A question about Direct TV Now

Hello all looking to switch to Direct TV Now from Sling TV.  I currently watch all TV through the Xbox One and currently Sling TV is the only streaming service provided thus far.  However $35/mo for 100 channels is tempting enough for me to make a switch and cross my fingers that it comes to Xbox at some point.  To appease me all that would need to happen in the interim is for Direct TV now to have access to both Watch ESPN app and HBO Now since those are the two channels I watch most on Sling.  Does anyone know if a Direct TV Now login would allow access to these apps if I was to get the HBO add on? 

Conversation 9 comments

  • 5510

    20 December, 2016 - 9:30 am

    <p style="text-align: left;">ESPN is included with the promo package. As for HBO, I don’t know. I am thinking that it’s an add-on to the DirecTV app, where you watch HBO in, just like a regular cable/satellite subscription. Therefore, no HBO app is necessary.</p>

    • 1063

      Premium Member
      20 December, 2016 - 9:50 am

      <blockquote><em><a href="#31253">In reply to </a><a href="../../../../users/Bats">Bats</a><a href="#31253">:</a></em></blockquote>
      <p>It is an add on, but only $5 extra as opposed to $15 for HBO Now and Sling TV add on. &nbsp;I am basically paying the same price as Sling TV ($20 base + $5 sports package + $15 HBO; Direct TV Now $35 + $5) for more channels and less restrictions on number of streams at the same time. &nbsp;We will see how it goes.</p>

      • 4561

        22 December, 2016 - 7:51 pm

        <blockquote><em><a href="#31265">In reply to </a><a href="../../../../users/rtodd_us">rtodd_us</a><a href="#31265">:</a></em></blockquote>
        <p>The answer is yes as you found out, you can use the&nbsp;HBO and ESPN apps through your DirecTV Now subscription . &nbsp;I really like the new service. &nbsp;I had been using Amazon, Netflix and Antenna TV for over 5 years before this service came along. &nbsp;As you note, $40 for 100 channels with HBO and being on ATT phones, I can stream for "free"/not use my data when I’m out of the house.</p>
        <p>That was the only qualifier I was going to add. &nbsp;If you have ATT and use your cell phone to watch (on cellular data) then you’d want to use the DirecTV App and not the HBO GO app because the latter will use your data.</p>
        <p>I did experiment with my phones hotspot too and found that if I try to watch DirecTV on my ipad then it did use my cellular data.</p>

        • 1063

          Premium Member
          23 December, 2016 - 9:32 am

          <blockquote><em><a href="#31703">In reply to </a><a href="../../../../users/Tonymiller">Tonymiller</a><a href="#31703">:</a></em></blockquote>
          <p>That is both awesome and scary. I did not know that and would be great for the kids on long trips. &nbsp;Scary because of net neutrality stuff.</p>

  • 5496

    20 December, 2016 - 9:31 am

    <p>$35/mo they say is only introductory offer. After that it will be double. So not even cheaper then cable. And cost way more then Sling TV.</p>

    • 1063

      Premium Member
      20 December, 2016 - 9:35 am

      <blockquote><em><a href="#31254">In reply to </a><a href="../../../../users/lordbaal1">lordbaal1</a><a href="#31254">:</a></em></blockquote>
      <p>Untrue. &nbsp;It is permanent price until you cancel. &nbsp;However they do have the typical rates may change, but when you sign up it mentions that you will have the introductory price as long as you don’t cancel and I confirmed this with a couple other sources including Andrew Zarian on What the Tech podcast.</p>

  • 1063

    Premium Member
    20 December, 2016 - 9:38 am

    <p>Just an update. &nbsp;I went ahead and signed up. &nbsp;You do have access to Watch ESPN and HBO Go. &nbsp;I will let you know how things go. &nbsp;I hope that maybe the OneGuide section will have more use in this scenario as I know ESPN includes live channels on that screen and I hope HBOGo shows featured shows/movies.</p>
    <p>&nbsp;</p>

  • 5038

    20 December, 2016 - 3:13 pm

    <p>Do you know if there is any difference between HBO on Sling vs. the HBO you get with Direct TV Now? &nbsp;$5 vs. $15 is a big difference. &nbsp;Is one HBO Go and the other HBO Now or something? &nbsp;I was also trying to compare these 2 streaming services. &nbsp;The $35 offer is tempting, but their current device support sucks.. I want Xbox and Roku support and it currently has neither (Sling has both). &nbsp;</p>

    • 1063

      Premium Member
      22 December, 2016 - 1:28 pm

      <blockquote><em><a href="#31355">In reply to </a><a href="../../../../users/Wizzwith">Wizzwith</a><a href="#31355">:</a></em></blockquote>
      <p>Sling TV offers HBO channel within their app. &nbsp;So you can’t download HBO Now or HBO Go on any of you devices, because it is only seen within the sling TV app. &nbsp;However Direct TV Now is through a cable provider so you have access to HBO Go on all devices, but it also can be viewed traditionally in the Direct TV Now app. &nbsp;Currently Roku and Xbox One are slated on the coming soon category for Direct TV Now. &nbsp;I have heard though that Roku will be really soon with Xbox One sometime mid year, but that is speculation.</p>

Windows Intelligence In Your Inbox

Sign up for our new free newsletter to get three time-saving tips each Friday

"*" indicates required fields

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Thurrott © 2024 Thurrott LLC