LG TV owners can finally download my favorite live TV app

When you turn on an LG Smart TV, you’re greeted with plenty of different streaming options, including all the big names, like Netflix, Disney+, and HBO Max, as well as live TV services, like YouTube TV and Sling TV. And now that catalog is getting even bigger with the addition of DirecTV.

LG and DirecTV have recently announced the launch of the DirecTV app on LG Smart TVs from 2021 and newer running webOS 6.0 or higher. This means if you have DirecTV and an LG TV, you can finally say goodbye to the set-top box in favor of its app and cut down on the number of cables plugged into your TV.

If you’re interested in checking it out, the DirecTV app is now available in the LG Channel Store. Once you download it, you’ll be able to explore DirecTV’s full range of entertainment options. This includes offerings such as its Signature TV plans, its newer Genre Packs — which are themed paid channel bundles focused on categories like sports and entertainment — and, crucially, its free TV options through the MyFree DirecTV FAST service, which offers over 100 free channels supported by ads.

“We’re committed to making DIRECTV available on the devices consumers already use, and connected LG Smart TVs are an important part of that vision,” explained Vikash Sharma, Head of Product at DIRECTV. “Making DIRECTV available as a native app on LG TVs gives customers more choice and flexibility in how they enjoy our full lineup.”

DirecTV’s launch on LG TVs comes at the perfect time

There are tons of sports to watch, and the holidays are approaching quickly

For sports fans, this launch couldn’t come at a more opportune time, as it’s one of the busiest times of the year, with the NFL, NBA, NHL, and college athletics all well underway. With the DirecTV app on LG Smart TVs, DirecTV notes that you can watch and keep up with all the action, including live sports and news. There’s also plenty of premium entertainment, with DirecTV touting more than 100,000 on-demand titles — which, with the holidays around the corner, could come in handy.

The DirecTV app also includes several personalization features tailored to you, including the Your TV carousel, which DirecTV says lets you put your “favorite teams, recent channels, personalized recommendations, and live updates all in one place.”

In addition to being available on LG Smart TVs, the DirecTV app is also available on Samsung, Roku, Vizio, and Google smart TVs, as well as streaming devices like Amazon’s Fire TV Sticks, Apple TV, and Roku devices. You can check out a complete list of available devices here.

It’s important to note that DirecTV is, after all, a live TV streaming service, similar to YouTube TV, so to access most of its best content, you will need to sign up for one of its Signature TV plans or Genre Packs. For sports fans in particular, DirecTV offers a My Sports Genre Pack for $70 a month that includes many popular sports channels, such as ESPN, CBS Sports, Fox Sports, TNT, and TBS.

For years, live TV has been moving toward streaming apps like YouTube TV, Fubo, Sling TV, and DirecTV. With this latest app launch, the traditional cable set-top box is one step closer to becoming obsolete. DirecTV remains one of my favorite live TV providers, mainly because of its more affordable Genre Packs — something YouTube TV surprisingly still doesn’t offer yet. If you have an LG TV from 2021 or later running webOS 6.0 or higher, you can try the DirecTV app now.