As the months go by, it appears increasingly likely that genre-themed channel packages may be the future of pay TV. DIRECTV launched its first genre package in January 2025, and has introduced several new options since then. The package that started it all for DIRECTV was the MySports plan, which offers cable sports channels like ESPN, FS1, and TNT, as well as local broadcast channels for $70 per month.

Sling TV has also introduced a smaller-sized plan called Sling Select, which costs $20 per month for a combination of around 10 channels. But to get access to the most sports for the lowest cost with Sling, customers will want to seek out the short-term subscription options that are available with Sling Orange. That package also includes ESPN and TNT, as well as ESPN2 and Disney Channel.

On Wednesday, YouTube TV made it official in announcing it would launch new genre-based packages as well, and it would start by launching a sports package that sounds quite similar to the MySports plan from DIRECTV. We’ll compare these options below using all the details we have about the new YouTube TV product, to let you know if it’s worth your time to wait for the new YouTube TV package or if you should jump in with DIRECTV or Sling TV now.

Comparing DIRECTV and YouTube TV genre packs with Sling TV

Which offers the most sports channels?

From what we know of the new YouTube TV sports-themed package, viewers will have access to local broadcast channels such as ABC, CBS, Fox, and NBC, so the NFL as well as nationally broadcast NBA, NHL, and MLB games will be available, as well as a wide selection of college sports games. The plan will also have ESPN and Fox Sports channel families, and the new NBC Sports Network channel that offers access to games found on Peacock. Customers will also be able to watch NFL RedZone and NFL Sunday Ticket as add-ons with the YouTube TV package, but there’s no word yet on whether or not it will offer an option to watch regional sports networks (RSNs).

The DIRECTV MySports package carries many of these same networks, including local broadcast channels in almost all markets, as well as national sports channels. DIRECTV doesn’t have a deal to carry NBC Sports Network as of now, but this week announced the launch of new Peacock Games channels for its satellite and streaming customers. Viewers can also access RSNs in a wide range of markets by purchasing the MyHome Team mini-pack add-on for $20 per month on top of the MySports subscription fee, and add the MySports Extra add-on for $12 per month to get NFL RedZone and other channels.

Sling TV’s Orange package comes with ESPN and ESPN2, and allows viewers to watch live sports on ABC by logging into the ESPN app. It’s also got TNT and TBS, but that’s about where the streamer’s sports access ends; there’s no local broadcast channel access with Sling Orange, nor do you get FS1, NFL Network, or truTV as you do with the other packages on this list. You can add more channels to Sling Orange with the Sports Extra add-on pack for an extra $11 per month, but there’s no RSN access with Sling TV/

Verdict: With the data we have about the YouTube TV package, it seems that it will have a lineup equivalent to that of DIRECTV MySports. We’ll give DIRECTV the edge for now, however.

Which costs the least?

DIRECTV’s MySports package has a normal starting price of $70 per month, and while we don’t know the cost of the YouTube TV sports package yet, it’s hard to imagine it coming in drastically lower than $60 per month. It’s understandable that audiences may be confused by the high cost of these packages when they have relatively few channels as compared to the cable bundle that once incorporated hundreds of networks in one plan, but sports and broadcast channels are the most expensive for distributors to carry. The price of sports genre packs reflects that fact, even though they don’t include as many channels as other plans.

Sling TV may not be able to match DIRECTV and YouTube TV on channel access, but at least on price, it’s got both beat by a wide margin. Even if you want to go with monthly access to Sling Orange, you’ll only pay $46 per month. In fact, combining the Sling Orange and Blue channels on a single plan with Sling TV costs just $61 per month, and in some markets you can watch ABC, Fox, and NBC with that plan for a $5 monthly upcharge. You’ll also get TNT, TBS, and truTV in the same plan, along with ESPN and FS1, and NFL Network to boot.

But say you want to watch just a game or two on ESPN through the course of the month, and a full subscription to Sling Orange isn’t really needed. Sling’s Passes allow you to watch Sling Orange for just $5 per day, $10 for three days, or $15 per week, and once that period is over, there’s no auto-renewal. For more casual fans, this is a great way to watch the games you want to see at a much lower price than DIRECTV offers, or YouTube TV is likely to offer.

Verdict: Sling TV is clearly the least expensive option for watching a game or two here and there.

Who has the most selection?

Right now, there’s no argument to be made that anyone other than DIRECTV has the best selection of genre-themed packages. In addition to MySports, it offers the MyEntertainment plan with over 60 channels, Disney+, Hulu, and ViX Premium ads for $35 per month; the My News plan with 10+ channels for $40 per month; the MyKids package with 10+ channels and Disney+ for $20 per month; and the MiEspañol plan with 60+ channels and ViX Premium for $35 per month.

YouTube TV has just one genre package announced at the moment, though reports indicate that the streamer plans to launch as many as 10+ of these smaller channel packages starting in 2026. Until it gets the ball rolling in that regard, however, DIRECTV will have an impressive head start.

Sling TV only allows viewers to purchase limited-access Passes for Sling Orange, though some of the most popular channels in Sling Blue are found in the Sling Select plan for $20 per month. While it doesn’t really offer genre-themed packages in the sense that DIRECTV does and YouTube TV plans to, Sling TV does offer a big lineup of add-ons to supplement its channel plans.

Verdict: At the moment, DIRECTV has the best selection of genre-themed plans, but that could change when YouTube TV gets going.

Bottom line

Even if you’re excited for the new YouTube TV sports package to come out in 2026, there really isn’t any reason to wait for it to arrive. If you’re a die-hard sports fan who wants to watch something new every night, the DIRECTV MySports package is a great choice to watch national channels and broadcast networks, as well as RSNs if you want to pay extra for them.

The more casual fan can stick with Sling TV and its Passes, and pay only for access to sports channels on days when there’s a game they actually want to watch. While you won’t get any local broadcast channels while using a Pass to watch Sling Orange, you can always buy an over-the-air antenna for a one-time price and see those channels with no subscription fees at all.

Neither DIRECTV nor Sling TV will lock you into a long-term deal, either, so if you find yourself wanting to switch to YouTube TV genre packages when the time comes, that option will be open to you. In the meantime, DIRECTV has several genre packs to choose from to serve the different needs of your household, and we strongly recommend browsing through them to see if they can meet your TV requirements.