AT&T's DirecTV Now to Gain Cloud DVR and Revamped User Interface

[Steve686]

I'm not sure I understand the way this works... you pay to stream TV shows... and then instead of a normal on-demand service where you can stream whatever you want... you get to virtually 'record' some of those shows up to a limited amount of space... (or is that "22h left" how long you have to watch it?)? Why? I genuinely feel like I'm missing something here. I'm a Brit, and not familiar with DirecTV, so I'd be interested if someone can explain this to me (genuinely).

I mean... (it feels stupid even asking this) they're not *actually* recording GBs of video per user ... right?! So if it's just access to shows they stream... why not just provide access to all of them? Like I said, I don't get it.

Each channel dictates what is available to directly stream through DirecTV Now. That's why there are so many missing episodes on the playback feature for many channels.

What happens now is that you don't have to wait a couple of days to see if an original broadcast is available through DTNow to play at will. You can record live streams and not worry about it.
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Same with me, then Game of Thrones is coming as well because they gave me free HBO for one year. One reason I really want to leave them is that Sling is really cheap and supports the 3rd party that I wanted. This cloud dvr would will solve most of that problem, they better be free though.

You can use the HBO Go app with your DTNow credentials for a full library of series and movies.

 

[macduke]

What they really need is more live TV in more markets. I don't understand what's so cumbersome about streaming local TV over the internet to devices within the local TV geographic zone. They still make me watch commercials, but for some reason local markets don't want that additional source of revenue! It would also be nice to get a deal done with CBS so I can watch AFC NFL games.

 

[SRLMJ23]

What they really need is more live TV in more markets. I don't understand what's so cumbersome about streaming local TV over the internet to devices within the local TV geographic zone. They still make me watch commercials, but for some reason local markets don't want that additional source of revenue! It would also be nice to get a deal done with CBS so I can watch AFC NFL games.

http://about.att.com/story/directv_now_more_than_doubles_its_live_local_channel_lineup.html

 

[bopajuice]

Don't hold your breath. I signed up and got me free Appletv when the service was launched. They promised a Roku app and a DVR feature over six months ago. Still waiting....

I still have the service but the interface sucks and is buggy. Don't have high hopes. It almost seems the app development team was a bunch of amateurs. Horrible.

 

[hotgril]

Cloud DVR sounds so anachronistic. Call it on-demand.

But what if they actually have server racks full of DVRs?
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This service offers a small streaming library and the rest is live broadcast tv but delivered through an app instead of the cable company. This DVR service would allow users to record those live broadcasts that may or may not ever be available for on demand streaming. Live sports, awards shows, concerts, etc. are examples, as well as things like Big Brother which people may want to talk about the next day.

This sounds right. DVRs are considered fair under copyright law. IDK if that alone is the reason, but it would be interesting.

 

[tennisproha]

If they don't abandon silverlight with that new interface, it will still suck balls. Right now it's utter trash. Pure. Unadulterated.

 

[dugbug]

They have a grid-based guide. I’m sold.

In the new hmi this fall? I hope so

 

[ckurt25]

Every time I plan to cancel they announce a new feature set to make me pay for another few months.

Literally the same for me. I was about to drop the service.

Same with me, then Game of Thrones is coming as well because they gave me free HBO for one year. One reason I really want to leave them is that Sling is really cheap and supports the 3rd party that I wanted. This cloud dvr would will solve most of that problem, they better be free though.

I've been using the service for a few weeks and for the most part, I like it and feel it's worth what I'm paying for it. I am getting a discount for being an AT&T wireless customer, so that helps. I'm curious... For those considering canceling, what aren't you happy with?

 

[hlfway2anywhere]

I've been using the service for a few weeks and for the most part, I like it and feel it's worth what I'm paying for it. I am getting a discount for being an AT&T wireless customer, so that helps. I'm curious... For those considering canceling, what aren't you happy with?

I just don't find myself ever using it. I'm not sure if it's because I don't like live TV or because of some of these missing features. We'll see.

 

[H3LL5P4WN]

I cancelled AT&T, but I kept DTVN. I love the service, especially at my grandfathered $35 rate. Granted, I have had hiccups with the billing department, but they've been able to get me squared away.

Now if they'd just give me NBC, CBS, and Root (now AT&T Sports), I'd be a happy camper. I'd literally have no reason to ever switch, because I'd have my local channels and sports. I do use an HD Antenna for my locals, but that doesn't cover Root/AT&T.

 

[avanpelt]

Well, if they botch the version 2.0 rollout of DIRECTV Now like they botched the version 1.0 rollout, perhaps I can look forward to another year of HBO at no charge.

 

[macduke]

http://about.att.com/story/directv_now_more_than_doubles_its_live_local_channel_lineup.html

I know. But that's still only 70% of the U.S. has at least 1 live channel, lol. That's not great.

 

[ugahairydawgs]

Cloud DVR sounds so anachronistic. Call it on-demand.

It's undoubtedly just for marketing purposes. Most people understand what a DVR is and using that terminology will help bring users along. I can see a lot of people checking to see if a service as a DVR option, seeing it listed as on-demand and taking that to mean no.

 

[nburwell]

It will be interesting to see if they charge extra for this.

I'm curious as well. I bolted to PS Vue from DTV Now back in March. So I'm interested in seeing whether they will hike up prices or keep them where they are.

I have enjoyed, for the most part, the experience I've had with PS Vue. But I would be open to switching, especially if DTV Now kept the $35/month price point with cloud DVR service.

 

[Chupa Chupa]

Cool.

$35 for the grandfathered plan i'm on is a steal.

Right, but not so fast. This is ATT we are talking about. When they enabled iPhone tethering they specifically excluded anyone with a grandfathered unlimited plan. My guess (and I have a grandfathered DTV Now plan too) is that new features will either be a la carte or part of a new package. We will still be grandfathered but to 2016 not 2018.

 

[Steve686]

I've been using the service for a few weeks and for the most part, I like it and feel it's worth what I'm paying for it. I am getting a discount for being an AT&T wireless customer, so that helps. I'm curious... For those considering canceling, what aren't you happy with?

My biggest gripe is the "On Demand" library. It is very inconsistent and at one point no shows whatsoever were updated or added for well over a month. When I inquired about the lack of content and lack of updates, DTNow replied that each channel dictates what is released every day and that DTVNow's engineers also had to work on implementing those releases. Growing pains of a great service.

For me, having essentially cable tv in my pocket 24/7 is invaluable especially since AT&T Wireless lets me stream DTVNow with no hits to my cellular data.

 

[ckurt25]

... For me, having essentially cable tv in my pocket 24/7 is invaluable especially since AT&T Wireless lets me stream DTVNow with no hits to my cellular data.

That's a nice bonus, even though I have their new unlimited plan, but they still say they'll slow down my wireless after so many GB.

Being able to use it on my iPad, iPhone, Macbook and Apple TV is pretty convenient.

 

[MacsRuleOthersDrool]

Also still no CBS which isn't good and seems like is not even on the horizon.

That seems to be the fault of CBS, not DirectTV.

CBS seems to be wanting to charge the ridiculous amount of $5.99 per month for their ONE channel that I can get OTA for free. WTF are they thinking?!?
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Cool.

$35 for the grandfathered plan i'm on is a steal.

Even better if you have an Unlimited AT&T Wireless plan. Then it's $10 per month, and if you have the higher-tier Unlimited plan, then HBO is FREE (and only $5/mo if you have the lower-tier Unlimited plan).

Now THAT's a deal!
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Still no CBS, however, they are rolling out more Live ABC, NBC, and FOX by quite a bit it seems. If they stay on schedule...a big IF.

http://about.att.com/story/directv_now_more_than_doubles_its_live_local_channel_lineup.html

And interestingly, in my area, ABC and Fox are streamed from the local affiliate, so I can even get local news from those two outlets without having to resort to OTA broadcasts (ever so handy if not at home).
[doublepost=1500047149][/doublepost]I just wish they'd figure out some what to make TVOS's TV App integrate with the DirectTV Now Programming Guide, so it could present itself as a "Open In..." Source from a TV App Search.
[doublepost=1500047382][/doublepost]

They have a grid-based guide. I’m sold.

I was glad to see that, too.

I guess I'm not the only one who doesn't like pawing through rows of "virtual VHS Tape Boxes". I understand why it looks good at Marketing meetings, but it is QUITE inefficient when browsing across multiple "channels" (networks).

 

[MadeTheSwitch]

"The potential legal issue is that Comcast’s contracts with programmers don’t include a separate license to stream TV shows over the internet. But that’s exactly what a cloud DVR does. The question is whether streaming recordings of TV over the internet is a “fair use” of content Comcast and its customers have already licensed. To stay within the bounds of copyright law, Comcast actually makes a separate copy of each recording for each customer and stores it in the cloud, which is not exactly efficient."

I wonder why the music streaming industry gets away with that? I guess radio laws were different than legacy TV laws. Because I don't think Spotify, Apple Music, etc. are keeping copies of every single song for every single user. It's dumb and wasteful for a TV company to have to do that too. Particularly since they already have the rights to air the content.

I don't understand what's so cumbersome about streaming local TV over the internet to devices within the local TV geographic zone

Negotiations with all the little mom and pop network affiliates is what is cumbersome and takes a lot of time. Something that every streaming network faces.

That seems to be the fault of CBS, not DirectTV

I don't know that I would say that considering CBS is on Hulu, YouTube TV, and PlayStation Vue.

 

[Mtmspa]

I have no problems with the interface. Much better than that Vue mess.

 

[Rigby]

I wonder why the music streaming industry gets away with that? I guess radio laws were different than legacy TV laws. Because I don't think Spotify, Apple Music, etc. are keeping copies of every single song for every single user.

They have licenses that allow them to stream the songs.

It's dumb and wasteful for a TV company to have to do that too. Particularly since they already have the rights to air the content.

Airing live is different from streaming on demand whenever the customer wants. A license for the former does not necessarily include a license for the latter.

 

[joueboy]

I've been using the service for a few weeks and for the most part, I like it and feel it's worth what I'm paying for it. I am getting a discount for being an AT&T wireless customer, so that helps. I'm curious... For those considering canceling, what aren't you happy with?

It was really lacking something when it started, but it wasn't bad. They've been keep on adding features and supporting 3rd party apps. I haven't checked recently but I was really frustrated when AMC wasn't supported. My wife and I watch walking dead but there are times we missed the show. But we have to wait for a week to watch what we missed back then.

 

[macduke]

Negotiations with all the little mom and pop network affiliates is what is cumbersome and takes a lot of time. Something that every streaming network faces.

The fact that they have to negotiate with these affiliates is proof of how backwards this whole thing is to begin with. Why can't I just get access to whatever network-level program that NBC is broadcasting? I don't care about the local news and whatever re-runs packages that they've purchased to run throughout the day. Why should my geographic location even matter because I'm supposedly within range of their crappy tower that can't even get a clean signal to my house? This whole idea needs to go away.

 

[SRLMJ23]

I know. But that's still only 70% of the U.S. has at least 1 live channel, lol. That's not great.

Yeah, I am in Central New York and have zero live channels. Not a huge problem since I generally just watch local channels for sports and can watch those on Apple TV Apps. Any sporting event on ABC I can watch on the ESPN App, and obviously others on Fox Sports Go App & the CBS Sports App. However, I do hope they get some live locals added in my area by end of summer!

 

[Mtmspa]

After 10 years using Directv, I switched to DTVN after trying Sling and Vue. Since I don't have DVR, my time wasted watching TV has dropped by 75%. I think that is a good thing.