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DirecTV Now?

I was hoping there's a way to watch entire previous seasons of History Channel series like Vikings and Alone. The Apple TV History Channel app allows very limited access, and Sling TV only the most recent episodes. Does anyone know if DirecTV Now has on demand to entire previous seasons?
 
Richard8655 said:
I was hoping there's a way to watch entire previous seasons of History Channel series like Vikings and Alone. The Apple TV History Channel app allows very limited access, and Sling TV only the most recent episodes. Does anyone know if DirecTV Now has on demand to entire previous seasons?
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DIRECTV Now On Demand it pretty weak even compared to other VOD. To see prior seasons of Vikings you need either Hulu or Amazon Prime.

I use WatchAid App for my Universal TV Guide. It is what I was hoping the New TV App would be. Once you add a TV Series to Watch it will show all prior seasons. If you look at one of the prior seasons episodes you can see how to watch it. It is FREE to try and then you can volunteer to donate if you want. Runs on iOS and tvOS.
 
d21mike said:
DIRECTV Now On Demand it pretty weak even compared to other VOD. To see prior seasons of Vikings you need either Hulu or Amazon Prime.

I use WatchAid App for my Universal TV Guide. It is what I was hoping the New TV App would be. Once you add a TV Series to Watch it will show all prior seasons. If you look at one of the prior seasons episodes you can see how to watch it. It is FREE to try and then you can volunteer to donate if you want. Runs on iOS and tvOS.
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Ok thanks. What you described confirmed my thinking that most DirecTV Now VOD from History Channel is not available.

I looked into WatchAid, and it shows HC episodes are available for a per episode fee basis. I was hoping for a one time purchase to access to all seasons while still staying a cord cutter.
 
Richard8655 said:
Ok thanks. What you described confirmed my thinking that most DirecTV Now VOD from History Channel is not available.

I looked into WatchAid, and it shows HC episodes are available for a per episode fee basis. I was hoping for a one time purchase to access to all seasons while still staying a cord cutter.
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I assume you looked at the iTunes Per Episode Cost. Of course you could just buy the Season. Sometimes iTunes offers a multiple season discount. However, why don't you subscribe to Hulu. You can watch all seasons with the subscription. To me Hulu with no commercials ($12 I think) is a great value. So many shows I have binged commercial free. I also have Netflix where I can watch other shows.

UPDATE: Maybe you were only looking at the current season. That is only on iTunes purchase and History Channel after Episode 10. This current season is a SPLIT season ending with Episode 10 and the second half starting with Episode 11. If you look at each episode in the ICON you can see the date (which is kind of unique to WatchAid).
 
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d21mike said:
I assume you looked at the iTunes Per Episode Cost. Of course you could just buy the Season. Sometimes iTunes offers a multiple season discount. However, why don't you subscribe to Hulu. You can watch all seasons with the subscription. To me Hulu with no commercials ($12 I think) is a great value. So many shows I have binged commercial free. I also have Netflix where I can watch other shows.

UPDATE: Maybe you were only looking at the current season. That is only on iTunes purchase and History Channel after Episode 10. This current season is a SPLIT season ending with Episode 10 and the second half starting with Episode 11. If you look at each episode in the ICON you can see the date (which is kind of unique to WatchAid).
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Great, thanks much again. I think a Hulu purchase is the best deal ($8 or $12 monthly) if it offers access to all HC previous seasons. Yes, I did see iTunes and HC itself offering per episode and per season passes. But Hulu sounds like the most cost effective option.

I was also hoping History Vault on ATV as another option might offer the series I was looking for, but it doesn't.
 
TheIntruder said:
App version 1.02 pushed out today has a pretty extensive list of published fixes.

I haven't experienced the error 60 warnings, but it might help those that have.
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Yes, the update is a big leap forward. I especially like the start over function on selected shows.
Give em a chance guys....the locked in price of $35 is worth it!
 
blacksurfer said:
Yes, the update is a big leap forward. I especially like the start over function on selected shows.
Give em a chance guys....the locked in price of $35 is worth it!
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Right now the only thing keeping me with it is the 3 month prepayment. If I don't see improvements to the video on demand content and the ability to log into more third party apps, I'm not renewing. We just don't use it enough to justify the price.
 
tromboneaholic said:
Right now the only thing keeping me with it is the 3 month prepayment. If I don't see improvements to the video on demand content and the ability to log into more third party apps, I'm not renewing. We just don't use it enough to justify the price.
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Same here. I sold my Apple TV for the same price I paid for the 3 months service. So I didn't lose anything. I just don't see myself using the Directv service enough to justify the $35.00 a month price. So after the three months I am probably out also.
 
lsutigerfan1976 said:
Same here. I sold my Apple TV for the same price I paid for the 3 months service. So I didn't lose anything. I just don't see myself using the Directv service enough to justify the $35.00 a month price. So after the three months I am probably out also.
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For me I also cancelled by HBO Now at $15 per month and got the HBO Add-on with DIRECTV Now so my NET COST is $25 per month. And I got a FREE Apple TV which I am giving to family.

To continue after 3 months they will need to support SSO and allow most apps to authenticate. Also, a DVR or some kind of commercial free option like with Hulu and CBS All Access no commercial tiers. Still missing a couple channels my wife likes so hopefully they will offer a bit more channels.

Regarding the service itself. I have not had a lot of the problems others have had. There were those couple of down days but other then that I find it works well. Channels start playing < 1 second or close to. Really never see any freezes etc.
 
I have had a few problems..even with the new update I just got a QP9001 internet could not be accessed error. Meanwhile it was playing the audio of the show, means no the internet was indeed being accessed.

Still, this early on I think the service is pretty stable for a new product. And frankly is giving me better PQ than my cable company has been.
 
Im on my free trial and no way will I continue this afterwards. Watching a movie on a 72 hour rewind over halfway through and it errors.
So start again no resume or FF.
 
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RadioGaGa1984 said:
Im on my free trial and no way will I continue this afterwards. Watching a movie on a 72 hour rewind over halfway through and it errors.
So start again no resume or FF.
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Yeah, they really need to figure out a way to resume where you left off. That is critical in a system that is going to have potential interruptions of data not to mention consume data that might be capped. Who wants to use data for a part of show they have already seen and used data on?!!
 
Can anyone answer a question for me? If I signed up tonight for DirectTV Now and the free Apple TV would it deliver before Christmas?
 
RByers8252 said:
Can anyone answer a question for me? If I signed up tonight for DirectTV Now and the free Apple TV would it deliver before Christmas?
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I did just that. Signed up for 2nd one online. Hoping it comes b4 Christmas, but if it doesn't oh well. I figured at $105 it is still a good deal. Even if I won't be using the Directvnow service, it is worth it for the price.

I also started to think, I wonder if these Apple TV devices they are shipping are refurbished? It would make sense if they were, cause they wouldn't take as big of a hit if they were giving out refurb Apple TV devices.
 
IndianBird said:
Probably cutting it pretty darn close now. I'd say no.
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lsutigerfan1976 said:
I did just that. Signed up for 2nd one online. Hoping it comes b4 Christmas, but if it doesn't oh well. I figured at $105 it is still a good deal. Even if I won't be using the Directvnow service, it is worth it for the price.

I also started to think, I wonder if these Apple TV devices they are shipping are refurbished? It would make sense if they were, cause they wouldn't take as big of a hit if they were giving out refurb Apple TV devices.
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d21mike said:
Try going into a AT&T Store. Some will sign you up and give you the ATV on the spot. Not sure about inventory.
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Thanks, stopped in one today and they said they would ship it but usually in a weeks time or so. Went ahead and ordered online, email says within 2-3 weeks. Was hoping to get it in time for a gift but if not I could use one myself. Will just play the waiting game and decide if I have to go another route for them.
 
lsutigerfan1976 said:
I also started to think, I wonder if these Apple TV devices they are shipping are refurbished? It would make sense if they were, cause they wouldn't take as big of a hit if they were giving out refurb Apple TV devices.
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Do the refurbished come with all the original packaging and shrink wrap and look the same? If not, than no. I don't think they mind taking the short term hit for long term gain. The point they are trying to do is lock you into their service before a competitor does. Not just existing ones, but future ones like Google and Hulu as well. I guess only time will tell if that strategy works.
 
MadeTheSwitch said:
Do the refurbished come with all the original packaging and shrink wrap and look the same? If not, than no. I don't think they mind taking the short term hit for long term gain. The point they are trying to do is lock you into their service before a competitor does. Not just existing ones, but future ones like Google and Hulu as well. I guess only time will tell if that strategy works.
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Actually yes I bought a refurbed shrink wrapped with original packaging one time from Bestbuy. The packaging didn't even say refurb or anything on it. Gave it to someone as a gift, they opened it. Everything inside of the packaging looked new. Person I gave it to never new it was a refurbed lol!
 
lsutigerfan1976 said:
Actually yes I bought a refurbed shrink wrapped with original packaging one time from Bestbuy. The packaging didn't even say refurb or anything on it. Gave it to someone as a gift, they opened it. Everything inside of the packaging looked new. Person I gave it to never new it was a refurbed lol!
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Hmm, okay. Then maybe they are then. I got mine from the AT&T store, but perhaps they have a pile of new and a pile of refurb. Or maybe they only sell refurbished to begin with? Not sure.
 
lsutigerfan1976 said:
Actually yes I bought a refurbed shrink wrapped with original packaging one time from Bestbuy. The packaging didn't even say refurb or anything on it. Gave it to someone as a gift, they opened it. Everything inside of the packaging looked new. Person I gave it to never new it was a refurbed lol!
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MadeTheSwitch said:
Hmm, okay. Then maybe they are then. I got mine from the AT&T store, but perhaps they have a pile of new and a pile of refurb. Or maybe they only sell refurbished to begin with? Not sure.
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Best Buy Refurbished is not the same as Apple Refurbished (and therefore probably not the same as anyone else's "refurbished" ).

Most of the time Best Buy Refurbished is done in-house by their geek squad and sold with a Best Buy Warranty and probably in the same original but previously opened packaging from a previous Best Buy transaction.

Apple Refurbished is refurbished by Apple and shipped in different packaging than the original packaging but still comes with the standard 1 year warranty new apple products come with and even the ability to still add Apple Care to it from what I've heard. I've heard alot of great experiences with refurbished Apple products from Apple though, some even claim it's probably better than buying new.

With all things considered I would think the Directv now ones were new if they come in packaging that's very identical to original packaging.

Dont think of it as them taking a hit on the price of the Apple TV. The 3 month payment probably covers that cost. They're basically taking the hit by giving you the 3 month service for free which is probably less of a hit for them if at all.
 
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lsutigerfan1976 said:
Actually yes I bought a refurbed shrink wrapped with original packaging one time from Bestbuy. The packaging didn't even say refurb or anything on it. Gave it to someone as a gift, they opened it. Everything inside of the packaging looked new. Person I gave it to never new it was a refurbed lol!
Click to expand...

Best Buy refurb is different from Apple refurb. Apple puts their refurbished units in white packaging and the units are given model/serial numbers that identify them as refurbished. Best Buy is likely just making sure all of the parts are there, restoring the factory settings and re-shrink wrapping the original packaging. Those aren't true factory refurbs. They are most likely open box returns.

The units DirecTV is sending are new units.
 
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MadeTheSwitch said:
Hmm, okay. Then maybe they are then. I got mine from the AT&T store, but perhaps they have a pile of new and a pile of refurb. Or maybe they only sell refurbished to begin with? Not sure.
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It's odd. Cause Best Buy sent me that Apple TV reshrinked wrapped and it looked new. Cables looked untouched. So did the Apple TV and remote. But I bought a refurbed iPad from them, and both were mailed to me. The refurb iPad looked like something you get from EBay. It was just a white box, iPad and a charging cable that looked like it was tossed in there. So go figure? One came looking new, the other def looked like it was used the way it was packaged.
 
lsutigerfan1976 said:
It's odd. Cause Best Buy sent me that Apple TV reshrinked wrapped and it looked new. Cables looked untouched. So did the Apple TV and remote. But I bought a refurbed iPad from them, and both were mailed to me. The refurb iPad looked like something you get from EBay. It was just a white box, iPad and a charging cable that looked like it was tossed in there. So go figure? One came looking new, the other def looked like it was used the way it was packaged.
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Refurbs are usually returns so how you receive it will probably depend on how much the previous customer used it which sometimes isn't much at all.

You also got to make sure both of them were actually certified refurbished by Best Buy and not just "Open Box" because Best Buy sells those too.
 
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