DIRECTV’s biggest story of 2025: launching Genre Packs
DIRECTV’s biggest story of 2025: launching Genre Packs
The introduction of genre-specific channel packages was a game-changer for the live TV streaming marketplace.
DIRECTV managed to dodge a lot of the headlines that plagued other live TV streaming services this year, most notably when it came to major channel blackouts. Unlike YouTube TV, no big broadcast or cable channels were pulled from DIRECTV in 2025, and the streamer managed to avoid any other major controversies during the year.
In fact, 2025 was a banner year for DIRECTV. The company brought a new streaming product to the digital marketplace to start the year when it launched the MySports Genre Pack, and the rollout of its genre-themed channel packages is the clear story of the year for DIRECTV.
Genre Packs were born out of the crucible of carriage negotiations with Disney in 2024. A dispute knocked Disney channels like ABC and ESPN off DIRECTV leading into the 2024 football season, but that schism was eventually healed with a new carriage deal that allowed DIRECTV to use Disney-owned channels in a new type of channel package. These plans would be much smaller than the full-sized cable plan of old, and would be focused on specific categories of programming.
In January, DIRECTV was ready to launch the MySports pack, with 20+ channels including local broadcast networks in most markets, as well as ESPN, FS1, TNT, and other popular cable sports networks. The plan costs $70 per month, and in the intervening months, the company has launched several other genre packs, including kids, news, and entertainment-focused options, as well as a Spanish-language package.
Not only do these plans allow viewers to sign up and stream their favorite cable programming without having to pay for content they won’t watch, but several of them also include on-demand streaming content. The MySports plan includes ESPN Unlimited at no extra charge, and the MyEntertainment plan bundles Disney+, Hulu, HBO Max, and starting in 2026, AMC+ with its channels. This embrace of on-demand streaming is a departure from the norm, following the example first set by Charter Communications.
Now, other streamers are following the example set by DIRECTV. Fubo launched a sports-and-news-only package ahead of the 2025 fall sports season, and YouTube TV is at work on its own lineup of genre-specific packages. The industry is following where DIRECTV has led, and its ability to innovate at a time when other cable distributors are struggling to stay afloat is more than enough to qualify as the company’s story of the year.
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.