DirecTV Prepares to Expand Into Free Online Streaming

(Credit: DirecTV)

DirecTV is further breaking out of its traditional satellite TV business by expanding into the free, ad-supported streaming market.

On Thursday, the company introduced MyFree DirectTV, which is slated to launch on Nov. 15 with access to free content. The service won’t require a satellite TV dish but will be accessible on the web, mobile, and select smart TVs and streaming devices.

MyFree DirecTV's site shows it’ll offer access to many reality TV series, such as Duck Dynasty, Storage Wars, and Ax Men, along with other more novel TV series such as Ancient Aliens. You can sign up for email notifications to learn when the streaming service launches. The company also promises that more content will be added “throughout 2025 and beyond.”

DirecTV appears to be launching the service to cash in on the advertising. “We’re laser-focused on strengthening our investment in this area as we empower our advertising clients to reach new audiences with targeted and contextual solutions and innovative ad formats,” DirecTV chief advertising sales officer Amy Leifer said in the announcement.

The free, ad-supported streaming market is already crowded, with notable competitors like Fox's Tubi, Amazon’s Freevee, and The Roku Channel. Still, DirecTV notes that market research shows that ad-supported streaming services are expected to generate about $8 billion in the US.

“MyFree DirecTV will also serve as a starting point for consumers looking to experience DirecTV, including access to popular genres of content, including sports, entertainment, kids and family, news, and lifestyle,” the company added.

The news comes after DirecTV announced its proposed merger with Dish Network. Although the deal promises to combine the US’s two major satellite TV providers, it’ll also mean DirecTV will take over Dish’s Sling TV business, a popular paid-for live TV streaming service. The company also has its own live TV streaming platform called DirecTV Stream, which currently costs $87 per month through a limited-time discount.

About Our Expert

Michael Kan

Principal Reporter

My Experience

I've been a journalist for over 15 years. I got my start as a schools and cities reporter in Kansas City and joined PCMag in 2017, where I cover satellite internet services, cybersecurity, PC hardware, and more. I'm currently based in San Francisco, but previously spent over five years in China, covering the country's technology sector.

Since 2020, I've covered the launch and explosive growth of SpaceX's Starlink satellite internet service, writing 600+ stories on availability and feature launches, but also the regulatory battles over the expansion of satellite constellations, fights with rival providers like AST SpaceMobile and Amazon, and the effort to expand into satellite-based mobile service. I've combed through FCC filings for the latest news and driven to remote corners of California to test Starlink's cellular service.

I also cover cyber threats, from ransomware gangs to the emergence of AI-based malware. In 2024 and 2025, the FTC forced Avast to pay consumers $16.5 million for secretly harvesting and selling their personal information to third-party clients, as revealed in my joint investigation with Motherboard.

I also cover the PC graphics card market. Pandemic-era shortages led me to camp out in front of a Best Buy to get an RTX 3000. I'm now following how the AI-driven memory shortage is impacting the entire consumer electronics market. I'm always eager to learn more, so please jump in the comments with feedback and send me tips.

The Best Tech I've Had:

My first video game console: a Nintendo Famicom
I loved my Sega Saturn despite PlayStation's popularity.
The iPod Video I received as a gift in college
Xbox 360 FTW
The Galaxy Nexus was the first smartphone I was proud to own.
The PC desktop I built in 2013, which still works to this day.

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