I‘ve followed the rapid growth of live TV streaming services as cable-cutting continues accelerating over the last few years. As someone who analyzes cord-cutting trends closely, the two heavyweights that catch my attention are DirecTV Stream and Hulu‘s Live TV option. If you‘re deciding between them, there‘s a lot to weigh regarding channel availability, sporting events access, cost breakdowns and streaming quality.
Let‘s dive into the nitty-gritty details from an industry insider‘s perspective! By the end, you‘ll have all the facts to decide whether DirecTV Stream or Hulu Live TV better fits your household‘s needs.
Overview
First, a quick introduction to both services for context:
DirecTV Stream first launched in 2016 as DirecTV Now. It was rebranded in 2021 after going by a brief stint as AT&T TV Now. DirecTV Stream requires using proprietary set-top boxes and contracts which resembles satellite TV. But advantages like huge channel selection and unique access to regional sports make it a favorite for some streamers.
Hulu + Live TV arrived in 2017 as an extension of Hulu‘s on-demand streaming service. It lets you watch 60+ live channels on top of Hulu‘s entire streaming catalog. Bundling Hulu/Disney+/ESPN+ together appeals to entertainment fans. Clean access across devices counterbalances the smaller channel lineup compared to alternatives.
Both services start at around $70 per month. Let‘s explore how they compare across different decision factors:
Channel Lineups
DirecTV Stream premiers with four package tiers:
| Package | Price/Month | Channels |
|---|---|---|
| Entertainment | $74.99 | 75+ |
| Choice | $99.99 | 130+ |
| Ultimate | $109.99 | 140+ |
| Premier | $154.99 | 150+ |
Nearly 20% of channels carry regional sports coverage plus nationwide sports networks like ESPN, Fox Sports 1 and NBC Sports Network. Having pro and college sports all in one place wins over plenty of sports enthusiasts to DirecTV Stream.
But you miss out on 14 of the top 50 most-watched entertainment networks compared to traditional cable. Channels like BBC America, WE tv and MTV are noticeably absent. Still, the breadth of channel surfing flexibility has no equal among streaming TV rivals.
Let‘s examine how Hulu + Live TV stacks up on the channels front:
Hulu + Live TV provides around 68 major cable channels in its base $69.99 monthly package. You can optionally add over a dozen more channels via extras like the Sports and Español network packs. However, Hulu Live emphasizes top entertainment networks over niche and regional channels. Significant omissions include BBC World News, MLB Network, NHL Network and Hallmark Channel.
DirecTV Stream provides 2x more total channels across its plans – mostly thanks to its regional sports scope. Hulu makes smart entertainment channel choices for casual TV watching. But DirecTV Stream has the superior volume overall by a wide margin.
Streaming Quality
In terms of streaming quality – the picture resolution you get from live channel feeds and on-demand programming – both providers max out at 1080p full HD quality. This matches leading competitors YouTube TV and FuboTV.
However, a closer look shows distinct advantages on the Hulu side regarding 4K streaming…
