the right choice depends on whether you want mostly Spanish channels or a bilingual lineup.
Satellite, apartments and weather
Satellite needs a clear view of the southern sky, so trees and tall buildings can block the signal. Under the FCC’s over-the-air reception devices rule, renters and homeowners can generally install small dishes in areas they control, such as a balcony, though building rules vary. Heavy Texas thunderstorms can briefly interrupt a satellite signal. Streaming needs a reliable internet connection, and many Dallas addresses have cable or fiber options, so check what is available at your address before choosing a delivery method.
Research Insights
Insight 1: CHOICE has the lowest price per channel
Dividing advertised price by reported channel count gives a rough value measure. By satellite counts, ENTERTAINMENT is about 54 cents per channel, CHOICE about 47 cents, ULTIMATE about 48 cents, and PREMIER about 50 cents. By streaming counts, CHOICE is about 80 cents and ENTERTAINMENT about $1.06. CHOICE is the lowest in both calculations. This is the author’s arithmetic and counts channels without weighting quality, but it supports reviewers’ view of CHOICE as the best-value tier.
Insight 2: The cost of each step up is uneven
The step from ENTERTAINMENT to CHOICE is $5. The step to ULTIMATE is $30, and the step to PREMIER is $45. The first step buys a major capability: regional and college sports networks. The later steps mostly add niche and premium channels.
Insight 3: Genre Packs favor single-interest households
A telecom reviewer estimates Genre Packs can save a single-genre household $40 to $80 a month compared with a full package. They are a poor fit for households that want several categories, since combined packs can approach the price of a signature tier.
Insight 4: Dallas sports fragmentation weakens the old sports-tier logic
Historically, one regional sports network could cover the Rangers, Stars, and Mavericks. With teams now spread across free TV, Prime Video, and a team-owned network, no single DIRECTV tier is a guaranteed way to watch all three. That turns a sports-tier decision into a team-by-team check.
Which Package Fits Which Dallas Household?
Household | Package to compare first | Why |
|---|---|---|
Cowboys fan who mainly wants local and national sports | ENTERTAINMENT | Local FOX, CBS, and NBC plus ESPN cover most games |
College sports fan | CHOICE | Adds conference networks |
Rangers, Stars, or Mavericks fan | Verify first, then CHOICE or MySports | Rights are split across several outlets |
Spanish-speaking household | Spanish signature package or MiEspañol | Spanish-language channels without a full lineup |
News and weather watcher | MyNews or ENTERTAINMENT | Low cost, local coverage |
Movie and series fan | ULTIMATE or PREMIER | Premium channels and movie networks |
Family with young children | MyKids or ENTERTAINMENT | Children’s channels at low cost |
Step-by-Step: How to Choose a DIRECTV Package
List the channels and teams your household actually watches.
Decide between satellite and streaming based on your address and internet service.
Start with the lowest signature package that includes your must-have channels, or a Genre Pack if you watch one category.
Ask which channel or app carries each Dallas team you follow.
Ask for all required fees for your ZIP code, including equipment and sports fees.
Note the contract length and any promotional end date.
For help comparing DIRECTV availability at a Dallas address, visit SatTVDallas.com or call (469) 213-2825.
Frequently Asked Questions
What TV packages does DIRECTV offer?
DIRECTV offers four signature packages: ENTERTAINMENT, CHOICE, ULTIMATE and PREMIER. It also offers Genre Packs such as MyEntertainment, MySports, MyNews, MyKids and MiEspañol, smaller add-on packs, a Spanish-language package and premium channels, delivered by satellite or streaming.
What is the cheapest DIRECTV package?
The cheapest full package is ENTERTAINMENT, advertised at $94.99 per month on a 24-month agreement in October 2026, with streaming promotions starting lower at $59.99. Genre Packs can cost less, with reviewers listing some from about $21 per month. Taxes and fees are extra.
Does DIRECTV carry Dallas local channels?
Yes. DIRECTV carries local channels where available, and Dallas–Fort Worth has ABC, CBS, NBC, and FOX affiliates. Confirm local channel availability for your exact address when you order, since local channel rules can vary by delivery method.
Which DIRECTV package has sports channels?
ESPN is reported in ENTERTAINMENT. CHOICE adds regional sports networks and college and league networks. ULTIMATE adds more sports channels, and the MySports Genre Pack bundles 20-plus sports channels. For Dallas teams, verify which channel carries each team first.
Can I watch the Dallas Cowboys on DIRECTV?
Yes, for games that air on local broadcast stations and national networks that DIRECTV carries. NFL Sunday Ticket is not available on DIRECTV in 2026, according to reviewers, so out-of-market games require another service.
Is DIRECTV satellite or streaming better in Dallas?
It depends on your address. Satellite works without internet but needs a clear southern view and a 24-month agreement. Streaming needs a good internet connection and is generally month-to-month. Compare fees for both at your ZIP code.
Are there Spanish-language DIRECTV packages?
Yes. DIRECTV offers a Spanish-language signature package and the MiEspañol Genre Pack. Dallas households can compare these with ENTERTAINMENT depending on how much Spanish-language programming they want.
Conclusion
DIRECTV’s lineup is simple at the top and detailed underneath: four signature packages, a set of Genre Packs, and add-ons. For most Dallas households, the decision comes down to CHOICE versus ENTERTAINMENT, then to whether a Genre Pack covers what you watch for less. Because Dallas sports rights are split across free TV, Prime Video, and a team-owned network, verify where your teams air before paying for a sports tier. Confirm prices, fees, and contract terms for your address before you order.
