DirecTV's average package is $89-$159/month in 2026 — $1,068-$1,908 annually, plus $99 installation, plus 24-month contracts with $480 early termination fees. NFL Sunday Ticket alone is $378/year. SMART OTT delivers Sunday Ticket coverage, every NFL game, every regional sports network, plus 1.7M+ channels and full 4K, for $60-$80/year.
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No credit card. Cancel DirecTV only after you've confirmed everything works.
Real savings — annual math
| Item | DirecTV | SMART OTT |
|---|---|---|
| Base package | $89-159/mo ($1,068-1,908/yr) | $60-80/yr |
| NFL Sunday Ticket | $378/yr extra | Included |
| 4K UHD content | Limited | Full library |
| Equipment rental (Genie) | $15/mo per box | $0 |
| Regional Sports Fee | $13/mo ($156/yr) | Included |
| Year 1 with sports | ~$2,250 | $60–$80 |
| Savings | — | ~$2,170/yr (96%) |
How to cancel DirecTV (the right way)
Most people lose money cancelling because they rush. Here's the safe sequence:
- Activate SMART OTT trial first. Verify your specific channels including any regional packages.
- Call DirecTV at 1-800-DIRECTV. They route to retention.
- State clearly: 'cancel service immediately, no offers please'. Retention will offer $20-50/mo discounts — these always expire.
- Get a written confirmation by email of the cancellation date.
- Schedule equipment pickup (DirecTV usually requires you to ship the Genie boxes back via prepaid label).
- Watch for 'unreturned equipment' charges — DirecTV bills $135 per receiver and $45 per remote if not returned in 21 days. Keep tracking receipts.
- If you have NFL Sunday Ticket as a separate billing item, confirm it's also cancelled. DirecTV occasionally keeps charging $378/yr after main service cancellation.
What you keep when you switch
- ✓ Every NFL game (including Sunday Ticket coverage, MNF, TNF, SNF, RedZone)
- ✓ Every regional sports network — Bally Sports, YES, NESN, MSG, AT&T SportsNet
- ✓ All US network affiliates (ABC, NBC, CBS, FOX, CW, PBS)
- ✓ ESPN family (ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU, ESPN Deportes)
- ✓ HBO/Cinemax/Showtime/Starz content via SMART OTT premium tier
- ✓ International packages (DirecTV charged $25-30/mo extras for these — included free)
What you give up (and how to replace it)
- ✗ DirecTV Genie multi-room DVR with 1 TB storage (replaced by app-based recording on Firestick or by Plex if you want local DVR)
- ✗ DirecTV satellite reliability during heavy weather (IPTV depends on internet — but internet is more reliable than satellite during storms anyway)
- ✗ Pre-game NFL studio shows that are DirecTV-exclusive (rare — most pre-game shows are also on Fox/CBS/NBC/ESPN and SMART OTT carries those feeds)
Your migration timeline
The full transition takes about 7 days from start to finish:
- Day 1: Activate your SMART OTT 24h free trial (no credit card). Set it up on your TV alongside DirecTV.
- Day 2: Verify your specific channels work. Test sports, locals, kids' programming.
- Day 3: Pay for the SMART OTT annual plan (Elite $60 or Infinity 4K $80).
- Day 4-6: Keep both running. Show the household how SMART OTT works.
- Day 7: Call DirecTV to cancel. Return any equipment within 14 days, get a receipt.