DIRECTV Sports Packages
Our experts highlight what sports fans can receive through DIRECTV, including sports channels and league-specific packages.
DIRECTV offers some of the most comprehensive TV packages for sports fans. DIRECTV carries out-of-market packages for several major league sports. Plus, its lineup of over 20 basic sports channels ensures you’ll get coverage of the biggest sporting competitions worldwide.
Keep reading for a complete list of sports packages and channels, including Spanish-language options for those who enjoy watching sports en español.
- Over 20 basic sports channels
- Wide regional sports network (RSN) availability
- Spanish-language options
- Expensive plans
- 2-year contract
- Bulky equipment requirements
Is DIRECTV worth it for sports fans?
To say DIRECTV is worth it for sports fans is an understatement because DIRECTV is our favorite TV service provider for sports. The satellite TV provider offers over 20 sports channels and includes one of the largest regional sports network (RSN) selections.
DIRECTV also has several other sports add-ons, like MLB EXTRA INNINGS® and NBA League Pass. The add-ons don’t come with any DIRECTV plan. But they bring you out-of-market sports coverage, so you get the most games from the leagues you love.
The downside to DIRECTV is its cost. While its base plans come with many channels, the prices are steep and require a two-year contract. On top of that, there’s the sizeable satellite dish that gets installed on your property—a less-than-ideal setup for anyone who lives in an apartment or condo.
If you don’t love inconvenient equipment installation and ticky-tack upcharges (Who doesn’t?), you can get a comparable DIRECTV STREAM plan without satellite dishes or DVR fees. All you need is a good internet connection and a streaming device, and you’re in business.
DIRECTV sports packages
DIRECTV offers out-of-market sports packages for MLB, NBA, and NHL fans. Each package varies in cost—with discounts sometimes available mid-season.
While regional blackout restrictions apply to each package, having the DIRECTV CHOICE plan or above will ensure you have access to most games blacked out on the out-of-market sports package. The only exception to this is when exclusive games play on streaming services, like in the case of MLB games on Apple TV+ and Peacock.
| Package | Price | Satellite | Internet | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MLB EXTRA INNINGS® | $25.00/mo for 6 mos. | ✔ | — |
View package Read MLB EXTRA INNINGS review |
| NBA League Pass | $99.99/season | ✔ | ✔ |
View package Read NBA League Pass review |
| NHL® CENTER ICE® | $69.99/season | ✔ | — |
View package Read NHL Center Ice review |
Data effective as of post date. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change. Blackout restrictions and other conditions apply to all sports programming.
Pro tip: The longtime DIRECTV-exclusive NFL Sunday Ticket heads to YouTube TV for the 2023 season. Learn everything there is to know about the change in our guide: Is NFL Sunday Ticket Leaving DIRECTV?
DIRECTV Sports Pack
DIRECTV also offers its own sports package appropriately named DIRECTV Sports Pack for $14.99 a month. It gets you over 40 out-of-market sports networks regardless of your location—including higher-tiered sports channels like MLB Network Strike Zone, Next Level Sports, and WILLOW.
But a word of caution—even when you have the out-of-market sports networks through DIRECTV Sports Pack, professional out-of-market games are still subject to blackout restrictions. That means you’ll need one of the league-specific packages from the section above to get out-of-market MLB, NBA, and NHL coverage.
The following is a complete list of channels available through DIRECTV Sports Pack.
- ACC Network
- Altitude Sports
- Bally Sports Cincinnati
- Bally Sports Detroit
- Bally Sports Florida
- Bally Sports Great Lakes
- Bally Sports Midwest
- Bally Sports North
- Bally Sports Ohio
- Bally Sports Oklahoma
- Bally Sports San Diego
- Bally Sports SoCal
- Bally Sports South
- Bally Sports Southeast
- Bally Sports Southwest
- Bally Sports Sun
- Bally Sports West
- Bally Sports Wisconsin
- CBS Sports Network
- ESPNews
- ESPNU
- FanDuel TV
- FS2
- Golf Channel
- Longhorn Network
- Mid-Atlantic Sports Network (MASN)
- MLB Network
- MLB Network Strike Zone
- Monumental Sports Network
- MSG
- MSG Sportsnet
- NBA TV
- NBC Sports Bay Area
- NBC Sports Boston
- NBC Sports California
- NBC Sports Chicago
- NESN
- Next Level Sports
- NFL Network
- NFL RedZone
- NHL Network
- Outdoor Channel
- ROOT SPORTS Northwest
- SEC Network
- Space City Home Network
- Spectrum SportsNet
- Spectrum SportsNet LA
- Sportsman Channel
- SportsNet New York (SNY)
- SportsNet Pittsburgh
- Tennis Channel
- TUDN
- WILLOW
- Willow Xtra
- YES Network
DIRECTV sports channels
With over 20 basic sports channels, DIRECTV has you covered when it comes to catching major sporting events. You’ll need a higher-tiered TV plan to access every sports channel that DIRECTV offers, but we’ve listed everything in the table below so you can decide which plan suits you the best.
Omitted from the table are entertainment channels that air sports on a part-time basis. But have no fear, channels like TBS, TNT, truTV, and USA Network are available in every DIRECTV base plan. That means you won’t miss out on nationally televised NBA, NHL, and MLB games—including crucial playoff matchups.
| Channel | Channel number | ENTERTAINMENT | CHOICE™ | ULTIMATE | PREMIER™ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ACCN | 612 | — | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Big Ten Network (BTN) | 610 | — | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| CBS Sports Network | 221 | — | — | ✔ | ✔ |
| ESPN | 206 | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| ESPN2 | 209 | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| ESPNews | 207 | — | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| ESPNU | 208 | — | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| FanDuel TV | 602 | — | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| FOX Sports 1 (FS1) | 219 | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| FOX Sports 2 (FS2) | 618 | — | — | ✔ | ✔ |
| Golf Channel | 218 | — | — | ✔ | ✔ |
| MAVTV | 214 | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Next Level Sports | 623 | — | — | — | ✔ |
| MLB Network | 213 | — | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| MLB Network Strike Zone | 719 | — | — | — | ✔ |
| MOTOR TREND | 281 | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| NBA TV | 216 | — | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| NFL Network | 212 | — | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| NHL Network | 215 | — | — | ✔ | ✔ |
| Outdoor Channel | 606 | — | — | — | ✔ |
| Pursuit Channel | 604 | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| SEC Network | 611 | — | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Sports Mix | 205 | — | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Sportsman Channel | 605 | — | — | ✔ | ✔ |
| Tennis Channel | 217 | — | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| TUDN | 464 | — | — | ✔ | ✔ |
| WILLOW | 625 | — | — | — | ✔ |
| Willow Xtra | 626 | — | — | — | ✔ |
Data effective as of post date. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change.
Regional sports networks on DIRECTV
DIRECTV and DIRECTV STREAM offer a lot of regional sports networks (RSNs). In fact, both services share one of the most extensive lineups of RSNs.
Anyone subscribed to the CHOICE package or above will receive RSNs. Your home location determines which RSNs are available to you. But you can verify your area’s RSNs by entering your zip code into DIRECTV’s local RSN lookup tool.
| Channel | Channel number | ENTERTAINMENT | CHOICE™ | ULTIMATE | PREMIER™ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Altitude Sports | 681 | — | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Bally Sports Cincinnati | 661 | — | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Bally Sports Detroit | 663 | — | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Bally Sports Florida | 654 | — | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Bally Sports Great Lakes | 662 | — | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Bally Sports Indiana | 671 | — | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Bally Sports Kansas City | 671 | — | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Bally Sports Midwest | 671 | — | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Bally Sports New Orleans | 676 | — | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Bally Sports North | 668 | — | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Bally Sports Ohio | 660 | — | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Bally Sports Oklahoma | 675 | — | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Bally Sports San Diego | 694 | — | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Bally Sports SoCal | 693 | — | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Bally Sports South | 646 | — | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Bally Sports Southeast | 649 | — | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Bally Sports Southwest | 676 | — | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Bally Sports Sun | 653 | — | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Bally Sports West | 692 | — | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Bally Sports Wisconsin | 669 | — | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Longhorn Network | 677 | — | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Marquee Sports Network | 664 | — | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Mid-Atlantic Sports Network (MASN) | 640 | — | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Monumental Sports Network | 642 | — | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| MSG | 634 | — | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| MSG Sportsnet | 635 | — | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| NBC Sports Bay Area | 696 | — | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| NBC Sports Boston | 630 | — | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| NBC Sports California | 698 | — | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| NBC Sports Chicago | 665 | — | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| NESN | 628 | — | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| ROOT SPORTS Northwest | 687 | — | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Space City Home Network | 674 | — | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Spectrum SportsNet | 691 | — | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Spectrum SportsNet Los Angeles | 690 | — | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| SportsNet New York (SNY) | 639 | — | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| SportsNet Pittsburgh | 659 | — | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| YES Network | 631 | — | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
Data effective as of post date. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change.
Customers with CHOICE,™ ULTIMATE and MÁS ULTRA™ only receive Regional Sports Networks for their market based on ZIP. Most Regional Sports Networks available in all markets for PREMIER™ and LO MÁXIMO.™ Blackout restrictions and other conditions apply to all sports programming.
Spanish-language sports offerings on DIRECTV
DIRECTV also offers Spanish-language add-ons that complement any of the service’s four English-language base packages. If you like your sports commentary en español, then you’ll want to consider adding these to your plan. You’ll receive not only live Spanish-language broadcasts of certain U.S.-based leagues but also Spanish-language coverage of the Liga MX, La Liga, and the Primera División.
While the basic DIRECTV Deportes package will get you five essential Spanish-language channels, the Américas Plus and México Plus packages provide expanded Latin America and Mexico-based networks. If you want it all, the En Español package gives you everything from the other three packages and Music Choice channels.
| Add-on | Price | Channel count | Key channels | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DIRECTV Deportes | $4.99/mo. | 5 | ESPN Deportes, Fox Deportes, and TUDN | View plan |
| Américas Plus | $7.99/mo. | 15+ | Telemundo, UniMás, and UNIVERSO | View plan |
| México Plus | $7.99/mo. | 25+ | Estrella TV, Multimedios, and Telemundo | View plan |
| En Español | $14.99/mo. | 60+ | ESPN Deportes, Fox Deportes, and Telemundo | View plan |
Data effective as of post date. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change.
How do you get sports on DIRECTV?
DIRECTV is our favorite TV service provider for sports for a reason. It has over 20 basic sports channels and over 40 regional sports networks. It also has out-of-market sports packages for the most comprehensive MLB, NBA, and NHL coverage.
Of course, all that coverage comes at a price. If you want every sports channel that DIRECTV offers, you’ll need the pricey DIRECTV PREMIER plan or the DIRECTV Sports Pack add-on. You’ll also need to dedicate yourself to bulky equipment and a two-year contract where the price increases after the first 12 months.
If that seems like an unnecessary commitment, you can always keep your options open and visit our Best Streaming Services for Sports guide.
DIRECTV sports packages FAQ
Does DIRECTV carry Pac-12 Network?
No, DIRECTV doesn’t carry the Pac-12 Networks, but you can watch select Pac-12 Conference games on FOX Sports and ESPN networks.
Is beIN SPORTS on DIRECTV?
No, DIRECTV no longer carries any of the beIN SPORTS channels following a carriage dispute in 2018.
Is WILLOW TV on DIRECTV?
No, the cricket channel WILLOW is not available on DIRECTV. Cricket fans can access the channel through other TV providers like DISH Network, Sling TV, and Spectrum.
What is DIRECTV Sports Central?
The DIRECTV Sports Central menu allows you to toggle between your DIRECTV channels and third-party streaming subscriptions within the convenience of your DIRECTV Gemini receiver. It’s a helpful way to navigate between traditional channels (like ESPN and TNT) and streaming apps (like ESPN+ and Peacock).
Methodology
Our TV experts spent dozens of hours researching and testing DIRECTV’s sports packages and channels. We examined the satellite TV provider’s league coverage, while also comparing its price and convenience to other TV service providers.
Check out our How We Rank page to learn more about our methods.