Vizio is a Smart TV provider that offers one of the most popular brands of Smart TVs in America. Their TVs have SmartCast OS, which offers a lot of streaming apps and services that are popular among users. A common service that Vizio TV owners may ask about compatibility with is DIRECTV Stream.
What is DIRECTV Stream?
DIRECTV Stream is a new live TV streaming service and is the successor of AT&T TV which is a live and on-demand television service. It offers a cable-like experience and it is transmitted through the Internet without the use of satellite dishes or cable boxes. Some key things to know about DIRECTV Stream include:
- Provides most-watched programs in genres of entertainment, news, sports, and many others
- Comprises cloud DVR storage that enables viewers to record shows and movies.
- It supports streaming on 20 devices in and outside of the home.
- Starting at $69. 99 monthly package
DIRECTV Stream can be compared to other live TV services such as YouTube TV, Hulu + Live TV, FuboTV, and Sling TV. As it has become popular, it has increasingly supported more streaming devices.
Vizio SmartCast TV DIRECTV Stream App Availability
At this time in August 2022, there is no native DIRECTV Stream app for Vizio SmartCast TVs. DIRECTV Stream is not among the apps featured in the SmartCast Home interface, which is a page that hosts all streaming apps.
Since there is no official DIRECTV Stream app available, Vizio TV users cannot download and log in to DIRECTV Stream on their Vizio Smart TVs. And thus the answer to this question is no, Vizio does not support the DIRECTV Stream service at the moment.
Workarounds to Stream DIRECTV on Vizio TVs
While native support does not exist, Vizio owners who want to stream content from their DIRECTV Stream subscription are not out of luck. There are a few streaming device workarounds that can enable access: There are a few streaming device workarounds that can enable access:
Streaming Devices: Some streaming devices that can be connected to a Vizio TV include Roku, Apple TV 4K, Google Chromecast, Amazon Fire Stick, and many others. Some of these devices have DIRECTV Stream apps, so, you can stream to the Vizio TV.
HDMI Connection: For the optimal experience, ensure your current streaming device or your mobile device currently signed in to the DIRECTV Stream can be connected using HDMI. This gives the DIRECTV Stream interface and content on the Vizio set without requiring additional devices like a remote control.
Screen Mirroring: Most Vizio TV series have screen mirroring from mobile devices with varying picture quality and stability. Mirroring can also be attempted from the phone/tablet app.
AirPlay: For those using an iPhone or an iPad, there is another method of wirelessly casting or mirroring DIRECTV content on a Vizio TV using AirPlay. Depending on the setup of your WiFi network, you should be able to achieve these performance levels.
In conclusion, while DIRECTV Stream cannot be installed directly on Vizio SmartCast OS, you can still use it on your Vizio TV with the help of additional streaming devices. There’s a chance that, as more and more people subscribe to DIRECTV Stream, native support for the platform might be implemented in the future.
Will Vizio Add DIRECTV Stream Support?
As we have discussed, currently, DIRECTV Stream has issues with availability on Vizio sets through its app. And Vizio TV owners may rightfully be wondering if native support will ever be added.
The good news is that yes, Vizio may add a DIRECTV Stream in the future. Vizio has over the years released new apps and features to enhance the performance of SmartCast. They have also been increasing support for widely used streaming platforms.
HBO Max, Disney+, Discovery +, and more recently have been witnessed to be supported with dedicated app tiles in SmartCast. It only makes sense for DIRECTV Stream to be included in a future SmartCast update.
DIRECTV Stream app release date: Unfortunately, Vizio has not given any official statement regarding the launch of a DIRECTV Stream app. However, given recent progress, we believe it will occur at some unspecified time in the future. It would enhance Vizio’s streaming the streamer can provide by incorporating DIRECTV Stream.
Hence, external devices are the only option for streaming in the meantime. But hopefully, Vizio SmartCast will be able to natively support DIRECTV Stream shortly for a more seamless experience.
Conclusion
As of now, Vizio Smart TVs do not have native support for DIRECTV Stream, but there are ways around it with the use of other streaming devices connected to the TV. The native app support has not been implemented by Vizio yet, but it can be seen as a future development of SmartCast.
Searching for SmartCast updates or any word from Vizio on their smart TV platform may one day provide the necessary affirmation of an official DIRECTV Stream app. But, currently, there are other options in the form of external streaming boxes and sticks as well as screen mirroring.
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