DIRECTV Genre Packs have modest following in months after launch
DIRECTV Genre Packs have modest following in months after launch
New data from Antenna shows that uptake for the new Genre Packs has been measured, but enthusiasm could grow quickly.
Could skinny bundles be the next big craze in pay-TV? DIRECTV fought tooth and nail for the right to create smaller, genre-based channel plans in its carriage battle with Disney back in 2024. Those plans were first launched for DIRECTV a few months ago, and now Antenna has the first numbers on their adoption by customers.
Key Details:
- Still pretty new: DIRECTV’s Genre Packs first launched in January 2025.
- Modest following: Genre Packs accounted for 10% of DIRECTV streaming package sign-ups in March.
- On the upswing: Subscribers have increased on these plans each month since their introduction.
DIRECTV launched the MySports Genre Pack in a limited capacity in January, before slowly expanding the rollout and then adding the MyEntertainment, MyNews, and MiEspanol packages in late February. That’s important context to have; when considering Antenna’s data, just keep in mind that most of these plans have been available for just over two months.
The numbers from Antenna show that 10% of DIRECTV streaming signups in the month of March were for the new Genre Packs, coming out to roughly 7,300 consumers. That means 90% of new customers who came to a DIRECTV streaming service during that month went for one of the traditionally-sized Signature packages, which each come with 90+ cable channels.
Even though 10% might not seem like a huge number, there are clearly encouraging signs for DIRECTV in the data. For one thing, sign-ups for the Genre Packs have increased every month since they first launched. The number of new customers seeking a Genre Pack doubled between February and March, likely thanks to the launch of the MyEntertainment plan and other options.
The MySports package in particular might have a much bigger audience in waiting. April saw the start of the NBA and NHL playoffs, and the MLB season started in very late March. Those factors, combined with the $70 price tag of the MySports Pack, could potentially have attracted a large swath of new subscribers to the package in April.
The MyEntertainment plan could see a large influx of new viewers in the coming months as well. The plan is one of the best bargains in live TV streaming; it comes with around 40 channels, and though it doesn’t include sports-specific options, it has subscriptions to Disney+, Hulu, and Max included in the price. As a standalone bundle, those streamers would cost $17 per month by themselves, so the MyEntertainment package essentially includes a lineup of 40 popular cable channels for an extra $18.
It’s too soon to say for sure if Antenna’s numbers suggest that skinny channel bundles like DIRECTV’s will take off among consumers. But there is reason to hope that they’ll be an increasing part of the conversation when discussing pay-TV options going forward.
DIRECTV
DIRECTV is one of The Streamable’s top choices for the best live TV streaming service overall in 2026, especially for users who want the most channels or want to watch the most live sports. With an unbeatable lineup of local, news, sports, and entertainment channels, three main signature packages, an unlimited DVR, and 20 simultaneous streams at home, DIRECTV remains a premier choice for any cord-cutter.