CenturyLink TV Review

How good is CenturyLink TV service?

CenturyLink used to offer its own TV service called Prism TV, but CenturyLink discontinued this in favor of bundling with DIRECTV instead.

DIRECTV delivers highly rated satellite TV service across the nation, and now you can get a deal on it when you bundle it with your CenturyLink internet. DIRECTV has wide availability, and it’s especially popular for its sports channels (including NFL SUNDAY TICKET).

The advantages of CenturyLink TV and internet bundles are cost savings and convenience. You will save $5 per month when you get your DIRECTV package through CenturyLink, plus you’ll have the convenience of a single bill. Adding a home phone package will give you additional savings.

The disadvantages to DIRECTV are the 2-year contract and, for some folks, the satellite dish itself. A DIRECTV technician will need to install a small satellite dish on the side of your home or apartment to get service. Some landlords and HOA rules don’t allow satellite dishes to be installed, so this can be a roadblock for some people.

Pros

• Over 200 HD channels
• Lots of package choices
• Discounted internet and TV bundles

Cons

• No “contract free” option
• Possible limitations for renters and HOA members
• Midcontract price hike

Fees and equipment

Since CenturyLink doesn’t have you sign a contract, some people don’t realize that the contract-free perk doesn’t apply to DIRECTV. DIRECTV is a separate company from CenturyLink, so you’ll have to sign a two-year contract with them. This includes agreeing to pay an early termination fee if you end your service before your contract is up. Yikes.

This means that if you have to cancel your DIRECTV service before the full two years are up, you’ll pay an early termination fee, which is $20 per month for each month remaining on the contract.

There’s also an installation fee that’s a minimum of $99 for having DIRECTV equipment installed at your home, which is in addition to the CenturyLink installation fee you’ll also have to pay. If you want more than one TV connected, you’ll also have an extra $7 per month fee for each additional TV.

With DIRECTV, you’ll want to make sure you pay your bill on time every month. Late fees can pile up quickly, and there’s no grace period. Your DIRECTV bill will be combined with your CenturyLink invoice, so you can pay one and be done.

A lot of people sign up with DIRECTV because they like the offer of free NFL SUNDAY TICKET. We like this, too, but read the offer carefully, because it’s only free for the first year. The second year you’ll pay full price (2019 prices are $293.94–$395.94). And to make matters worse, DIRECTV will automatically renew NFL SUNDAY TICKET if you had it the previous season, and you only have two weeks after the start of the season to get a refund. So, if you want to watch games with friends next season and save some cash, cancel early or you’ll be stuck paying for it.

Common DIRECTV fee rates

• One-time installation fee of $99.00*
• One-time activation fee of $19.99*
• Regional sports fee of up to $8.49/mo.*
• Additional receiver fee (if you have more than 1 TV) of $7/mo. ea.*
• NFL SUNDAY TICKET is billed at the going rate; 2018 prices are between $293.94–$395.94 for a full-season pass
• Late fee of $5.00 or more if you pay your bill late
• Early Termination Fee of $20/mo. for each month remaining on your 24-month contract

*Data current as of 6/21/19. Offers subject to change.

Picture quality

DIRECTV service has over 200 channels in HD (high definition) and 4K (ultra high definition). HD channels deliver excellent picture quality on the entertainment you crave.

DVR

Standard DIRECTV service comes with one DVR (called a Genie). If you want to connect a second TV to DIRECTV, you’ll pay an additional $7 per month for the second Genie. DIRECTV’s Genie is pretty powerful. It has 1 TB of storage, which translates into about 200 hours of HD programming. If DVRs are your thing, the Genie is hard to beat because of the amount of storage you get included with your package.

Remote

When you sign up for DIRECTV service, your price includes the satellite dish, one DVR, and a remote control. You will probably get either a DIRECTV Genie remote or a standard universal remote. Your technician will set it up for you.

Our verdict

The best part about bundling DIRECTV with CenturyLink is saving a bit of money each month.

Customers who gravitate toward CenturyLink’s contract-free and Price for Life deals are often unhappy about DIRECTV’s different policies. DIRECTV requires a two-year contract and people are locked into a higher price the second year. If CenturyLink could work out a contract-free or Price for Life deal with DIRECTV for their customers, that would solve a lot of customer complaints.

As long as people know what they’re getting into with the DIRECTV two-year contract, we think most people will be satisfied with the channel options and internet service available at these rates. DIRECTV is a solid TV provider with nationwide availability, so it’s got enough to keep most folks happy.