Today after a week of speculation, DIRECTV announced several major changes to DIRECTV STREAM and a new DIRECTV streaming player called the Gemini. DIRECTV STREAM is also being rebranded to DIRECTV and is now one of two ways you can stream DIRECTV by satellite or by internet if you use one of the DIRECTV streaming players.
The Gemini streaming player is an updated version of the DIRECTV Ospry box that gives you a satellite-like experience, including a remote that allows streaming customers to change channels by channel number but streaming online.
The big selling point with the new Gemini Air player will be improved WIFI over the older box to offer a better streaming experience. The device will also come with a quad-core 2.6 GHz processor, 4GB of Ram, 15GB of storage, and a Broadcom VideoCore 6 GPU.
“We’ve made it possible for DIRECTV satellite and DIRECTV internet customers to experience entertainment without compromise by providing the greatest variety of live and on-demand shows, sports and movies as well as seamless access to their favorite apps all without switching TV inputs,” said Vince Torres, chief marketing officer of DIRECTV.
The new Gemini Air player now comes with a $ 15-a-month fee that will be added to your TV bill.
DIRECTV STREAM is also now known as DIRECTV internet if you use one of DIRECTV’s streaming players. The price will now be $64.99, just like with cable, but it will come with a $15-a-month fee. The good news is DIRECTV will give you a two-year price lock guarantee if you use the DIRECTV streaming player.
There is also a new up to $13.99 a month sports fee for new DIRECTV internet customers who accept a new Gemini or older Osprey streaming player.
If you are a current customer with a DIRECTV STREAM player that you paid for, you won’t be charged the $15-a-month fee. Starting today, DIRECTV will no longer be selling these devices, only leasing them for $15-a-month. It seems that older DIRECTV STREAM customers are also not impacted by the new $13.99 a month sports fee.
DIRECTV STREAM is not going away if you use your own streaming player. Customers who use a Roku, Fire TV, or Apple TV will continue to see the DIRECTV STREAM name and won’t have to pay the $15 a month free.