DirecTV Stream is finally available on Android TV smart TVs and players. In spite of being one of the main live TV streaming services, DirecTV Stream had yet to officially launch an Android TV app. At least not one that third-party device users could easily download and use.
The lack of Android TV support has been an issue for DirecTV Stream subscribers all the way through the DirecTV Now and AT&T TV eras. At the same time, and one of the interesting aspects of DirecTV Stream’s lack of Android TV support, is that the company’s own streaming player is powered by the same Android TV operating system.
Either way, and for those that have been waiting, support for other Android TV devices is now available thanks to the release of a dedicated app. Compatible device users can send the app from the web-based version of the Google Play Store to their device, or simply open the Android TV version of the Play Store on their smart TV or player and install the app directly. According to DirecTV Stream, devices must be running a minimum of Android TV 7.1 and the same app can also be installed on Google TV devices like the Chromecast with Google TV.
The app seems little bare bones at the moment and doesn’t offer a way to actually sign up. While existing subscribers can simply sign in with their user ID, new customers will first need to sign up for a subscription through the DirecTV Stream website using a browser-enabled device and then log in to the app with their user ID afterwards.
For reference, an Android TV app has technically been available in the past. For example, Android TV-powered LeEco smart TVs came with a DirecTV Now app preinstalled during LeEco’s short-lived stay in the US. What’s more, users were able to create a workaround by extracting the app from other devices and sideloading it on to their Android TV devices.
Of course, having an officially supported app that’s compatible with a wide range of Android TV devices is quite a different situation, and one that has been a very long time coming.
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