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AT&T Unveils 'DirecTV Now' Streaming Television Service

Hope not! DirectTV satellite is the only service we have that isn't capped. Better not get rid of it :) I would love this if we could stream, but standard internet satellite (which is all we can get) is capped. And no cell service at home. Streaming is passing us by...
 
Forgot to mention only 2 simultaneous streams which will definitely not work with my family. As always, new streaming service comes up short.
 
thogin said:
I agree. I just want around ten channels for a reasonable price, not all the garbage channels I'll never watch.

Also, what about DVR services? 4K content? There will no doubt be extra fees. This is going to get expensive, just like cable is today.
Click to expand...

The economics of a la carte are more complicated than that. The 10 channels you like are subsidized by the 'garbage channels' that are out there. (In fact, some of those viewers likely consider your channels 'garbage' and their stuff great...).

A true a la carte pricing structure for 10 channels would likely cost the same as what you spend for a skinny bundle. That is the 'reasonable price'. Any less and content quality and variety would go down because networks would only make shows that appealed to the largest possible audience and took the fewest risks.
 
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No Roku day 1, no clue what channels they have yet. Meh, I already did my free trial of Vue and Sling and didn't keep either. I doubt I will find this compelling either. I'll continue to stick to Netflix and Hulu.
 
mantan said:
The economics of a la carte are more complicated than that. The 10 channels you like are subsidized by the 'garbage channels' that are out there. (In fact, some of those viewers likely consider your channels 'garbage' and their stuff great...).

A true a la carte pricing structure for 10 channels would likely cost the same as what you spend for a skinny bundle. That is the 'reasonable price'. Any less and content quality and variety would go down because networks would only make shows that appealed to the largest possible audience and took the fewest risks.
Click to expand...

Well some day hopefully the networks will realize that's what consumers want. Just need more and more of us to cut the cord, and not pay for this crap. I did it MANY years ago, and have never looked back. Yeah there's a few things I'd like to see that I can't get this way, but nothing worth the cost of subscribing to any of these services.
 
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bbeagle said:
DirecTV is basically dropping their service of getting the signal to you - no satellite dishes, no receivers, no dvrs, no installation at your house, much less support because you're using all your own hardware.

YOU are paying for your own internet costs to get the service to you.

And DirecTV is just giving you a discount of approx. $50/month for you to do this. How much does your internet service cost? $50 or more? It seems like a wash or a bad deal.
Click to expand...

Not necessarily. I currently get cable from Comcast but have separate DirecTV service on six televisions. For each of those, I'm currently renting a DirecTV box, but they also each have a Roku and/or AppleTV. It sounds like I potentially could use this app to get rid of the DirecTV service and boxes and save a ton of money.
 
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Col4bin said:
Never say never. It's coming...slowly.

https://www.appleworld.today/blog/2016/8/9/we-need-a-la-carte-tv-programming-now

http://fortune.com/2016/03/15/a-la-carte-tv/
Click to expand...

It's already started, just not progressing fast enough. With networks like HBO, Showtime and Starz making their content available outside of regular MSOs they have already entered that world. Then you have CBS trying it (badly I might add) and CW offering their content. What it really needs for momentum are basic cable networks like TBS, FX, USA etc. to offer their content away from MSO's and at reasonable rates. Hulu almost has it correct but the programming is too random and there are few ways to customize what you want to see.
 
MacRumors said:



AT&T today announced the debut of a new DirecTV-branded streaming television service, DirecTV Now, which will include various channel bundles at prices ranging from $35 to $70. Packages will include live sports, on-demand content, premium channels, and popular shows.

directvnow-800x325.jpg

DirecTV Now will be available starting on November 30, and will give customers the chance to sign up for four different bundles:

- Live a Little - $35 / month (60+ channels)
- Just Right - $50 / month (80+ channels)
- Go Big - $60 / month (100+ channels)
- Gotta Have it - $70 / month (120+ channels)

Customers can check out any of the above packages for free for seven days from the DirecTV Now website, and to celebrate the launch of the service, the "Go Big" package is available for $35 per month for a limited time. Premium channels like HBO and Cinemax can be added to a package for an additional $5 per channel.

On its November 30 launch date, DirecTV Now will be available on both iOS devices and the Apple TV through a dedicated app. AT&T is even offering a special Apple TV deal, giving customers a free Apple TV with the purchase of three months of pre-paid DirecTV Now service.

On its November 30 launch date, DirecTV Now will be available on both iOS devices and the Apple TV through a dedicated app. It will also be available via the web and on Android and Amazon devices.

Along with DirecTV Now, AT&T also announced two additional video streaming services, "FreeView" and "Fullscreen."

FreeView is an ad-supported offering that allows customers to watch some DirecTV television content free of charge, while Fullscreen, which actually debuted earlier this year, is an on-demand streaming service that offers select TV shows and movies aimed at young adults for $5.99 per month.

For AT&T Mobility customers, data used while watching DirecTV Now, FreeView, and Fullscreen in their respective apps will be free while on the AT&T mobile network.

Article Link: AT&T Unveils 'DirecTV Now' Streaming Television Service
Click to expand...
 
zaphon said:
Well some day hopefully the networks will realize that's what consumers want. Just need more and more of us to cut the cord, and not pay for this crap. I did it MANY years ago, and have never looked back. Yeah there's a few things I'd like to see that I can't get this way, but nothing worth the cost of subscribing to any of these services.
Click to expand...

Are you a true OTA cord cutter? Or do you use Hulu, Netflix, Amazon etc to get your content?
 
Col4bin said:
Never say never. It's coming...slowly.

https://www.appleworld.today/blog/2016/8/9/we-need-a-la-carte-tv-programming-now

http://fortune.com/2016/03/15/a-la-carte-tv/
Click to expand...

The author of that article does not understand how the video content industry works. Or just how expensive it is to create content. In a true a la carte model, most of the content you want will no longer exist. There will be a lot fewer channels and therefore less choice.

But a la carte is available right now.... open iTunes and just subscribe to the content you want.

People who ask for a la carte are living in a dream world where they can get an entire channel for cheap. Not happening.
 
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I wonder if this will enable AT&T customers to sign up for unlimited mobile data.

If so I may consider switching back from T-Mobile.
 
super tomtendo said:
Uh... mobile? Right now with my Directv I can only watch on the mobile if I'm on the same Network as my "cable box". This doesn't need it. No contract. No RENTED Equipment.
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That's not true anymore. You can watch almost any channel outside the home (I think the only ones you can't are CBS, ABC and NBC). But if they're going to have an app for TV I wonder what they're going to do for regular DirecTV customers? It would sure be nice to be able to use an TV app when the signal goes out due to rain or snow. Their iPad app doesn't have an AirPlay option.
 
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No DVR, limited to two streams, might not even have a guide (they never showed it even though it's in the menu of the Apple TV app), they still won't reveal what the actual channels in each package are, no Showtime or CBS, the $35 is only an introductory price and they admitted they prices of all packages will be going up in the future. The only groundbreaking thing is HBO and Cinemax for $5 each. They ended up spending more time talking about Fullscreen than DirecTV Now. I don't think Playstation Vue or Sling TV has anything to worry about especially because Vue has a DVR and Sling announced today they will be adding one in the near future.
 
How is this even different than cable prices?

Another DOA. Ala carte or $19.99 package with next level going to $24.99 and $29.99 would make sense.

This is just glorified cable coming through internet and no contracts.

Greed is bad.
 
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mikeydeezy said:
I wonder if this will enable AT&T customers to sign up for unlimited mobile data.

If so I may consider switching back from T-Mobile.
Click to expand...
Except if you sign up for unlimited they take away your personal hotspot.
 
bbeagle said:
DirecTV is basically dropping their service of getting the signal to you - no satellite dishes, no receivers, no dvrs, no installation at your house, much less support because you're using all your own hardware.

YOU are paying for your own internet costs to get the service to you.

And DirecTV is just giving you a discount of approx. $50/month for you to do this. How much does your internet service cost? $50 or more? It seems like a wash or a bad deal.
Click to expand...

Irrelevant comparison unless you're planning on ditching internet at home entirely. Otherwise, in either scenario, you're still paying for internet.

And unless things have changed dramatically in the 2 years since I last had DirecTV satellite service (and had it for over 10+ years), the cost of their equipment is ridiculous. I was required to pay for the set-top boxes upfront ($199 and STILL had to return them to DirecTV when I cancelled service) plus the monthly lease cost per box. DVR service---another additional cost and the whats involved in having everything installed...not a simple process to wire every room for service. The big ugly dish on the roof..another bonus. And if you want the best pricing, have to sign up for 2 years.

For this, I either connect via wifi or ethernet and I'm done. Is it perfect? Of course not but if one's use case fits within this service, the cost and commitment is FAR less than traditional cable or satellite service.

I've been using Playstation VUE for a couple months now I've been pleasantly surprised. Their included DVR functionality is a great bonus (though we use Hulu for most of our equivalent needs). Only element that takes some work is live local channels--something that I'm hoping an antenna will resolve.
 
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thogin said:
I agree. I just want around ten channels for a reasonable price, not all the garbage channels I'll never watch.

Also, what about DVR services? 4K content? There will no doubt be extra fees. This is going to get expensive, just like cable is today.
Click to expand...

I just want local channels so I can stop having a basic cable line.
 
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2010mini said:
The author of that article does not understand how the video content industry works. Or just how expensive it is to create content. In a true a la carte model, most of the content you want will no longer exist. There will be a lot fewer channels and therefore less choice.

But a la carte is available right now.... open iTunes and just subscribe to the content you want.

People who ask for a la carte are living in a dream world where they can get an entire channel for cheap. Not happening.
Click to expand...

Exactly. People have this fairy tale idea that they can get 10% of the channels they want for 10% of the price. It's a golden age of TV content right now. And it's driven by a shared costs model that allows networks to take risks on a wide variety of shows.

If shows/channels are expected to be profitable based purely on their subscribers, things will tighten up quick. Sure, HBO can pull it off. But most channels will start developing content for the lowest common denominator. Sure you could take a chance on a smart edgy cult drama taking off.....or you could produce more cheap reality TV and stuff that appeals to the lowest common denominator to reduce your risk and improve your profit margin.

To me this new DTV service isn't an appeal to older potential cord cutters looking to save a buck or two. It's aimed squarely at younger viewers who consume a lot of content on their devices and may question the need for a TV or subscription service.

My daughter is a college student. She had zero interest in taking a TV to school because she consumes most of her content through Hulu and Netflix. When she graduates, I could see her much more interested in a service like this than a traditional cable/satellite setup.
 
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MacRumors said:



AT&T today announced the debut of a new DirecTV-branded streaming television service, DirecTV Now, which will include various channel bundles at prices ranging from $35 to $70. Packages will include live sports, on-demand content, premium channels, and popular shows.

directvnow-800x325.jpg

DirecTV Now will be available starting on November 30, and will give customers the chance to sign up for four different bundles:

- Live a Little - $35 / month (60+ channels)
- Just Right - $50 / month (80+ channels)
- Go Big - $60 / month (100+ channels)
- Gotta Have it - $70 / month (120+ channels)

Customers can check out any of the above packages for free for seven days from the DirecTV Now website, and to celebrate the launch of the service, the "Go Big" package is available for $35 per month for a limited time. Premium channels like HBO and Cinemax can be added to a package for an additional $5 per channel.

On its November 30 launch date, DirecTV Now will be available on both iOS devices and the Apple TV through a dedicated app. AT&T is even offering a special Apple TV deal, giving customers a free Apple TV with the purchase of three months of pre-paid DirecTV Now service.

On its November 30 launch date, DirecTV Now will be available on both iOS devices and the Apple TV through a dedicated app. It will also be available via the web and on Android and Amazon devices.

Along with DirecTV Now, AT&T also announced two additional video streaming services, "FreeView" and "Fullscreen."

FreeView is an ad-supported offering that allows customers to watch some DirecTV television content free of charge, while Fullscreen, which actually debuted earlier this year, is an on-demand streaming service that offers select TV shows and movies aimed at young adults for $5.99 per month.

For AT&T Mobility customers, data used while watching DirecTV Now, FreeView, and Fullscreen in their respective apps will be free while on the AT&T mobile network.

Article Link: AT&T Unveils 'DirecTV Now' Streaming Television Service
Click to expand...
 
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