DirecTV quietly built the cheapest streamer for local channels

Cord cutters have long wished for a way to stream local broadcast channels for less than the price of a full-pay TV package. Now it’s finally happening.

DirecTV, which has leaned more into streaming than satellite TV of late, now offers a $40-a-month bundle with all four major broadcast networks—ABC, CBS, Fox, and NBC—in five U.S. markets. It offers three of the big four networks in more than a dozen additional U.S. markets.

The local channels are part of DirecTV’s “MyNews” genre pack, which it launched in February. Despite the focus on news in DirecTV’s marketing, MyNews is now the cheapest option for streaming local channels—including all their sports and entertainment programming—in certain markets.

DirecTV’s sneaky local channel bundle

When DirecTV launched MyNews in February, it was a pretty unusual offering. Local channel coverage was limited to Fox and NBC stations, and its cable news lineup—which includes CNN, NBC, MSNBC, CNBC, and Fox Business—didn’t really justify the $40 per month asking price.

In fact, DirecTV’s own MyEntertainment package was a much better value for news hounds. For $35 per month, it includes those same five cable news channels, plus a bunch of entertainment channels and complimentary subscriptions to Disney+, Hulu, and Max.

A couple things changed since then:

• In June, DirecTV made a deal to bring Paramount-owned stations into its genre packs. That includes CBS in DirecTV’s MyNews and MySports bundles.
• In mid-July, DirecTV quietly started adding ABC stations to the MyNews bundle in select markets. (This was first pointed out by folks on Reddit.)

Having access to at least three of the big four broadcast networks changes the calculation, because no other live TV streaming service offers local channels for this low of a price. (PBS isn’t included, but you can stream it for free through PBS’s apps.)

The closest alternative is Sling TV Blue, which costs $46 per month and only includes Fox and/or NBC in a small number of markets. ABC is available in additional markets, but that raises the price to $51 per month. The other options for full local channel coverage are to pay $70 per month for DirecTV’s MySports pack or at least $83 per month for a full-pay TV package such as YouTube TV or Hulu + Live TV.

MyNews local channel availability

Jared Newman / Foundry

Full local channel coverage in DirecTV MyNews is not yet available nationwide. Jon Greer, a DirecTV spokesman, says it’s been bringing more CBS and ABC affiliates online now, with the goal of having broader availability for football season.

In the meantime, here’s the easiest way to see which local channels DirecTV’s MyNews carries in your area:

• Head to DirecTV’s Genre Packs page.
• Under the MyNews section, click the “See all 10+ channels” link.
• Enter your zip code at the top of the pop-up. (You may need to hit “Change” first.)
• Look for the stations marked as “Local” in the channel list.

I’ve also compiled a list of major cities with at least three of the big four local channels:

This is not a complete list, as DirecTV is adding stations in more markets over time.

Should you get DirecTV MyNews for local channels?

If you can pick up local ABC, CBS, Fox, and NBC stations with an antenna, DirecTV MyNews is not for you, as you’ll get the same local station coverage over-the-air for free. (If you want MyNews’ actual news channels, DirecTV’s MyEntertainment package gets you nearly all of them for less.)

Those who want national sports channels such as ESPN and Fox Sports should also look elsewhere. DirecTV’s $70 per month MySports package has comparable local and cable news coverage, while also including sports channels. Bigger bundles such as YouTube TV and Hulu + Live TV are worth a look as well, at least until the unbundled versions of ESPN and Fox’s sports channels arrive.

DirecTV’s MyNews is more narrowly focused on folks who want local channels for NFL games and other primetime programming, but can do without cable’s sports and entertainment channels. Folks who can’t receive those channels with an antenna finally have a cheaper way to stream them—with a little bit of news on the side.

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