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DIRECTV NOW Reaches 1.85 Million Subscribers, But Growth Down 85%

AT&T announced their 2018 3rd Quarter results today and the news was not good.

The company shared that while DIRECTV NOW has reached 1,858,000 subscribers, the service only added 49,000 net subscribers this quarter. This is down 85% from last quarter when they added 342,00 net subscribers.

The number of subscribers on free trials was 46,000 which means 94% of net adds were free trial members. Recent quarters saw free trials make up just 15-20% of net adds.

The dramatic drop in new user growth was likely impacted by their price increase, increased competition from services like Hulu Live TV and YouTube TV, and the fact that they stopped giving away heavily subsidized Apple TV 4K and Roku devices.

DIRECTV NOW’s modest gains were not able offset the largest decline in Satellite subscribers in two years. DirecTV lost 359,000 subscribers last quarter, while U-Verse saw subscribers increase by 13,000.

The service is still the second largest vMVPD behind Sling TV, who at last reports had 2.3 million subscribers. Hulu Live TV announced in September that they had reached 1 million subscribers, while speculation place YouTube TV at 800,000, PlayStation Vue at 400,000, and fuboTV at 250,000.

Want to Learn More About Live TV Streaming Services?

  • You can read our full review comparing 8 different cord-cutting services including DIRECTV NOW, PlayStation Vue, fuboTV, Hulu Live TV, Philo, Sling TV, YouTube TV, and WatchTV.
  • Use our Channel Finder to add your favorite channels, shows, and sports teams and we’ll help find the best streaming service for you.
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DIRECTV STREAM Cash Back

Let us know your e-mail address to send your $50 Amazon Gift Card when you sign up for DIRECTV STREAM.

You will receive it ~2 weeks after you complete your first month of service.

Offer Terms

  • Only valid for new DIRECTV STREAM subscribers.
  • Only valid once per household.
  • You must pay and maintain service for at least one month to be eligible.
  • Purchase must be completed on the DIRECTV STREAM website.
  • You’ll receive gift card 4-6 weeks after purchase (~2 weeks after your first month).
  • Cannot be combined with any other promotion and won’t be eligible if you try to use a coupon code or cash back from another site.

Sling TV Cash Back

Let us know your e-mail address to send your $25 Uber Eats Gift Card when you sign up for Sling TV.

You will receive it ~2 weeks after you complete your first month of service.

Offer Terms

  • Only valid for new Sling TV subscribers to Sling Orange, Blue, or Sling Orange + Blue.
  • Only valid once per household.
  • You must pay and maintain service for at least one month to be eligible.
  • You must click from The Streamable and complete your purchase on the Sling TV website.
  • You’ll receive gift card 4-6 weeks after purchase (~2 weeks after your first month).
  • Cannot be combined with any other promotion and won’t be eligible if you try to use a coupon code or cash back from another site.

Hulu Live TV Cash Back

Let us know your e-mail address to send your $35 Amazon Gift Card when you sign up for Hulu Live TV.

You will receive it ~2 weeks after you complete your first month of service.

Offer Terms

  • Only valid for new Hulu Live TV subscribers.
  • Only valid once per household.
  • You must pay and maintain service for at least one month to be eligible.
  • You must click from The Streamable and complete your purchase on the Hulu Live TV website.
  • You’ll receive gift card 4-6 weeks after purchase (~2 weeks after your first month).
  • Cannot be combined with any other promotion and won’t be eligible if you try to use a coupon code or cash back from another site.