Observed Signal · Dec 9, 2025 · Product Launch · Source: State of Streaming · Impact: 3/5 · Sentiment: Positive
DIRECTV Launches Native App on LG Smart TVs
DIRECTV has launched a native streaming app on modern LG Smart TVs, allowing owners of newer LG sets to access the service’s full streaming lineup without a separate streaming box. The app brings DIRECTV’s paid tiers — including Signature packages and Genre Packs — as well as its free ad-supported service MyFree DIRECTV to LG’s platform. DIRECTV’s Head of Product, Vikash Sharma, said the goal is to make the service available on devices consumers already use; LG’s Matthew Durgin said the app enhances the smart TV experience without a set‑top box. The launch closes a notable device gap versus rivals like Roku, Amazon Fire TV and Apple TV, though DIRECTV’s top Signature plans still start at about $95 per month, leaving a meaningful price barrier for some consumers. An earlier, now‑deprecated "DIRECTV Ready" app existed on older LG models.
Expands DIRECTV distribution to LG’s native TV platform, closing a device availability gap that affects CTV reach and potential ad inventory; notable for streaming distribution but not a major platform policy or industry‑shifting change.
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Key Takeaways & Evidence Grounding
- DIRECTV launched a native streaming app on modern LG Smart TVs (Dec 9, 2025).
- The app delivers DIRECTV’s full streaming lineup including Signature packages, Genre Packs, and the free ad-supported MyFree DIRECTV service.
- DIRECTV Head of Product Vikash Sharma and LG representative Matthew Durgin commented on the launch and device availability.
- DIRECTV’s top-tier Signature plans bundle services like Disney Plus and ESPN Unlimited and start at about $95 per month.
- An earlier 'DIRECTV Ready' app existed for LG models as old as 2014 but was deprecated.
Connected Companies & Entities
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Recent verified developments and strategic activity across this market segment.
DIRECTV Adds Apple TV+ Billing Option
DIRECTV now lets customers add an Apple TV+ subscription to their monthly DIRECTV bill, allowing new sign-ups at $10/month (ad-free) or linking an existing Apple TV+ account to consolidate payments. The Apple TV app is integrated on DIRECTV’s Gemini device and accessible from the satellite home screen. The change is positioned as a billing-aggregation feature — simplifying subscription management rather than offering a discounted bundle — and signals legacy pay-TV providers shifting toward a role as a central hub for consumers’ streaming portfolios. The report places the move in a broader context of streaming price changes and unconventional distribution partnerships across the industry.
State of Streaming Adds LG Channels Profile
LG Channels is a free, FAST streaming service integrated into LG Smart TVs. Launched in 2016 and operated by LG Electronics (headquartered in Seoul, South Korea), the service aggregates more than 300 live and on-demand channels. The State of Streaming publisher page lists LG Channels’ basic corporate details and links to related LG ad and measurement offerings but contains no additional coverage or product updates for the service.
PBS App Arrives in LG Smart TV App Store
PBS has released its official app to the LG App Store for select LG Smart TVs, making live station streams, thousands of on-demand episodes, favorites, and cross-device sync available to LG viewers. The app supports most 2023 and newer LG models running webOS 23 or higher and integrates with LG features like the Magic Remote. PBS and LG executives framed the availability as an expansion of PBS’s reach and a commitment by LG to deliver high-quality content to its smart TV users. The publisher Cord Cutters News reported the launch on August 14, 2026.
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