Cancel Programming but use my Genie HR44 and Mini Genie to purchase and stream movies, content!

The answer to your question is no, that would not be possible. You would have to maintain an account with DirecTV service to have access to their on demand rental/purchase services. 

You must pay for service to receive service. Your boxes are not owned by you, but DirecTV. Upon cancellation they are returned to DirecTV. Though the HR44 was made non-returnable this year, it is proprietary to DirecTV so can only be recycled after disconnect.

Sorry but you don't get DirecTV without paying for DirecTV.

I own all my equipment.  Did not purchase directly from ATT Direct TV.

Thanks for responding.

You do not own the boxes. DirecTV went to lease only with the Genie system. All Genies and Mini Genie Clients you do not own. The 3rd party authorized retailers may only provide leased equipment. This is the reality.

Pretty much owned equipment is only from the old SD-only days.

So what is the lowest cost, most minimal account possible?  It is too bad they don't have a 24 channel account where you could choose your own channels.  Most folks I talk to about the service do want to need 100+ channels.

That is why so many are moving to just streaming, or services like Sling, etc.

In my opinion, AT&T Direct TV needs to rethink their business model.

Thanks

The content providers package their channels and will not allow customers to pick the ones they want just like DTV and all other provides.

The lowest package is Family but you will only get those On Demand servers if they have any.

@rlmyers 

The networks package their channels to TV providers, so are required to package to us. Streaming services get individual content for the most part, not channels. Plus they rely on your internet, passing the buck on the delivery method. Not all of us have internet good enough (if internet at all) to support streaming. As such the business model of satellite, cable, etc. is very similar. Streaming is a different model aimed at a different market.

The "Directv Now" you mention is a streaming only service that is completely separate from DirecTV. It is a different TV provider. Because of the name confusion they rebranded it over a year ago to AT&T TV NOW.

The lowest DirecTV (satellite) package is Family. The package itself is $29.99, but you still pay your receiver services for level of equipment (HD $10, DVR $10, Whole Home DVR $3) and of course $7 for each additional TV. So Genie and 4 Clients (5 TVs) would put you at $80.99 before tax. Of course you only get On Demand for the channels you are subscribed to. Family Package Lineup

The Genie can only use up to 3 Clients at one time, and they cannot work by themselves as not receivers. So getting a 4th Client is bad. Should have gotten an HDDVR instead of a 4th Client because it has 2 tuners, 500GB recording space, and is not dependent on the Genie to work. There is no monthly cost difference between Client, HDDVR, or even HD non-DVR as you are just paying for the authorized TV regardless of what box is on it.

Thank you for your input.  I have four clients, but one hardly ever get used, and the most on at any time including the Genie is two. 

Once again, thanks for the input.

You're welcome.

If you decide to stay with DirecTV longer, whether or not you keep the 4th Client, I would still consider replacing one of the others with an HDDVR. Not only to prevent possible conflicts. but if the Genie (HR44) ever goes down then all your TVs go away since Clients cannot work by themselves. So having an actual receiver on the others can protect against that. One of the main reasons I refuse to have Clients on my other TVs.

We would be happy to help you with your Directv service and equipment questions @rlmyers!

If you cancel your account, the satellite and the receivers will no longer work since they would require active services to be able to do the things you mentioned.

However, if you did decide to do that, you do have other options.

The Directv Now service you mention is now known as AT&T TV Now.

When you were ready, you would sign up for this service online on the website and you are able to cancel it from the website at any time like.

However, you will need a way to access online to use it and will need a way to access the services with either a Smart TVs, or another way to stream from the TV such as a roku, fire stick, etc. to be able to download the AT&T Now app.

Let us know if this answers your questions.

Jessika, AT&T Community Specialist

So my question is I have four minis and one genie. The minis cost $7.50 a month to connect to my TVs that I don't watch I keep my service but discontinue the $7.50 on the minis. Can I still watch recorded video from the genie on the minis on my network that would save me $7.50 per TV and I can still use streaming to watch DirecTV on those TVs

No, once the minis are deactivated you can't use them and are returned to DTV.  The Genie will continue to record and use On Demand.  If you have the HS17 then you have to have one mini as the HS17 doesn't connect to any TV.

I don't want to deactivate the C51-100 mini's but just disconnect the $7.50 I pay monthly to have them connected to a TV's that I rarely view DTV on, mostly stream.  They can still be power on, on my network.   I can keep my full service that I have pay on the Genie, and watch via my network on these devices recorded material from the Genie.  I can also stream DTV on all my TV's for Direct TV programming.   I think DTV charging $7.50 per month to just connect a TV is robbery.

DTV will deactivate them if you don't pay the additional TV fee.  You agreed to pay it  when you ordered DTV.  DTV receivers can only stream On Demand programs.

You pay for the additional TV/Client fee for each one. The only way to remove it is to deactivate that box, which requires it to be sent back to DirecTV (or recycled if a non-returnable model).

You can't just deactivate a fee because you don't like it. As long as you have the Clients, you still pay the fee for each one for the authorized TV. Deactivating the box means the authorization to use it is turned off. That fee is still $7.00, not $7.50.

The $7 is the Authorized TV/Client fee. This has been known in the earlier days as a mirroring fee. Simply put you pay for the service on the account which covers one TV. You then pay $7 for each additional TV to use your service. That is how their service has been designed for about 30 years.

You're going to get about the same answers as 5 years ago (2020) when you started this conversation. What has changed over the years is DirecTV was pushed to Client-only setups, they don't make dedicated HDDVRs anymore. The streaming-only service rebranded to DIRECTV STREAM (still separate from satellite service). AT&T has sold off their remaining stake in DirecTV to the co-owner (transaction still to complete).