DIRECTV SELECT Package Review: Maximize Your Savings

If you’re looking to upgrade your home entertainment package or just tired of your old provider, at $54.99 a month (with zero additional or hidden fees), DIRECTV SELECT is one of the best starter packages around. It’s also the most inexpensive way to get the Genie whole-home DVR system (you’ll have to hook up at least 2 rooms to qualify for the free upgrade). Another nice perk included is a free 3-month trial of premium movies (46 total channels of HBO, Showtime, STARZ and Cinemax). Just be sure to cancel before your 3 months are up if you don’t want to pay extra for the flicks – if you don’t trust yourself to remember and don’t watch many movies, just ask your rep to inactivate the movie bonus at sign-up. Here’s a quick look at everything included in the DIRECTV Select plan:

Features:

• Over 155 all-digital channels (most in HD)
• Free HBO, SHOWTIME, STARZ and Cinemax for 3 full months
• Free Genie DVR system + 3 Genie minis for additional TVs
• Over 4,000 On Demand shows and movies included
• Free Local Channels
• Standard Professional Installation included

Ideal for: folks that are leaving cable or just want to maximize their savings… and for most, 155+ channels more than fit the bill. In fact, it may even seem like a lot of channels if you’re leaving cable, but you can easily customize/filter your stations so you don’t have to constantly scan the entire guide. The main downside to this plan is you lose some of the full-time sports channels such as ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNews and a few others. If you can’t live without sports, the Entertainment Plan (165+ channels) is only about $5 more and is one of the best packages in TV. Both of these are newer packages that haven’t been around long, but each delivers plenty of coverage, especially if you don’t watch a lot of TV. Important note for NFL fans: neither of these 2 plans include the NFL Sunday Ticket free at sign-up; you’ll need the Choice plan and up to qualify for that deal.

The SELECT package is also ideal for folks on the go. DIRECTV now lets you watch, record, and view your shows from your mobile devices and this plan qualifies you for all that technology.

Total Cost (no extra fees):
$54.99/mo (promo pricing for 2 years)
(after 24 months, you pay the prevailing price)

Final Thoughts:
Starting fresh with television providers can be tough, especially if you’re on a budget and just don’t know what you’re looking for. Luckily, the DIRECTV SELECT package can ease some of the stress. Newer customers get access to a highly popular channel line-up that, for at least 24 months, is just $54.99 a month (most fees included). Toss in free installation on up to 4 rooms, the Genie DVR, free movie channels and great customer service, there’s a lot to like here. Finally, DIRECTV makes it very easy to upgrade or downgrade plans. So if you’re looking to make the switch or start paying for television, check out DIRECTV’s SELECT plan first and see if it covers all the bases.

About the author

George Levint

George is the senior editor at DigitalFind and an expert in how technology at home impacts our lives. From funky analog radios to AI devices that try to out-think you, he's usually unfairly critical until proven otherwise. He also enjoys spending the occasional weekend off-grid to keep Skynet guessing.