DIRECTV APP Available on All Smart TVs OR only Samsung Smart TV. Don't need TV Box if i have Smart TV.

The agent was misinforming you. The service they are mentioning is DIRECTV via Internet, not DIRECTV via Satellite. directv satellite will Always require a satellite dish mounted to your roof as well as the proprietary Genie DVR and Genie clients. 

If you are interested in streaming DIRECTV over the Internet rather than a satellite dish, you should sign up for DIRECTV STREAM. This is supported on your Samsung TV, as well as a few other smart TVs. The full compatibility list is available here:

https://www.directv.com/support/article/000066174 

Before signing up, though, I advise you that the performance of DIRECTV STREAM  with Samsung smart TVs natively is pretty poor. I'd suggest you get an external streaming device like a Fire Stick, Roku, or Apple TV. As a note, though, you may get DIRECTV's own streaming device known as the Gemini Air if you like (not required for DIRECTV STREAM signup). 

We're happy to read you're interested in our services and will be glad to clarify this for you. The DIRECTV App is a feature of the DIRECTV via Satellite service. It allows new residential customers to watch Live TV and on-demand DIRECTV content as soon as they sign up, even before receivers and satellite are installed. You can use it on multiple devices, including Samsung Smart TVs.

The most noteworthy difference is that DIRECTV via Satellite service requires a dish, whereas DIRECTV STREAM requires high-speed internet service and a streaming device instead. If you want more information about the difference between those services, please visit https://www.directv.com/compare/directv-vs-directv-stream/ Please don't hesitate to contact us if you need help, we'll be glad to help you with all your questions. Santiago, DIRECTV Community Specialist

@detuch254 Thank You very Much for Your Response.
So, Basically I am okay with Installing Satellite Dish on my roof top, I Just have a follow up Question. Even if i agree to sign up with Satellite and i install dish on my rooftop, and i have Samsung smart TVs or any smart TVs , I would still have to have a DirecTV Box attached with them?   Like I still cannot Use DIRECTV App on them? 

Uhh... detuch are you reading carefully?

The OP (original poster) got some bad info.

Thereafter it sure seems that the DTV folk are giving clear answers, yes the OP can use the app, but not everything will stream...

Reading back carefully, it seems that the original DTV person said, after you sign up and get satellite service, you can put the app on smart tv's (of course not EVERY tv will run the app, that was also bogus)

But you don't need to beat Margie up, I don't see any misinformation. Gentle does it!

Margie never mentioned the need for receivers and also spread misinformation, which really triggered me knowing that receivers have always been a necessity for the 30 years of directv (and I’d expect DIRECTV employees to know this as well)

Yeah, although I don't think you can sign up for DTV and not get a receiver!

(although I guess you could refuse to install the dish ha ha!)

Greg

I have DIRECTV app on my new Sony. Already loaded. I cannot find it in search app on my Vizio about 3 years old. Can cannot find it on my lg 5 years old. You don’t need a box just direct tv service UNLESS you want to DVR or use the DIRECTV remote for example. Rewind the show. Info about the show. They have genie boxes for other tv besides a main box. If you don’t use any features on the remote as I do a lot then just service no boxes will work. Call them. They’re the most helpful on the phone vs other services like spectrum lol 

Yeah, one of the problems with smart tv's is that they do not keep updating the operating system forever.

So after a few years (maybe 4 or so) often an app is no longer available for your smart TV. It depends on the operating system (from the TV) and the app itself.

That's what is nice with the Gemini so far, being tied to Android TV, instead of a proprietary operating system (like sony, samsung, lg, etc)

You could add an Android TV box, like the Nvidia Shield, which can not only run all the current TV apps, but can be further customized. Then you load the DTV app on it. I have that for a TV running a Genie Mini. Of course my main TV is a Gemini, so no issues there (actually I have not tried loading DirecTV app on it, but I think it has been done)

So, you have options, although older TVs just won't run the app.

Greg

My issue is related.  I have DirecTV satellite, but gets expensive for 4 TV's when you add 3 Genie Minis and their $7 access fee (every month) for each TV.  Was planning to switch to Fubo, but DirecTV agent said I could ditch the Minis on my 3 extra TV's and save $21/mo.

All went to plan on 2 old TVs--had to buy Roku Express boxes which have DirecTV Internet app loaded. 

The problem is my much newer 40" Samsung 4K TV--it apparently only offers DirecTV Stream app, and when I try to log into it I'm toldnI would need to add this service.  I hate to add another Roku box and lose my very sophisticated Samsung remote with number keypad and other features at fingertips that the Roku remote does not have!

Ideas??

SAMSUNG TVs never worked well with the DIRECTV app. Our suggestion has always been to purchase a streaming device (Roku, Fire Stick, Apple TV). Considering that you’d be saving $7/mo on each TV, purchasing a $30 streaming device would pay itself off after around 4 months.

If the remote is an issue, there isn’t a known workaround. 

Thanks for the feedback!   

One more question about this new setup--with a Roku connecting my TV to the DirecTV satellite app, will I be able to get to my DirecTV DVR (the tall triangular device) and watch recorded shows?  Or, do I have to have a Genie for that?   Not figuring it out so far, so maybe I can only watch live TV on the Roku connected TV's??

You should be able to watch recordings through the app from the HS17 receiver (Main Genie server) as long as the HS17 is connected to the same network/Wi-Fi SSID as your streaming devices. 

I was told that all smart tvs have all the apps. They never let you play around with a tv before you buy it. I bought a new LG and sure enough it doesn’t have the DIRECTV app. On my old fire tv I never used the box I have because I could just open the app. Now I’m stuck trying to find the box and remote. LG and DIRECTV are huge brands to not be compatible with each other

Your LG TV may have an app store to download the DTV app.