DirecTV
DirecTV, LLC is an American multichannel video programming distributor based in El Segundo, California. Originally launched on June 17, 1994, its primary service is distributing virtual multichannel video programming as well as satellite services for consumers and businesses in the United States and Puerto Rico. Its primary competitors are Dish Network and other traditional cable television providers, IP-based television services, and other over-the-top video services.
On July 24, 2015, after receiving approval from the Federal Communications Commission and the Department of Justice, AT&T acquired DirecTV in a transaction valued at $67.1 billion.
On February 25, 2021, AT&T announced that it would spin-off DirecTV, U-Verse TV, and DirecTV Stream into a separate entity, selling a 30% stake to TPG Inc., while retaining a 70% stake in the new standalone company. The deal closed on August 2, 2021.
On September 30, 2024, AT&T announced that they would sell their remaining 70% stake to TPG Inc. for $7.6 billion. The sale was completed on July 2, 2025, making DirecTV a wholly owned subsidiary of TPG Inc. and splitting the company off from AT&T for the first time since 2015.
On April 13, 2025, DirecTV announced the end of DirecTV Stream as a standalone brand and merged its content with its regular DirecTV service.
History
Hughes Electronics
In 1953, Howard Hughes created the Howard Hughes Medical Institute, to which he transferred full ownership of Hughes Aircraft. Following Hughes' death in 1976, HHMI was incorporated in 1977, and litigation ensued to determine whether it would be allowed to maintain its interest in Hughes Aircraft. In 1984, the court appointed a new board for HHMI, which proceeded to sell off Hughes Aircraft to General Motors on December 20, 1985, for an estimated $5.1 billion. General Motors then merged Hughes Aircraft with its subsidiary Delco Electronics to create Hughes Electronics Corporation.USSB
founded United States Satellite Broadcasting and was a leading proponent for the development of direct-broadcast satellite service in the United States. HHMI and other companies believed in the early 1990s that technology would soon make digital satellite television affordable.In the 1990s, Hubbard teamed up with Thomson Consumer Electronics and Hughes Electronics to come up with a practical digital satellite service capable of 175 channels; Hughes Electronics created DirecTV as a separate division and secured an agreement with USSB to build and launch the first high-power direct-broadcast satellite system.
Direct satellite broadcasters were mandated in 1992 to set aside 4% of its channel space for noncommercial educational and informational programming. DirecTV selected C-SPAN, EWTN and the Trinity Broadcasting Network from its current channel lineup, plus additional proposals from other programmers. DirecTV selected an additional six channels for the mandate: Clara+Vision, Inspirational Life, NASA TV, PBS YOU, StarNet and WorldLink TV.
The USSB and DirecTV programming services were launched on June 17, 1994.
Image:DirecTV Headquarters.png|thumb|Headquarters in California in 2013
DirecTV
DirecTV soon began to expand after its initial launch; in December 1998, DirecTV acquired USSB for $1.3 billion, and combined the two satellite services. In 1999, DirecTV acquired PrimeStar, a competitor in the satellite television industry, for $1.83 billion, dramatically increasing its share of the satellite television market in the US.On January 31, 2004, Hughes announced its intent to focus solely on its satellite television operations and divest its other interests, renaming itself The DirecTV Group, Inc. on March 16, 2004, and changing its ticker symbol from "HS" to "DTV". In April of that year, it sold its controlling interest in PanAmSat to a private consortium led by Kohlberg Kravis Roberts for $3.53 billion. On April 22, 2005, DirecTV spun off Hughes Network Systems into a separate entity and sold 50% of the new entity to SkyTerra, acquiring $157.4 million in the transaction. DirecTV later sold its remaining 50% share in Hughes Network Systems to SkyTerra for $100 million.
On November 1, 2005, DirecTV made its foray with its first original series, CD US, on Freeview. In December 2005, the U.S. Federal Trade Commission imposed a $5.3 million penalty on DirecTV for its violations of federal telemarketing regulations. It was the largest civil penalty the FTC had ever announced in a case enforcing any consumer protection law.
In September 2008, consumers filed a class action lawsuit with the Los Angeles Superior Court to stop DirecTV's practice of charging early cancellation penalties to subscribers. A motion for a preliminary injunction was filed to block the company from automatically removing the fees from customers' bank accounts or charging their credit card accounts without their prior knowledge and written consent. In 2009, the Washington Attorney General's office filed a civil complaint against DirecTV, finding that the company allegedly engaged in numerous repeated violations of the state's Consumer Protection Act. Violations included: unclear rebate terms and conditions, unfair advertisement, and automatically extending customer contracts.
On February 9, 2010, DirecTV dropped Sirius XM Radio and replaced the channel lineup with Sonic Tap audio stations. On April 1, 2011, DirecTV announced it would be renaming its three Fox Sports Networks channels as Root Sports.
The case brought by Washington state was settled in December 2010, with DirecTV agreeing to pay over $1 million. DirecTV subsequently settled a similar suit with the other 49 states and the District of Columbia for $13.25 million.
In July 2012, DirecTV had a major contract dispute with Viacom, leading to channels such as Nickelodeon, MTV and Comedy Central to be taken off the air temporarily In their place, a message appeared on screen reading as follows: "Viacom, the owner of this channel, forced DirecTV to suspend it despite our many requests to keep it on. We are working to bring it back as soon as possible without an unfair increase to your bill. Disruptions like this are brief. Go to DirecTVPromise.com for the latest info." DirecTV executive Derek Chang said to the media "We have been very willing to get a deal done, but Viacom is pushing DirecTV customers to pay more than a 30 percent increase, which equates to an extra $1 billion..." He then said that he couldn't accept Viacom's "extravagant financial demands." Denise Denson, Viacom's Executive Vice President of Content Distribution and Marketing, responded by mentioning how DirecTV refused to speak with Viacom past 11 am. Tuesday, saying that DirecTV's last offer to the company was "lower than anyone else pays us in the industry." The channels were only down for a few days, as contract negotiations were quickly settled after the channels were removed.
On March 11, 2015, the Federal Trade Commission filed a lawsuit against DIRECTV for deceptive advertising. The FTC claimed that DIRECTV failed to properly disclose terms of its TV packages, such as contractual obligations and premiums.
On March 1, 2016, AT&T announced plans for several DirecTV-branded over-the-top services, including AT&T TV, DIRECTV Mobile, and DIRECTV Preview to be offered under one platform called DirecTV Now. The platform launched on November 30, 2016, and was directly competing against Sling TV and YouTube TV. DirecTV was bought under the same umbrella as HBO, Cinemax, Turner Broadcasting System, Warner Bros., and Telepictures when AT&T bought Time Warner for over $80 billion in 2016.
In January 2022, the Los Angeles Sports & Entertainment Commission announced that DirecTV would serve as Presenting Sponsor of The chairman's Party, a Super Bowl after-party inside SoFi Stadium.
DirecTV completed its national rollout of local PBS member stations in February 2022. Nearly 250 local PBS stations in 198 Nielsen DMAs were added that reach 99% of all U.S. TV homes.
In February 2023, DirecTV presented and sponsored the third annual American Cornhole League Pro Shootout Series, where Tyler Lockett represented DirecTV. DirecTV launched a brand campaign, "Overly Direct Spokesperson," starring Brian Cox in April of that year; this was part of its new brand strategy platform, "Entertainment Without Compromise".
DirecTV launched its satellite-free "For the Birds" streaming brand campaign, featuring Henry Winkler and Steve Buscemi, in February 2024. Deoin Sanders joined the marketing campaign in August 2024.
MyFree DirecTV, a free streaming service, was launched in November 2024. MyFree DirecTV provides access to the FAST platform as well as an On-Demand library for free with commercials. The service is available on DirecTV Gemini devices, Amazon Fire TV, Apple TV, Roku, and Google TV.
DirecTV MySports, a streaming sports bundle, officially launched in January 2025; the new Genre Pack offers 40 live channels and ESPN+ that do not require a satellite TV subscription. It secured rights to channels owned by the former partners in Venu Sports and Comcast's NBCUniversal, plus the broadcast rights to the major US sports leagues such as the NFL, NBA, NHL, and MLB as well as major collegiate conferences. Other national sports channels available through DirecTV MySports include: ACC Network, Big Ten Network, ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU, Fox Sports 1, Fox Sports 2, Golf Channel, SEC Network, TBS, TNT, TruTV, and USA Network.
In February 2025, DirecTV launched additional Genre Packs, a live TV streaming subscription where users can select from multiple programming options based on the types of content consumers prefer. As of April 2025, there are four Genre Pack options available: MyEntertainment, MyNews, MySports and MiEspañol. Consumers of any Genre Pack also gain access to 100+ channels available through MyFree DirecTV.
In March 2025, DirecTV announced the launch of MyHome Team including RSNs. MyHome Team is available to MySports customers and features locally available live sports and in-market games from 37 professional franchises in the U.S. including 12 MLB teams, 15 NBA teams and 10 NHL teams.