DirecTV's new Genre Packs let streamers select from news, sports, Spanish-language TV
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Black Friday: How to score major deals on Disney+, streaming platforms
With so many streaming services out there, it can be expensive keeping up with content. Here's how to save money, while enjoying your favorite shows.
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DirecTV wants to make it easier for streamers to create their own programming package.
The TV provider is offering three new standalone streaming content offerings, or Genre Packs, for subscribers to choose from: MyEntertainment (TV shows and movies), MyNews (U.S. and global news) and MiEspañol (Spanish language programming).
The Genre Packs, which cost $34.99 or $35.99 monthly, are available to stream now at directvstream.com. They will be available through streaming device partners and directv.com in the coming months.
Subscribers to a Genre Pack can also opt to add an additional Mini-Pack of content such as MyCinema ($9.99 monthly) or MySports Extra ($12.99 monthly).
The new offerings build on DirecTV's recent launch of MySports, a subscription streaming service with 40 channels ($69.99 monthly), and MyFree DirecTV, a free streaming service with more than 90 advertising-supported live TV channels.
All of these and the new Genre Packs and Mini-Packs can be watched on a browser or in the DirecTV app on popular streaming devices.
"At DIRECTV, we're breaking up with the one-size-fits-all bloated cable bundles of the past by delivering new ways for consumers to enjoy the content they love at the best value," said DirecTV chief marketing officer Vince Torres in a press release. "Our new Genre Packs and Mini-Packs provide lower-priced options, allowing customers to pick and choose what they want to watch and when they want to watch it."
The TV distribution market continues to shift toward streaming. Streaming revenue (including advertising revenue from streaming subscriptions with ads) of $17.3 billion, surpassed revenue from pay TV subscriptions ($16.7 billion) in the third quarter of 2024, according to The Hollywood Reporter, citing research firm Ampere Analysis.
As more money goes to streaming, services have devised new ways to attract subscribers including deals and lower-priced packages for those who will watch commercials.
More control over the content they pay for is a "big win for consumers," said Rich Greenfield, a partner and media and technology analyst at LightShed Partners. "To me the key is that programmers are finally realizing that the all or nothing strategy is a losing proposition," he told USA TODAY in an email.
"If you force consumers to choose the absurdly bloated expensive bundle, they increasingly are choosing no bundle," Greenfield said. "Programmers are now allowing packages of smaller channels to maintain the health of their most important channels and sacrificing the vast majority of channels that consumers have been forced to take for decades."
Stream this: From 'Gladiator II' to 'Saturday Night,' 15 movies you need to stream right now
DirecTV adds new streaming video options
Here's a closer look at DirecTV's new content packages:
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USA Today
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'Avatar: Fire and Ash' returns to Pandora with emotional first trailer
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This Disney Resort Is Among the Most Iconic Florida Hotels—With a Tiki-themed Bar, Overwater Bungalows, and 268 New Rooms
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When the text came in that our table was ready, we quickly threw on cover-ups over our swimsuits and checked in at the host desk, not quite sure what was waiting for us on the other side. With nautical-themed treasures adorning the walls (think canoe paddles, a hanging octopus tentacle, and a Don Ho record or two), Trader Sam's feels like the basement, cool-kid party that everyone is actually welcome to attend. We settled into our spot at a communal high-top, making new friends with a family who had road-tripped up from southern Florida. My husband, Rob, ordered a HippopotoMai-Tai (rum, orange Curaçao, orgeat, agave nectar, and lime juice) tacking on the head-shaped mug to our order as a souvenir. When the waitress came by to deliver it, she yelled, 'two shots of rum!' It all made for a bit of South Seas–inspired magic, and after an hour, we left feeling all the good island vibes. 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The lobby is anchored by moss-clad pillars and colorful discs depicting marine life, both suspended from the ceiling, as well as an electric-blue "Moana"-themed mural. On the second floor, there are original concept drawings of the Polynesian—a reminder of how far the whole Disney experience has come. 'For many guests, this hotel is home to generations of family vacation memories, myself included,' says Elizabeth Rhodes, T+L's senior editor and theme park expert, who stayed for the first time at the 'Poly' when she was 5 years old. 'The resort is undeniably nostalgic: my mom visited with her own parents and remembers going to the luau dinner show. Disney has improved it over the years with renovation and additions, notably the overwater Bora Bora bungalows and the Island Tower.' Another pleasant surprise was the hotel's fantastic, efficient service. 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At the 268-room Island Tower, which spans 10 floors, we opted to stay in a deluxe studio facing the Seven Seas Lagoon. (The smallest category? A duo studio, which sleeps two adults.) 'The new Island Tower has expanded the resort's offerings to include many more multibedroom accommodation options,' explains Mary-Helen Law, a Disney specialist on Travel + Leisure 's A-List of travel advisors. 'This is great news for larger families who previously struggled with limited availability and couldn't be guaranteed connecting rooms.' Our ninth-floor studio came with a small patio, which had prime views of the fireworks at night. To maximize space, one wall was anchored by a green couch and a colorful, floral-inspired artwork that felt very "Moana" (a favorite of my son, Bobby's). With one pull, the mural disappeared and became a queen bed crowned by a picture of a sleeping Tefiti, from "Moana." 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In a pinch, we also opted to use Uber when going to the parks instead of the complimentary Disney transportation (free does not always equal fast). Check the Walt Disney World website for information on all 25 Disney Resort hotels, as well as any special packages that are on offer. Dining plans, which allow you to budget in meals and snacks—and choose from the various restaurants at the hotels and theme parks—are a popular choice for families. Every T+L hotel review is written by an editor or reporter who has stayed at the property, and each hotel selected aligns with our core values.
UPI
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