The DIRECTV CHOICE Package is DIRECTV's most popular mid-tier television plan, offering 125+ to 215+ channels (depending on streaming vs. satellite delivery) at a promotional base rate of $84.99 to $94.99/mo, with a 2-year price guarantee. It is the entry tier that unlocks live Regional Sports Networks (RSNs)—such as FanDuel Sports Network (Bally), YES Network, NESN, and Marquee—alongside national sports staples like MLB Network, NBA TV, SEC Network, Big Ten Network, and ACC Network. However, subscribers must account for a mandatory Regional Sports Fee (up to $19.99 to $23.99/mo) and a $10.00/mo Gemini receiver lease fee, bringing the real monthly bill to roughly $124.98/mo plus local taxes.
Choosing a DirecTV package often comes down to sports coverage. While budget tiers like DIRECTV ENTERTAINMENT cover basic news and entertainment networks, they exclude local regional sports feeds. The CHOICE tier is specifically engineered as the entry point for local MLB, NBA, and NHL team games, college sports conferences, and specialty cable networks.
YouTube
Below is an itemized breakdown of CHOICE package pricing, real costs including mandatory surcharges, channel lineups, satellite versus streaming differences, and how it stacks up against competing TV providers.
DIRECTV CHOICE Package at a Glance 2026
| Feature / Detail | DIRECTV CHOICE (Satellite) | DIRECTV CHOICE (via Internet) |
| Advertised Base Price | $94.99/mo (24-Month Price Lock) | $84.99 – $94.99/mo |
| Real Out-of-Pocket Cost | ~$124.98/mo (Base + RSN Fee + Gemini) | ~$124.98/mo (Or lower in non-RSN ZIPs) |
| Channel Count | 215+ Channels (Includes audio & guide feeds) | 125+ Channels (Curated video networks) |
| Regional Sports Networks (RSNs) | Included (Subject to Regional Sports Fee) | Included (Subject to Regional Sports Fee) |
| Contract Requirement | 24-Month Agreement | No Annual Contract (Month-to-month) |
| Hardware / DVR | Gemini Receiver ($10/mo) / Genie DVR | Gemini Air ($10/mo) or BYO Roku/Fire TV |
| Cloud DVR Storage | 200–450 Hours (Local & Cloud) | Unlimited Cloud DVR (9-month expiration) |
| Streaming Device Limit | In-home hardware + mobile streaming | Unlimited screens in your home network |
1. Real Monthly Cost: Demystifying Surcharges & Hidden Fees
The advertised base rate of $94.99/mo rarely matches the final monthly invoice. Because the CHOICE tier includes local regional athletic broadcasting, DIRECTV location-based fees:
Advertised Base Promotional Rate: $94.99/mo
+ Required Gemini Device Lease: $10.00/mo
+ Regional Sports Network (RSN) Fee: +$19.99/mo (Up to $23.99 depending on ZIP)
────────────────────────────────────────────────
Estimated Real Monthly Bill: ~$124.98/mo + local sales taxes
- The Regional Sports Fee ($0 to $23.99/mo): If you reside in a market with two or three regional sports networks (e.g., New York, Boston, Los Angeles), your fee will hover near the $19.99 to $23.99/mo ceiling. If your ZIP code has zero active RSNs, this surcharge drops to $0.00/mo.
- Gemini Hardware Lease ($10.00/mo): DIRECTV requires a monthly equipment fee for its first proprietary 4K Android TV Gemini box. Additional connected TVs cost $10/mo per extra device if leased directly.
- 2-Year Price Guarantee: Under current terms, your monthly base rate will not increase in year two, protecting your subscription from sudden rate jumps during the first 24 months.
2. Channel Lineup: What You Get on CHOICE vs. ENTERTAINMENT
The CHOICE package includes everything offered in the entry-level ENTERTAINMENT tier (such as ESPN, ESPN2, CNN, Fox News, HGTV, Food Network, TBS, TNT, USA Network, and Disney Channel), while adding major sports and lifestyle channels:
Major Sports Networks Added on CHOICE
-
Regional Sports Networks (RSNs): In-market feeds for FanDuel Sports Network (formerly Bally), YES Network, NESN, Marquee Sports Network, MASN, Space City Home Network, and NBC Sports RSNs.
-
National League Channels: MLB Network, NBA TV, and NFL Network.
-
College Conference Networks: ACC Network, Big Ten Network (BTN), and SEC Network.
-
Outdoor & Niche Sports: Tennis Channel, Golf Channel, and MotorTrend.
Popular Entertainment & Family Channels Added
Documentary & Science: Cooking Channel, Science Channel, Smithsonian Channel, Travel Channel.
Music & Lifestyle: CMT, Fuse, Game Show Network (GSN), Nicktoons, TeenNick, OWN (Oprah Winfrey Network), and UPtv.
Notable Channels Still Missing from CHOICE (Requires ULTIMATE or PREMIER)
To access channels like NHL Network, FOX Sports 2 (FS2), BBC World News, Discovery Family, or CBS Sports Network, you must upgrade to the ULTIMATE package ($124.99/mo base) or add the DIRECTV Sports Pack ($14.99/mo).
3. Delivery Method: DIRECTV Satellite vs. DIRECTV via Internet
Subscribers can choose how to receive the CHOICE lineup:
Option A: DIRECTV via Internet (Stream)
- No Satellite Dish Required: Streams your entire channel guide over your home Wi-Fi or broadband connection using the DIRECTV app on Roku, Apple TV, Amazon Fire Stick, Google TV, or the Gemini Air dongle.
- Contract Freedom: Available with no 24-month contract commitment.
- Unlimited Simultaneous Streams: Watch on unlimited devices at the same time within your home network, plus up to 3 streams outside the home on mobile phones or tablets.
- Unlimited Cloud DVR: Save unlimited hours of live programming with recordings stored for up to 9 months.
Option B: DIRECTV via Satellite
- Dish Hardware Installation: Requires an outdoor satellite dish mounted on your roof, balcony, or pole mount, delivering feeds without consuming home internet data.
- 24-Month Agreement: Mandatory 2-year service contract with Early Termination Fees (ETFs) of $20 per remaining month if disconnected early.
- Signal Reliability: Delivers 99% signal uptime, though severe localized cloudbursts or heavy snow buildup on the dish can temporarily cause rain fade.
4. DIRECTV CHOICE vs. Key Competitors
| Provider / Plan | Base + Required Fees | Regional Sports Included? | 4K Channels Included? | Contract Required? |
| DIRECTV CHOICE | ~$124.98/mo | Yes (Broadest selection) | Yes (Dedicated 4K channels) | No (Internet) / 2-Yr (Satellite) |
| YouTube TV | $72.99/mo (Flat) | Very Limited (No Bally/YES/NESN) | $9.99/mo 4K Plus Add-on | No (Month-to-month) |
| Hulu + Live TV | $76.99 – $89.99/mo | Very Limited (No Bally/NESN) | Select events | No (Month-to-month) |
| Fubo (Pro Plan) | ~$105.00/mo (w/ RSN Fee) | Yes (FanDuel SN, Marquee, Altitude) | Select events | No (Month-to-month) |
| DISH (America's Top 120+) | ~$100.00 – $110.00/mo | No (DISH dropped almost all RSNs) | Yes (4K Hopper) | 2-Year Contract |
5. Pros and Cons of the DIRECTV CHOICE Package
Pros
- Unmatched RSN Coverage: One of the few television services carrying YES Network, NESN, Marquee, MASN, and regional sports networks in a single package.
- Comprehensive College Sports: Includes Big Ten Network, SEC Network, and ACC Network out of the box.
- Two-Year Base Rate Lock: Guaranteed base price stability for 24 continuous months.
- No Dish Option: Choose broadband IP streaming with unlimited cloud DVR and multi-screen streaming.
Cons
- Costly Regional Sports Fee: Adds up to $19.99 to $23.99/mo to your bill, significantly raising out-of-pocket costs.
- NHL Network Excluded: You'll need to add the $14.99/mo Sports Pack or step up to the ULTIMATE tier.
- Equipment Fee on First Box: Leased Gemini hardware adds a recurring $10.00/mo charge.
Summary: Is the DIRECTV CHOICE Package Worth It?
Buy DIRECTV CHOICE if: You are an avid follower of your local MLB, NBA, or NHL franchise and need regional sports networks that budget streaming services (like YouTube TV or Hulu) do not carry. It is the most economical DIRECTV tier that includes in-market sports.
Skip DIRECTV CHOICE if: You only care about national cable news, primetime broadcast networks, and general lifestyle programming. In that case, choose DIRECTV ENTERTAINMENT ($89.99/mo base) or YouTube TV ($72.99/mo) to avoid paying the monthly Regional Sports Fee.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What channels are in the DIRECTV CHOICE package?
The CHOICE package features 125+ to 215+ channels. In addition to standard networks (ESPN, HGTV, CNN, Disney, USA Network, TNT), it includes MLB Network, NBA TV, NFL Network, ACC Network, Big Ten Network, SEC Network, and local Regional Sports Networks (RSNs).
What is the difference between DIRECTV ENTERTAINMENT and CHOICE?
The main difference is sports programming. The ENTERTAINMENT tier includes basic sports networks like ESPN and FS1, but completely excludes Regional Sports Networks (RSNs), MLB Network, NBA TV, and college conference networks (SEC, ACC, Big Ten). The CHOICE tier adds these sports channels along with lifestyle networks like the Cooking Channel and Game Show Network.
How much is the Regional Sports Fee on DIRECTV CHOICE?
The Regional Sports Fee is a mandatory monthly surcharge ranging from $0.00 up to $23.99/mo, determined by the specific ZIP code of your service address and the number of local sports networks available in your broadcast market.