Amazon Fire Tv

Fire TV customers with a DirecTV Stream subscription can now download the DirecTV app from the Amazon Appstore. They will then be able to access DirecTV’s live TV catalog through Fire TV’s “Live” tab. The integration is available only to Fire TV users in the United States and does not apply to DirecTV satellite customers.

Amazon Fire TV DirecTV: What's included?

Among the other live TV features available in the Fire TV interface are:

A channel guide that shows the current programs and the next 14 days of schedules.

Integrated search results for both live TV and apps.

A “Recently Watched” section.

The ability to use the Alexa voice remote.

In addition to DirecTV, Fire TV has integrated live TV services from Peacock, Plex, and Haystack TV, among others.

DirecTV Stream

DirecTV Stream is the live streaming alternative to the company’s satellite service. Plans for both DirecTV Stream and satellite start at around $65 per month. The main difference is that satellite subscriptions require customers to sign a two-year contract.

The integration with Fire TV comes a couple of weeks after DirecTV introduced a new set-top box, called Gemini, for its satellite and internet customers. Gemini, which marks the most significant upgrade to DirecTV’s set-top box in nearly a decade, allows users to search across streaming apps without switching TV inputs.

Fire TV’s Strategy

As for Fire TV, the platform is striving to become a home entertainment hub for consumers. At this week’s NAB Show, Matt Hill, Fire TV’s head of device monetization, told Fierce Video that connected TVs should be part of everyday life and help simplify things for users.

Hill also mentioned that free, ad-supported streaming is Fire TV’s fastest-growing category.

In addition, on Wednesday, Amazon announced a partnership with Fox TV stations to distribute free local news content via the Amazon News app, which is a customizable news aggregator integrated into Fire TV. Content is also accessible via Amazon’s Echo Show smart speakers.