DirecTV is another satellite television service provider that is based in the United States of America among the largest ones. DirecTV has found itself being the favorite for most families thanks to the advanced technology it offers and the relatively affordable charges for cable and satellite television. With the ubiquity of smart TVs on the market, many DirecTV subscribers find themselves asking whether there is a DirecTV app so that they can access DirecTV channels and content that are available through the smart TVs.
Now let us define what is meant by the term Smart TV.
Before we go to address that issue, let us explain what a smart TV is. Is there a DirecTV application for smart TVs now? A smart TV is a television that supports World Wide Web-available apps and services and has an integrated wireless Internet connection. The main characteristics of smart TVs include in:
- Integrated wireless capabilities – often in the form of 802. 11ac Wi-Fi; that means you can watch material via the TV without additional appliances such as a streaming box.
- Smart TVs – there’s an application store for smart TVs through which you can download popular media streaming applications such as Netflix, Hulu, YouTube, etc.
- Internet compatibility – smart TVs can browse the internet and display webpages right on the TV.
- Voice – Many smart TVs are usually shipped with voice control assistance such as Amazon Alexa to enable voice control for commands.
Smart TVs aspire to serve as a one-stop source of entertainment since they are characterized by connectivity and advanced technologies.
There is no direct app of Direct TV available for smart TVs but it can be downloaded through the website of Direct TV.
It is now time to answer the main question therefore the primary question of this article is; Is there an official DirecTV app for smart TV to watch DirecTV on smart TV?
The sad part is that there isn’t ANY officially supported DirecTV app that is compatible with a smart TV. All the popular streaming services such as Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Hulu, and others do provide apps that you can install on your smart TV which include Samsung smart TV, LG smart TV, and Sony smart TV among others, but there isn’t an app for DirecTV which you can install on your smart TV.
This implies that, without an app, there is no way you can stream DirecTV satellite programs on a smart TV.
Why there is no DirecTV app?
Most of the consumers will be asking themselves, why is there no application that is available on DirecTV, that can be installed, and permits consumers to watch their preferred channels? There are a few major reasons why DirecTV hasn’t launched a smart TV app:
No app platform support
While competitive streaming services Netflix, for instance, will build an individual application for every smart TV OS, including webOS, Tizen, Android TV, and others, DirecTV has not developed such applications.
Exclusive deals
At times smart TV manufacturers make agreements with the owners of applications that can be installed on smart TVs. For instance, some of the Samsung TVs incorporated apps that were exclusive to DIRECTV competitor Dish Network before the deals expired.
Hardware requirements
To provide more than a few hundred pure unadulterated high-definition channels, DirecTV needs specific satellite receiver hardware and two-way signal exchange which smart technology is not even close to supporting.
In simple terms, it is rather about technology and licensing than about company strategies and decisions: there is no DirecTV app for smart TVs because currently, it is simply impossible to create it. However, there is a likelihood that in the future, with emerging smart TV platforms, DirectTV will develop their application; but there is no specific timeline for the development.
Ways to Watch DirecTV on a Smart TV Apart?
Although there is no DirecTV app for smart TVs if you want to watch your DirecTV channels on smart TVs then there are some replacements that can work as an app for DirecTV. Some options include:
Using a streaming device
Another streaming media player that you can connect, which is compatible with the DirecTV Stream app, includes an Amazon Fire TV Stick or Roku device, among others, to get to your DirecTV content and live channels.
Port in from the HDMI of the DirecTV box
You can plug your DirecTV satellite box into your television and the HDMI port specifically. The plus here is that you have full access to all DirecTV channels, but there are fewer smart TV options.
Screen mirroring
It is for instance possible to wirelessly mirror the smartphone to the smart TV through WiFi for screencasting which also means that the DirecTV mobile app can be cast as well. Quality varies widely here.
If not as fluid as a native app, it would suffice to say that either one of those streaming methods will enable you to watch DirecTV shows, movies, and sports on the smart TV without necessarily having the app’s interface inherent in the TV platform.
DirecTV and Smart TV Technologies: Future Trends
It is regrettable that, to this day, there is no DirecTV app for smart TVs out there, but given the development of TV platforms and the emergence of the second generation of TV everywhere services from DirecTV, we might see an updated version in the future.
One of the recent evolutions in the path to more profound smart TV integration occurred when DirecTV chose the Google TV operating system for its newest 4K-enabled set-top boxes. An option like the universal watchlist and recommendations assist in integrating the apps you stream together with the live satellite TV programs.
Thus, although smart TVs are gaining importance, we are witnessing a relatively low level of support for applications on these devices’ platforms. We expect DirecTV integration to consistently get better and enhance the sense of a cohesive smart TV experience.
Conclusion
With calls now being made to dump terrestrial TV in favor of smart TVs with dedicated app platforms in the living room, many a subscriber has asked himself questions such as whether services such as DirecTV will not one day release apps that enable subscribers to watch satellite TV channels on these connected TVs without the need for any extra kit.
However, up to the present time, DirecTV has not heard the news about having an official app for platforms such as webOS, Tizen, or Android TV. This is mainly due to restrictive software and also the proprietary nature of the hardware in DirecTV receivers.
The good news is you can get DirecTV on your smart TV via hacks such as streaming boxes until the various platforms can merge to allow for more DirecTV apps going forward. That being said, for now at least, if you want to fully utilize every feature, you still need a separate actual DirecTV set-top box.
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