Why does DIRECTV STREAM force commercials?

I don’t understand your complaint.  DIRECTV STREAM is like every other live streaming service, cable and satellite service, complete with ads on live channels.

@gregoliver1,

We appreciate you taking the time to reach out to us. Currently, there is not a way rearrange the applications on the DIRECTV STREAM device when you turn it on, and it is normal for commercials to be on live channels and some On Demand content.

KristinA, Community Specialist

These are in DVR Recordings.

The (Edited per community guidelines)s of all of the OTA (broadcast) networks as well as "basic cable" channels (FX, Discovery, TBS, Food Network, etc., etc., etc.) make their money off commercials (as well as some from the carriers that provide them to viewers).  There is no magic way to just make those commercials go away, even if you pay extra - there are "gaps" in the stream that the commercials fill, and even if the commercials were gone, the gaps would remain.

When you make a DVR recording, you are getting exactly the same thing you would have gotten had you watched the (Edited per community guidelines) - commercials and all.  Nothing is editing it for you to remove them (and the same would be true if you recorded the same streams OTA, from cable, or from satellite).  However, on playback you can fast forward through the commercials if you like, though not automatically.

I understand that.  90% of the recordings allow me to skip over commercials (just like every DVR on the planet), but about 10% do not allow FF or right button skip.

I have not isolated the pattern of when and why yet, but it is a nuisance to say the least.  I have not watched live TV in almost 20 years and this forced commercial scenario leaves a bad taste.  All other DVRs (DirecTV, uVerse) allow to skip over commercials via FF.  Not sure why this changed.

@gregoliver1

Thanks for another great question. Not all movies or shows recorded or On Demand have the ability to fast forward, pause, or rewind. The availability of these functions is up to the network and content providers.

We understand the convenience of wanting to work around commercials with On Demand and DVR content. While we can't take away all commercials, you may want to review this helpful article: Network Third Party Apps

If we support the app and the network is currently in your line up, you can use it. This can be a helpful way to watch on demand content and often skip commercials.

Charles O. 

Community Specialist

I think everyone is misunderstanding what @gregoliver1 was describing as I’m encountering the same issue.

We’re watching a show that my wife and I DVR.  It’s HomeTown on HGTV.   We have approximately 32 of these shows pre-recorded.  So we “DVR’d” the shows that aired days, weeks, maybe months ago.  

For the 1st few shows we watched tonight we had no issue skipping through.  Then all of a sudden we reached a show that for some reason we can no longer fast forward through commercials.  This show aired on 3/9/2020.  Today is 2/2/2021!!!!!  

We recorded it, we should be able to fast forward.  Why do we need to watch the commercials?   99.999% of companies would let you DVR the show, then at a later date, go watch it and when you reach a commercial you simply hit the fast forward button.  

Here’s some screenshots.  It’s like being waterboarded.  Why pay for TV service you record and can’t skip through?

Another

I believe at least some of the on demand items have ads on YTTV as well. That is probably set by the network agreement. 

I agree. I pre-record shows so that I may watch the show later, but I AM FORCED to watch commercials! I cannot skip over them. WHY? I PAY and have hundreds of hours available to record on the DVR but you are forcing me to watch commercials? I cannot skip or fast-forward these commercials, and these commercials are like 5 minutes long. NO! I PAY FOR PREMIUM SERVICES SO STOP FORCING ME TO WATCH THE COMMERCIALS!

With regularly recorded shows you are able to RR and FF. The on demand items have the ads you cannot. If you're having trouble with rewind or fast forward with a regular recorded shows then there's some kind of issue. It's unlikely they're going to change the on demand ads. 

Yeah just to be clear this was not a live or on demand show.  This example I used above was a show we had recorded from months ago.  Same issue the OP was describing that everyone was misunderstanding

We were watching a show from our DVR list that would block us from FF through commercials.  

Thanks for clarifying. Is there anything stated in the terms of agreement that commercials with older recorded shows will not allow FF? Is it doing this on multiple devices? Does it seem to be with all networks?