Chromecast with Google TV

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Matthew, DIRECTV Social Media Community.

Yes i have Chromecast with google tv too.  https://store.google.com/us/product/chromecast_google_tv?hl=en-US

this is the device for the directv stream app people.

You need to add support for this device.

Hey there @oBananas, we are here to help you!

Please try creating a new post with more details on what's happening, in order to further assist you!

We look forward to hearing from you!

Hailey, DIRECTV Community Specialist. 

Same here. Very disappointed that the app is not available on Chromecast with Google TV. It would appear the advertising is intentionally misleading. Reaching out has been completely useless with no attempt to answer my question--when will DIRECTV Stream be available on Chromecast with Google TV device?

Hey @scuds57 Thanks for your feedback, it is important to us to know what our customers think about the services, se we can improve their experience.
At the moment, DIRECT TV Stream app on Google is available on Chrome browser (version 68 of higher) Chromecast Built-in TV (select models) and Chromecast (2nd generation and higher). However, there are different options and stream devices available for you to access to the app. Here you can confirm all the compatibles devices Click here.

In case you still need assistance, do not hesitate to contact us, we are here to help!.
Daniel, DIRECT TV Community Specialist. 

Yea they don't want to help you, or add support for a new device. They just want to push a streaming box that you have to rent for an extra monthly fee. It's even worse because so many tv manufactures have google tv as the installed os now. Almost all Sony tvs now run google tv. The same app that runs on fire tv can run on google tv they just won't allow it in the play store. 

Hi @oBananas We'd like to review the options available for your DIRECTV Stream service and your Chromecast device.

In order to do so, please create your own post, and share with us more details of your situation, we'd love to review what we can do about your service, and provide assistance.

Hope we can connect soon.

Sebastian, DIRECTV Community Specialist.

The web page says they support Chromecast, which it does.  It doesn't say they support Chromecast with Google TV (or any other Android TV device), though it does when treating them as Chromecast devices.  I don't really see anything deceptive there on AT&T/DirecTV's part.  Google, for their own marketing purposes, reused the Chromecast name for a different class of device (one that is a full streamer able to run apps and competing with Roku or FireTV, rather than just half of a streamer like the original Chromecast is).  They could have just called it Google TV (or Google TV with Chromecast), but they didn't.

Now a different question is whether DirecTV Stream should be available on Android TV devices?  That answer seems like a "yes".  There's clearly no technical limitation - they already support devices close enough that people can sideload to get the service running on Android TV devices.  Their own device runs Android TV (though the app they run there likely has enough differences from one running on stock Android TV that it couldn't be used as is).  So they clearly could have a "real" Android TV app pretty readily.  Why don't they?  It seems that it must be a business or legal issue - something that is preventing them from offering a (general release) Android TV app.  They've never said.  However, perhaps moving out from under AT&T's ownership will allow it - we'll have to see.

A further step would be going from just an Android TV app (which would run on Google TV) to one that fully supports the Google TV "sharing" environment.  It's unclear if DirecTV would have any incentive to  do that, since it would keep their users in Google's environment (seeing Google's ads) rather than their own.

@Jrandomuser I see your point, but being that Google has named their device in a way that is somewhat confusing (because they recycled the name Chromecast for a completely different device), DirecTV should add a disclaimer somewhere that says explicitly that 'Chromecast with Google TV is not supported' or 'There is no native app for Chromecast for Google TV, but you can use it as a casting device".

As it stands, unless you're very well versed in technology as you seem to be, it stands to reason to the regular user that if it says "Chromecast 2 or higher" on the DirecTV website that a brand new device using the name "Chromecast" would, at the very least be version 2 or possibly something higher; meaning that there would be an app for it.

Yes, I get that it works as a 'casting' device, but they would need to clarify somewhere so that people don't commit the same mistake I did, which is to buy one only to find out after installing it that I can't use it with the service.

Alternatively and preferably, they should just come out with an app that runs on that device.  As I see it, it makes most business sense to be as compatible with as many devices as possible, even if you'd prefer people to purchase your device.

I don't buy their branded device at the moment because I've played around with it and it is woefully underpowered, slow and is buggy running apps.  There's word that there's a new device coming at some point that will likely correct these issues.  When/if it comes out, I'll be looking to get that.

Hey there @bernpass here to help!

To check the devices compatible with DIRECTV Stream click Here you're going to be able to get detailed info.

If you have got any doubt please let us know, we're going to be glad to help!

DavidC Community Specialist.

@oBananas - They don't rent boxes, they sell them (with they option to pay the cost off over time, with no interest).  The almost certainly don't make much on them, and they don't intend to - they make their money selling subscriptions.  I doubt they care if people use them.  They came out with their own device because none of the existing devices support channel numbers (no number pad on their remotes, so no way to enter them) and limited other remote buttons, so requiring users to use menus or multiple steps to do most things.  They wanted to attract cable and satellite customers who were used to channel numbers and full function remotes - some of those customers wouldn't choose a service without those things.  So they offer the app on that device to attract customers who demand that and also on other devices that don't offer those things but which the customer might already have, or might want because they are cheaper, or whatever.

And actually, very few TV manufacturers use Android TV (or Google TV) - the main one is Sony (admittedly a big brand).  But besides Sony, it's used only on some Philips, Sharp, and HiSense TVs - not exactly major players.

As I said elsewhere in this thread, it makes no sense that they don't offer it if they could, so there must be some reason they can't.  But we don't know that reason, so we don't know if this will ever change.

And @DIRECTVhelp - you are starting out as "helpful" as when you were ATTHelp.  Maybe try reading the users' posts and questions before responding - that might increase the chances that your response is in some small way actually relevant to the issue at hand.

Directv Stream Agent confirmed app support for google tv in next update.

Hello @oBananas We can see by your post that you chatted in with us regarding DirecTV availability with your Google TV. Do you have any more questions or concerns we can assist you with? Let us know! TenielT, DirecTV Community Specialist