DirecTV’s Subscribers Number

[Bruce]

Thanks to Fitch Ratings ( who gives the ratings on Credit and debt, as approved by the SEC, so they have accurate numbers) we have the totals.

DIRECTV's video subscriber base is the third-largest traditional multi-channel video programming distributor (MVPD) in the U.S. with about 8.2 million subscribers at the end of 1Q26.

The last time it was reported, it was 8.8M at the end of 2Q25, so only a 600,000 loss for 3 quarters, which is a major improvement, since for many years before that, it was losing 500,000 a quarter, 2 Million a year.

It is now losing less than Dish/Sling combined, I believe the Genre Packs are helping to retain and get subscribers.

https://www.fitchratings.com/research/corporate-finance/fitch-rates-directv-proposed-senior-secured-debt-offering-bb-rr2-11-05-2026

 

[raoul5788]

They have one less as of May 15th. I just couldn't justify almost $150 a month any more. I went to Fubo. Edit: And I've been a Directv customer for 30 years!

 

[b4pjoe]

They have one less as of May 15th. I just couldn't justify almost $150 a month any more. I went to Fubo.

Fubo would be a non starter for me. Missing channels:

• NBCUniversal Channels: NBC local affiliates, USA Network, Bravo, CNBC, MSNBC, E!, Syfy, Telemundo, and the Golf Channel.
• NBC Sports: Regional sports networks like NBC Sports Bay Area, Boston, California, and Philadelphia are also off the air.
• Warner Bros. Discovery Channels: TBS, TNT, TruTV, CNN, Discovery Channel, TLC, HGTV, Food Network, and Animal Planet.
• A&E Networks: A&E, History, Lifetime, and Vice.
• AMC Networks: AMC, IFC, SundanceTV, and WE tv

Plus most of its live TV channels and sports broadcasts are currently delivered in 720p.

 

[Jimbo]

Fubo would be a non starter for me. Missing channels:

• NBCUniversal Channels: NBC local affiliates, USA Network, Bravo, CNBC, MSNBC, E!, Syfy, Telemundo, and the Golf Channel.
• NBC Sports: Regional sports networks like NBC Sports Bay Area, Boston, California, and Philadelphia are also off the air.
• Warner Bros. Discovery Channels: TBS, TNT, TruTV, CNN, Discovery Channel, TLC, HGTV, Food Network, and Animal Planet.
• A&E Networks: A&E, History, Lifetime, and Vice.
• AMC Networks: AMC, IFC, SundanceTV, and WE tv

Plus most of its live TV channels and sports broadcasts are currently delivered in 720p.

YouTube TV

 

[raoul5788]

Fubo would be a non starter for me. Missing channels:

• NBCUniversal Channels: NBC local affiliates, USA Network, Bravo, CNBC, MSNBC, E!, Syfy, Telemundo, and the Golf Channel.
• NBC Sports: Regional sports networks like NBC Sports Bay Area, Boston, California, and Philadelphia are also off the air.
• Warner Bros. Discovery Channels: TBS, TNT, TruTV, CNN, Discovery Channel, TLC, HGTV, Food Network, and Animal Planet.
• A&E Networks: A&E, History, Lifetime, and Vice.
• AMC Networks: AMC, IFC, SundanceTV, and WE tv

Plus most of its live TV channels and sports broadcasts are currently delivered in 720p.

Understandable. It's always a choice of price vs channels. The $60/month difference made my choice easier.

 

[Arctic_fox]

YouTube TV

YTTV don't carry the Regional sports channels

 

[dishrich]

YTTV don't carry the Regional sports channels

It does still carry the NBC Sports branded RSN's, but obviously in those limited markets...

 

[Jimbo]

YTTV don't carry the Regional sports channels

RSN's ... are they still Alive ?

Unless your looking for the Non Major sports,,they are pretty pointless.

 

[b4pjoe]

Understandable. It's always a choice of price vs channels. The $60/month difference made my choice easier.

I see Fubo is getting the NBC Universal channels back. That will help them.

NBCUniversal Channels Like Telemundo and Bravo Are Returning to Fubo

 

[spiderman865]

RSN's ... are they still Alive ?

Unless your looking for the Non Major sports,,they are pretty pointless.

You may want to take a look at the websites for NBCSN Philly, Bay Area or the YES network or MSG Network and see which pro sports/teams they broadcast.

 

[navychop]

DTV MyEntertainment.

 

[Bruce]

You may want to take a look at the websites for NBCSN Philly, Bay Area or the YES network or MSG Network and see which pro sports/teams they broadcast.

Does not mean they are doing well, NBC has been trying to get rid of what is left of their RSNs for the last few years, MSG Network just avoided bankruptcy and the NY Yankees only averages about 2-3% of the total TV audience on YES.

Charter has been losing money for years for the LA RSN they own.

What is happening to the mid-market RSNs, will soon come true for the larger markets.

Cord Cutting is nationwide, not select areas.

 

[spiderman865]

Does not mean they are doing well, NBC has been trying to get rid of what is left of their RSNs for the last few years, MSG Network just avoided bankruptcy and the NY Yankees only averages about 2-3% of the total TV audience on YES.

Charter has been losing money for years for the LA RSN they own.

What is happening to the mid-market RSNs, will soon come true for the larger markets.

Cord Cutting is nationwide, not select areas.

While this may be true, it has nothing to do with my response to Jimbo .

 

[Arctic_fox]

RSN's ... are they still Alive ?

Unless your looking for the Non Major sports,,they are pretty pointless.

NESN and spectrum sportsnet is i don't know about the others

 

[Jimbo]

You may want to take a look at the websites for NBCSN Philly, Bay Area or the YES network or MSG Network and see which pro sports/teams they broadcast.

Ok, theres 2, out of what 30 + ?

 

[KyL416]

Not every team went to OTA (Suns/Mavs/Pelicans/Knights/Kraken/Blazers/Jazz/Mammoth/Panthers/Lightning/Heat/Pistons/Predators) or free streaming (Ducks/Stars) after FanDuel collapsed. All of the MLB teams and most of the NBA and NHL teams still need a paid subscription for in market viewing. The replacement team specific channels are still distributed like RSNs on DIRECTV, Comcast, Spectrum, Cox, FiOS and others. Most of the OTA teams don't offer a free streaming option for those out of range of their signal or in an adjacent market where the OTA coverage might be limited or not available at all. Like for the Lightning, they don't have any OTA affiliates in the Jacksonville and Panama City DMAs, so those fans would need a $14.99 D2C subscription or a participating pay TV provider to see the games that originate from Tampa's WXPX.

These teams are still on RSNs, and some formed a new teamed owned RSN or bought out their previous RSN:
NBC Sports Philadelphia (Phillies/76ers/Flyers)
NESN (Red Sox/Bruins) -- home games available in 4K HDR
NBC Sports Boston (Celtics/Sun)
YES (Yankees/Nets)
MSG/MSGSN (NY Rangers, Devils, Islanders, Knicks, Sabres)
SNY (Mets)
MASN (Orioles)
Monumental (Wizards/Capitals/Mystics) -- the former NBCS Washington
Braves Vision (Braves)
SportsNet Pittsburgh (Pirates/Penguins) -- the former ATTSN Pittsburgh
Detroit SportsNet (Tigers/Red Wings)
Marquee (Cubs)
CHSN (White Sox/Bulls/Blackhawks) -- home games available in 4K HDR, still uses the technical infrastructure of NBCS Chicago but is a new team owned entity
Space City (Astros, Rockets, will likely be home to the Comets) -- the former ATTSN Southwest
Rangers Sports Network (TX Rangers)
Altitude (Avalanche/Nuggets)
Sportsnet LA (Dodgers) -- home games available in 4K HDR
Spectrum Sportsnet (Lakers/Sparks) -- home games available in 4K HDR
Angels Broadcast TV (Angels/LA Kings) -- the former FanDuel West
NBC Sports Bay Area (Giants/Warriors)
NBC Sports California (Sac Kings/Sharks/As)

Rangers Sports Network is rumored to be in the bidding for the Spurs rights, and Braves Vision is rumored to be in the bidding for the Hawks and Grizzlies rights. YouTubeTV and DAZN have also been in talks for a package of whatever NBA teams are left.

Any games involving the teams that claim your area get blacked out on the out of market packages, along with any non-exclusive games involving them on TBS, TNT, MLB Network, NHL Network, NBA TV, ESPN, etc. There are D2C options, but those quickly add up if someone is in an area claimed by teams from multiple cities, as they are usually priced at $19.99 per-team or per-RSN instead of getting all of the teams as part of their base package.

While some people in this thread might not care or are fine with whatever airs as a national exclusive on NBC, ESPN or TBS, in other threads here and at other sites there were people threatening to cancel if they didn't strike a deal for their favorite MLB team in time for opening day.

 

[Jimbo]

Not every team went to OTA (Suns/Mavs/Pelicans/Knights/Kraken/Blazers/Jazz/Mammoth/Panthers/Lightning/Heat/Pistons/Predators) or free streaming (Ducks/Stars) after FanDuel collapsed. All of the MLB teams and most of the NBA and NHL teams still need a paid subscription for in market viewing. The replacement team specific channels are still distributed like RSNs on DIRECTV, Comcast, Spectrum, Cox, FiOS and others. Most of the OTA teams don't offer a free streaming option for those out of range of their signal or in an adjacent market where the OTA coverage might be limited or not available at all. Like for the Pelicans, outside of New Orleans, most of Gray's Gulf Coast Sports stations are on LPTV signals that don't reach the entire market.

NBC Sports Philadelphia (Phillies/76ers/Flyers)
NESN (Red Sox/Bruins) -- home games available in 4K HDR
NBC Sports Boston (Celtics/Sun)
YES (Yankees/Nets)
MSG/MSGSN (NY Rangers, Devils, Islanders, Knicks, Sabres)
SNY (Mets)
MASN (Orioles)
Monumental (Wizards/Capitals/Mystics)
Braves Vision (Braves)
SportsNet Pittsburgh (Pirates/Penguins)
Detroit SportsNet (Tigers/Red Wings)
Marquee (Cubs)
CHSN (White Sox/Bulls/Blackhawks) -- home games available in 4K HDR
Space City (Astros, Rockets, will likely be home to the Comets)
Rangers Sports Network (TX Rangers)
Altitude (Avalanche/Nuggets)
Sportsnet LA (Dodgers) -- home games available in 4K HDR
Spectrum Sportsnet (Lakers/Sparks) -- home games available in 4K HDR
Angels Broadcast TV (Angels/LA Kings)
NBC Sports Bay Area (Giants/Warriors)
NBC Sports California (Sac Kings/Sharks/As)

Rangers Sports Network is rumored to be in the bidding for the Spurs rights, and Braves Vision is rumored to be in the bidding for the Hawks and Grizzlies rights.

Any games involving the teams that claim your area get blacked out on the out of market packages, along with any non-exclusive games involving them on TBS, MLB Network, NHL Network, NBA TV, ESPN, etc.
There are D2C options, but those quickly add up if someone is in an area claimed by teams from multiple cities, as they are usually priced at $19.99 per-team or per-RSN instead of getting all of the teams as part of their base package.

While some people in this thread might not care or are fine with whatever airs as a national exclusive on NBC, ESPN or TBS, in other threads here and at other sites there were people threatening to cancel if they didn't strike a deal for their favorite MLB team in time for opening day.

Maybe I should Rephrase my post .... the RSN's that we use to watch are mostly gone ...Many of them have moved to another company doing the same thing, some have moved more than once.

Fwiw, in order to watch MLB, you need to go thru MLB.TV ... ala Detroit Sports Net for Tigers and Red Wings ... you Can NOT get them by going to Detroit Sports Net, when you do, you click continue and it takes you to MLB.TV

So, in essence, MLB IS thier own RSN.

But the RSN as we knew it, is mostly gone.

 

[KyL416]

That's to stream it, on cable and sat it's distributed like a new part time RSN

MLB.tv also handles the D2C subscriptions for Angels Broadcast TV (fka FanDuel West), BravesVision, Sportsnet LA, SNY and MASN, along with the MLB only D2C subscriptions for the NBC Sports RSNs.

 

[Bruce]

The replacement team specific channels are still distributed like RSNs on DIRECTV, Comcast, Spectrum, Cox, FiOS and others.

I just want to use the above to illustrate a point, the total number of subscribers to those above services ( all that receive the RSNs)is only about 36-38 Million Households, less than that ( some have packages that do not have the RSNs in them) actually receive the RSN.

In 2018, there was about 100M Subscribers that received Traditional Paid Live TV, the vast majority received the RSNs.

That is why they are failing, not enough subscribers paying the per sub fee and they will continue to lose subscribers.

 

[raoul5788]

I see Fubo is getting the NBC Universal channels back. That will help them.
NBCUniversal Channels Like Telemundo and Bravo Are Returning to Fubo

And my package is going up $15/month!