DirecTV Stream confirms $5 to $10 rate hikes for 2022

DirecTV has confirmed a series of rate increases for its virtual MVPD, DirecTV Stream, making it the latest live streaming TV service to raise prices.

Beginning January 23, 2022, DirecTV Stream Choice will increase $5 per month (from $84.99 to $89.99) while Ultimate and Premier will both increase $10 per month (from $84.99 to $94.99 and from $139.99 to $149.99, respectively). The $69.99 Entertainment package will remain as is.

The company attributed the price increases to rising programming costs, inflation and other factors.

“While we were able to absorb a significant amount of the increased costs tied to programming and inflation over the last year, like other pay TV operators we need to increase rates to continue to provide customers a broad spectrum of programming at the best value,” a DirecTV spokesperson said in a statement.

The Streamable last week reported that the price increases were incoming.

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DirecTV Stream is also raising rates for grandfathered DirecTV Now and AT&T TV Now packages. Optimo Mas is increasing $4 per month; Entertainment is increasing $5 per month; Choice is increasing $7 per month; Xtra is increasing $8 per month; and Ultimate, Premier, Plus, Plus without HBO, Live A Little, Just Right, Go Big, Gotta Have It and Todo Y Mas are all increasing $10 per month.

DirecTV Stream's rate hike follows similar increases this year from competing vMVPDs including Hulu + Live TV, Philo and Sling TV.

The rate hikes for DirecTV Stream go into effect on the same date as a series of increases for DirecTV’s traditional satellite TV service. DirecTV prices will go up an average of approximately $5 per month per account.

“Due to increased programming costs, we’re adjusting the price of our video packages. Periodically, TV network owners increase the fees they charge DirecTV for the right to broadcast their movies, shows, and sporting events. In addition, this year we have experienced higher-than-normal inflation across our suppliers,” the company wrote on its website.