DIRECTV is the latest streaming pay television service to unlock a custom multiview feature, joining other sports-inclusive apps like Fubo and YouTube TV in doing so.
On Tuesday, DIRECTV said streamers who watch live channel via its Gemini box and on Roku can now select up to four live channels to watch from a single screen. Support for other platforms like Apple TV, Android TV (Google TV), LG, Samsung, Amazon Fire TV and Vizio will come in the near future.
The feature allows customers to create two-, three- or four-channel viewing arrangements using eligible sports networks, rather than relying exclusively on the predetermined channel combinations already offered through DIRECTV’s Multiview service.
“Directv has been at the forefront of Multiview innovation for nearly two decades, and we continue to evolve the experience around how fans want to watch,” Vikash Sharma, the Head of Product at DIRECTV, said in a statement. “Giving fans the ability to build their own lineup is the next step, offering even more choice and control over how they follow the games that matter most to them.”
Customers can access the new feature directly from the DIRECTV interface while watching an eligible sports channel. Whatever channel is currently being viewed will be automatically selected as the first multiview feed. Subscribers can then choose additional participating channels to create their preferred arrangement.
Participating networks include ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU, FS1, NFL Network, NBA TV, MLB Network, NHL Network, CBS Sports Network, Golf Channel and Tennis Channel. College sports programming is also supported through ACC Network, Big Ten Network and SEC Network. Viewers can also add or remove channels during a viewing session, allowing them to adjust the lineup as games begin or conclude.
The feature is available to eligible DIRECTV streaming subscribers with Signature Packages and Genre Packs, provided their subscriptions include the participating networks.
The company has also developed DIRECTV Sports Central, a separate sports-focused interface accessible from the main menu. Sports Central consolidates information about live and upcoming football, basketball, baseball and hockey games, allowing subscribers to browse schedules, follow their preferred teams and schedule recordings.
