DirecTV adds bold new channels after major customer loss | Official Website of Louis Velazquez, entrepreneur, finance guy and tech innovator

There is no doubt that DirecTV is navigating a competitive market. The rise of streaming services has put a dent in cable and satellite TV demand over the past few years, prompting the company to make bold changes to attract and retain customers, including recently expanding its channel lineup with new sports and entertainment options.

A survey from the Pew Research Center last year found that 83% of Americans use streaming services, while only 36% are subscribed to cable or satellite TV.

As this trend grows legs, a report from MoffettNathanson, which was shared with TheStreet, found that cable and satellite TV companies lost a whopping 988,000 TV customers during the third quarter of 2025. Specifically, 288,000 customers ditched DirecTV during that period.

Price has been a major motivator for cutting the cord on cable TV. During economic challenges, many consumers have opted to cut corners, and streaming has been a more affordable option for entertainment than cable.

For example, the average person spends $48 a month on three streaming services, while the average cable TV bill is $83, according to a recent survey from All About Cookies.

To help win back customers, DirecTV has heavily leaned into developing its streaming business.

In 2024, DirecTV launched its MyFree DirecTV app, offering consumers free access to more than 130 channels.

Then last year, DirecTV introduced its MySports streaming package and dropped three new streaming bundles called Genre Packs, which offer subscribers access to genre-specific channels for less than $50 a month.

DirecTV is shifting gears after losing 288,000 customers during the third quarter of 2025.

Shutterstock

DirecTV adds new channels to attract key customers

Now, DirecTV is doubling down on expanding its channel lineup. The company recently added DAZN Ringside, a combat sports channel, to MyFree DIRECTV. The channel offers content focused on boxing, such as PPV fights, documentaries and exclusive interviews.

Over the past few months, DirecTV has also enhanced its Regional Sports Network (RSN) offerings, which broadcast coverage of local college and professional sports teams such as MLB, NBA, and NHL.

RSNs, which are available through DirecTV’s Choice Package, include networks such as NBC Sports, SportsNet and FanDuel Sports channels.

These networks have recently expanded in availability for NBA, NHL, and MLB games, according to a recent report from Cord Cutters News. Additionally, more teams have been introduced to DirecTV’s MySports plan and RSN add-on.

By the second quarter of this year, DirecTV is also quietly planning to roll out two new sports-focused channels to its three Sports Mix offerings, which include Sports Mix 2, College Sports Mix and Deportes Mix, according to Cord Cutters News.

DirecTV’s Sports Mix lineup, available in its satellite and streaming services, lets viewers watch up to four live networks simultaneously on a single screen.

The first new channel coming to Sports Mix includes an enhanced ESPN+ live sports feed that contains English Premier League games and Big Ten and Big East college basketball.

The second includes the relaunched NBC Sports Network, which DirecTV is reportedly in talks to add. The addition of this channel would allow customers to view national and international sports events, such as the Olympics.

DirecTV is relying on a rising trend to win back customers

DirecTV’s decision to beef up its sports offerings comes at a critical time for sports. The 2026 Olympic Winter Games are set to run between Feb. 6 and Feb. 22 this year. Also, the NBA Playoffs are scheduled to kick off on April 18.

DirecTV is also appealing to a growing trend where more Americans nationwide are depending on streaming services to watch live sports events, according to a report from Parks Associates.

How many Americans use streaming services to watch sports:

Roughly 40% of Americans watch sports only through streaming services, compared to 19% who exclusively watch sports via traditional cable.
Additionally, 60% have signed up for a streaming service such as Peacock and Apple TV+ specifically to watch a sports event or buy a league pass that was exclusive tothat platform.
General streaming services retain 63% of those subscribers even after the sports event or season wraps up. Source: Parks Associates

“Sports have become the backbone of live streaming adoption,” said Michael Goodman, senior contributing analyst at Parks Associates, in a press release.

“The ability to deliver interactive, data-driven, and personalized experiences is changing how audiences connect with their favorite teams and leagues. Our research illustrates the huge potential for new monetization models as engagement deepens across connected screens,” he continued.

DirecTV’s recent expansion of its sports offerings follows in the footsteps of some of its top competitors.

For example, Comcast’s Xfinity added the NBC Sports Network to its Xfinity Stream app and Popular TV package last year. It also signed a multi-year agreement in October to become the official TV service provider for both the NBA and the WNBA.

Spectrum, another DirecTV rival, added ESPN+ and the Tennis Channel+ to its cable packages for free in 2024. Last year, it even introduced Fox One to these packages at no additional cost.

More Telecom News:

It is vital for DirecTV to make its channel lineup more appealing to customers, especially after it rolled out price increases for its streaming and cable TV packages last year, which sparked backlash.

DirecTV’s pivot to sports is beneficial but won’t be enough to win over value-conscious customers, said RTMNexus CEO Dominick Miserandino in a statement to TheStreet.

“Leaning into sports makes sense for DirecTV, because live sports remain one of the last true appointment-viewing drivers in a fragmented streaming market,” said Miserandino. “Sports cut through churn in a way scripted content no longer does, especially for older cable households and high-value fans who are less price-sensitive during the season.

“But sports alone won’t fix a value problem,” he added. “If customers are already upset about price hikes, adding more sports channels without clearer packaging or flexibility risks feeling like a forced upsell rather than a win.”