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Posted on: 12 Nov 2025
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The latest and most notable DirecTV commercial campaign for 2025 prominently features actors Kumail Nanjiani and Rob McElhenney, billed as "Rob Mac." The ads, directed by Oscar-winner Taika Waititi, focus on highlighting DirecTV's shift from traditional satellite service to customizable and flexible streaming-based packages, promoting genre-based streaming channel options that appeal to modern viewers' preferences. The campaign, titled "DirecTV Like You've Never Seen It," includes humorous and entertaining spots such as "Got Hot" and "Major Range," showcasing the brand's evolution and new streaming offerings.
The creative idea centers on presenting DirecTV as a cutting-edge platform embracing the future of TV consumption, moving beyond satellite dependency. The spots use comedic interplay between the two leads engaged in amusing activities while emphasizing convenience and a tailored user experience with new genre packs like MySports. This campaign belongs to a broader message underscoring DirecTV's commitment to flexible content delivery and an improved user experience for both live and on-demand TV.
Production credits from various sources indicate collaboration with creative agencies like TBWA\Chiat\Day LA and production teams involving talent like director Taika Waititi. The campaign boasts notable production figures, including creative directors, project managers, and coordination from companies such as Smuggler and Untold Studios for VFX and coordination roles. The campaign involves well-known actors Steve Buscemi and Henry Winkler in earlier ads featuring "For the Birds" spots with pigeon characters. Still, the current 2025 campaign shifts focus to the comedy duo Nanjiani and McElhenney.
DirecTV Commercial Actors
Kumail Nanjiani: Known for his comedic roles, Nanjiani is one of the lead faces in the 2025 campaign, bringing humor and charm while engaging viewers with the new DirecTV streaming options.
Rob McElhenney ("Rob Mac"): Also a comedian and actor, McElhenney partners with Nanjiani to deliver a fun, approachable attitude toward DirecTV's streaming transformation.
In prior campaigns, other actors, such as Steve Buscemi and Henry Winkler, voiced characters (pigeons) symbolizing old-school views of satellite TV, but the new ads have moved beyond this concept.
Creative Idea and Campaign Message
The campaign pivots around DirecTV "Like You've Never Seen It," signaling a departure from satellite-only TV to streaming flexibility.
It highlights genre-based channel packs such as MySports, emphasizing tailored experiences.
Humor and relatable banter between the actors keep the ads entertaining while educating consumers about the service's latest offerings.
The messaging stresses the convenience of streaming, on-demand access, and an improved user interface that caters to modern viewing habits.
Production Credits
Directed by Taika Waititi, an acclaimed filmmaker, adding artistic and comedic depth to the spots.
Creative and production work involves well-respected agencies like TBWA\Chiat\Day LA, with collaboration from production companies like Smuggler and Untold Studios for VFX and production coordination.
Campaign contributions from senior creative directors, art directors, and project managers ensure the polished look and feel aligned with brand goals.
DirecTV Commercial Actors: Meet the Actors
Kumail Nanjiani
Kumail Nanjiani is a Pakistani-American actor, writer, and comedian who skyrocketed from stand-up roots and acclaimed indie film (The Big Sick) to blockbuster status in Marvel’s Eternals and HBO’s Silicon Valley. Known for his sharp wit, self-deprecating humor, and candid attitude about his own “glow up”—his physical transformation became a pop-culture sensation and Reddit meme fodder. For DirecTV, Kumail embodies the ad’s satirical fitness theme and underscores how personal reinvention can be both absurd and inspiring. His comic honesty lets him riff on the “Hollywood hotness” trope while keeping the brand approachable and self-aware.
Explore more about Kumail and other celebrity spokespeople on the DIRECTV Insider cast pages.
Rob McElhenney (Rob Mac)
Rob Mac—born Rob McElhenney—has officially filed to change his name, channeling his iconic “Mac” persona from It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia and making it his legal brand in 2025. Rob’s star power comes not just from sitcom fame, but also his cult hero status as co-owner of England's Wrexham FC (subject of hit docuseries Welcome to Wrexham), placing him at the intersection of absurd comedy and global sports. The name change simplifies his public persona for press, brands, and international ventures, and makes his role in DirecTV’s ads extra topical. Rob Mac’s comic bravado, plus his entrepreneurial reach, help the campaign feel both smart and utterly current.
Other Notable Cameos / Past DirecTV Faces
DirecTV has a long tradition of star-driven spots. Historic cameos include:
Peyton Manning (NFL legends promos)
John Goodman (voice of “DirecTV Genie”)
Rob Lowe (the “alter egos” campaign)
Steve Buscemi & Henry Winkler (2024 “For the Birds” streaming brand launch)
These spots have built DirecTV’s pop-culture credibility and clever persona-driven advertising. Full cameo archives are listed at iSpot.tv.?Creative Idea: What’s the ‘Glow-Up’ Concept and Why Does It Work?
“Like You’ve Never Seen It” is a tongue-in-cheek celebration of transformation—both for DirecTV as a brand and for its actors. Ads turn the “glow-up” meme into a visual gag: Kumail and Rob Mac flex with weights, lounge in spas, and debut new looks that parody celebrity self-care and Hollywood reinvention. This mirrors DirecTV’s pivot from legacy satellite service to a vibrant modern streamer.
Under Taika Waititi’s direction, the campaign lands its comedy with absurdist flourishes (outlandish costumes, tongue-in-cheek editing, meta pop-culture references). Waititi’s signature mix: big set pieces, low-key improv, ironic detachment, and immersive, colorful design. He lets stars riff on their own “hotness”—not just selling TV, but making viewers laugh at what it means to “get hot.” The approach bridges DirecTV’s roots with its new streaming star power—an inviting, irreverent glow-up for a brand sometimes seen as traditional. Coverage from Muse by Clio and ad trades has praised Taika’s sense of fun and actors’ willingness to “clown” for streaming.
What the Ads Say About DirecTV’s Product Changes
These ads carefully spotlight DirecTV’s satellite-free evolution. Core product shifts include:
Streaming-only option: No dish required; app-based access across devices.
Genre Packs: Custom channel bundles like MySports (sports fans), MyKids (family/children), MyEntertainment, MiEspañol (Spanish-language), plus lower price points.
Sports Mode & DirecTV Sports Central: Enhanced interface for live pro and college sports, with stats overlays and easy navigation.
UX Upgrades: Simplified navigation, curated recommendations, and seamless switching between live and on-demand content.
These upgrades let subscribers build personalized viewing while streamlining costs. Official Insider guides detail the upgrades and genre packs further.
Reaction: Early Reviews, Social Buzz, and Marketing Takeaways
Initial feedback from ad trade publications and social platforms is largely positive. Reviewers tag Kumail and Rob Mac as “magnetic,” calling the campaign “one of the funniest DirecTV ads in years” (Muse by Clio, YouTube reviews). Taika Waititi’s directorial credentials serve as a credibility booster: industry critics call his approach “absurdist brilliance” and praise DirecTV’s “self-aware shift” from satellite to streaming as both necessary and well-timed.?
Major takeaways:
Star Power: Recognizable, likable actors cut through ad clutter.
Relevance: Comic self-awareness speaks to cord-cutters and streaming natives.
Brand Positioning: DirecTV retakes center stage as a streaming pioneer, not a legacy cable provider.
Metrics: social impressions and engagement on launch week are high, with viewers sharing moments of spoofed fitness and transformation. Historic ad databases confirm a strong creative lineage.?Conclusion & What to Watch Next
DirecTV’s “Glow-Up” campaign isn’t just a commercial—it’s a streaming industry flex, celebrating new star power and a bold shift for the brand. See Kumail and Rob Mac in action, unpack the hottest product features, and subscribe for the latest updates. Watch the full campaign and explore all offers at DIRECTV Insider.
Call on (855) 213-2250 to new DirecTV connection now!
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