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It's great you want to watch those shows....but who's going to pay for them?

In the current model the networks buy shows and are willing to take the risk on them taking off or flaming out because they have the steady stream of subscriber fees to bank on. Do you think a show like Walking Dead or Game of Thrones gets made if they have to rely solely on the people who watch those shows to bankroll them? The startup costs are immense. Nobody is going to take that risk hoping that an individual show's subscribers are going to pay for it.

A lot of cord cutters and those who use alternate delivery services lose sight of the fact those shows are paid for by the traditional model.

Netflix has had some good success with original content shows lately and they are purely based on subscribers.
 
Sadly, a la carte is unlikely and would come with a number of downsides.

Right now ESPN is the most in-demand channel bundled into your cable package. In an a la carte situation, you're looking at paying around $20/month for it alone, likely more. Why? Because without subscription packages there would be less people overall that subscribe to it. They'd need to charge what they receive now or more to make up for the loss in the number of subscribers.

Does that sound like a lot? It gets worse.

Without bundling, the majority of channels would go out of business. I hope you only like the 10 or so most popular channels because there simply wouldn't be enough people interested in subscribing to the others to keep them in business.

With bundles even the lesser popular channels get a cut and can continue to exist. I'm sure you'll say screw them if they can't survive but the truth is that while they may not be your thing, they are channels many people enjoy. It's like if Apple had gone out of business in the '90s because they were the less popular choice, even if many did like them.

Adding to the likelihood that most channels would fail, even the less popular channels would have to charge a good amount. Right now they get a couple cents or a couple dollars from your monthly bundle price. If you unbundle they now have to charge not $1/month they receive from the current bundle but $5/month because so many less folks would subscribe to their channel. Again, you may say screw that but we're talking about real people losing their jobs at countless TV channels and content creators across the country/world.

You may still think a la carte is the way to go. Sadly it only means less choice for us all. Much of what's produced by the channels which would go out of business is content that ends up on Netflix where people re-discover it. With Netflix already cutting back drastically in non-original content, it would mean even less for you to watch there. Netflix is already investing mostly in their own content. While much of it is great, if you don't like it, soon you'll have no choice. With Netflix investing in their own content and less in that from others, plus many of the smaller content producers going out of business, less and less choice is already around the corner.

Thats all fine and dandy... but if current trends continue, you're going to get more and more people like me (not a millennial) who are not interested in that model at all. So from me, you get absolutely nothing. We've been cord cutters for almost a decade now. At this point, even the a la carte model wouldn't cut it, as other's have said, we only care about shows. Eventually if there's more momentum in this direction (and there seems to be), cable is just going to get more expensive anyway.

We also don't want to watch ads. I won't pay for a service AND watch ads. Period. The one small exception currently is the pseudo-ad-free Hulu tier which still has a small number of ads on networks that refuse to cave (and thats mostly for my wife).

And to be honest, most channels on cable at this point SHOULD fail. They're terrible. The industry has been focused on throwing spaghetti at the wall to see what sticks so long that all we have is a pile of spaghetti on the floor. Some of the better more focused networks/providers are working on better quality content (mostly premium channels like HBO and services like Netflix).
 
I believe that it's only two simultaneous streams, and DVR won't be available until next year.
Two streams kind of sucks when you compare you get 5 with them right now. No DVR is a killer for me, we hardly watch anything live anymore, except maybe sporting events, even those are DVR'd, just in case I we need to run out, etc.

As for the cost of equipment currently with the providers, I agree, it's out or this world. I would love to get rid of the boxes and cable, but I want DVR service, so right now I will not switch.
 
If I have a satellite DirectTV contract, can I switch to this service without having to shell out money to break my contract? I may need to call AT&T and complain some more... My contract had ended last may, but I switched my Internet to AT&T and somehow in the process, I wound up with another 2 year contract.
 
I am going to give this a test drive for 3 months at the very least. Here is how I see it. I was going to buy another Apple TV anyway. This reduces the cost of that buy almost $50. A win!

3 months gives ATT/Directv to get the kinks worked out a bit. If PQ is acceptable I will send back three Directv receivers that get used maybe once a month or less in other rooms (guest rooms, etc). That saves me $21 a month right there.

Cancel HBO on Directv satellite saves another $17 a month. I am now up $2 a month. Minimal, but if Directv doesn't offer more 4K anytime soon, I will downgrade my current package. Another $15 a month savings.

By doing all of this I can stay on Directv, not pay receiver costs and still lower my monthly bill. Plus I have the added flexibility of adding even more TV's at no cost. Oh, I can still get Sunday Ticket this way and use the app on Apple TV to stream it to any Apple TV.
 
Thats all fine and dandy... but if current trends continue, you're going to get more and more people like me (not a millennial) who are not interested in that model at all. So from me, you get absolutely nothing. We've been cord cutters for almost a decade now. At this point, even the a la carte model wouldn't cut it, as other's have said, we only care about shows. Eventually if there's more momentum in this direction (and there seems to be), cable is just going to get more expensive anyway.

We also don't want to watch ads. I won't pay for a service AND watch ads. Period. The one small exception currently is the pseudo-ad-free Hulu tier which still has a small number of ads on networks that refuse to cave (and thats mostly for my wife).

And to be honest, most channels on cable at this point SHOULD fail. They're terrible. The industry has been focused on throwing spaghetti at the wall to see what sticks so long that all we have is a pile of spaghetti on the floor. Some of the better more focused networks/providers are working on better quality content (mostly premium channels like HBO and services like Netflix).

That's cool. Just understand that if you continue to want to push in that direction most of the content out there now will disappear and you will be totally at the mercy of Netflix and whatever it is they want you to watch. You won't have a choice.

Most of the awesome content you love wasn't produced just because you wanted it. It came to be through more traditional development. Kiss it goodbye with the new method of producing a show and only if it's a smash hit keep it.

I don't care if it goes away. Even having been an executive in the industry I watch almost zero TV or movies. It'll be those that enjoy watching TV shows and movies who will lose choice and see prices climb. Netflix is already raising their prices. They'll only continue to do so once they own much of the content and have people hooked. Enjoy.
 
Get an antenna. OTA signals aren't compressed. The quality is good

Seriously? Just get an HD antenna and be done with it. Local channels can be picked up OTA.

Use an antenna and get true HD local tv.

But how will I get it on my iPhone, Mac, Kindle Fire, Apple TV, etc., when I'm not on my home network? I haven't actually watched TV on my actual TV in a hot minute.
 
Wow, they still don't get it... I don't need even 60 channels. Maybe 10. Do I get to choose which channels are in the bundle? No? Then why are you even bothering doing advertising? Let me make this easy for you: Do I want what you are offering? NO.
 
If I have a satellite DirectTV contract, can I switch to this service without having to shell out money to break my contract? I may need to call AT&T and complain some more... My contract had ended last may, but I switched my Internet to AT&T and somehow in the process, I wound up with another 2 year contract.

You'll have to pay the early termination fees. This isn't a "new" service with a contract so they won't let you cancel a plan you have 1.5 years left for one which is month to month.

I have 4 months left of my U-Verse TV plan and it'll be $30 to cancel. I'll make that up in one month of this service (if I choose to get it). I'm seriously considering just sticking an antenna on my balcony and getting a HDHomeRun and funneling everything through PLEX.

But really, $12 for Hulu gets me 80% of my TV Shows I watch.
 
When thousands of people are flooding your site **** happens, however, this may not be something you experience since you do indeed work for "a much smaller marketing team".

Give it time...
It's the next day and the website still doesn't show anything but the teaser page with the form. I've cleared the cache and have tried multiple ISPs and devices.

How many days, exactly, am I supposed to wait until their team gets their crap together? Bottom line is that AT&T sucks and has dropped the ball yet again. We're not talking about quantum rocket surgery here, just throw up a freakin HTML page that lists your crap. IDK what is so difficult about that?
 
It's the next day and the website still doesn't show anything but the teaser page with the form. I've cleared the cache and have tried multiple ISPs and devices.

How many days, exactly, am I supposed to wait until their team gets their crap together? Bottom line is that AT&T sucks and has dropped the ball yet again. We're not talking about quantum rocket surgery here, just throw up a freakin HTML page that lists your crap. IDK what is so difficult about that?

Didn't the press release say it's available starting Wednesday?
 
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It's the next day and the website still doesn't show anything but the teaser page with the form. I've cleared the cache and have tried multiple ISPs and devices.

How many days, exactly, am I supposed to wait until their team gets their crap together? Bottom line is that AT&T sucks and has dropped the ball yet again. We're not talking about quantum rocket surgery here, just throw up a freakin HTML page that lists your crap. IDK what is so difficult about that?

I don't disagree. I thought yesterday's presentation was a mess as well. I got the feeling they were doing everything but showing off the app. They talked and talked around it, shut down the feed when it was time for questions, and still haven't gone public with full channel listings, etc. I really do think this launch is going to "bumpy".
 
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Except if there are hills between you and the broadcast antennas that are 50+ miles away....OTA is not an option without a bigass mast mounted antenna.

So you can't add local hd channels to the package. Antenna will not work at my location.
 
Paying 200 now for cable tv and 4 dvrs each month

this sounds tempting, only concern is having to go wireless on picture quality around the house...i get 100 near my Aextreme, but other side of the house get 20down.
 
But how will I get it on my iPhone, Mac, Kindle Fire, Apple TV, etc., when I'm not on my home network? I haven't actually watched TV on my actual TV in a hot minute.

I loathe Sling Media and their business practices (shady as hell). That said, I have a Slingbox M1 and it got the job done for me as far as taking video and audio from an RCA output on my DirecTV box and streaming it to my iOS devices was concerned. I don't need it anymore since DirecTV allows you to stream live TV and your DVR through their app (and data free to mobile devices on AT&T's network, to boot!).

You may want to look and see if there is a Slingbox or another similar device that is compatible with your HD antenna.
 
Didn't the press release say it's available starting Wednesday?
But the press release also had a bunch of links to sites where you can sign up, view channels, view the Apple TV deal, etc: http://www.prnewswire.com/news-rele...o-stream-premium-video-content-300369124.html

I mean, for crying out loud, the Apple TV thing goes to a 401 authentication page that is password protected, lol. They shouldn't be sending out links if they aren't ready. Or announce packages without telling you what is in them.
 
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DirecTV will now install up to 4 rooms with their high-end DVRs for free. That's like a $800 savings there - which they will require you to have a 2 year contract. You've got to return the boxes at the end of your contract. They will give you packages to put them in and pay for shipping. They're really no use without the DirecTV service anyways.

So, in essence, all you're paying for is their service now.

Oh, PLUS a rental fee. When I signed up with them in the late 90's, if they said $79 a month it was exactly $79 a month no matter how many rooms you had. Now they charge $15 for the first room, $7 for each additional room on top of their monthly fees, same way the cable companies do.

My DirecTV monthly bill is $90 with all their channels except for the premium ones (HBO, Cinemax, etc).

I think it's a good deal as streaming isn't as reliable yet, especially during primetime hours. Sometimes, even with the best internet, it's very difficult streaming 7-9 at night. It's all because the way our cable internet works - the internet bandwidth is shared in our entire neighborhood and everyone is using streaming during those hours. I have no problem with DirecTV during those hours since I'm not streaming it.
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Sounds normal. AT&T and DirecTV are the same company - they want you to use THEIR company over the competition. How is that 'troubling'? Microsoft wants you to use Windows, Google wants you to use Android. etc. etc.

Don't forget the recurrent box cost attached to you cable or satellite bill if you have more than one box.
 
Oooooooo, the fun I will have when I cancel my $130 a month Charter Spectrum TV package and just keep the $60 a month internet package. I'm sure Charter Spectrum will never throttle my speeds. I'm sure they will be thrilled to just serve AT&T data down my pipes day-in and day-out. Weeeeeeeeeee!
 
This will add competition to Sling. But since it's owned by AT&T, I think everyone should be cautious.
This is how fake news get started. And people even liked this utterly incorrect reply!

Go do your homework, come back and fix your comment.
 
I am going to give this a test drive for 3 months at the very least. Here is how I see it. I was going to buy another Apple TV anyway. This reduces the cost of that buy almost $50. A win!

3 months gives ATT/Directv to get the kinks worked out a bit. If PQ is acceptable I will send back three Directv receivers that get used maybe once a month or less in other rooms (guest rooms, etc). That saves me $21 a month right there.

Cancel HBO on Directv satellite saves another $17 a month. I am now up $2 a month. Minimal, but if Directv doesn't offer more 4K anytime soon, I will downgrade my current package. Another $15 a month savings.

By doing all of this I can stay on Directv, not pay receiver costs and still lower my monthly bill. Plus I have the added flexibility of adding even more TV's at no cost. Oh, I can still get Sunday Ticket this way and use the app on Apple TV to stream it to any Apple TV.

I had Directv, cancelled about two weeks ago. I was paying a total of $191 for what I thought I needed.
Switched to Sony Playstation VUE $64.99 package (has cloud DVR). Plan to keep it and get Directv NOW early prom of $35 100 channel deal. When Directv NOW gets cloud DVR I most likely will cancel Sony PlayStation VUE. In all I am saving money now without Directv and my cost will go down later even if I add HBO($5.00) Showtime($11.00) and Starz($9.00). $35 + $25, $70.00. No extra fees or per box monthly costs. I am in a 2 person household so 2 streams won't be a problem and I am sure that to will change in the future, as it has for other streaming services.
 
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