YouTube TV vs DirecTV Stream: Which is Better? (2024)

In the video comparison between KZbin TV and DirecTV Stream, we will carefully examine each company's services and charges, enabling you to determine which one is the better choice. The review video outlines the similarities and differences of both firms, providing you with the necessary information to make an informed and sensible decision.
00:00 Introduction
00:34 KZbin TV vs. DIRECTV Stream: Quick Comparison
01:51 KZbin TV vs. DIRECTV Stream: Channel Selection
02:34 KZbin TV vs. DIRECTV Stream: Value
03:07 KZbin TV vs. DIRECTV Stream: User Experience
04:15 KZbin TV vs. DIRECTV Stream: Sports
04:39 Conclusion

[@maggieney5240]

Direct tv streaming is offering a 5 day trial currently for new subscribers

[@markej4801]

Thanks for the comparison! I was a faithful Directv satellite user for multiple years until their pricing drove me from them. Loved many aspects of the offering, but since I've moved to KZbin TV, I'm content with their cloud dvr functions. The pricing is the biggest issue for me--YTTV is so much cheaper compared to the full cost of Directv Stream that I just can't swallow that higher cost.

[@davidgolden7524]

What is the resolution comparison?

[@ramoncordero1279]

The information presented in this video is incorrect. The creator of this video mentioned multiple times that Direct TV Stream does not offer a free trial, but that is incorrect. I just joined the service and it comes with a free 5 day trial. Also, the creator of the video says that Direct TV Stream requires a 2 year commitment, but that is also incorrect. Although traditional satellite Direct TV requires a 2 year contract, one of the benefits of Direct TV stream is that there is no contract or commitment required and you can cancel at any time without any penalty of extra fees. The only way to sign up for a two year commitment, would be to enroll in the traditional satellite version of Direct TV since Direct TV Stream does not offer any contracts or long term commitments. KZbin TV pricing is not guaranteed to remain the same and has actually gone up on multiple occasions for all users, the same holds true to Direct TV Stream.

[@saulshelly6174]

I am not going to upgrade my tv package for a couple of years from now because I am a college student that still lives with his parents, bu when i eventually do move out and get a tv i want to get youtube tv it just sounds like the better option for me

[@MSDOGS1976]

No 2 year commitment required for Stream. Just signed up for it. There is a 2 year contract for one version so it is confusing.

[@danram247]

Yep the DirecTV Stream has no contract and the Directv with their own streaming device has a 2 year contract.

[@drjekelmrhyde]

I have 4 tvs at my house and my girlfriend has 2, but all of them can run streams at the same time. Plus stand alone streaming cable apps will let you use your DTVStream credentials

[@TheGregh1977]

Does she need to login to equipment at your home? Or they always work with no issues?

[@kdub1666]

Frequently I have a heck of a time getting youtube tv to work. Daily error notices to try back again later. It can happen when initially opening it or after watching a channel for a period of time. Not sure what the problem is but it's a PITA!

[@danemoreno88]

I’ve had every single streaming tv and directv stream is far the best although you will pay for it but that’s just like life you get what you pay for directv has the best interface best picture quality most actual channels

[@archer102356]

Spot on I did an actual test on stream quality and audio quality and posted above. YTTV is close in quality but lacks many channels. For quality and watchability DTV stream wins. I think YTTV has way too many pushing it and telling lies. Very common. FUBO offers better channels than YTTV and is a close second.

[@kw4928]

As long as you never need to deal with customer service (if you can even reach someone). It's the worst. Seriously. The worst.

[@danemoreno88]

@@kw4928 not a deal breaker for me as I watch instead of talk to them 🤷 and I have talked to them before about canceling back when I was trying out multiple companies the worst is Xfinity by a long shot as far as the actual service directv stream is loads better than any other

[@ccmcgee9062]

Funny. Everyone I ask says the opposite.

[@1Road2Success]

I love my YTTV. I have a huge library of movies and shows saved up in my DVR, Rarely have issues with it, and the biggest thing for me… the phone app works exactly the way you expect it too without any bugs or hiccups. I don’t know how the DTv streaming app is now in comparison to YTTV, but when I had the satellite dish before, the streaming app on the phone was horrible… could hardly ever get a show to play, would never record what you tell it too… just the worst

[@oldgoldtopgoldtop6039]

Could you comment on the dvr caoabilities? I've read that directtv stream dvr is more capable.

[@animalhouse8849]

It's unlimited hours, but the limitation is a max of 29 episodes of one show at a time. If a show starts recording when you have 29 episodes in the cloud it deletes the oldest one to make room for the newest.

[@animalhouse8849]

Also they get deleted after 9 months.

[@Schweigardt]

I used to be a DIRECTV satellite TV customer and loved the DVR collection of movies/series you could accumulate over the years, as DTV would offer occasional "free preview weekends" for the subscription movie channels. BUT with DIRECTV Stream, anything you record during a free preview weekend expires after the preview period ends. So you end up with a bunch of recordings on the DVR you can't watch unless you subscribe to the respective movie channels. I guess that's how it really should work, but definitely was spoiled from the satellite TV dvr days.

[@markej4801]

@@Schweigardt, the downside of the satellite DVR was if your dvr went on the blink, you lost everything that was recorded! Happened to me a couple of times. :( However, the cloud offering limits recordings to 9 months. Also a bummer. I wish there was a way to download that content onto a hard drive for my personal use.

[@Schweigardt]

@@markej4801 I've been looking into HDMI recording adapters that would allow you to manually record a movie, TV program or sporting event to another device. DTV set-top boxes used to have extra RCA A/V outputs that allowed recording in low-res SDTV quality onto a DVD/HDD recorder. There has to be a similar way to do that with HDMI content

[@czarian5]

I would rather have a streaming TV service that has direct channels dial. It looks like DTV streams using their Gemini devices have the capability. I hate scrolling to get to a needed channel.

[@mauryd3444]

DirectTV stream does indeed have a more traditional remote that's backlit. Having to scroll to a channel was always a deal breaker for me.

[@ddvantandar-kw7kl]

Hopefully in the comming days the services will be avilable worldwide.

[@deelos2269]

If you're a nfl fan KZbin TV if you're NBA fan DirecTV. 🤷‍♂️ That's how the deal went down after Sunday ticket bid.

[@1Road2Success]

YTTV has both

[@1Road2Success]

And NBA League Pass is cheaper on YTTV… $14/mo compared to $22/mo on DirecTv

[@jackbradshaw9027]

Directv because of RSN.

[@kdub1666]

What about video fast forwarding, reversing, and playing at different speeds? KZbin tv offers 4k but I would bet it's buggy. Does directv streaming offer 4k?

[@nateg.2567]

they got a few 4K channels but they don't offer much other than that and the channels don't always show stuff, mostly just sporting events i've noticed

[@1Road2Success]

YTTV is very reliable… not buggy at all. I’m trying out DirecTv right now and I’m having more problems with that than I ever did with YTTV

[@mikecole3899]

@@1Road2Successthat’s the thing, I prefer YTTV’s user interface, but, I want DTVS channels!!! 😢😢

[@1Road2Success]

@@mikecole3899 Only channel I’m really missing on YTTV is Lifetime. I’m not a big baseball fan so I’m ok with not getting all of those games. But with basketball, NBA League Pass is cheaper on YTTV ($14/mo vs $22/mo) and NFL Network is also included without having to pay $15 for a separate sports package. I’m in the trial period with a DirecTv Gemini right now but I just can’t convince myself to pay twice what I’m paying for YTTV for something that doesn’t work as good. I’ve had a ton of issues with apps within DirecTv and other features they say I’m supposed to have like 72 hour Rewind and I’ve never had these problems before. It’s just made me appreciate YTTV even more

[@danram247]

I got DirecTV Stream and from what I noticed they have a few sporting event 4k channels and one nature 4k channel..I need to try it on another TV because for some reason when I go to the channel it gets stuck and never opens up...

[@donaldgraham8972]

The streaming app I have beats both of them with price and channels . I've been with them for 6 yrs and never had a prroblem

[@davidskudder3580]

You missed some of the key questions, size of DVR storage space, viewing options while traveling, youtube tv blocks out certain programs if you are NOT in your home viewing area. take another go at it

[@danram247]

DirecTV Stream doesn't block any channels while traveling in the US...the only difference is you get local broadcast channels from the city you are in while traveling. And DirecTV Stream DVR is unlimited...but I think after 9 months whatever you have in the cloud DVR it will disappear.

[@spider46531]

prices for both are too much for us older folk. I just want the locals and NO sports

[@lovinggrl]

People are very prideful about the features on yt saying they can see the latest comment a user posted on yt like wow idc you can see

[@Em_Dee_Aitch]

I just canceled my YTV tour DTV, only to learn that DTV only streams in 720. I could tell immediately. No excuse.

[@doylemuhammad4638]

I used to market the product from when it first dropped to pretty recently ( granted i lefr before its latest upgrade.) Originally in 2020 it was only 720 It got upgraded to 720-1080 in 2021/22 and recently they got a new device (the gemini air) that has some 4k content on it from what i heard. I dont market for it anymore but thats what i heard the new device can do

[@mauryd3444]

@@doylemuhammad4638 You're correct. The picture quality of the Gemini air is outstanding and does include three 4K channels, the same three carried by satellite DirecTV.

[@noodles_GA]

Not sure where you heard DirecTV stream requires a 2 year commitment, that's simply not true and never has been. Their traditional satellite TV requires a commitment not their streaming service.

[@robertvail573]

NO JUST CALLED TO SEE AND IT IS A 14 DAY TRIAL THEY DO HAVE A 2 YEAR CONTRACT THAT IS WHAT IS KEEPING ME AWAY AND KZbin HAS NO SPORTS NO MLB NETWORK LIKE HE SAID THEY JUST GOT RID OF IT FOR WHAT EVER REASON. BUT I DO NOT WANT TO SIGN UP FOR 2 YEARS ONLY TO HAVE THEM DROP CHANNELS AND I AM STUCK IN A CONTRACT THAT I CAN NOT GET OUT OF.

[@twinkie415]

that must be the DirecTV With Internet, that's different from DirecTV Stream.

[@robertvail573]

@@twinkie415 just call them and find out I have called 3 times and got three different prices on all of them and they all say a 2 year commitment. call them and see.

[@noodles_GA]

@@robertvail573 you don’t call for DirecTV stream. I turn mine on for baseball season and turn it off when it’s over. I have since DirecTV became a thing. The two year contract is for Traditional satellite TV. Not even AT&T’s internet requires a contract. It’s month to month you never sign a service contract.

[@1Road2Success]

I just signed up for DirecTv stream and it is a 2 YEAR CONTRACT… Maybe it’s different for different states or areas… I’m not sure.

[@kw4928]

A dealbreaker for me is the absolutely horrid customer service you get with DirecTV. Extremely difficult (practically impossible) to communicate with a live person. If you do get to a live person, they can't think outside a basic script and are not helpful at all. Also of note, you cannot rewind during live programming. Some programs might allow you to restart, but there is no rewinding just a bit if you missed something. That being said about DirecTV, a dealbreaker for me with KZbin TV is the recording. It's really bad. When it comes to any series, you cannot record only new episodes or only one episode. Every single episode that plays (all of the old seasons) will show up in your recordings and you can't delete them. KZbin TV is really horrible when it comes to recordings. Fubo is horrible for adding $10/month fee to your bill for 'regional sports fee' whether you care about the sports channels or not. Fubo, how about transparency in pricing. Why aren't you including this mandatory $10/month fee in the package prices that you advertise? Also, I found the video quality to be quite poor, and too many buffering issues that I don't see with the other providers. So...I guess it's pick your poison. Next I will try Hulu Live TV for a month to see what it's like.

[@namelessfrce5842]

I agree with yttv dvr recordings i literally have to go through my recordings and marked as watch to help stop some of the repeat old recordings but i still get old recordings?

[@patbates1763]

KZbintv don't have MLB for some reason

[@illkid86]

They dropped the MLB network

[@soundz9992]

i can read off the screen too finger down

[@animalhouse8849]

Directv doesn't require a 2 year commitment. It's month by month exactly like KZbin TV. I checked to see if it's just my plan and every single option on Directv stream is month by month and you can cancel at any time... Where are you getting this 2 year commitment nonsense?

[@animalhouse8849]

They also offer a free trial 😂

[@m.ybarra3114]

I sell DTV internet stream It’s a two year contract as of like 2 months ago again

[@drjekelmrhyde]

​@@m.ybarra3114 You should really get in on how you can share TV streams amoung two separate households. That what's DTV really needs to start promoting right now. Also how you can use your DTV credentials on stand alone cable apps like max to multiple devices outside the main household.

[@animalhouse8849]

@@m.ybarra3114 Wrong. You can go look at their website right now. Here's a quote: "Choose how you want to watch TV, listen to music, and more. DIRECTV STREAM offers packages with no annual contract. Or choose a 24-month agreement to receive a DIRECTV device included at no additional charge. It’s your choice." They want you to sell them the 2 year commitments with the free junky streaming player, but you can sign up without any contract at all and use any Android TV, Apple TV, Amazon, etc. It's extremely misleading to sell customers like that.

[@mlowry22]

@@m.ybarra3114 I don't have a 2 year commitment, I can cancel at anytime.

[@thedude2897]

Directv Stream does cost more, but its definitely better. The guide is better, the quality is better and they offer more locals all depending where your are. KZbin tvs guide and layout sucks. I've used all of the streaming services and Directv Stream has been the best. No issues either. Only negative is if you're an NFL fan KZbin tv has Sunday Ticket.

[@stewcrew9264]

Hello - I'm considering Directv stream and wondered what the experience has been like for you with recorded content on the dvr. Specifically, I'm wondering if you're able to see the content preview if you're fast-forwarding through commercials? I've used other services where it's just anybody's guess where you'll end up if you're trying to fast-forward. For this question, I'm not referring to the 30-second skip function. Thanks in advance for the help!

[@thedude2897]

@@stewcrew9264 Yup you can see everything when fast forwarding through commercials. It has up to 4x. It works really well too. I do use the Directv Stream box. I do have a Roku and used it on that a couple times which worked well too. They just increased their prices again though and that part sucks.

[@danflaherty1132]

@@stewcrew9264 Great question and I am wondering the same thing myself. Also can you pause live TV?

[@1Road2Success]

I’m considering DTv but I’m hesitant because I don’t know what the phone app experience is like. Their phone app used to suck before when it was on satellite… just wondering if it works any better now that it’s a streaming app YTTV’s phone app is the best I’ve seen anywhere

[@thedude2897]

@1Road2Success The phone app has worked flawlessly for me. Easy to use too. They've definitely improved on it from years ago. They still give a short free trial from what I know to try it out.

[@davidtoliver7530]

Directv Stream

[@1Road2Success]

DirecTv Stream requires a 2 year contract… just signed up

[@danram247]

Are you sure? Because they have 2 different versions... DirecTV Stream which you can use your own streaming device like a Roku and (DirecTV Internet) with their own streaming device which is the 2 year contract.

[@1Road2Success]

@@danram247 I have the Gemini Air from them… which they told me was DirecTv Stream The guy was from another country and I kept trying to clarify it with him but all I could do was trust what he said