Read the fine print boss, that is $35 each month. That's a non starter right there! Still don't see the value of paying $35 for 100 channels, and most ppl only watch maybe a handful of those channels at best. And yes I know the channels I don't watch help subsidize the ones I do, yada yada. Football season is over, so I don't need ESPN any longer. And I may watch FX, TNT and a few others on occasion.
So I don't see why I should pay $35 for those few channels. Every person's situation is different, so maybe there are those out there that watch most of the channels offered. But in my case, the only reason I took advantage of the offer is the discounted Appletv they offered.
Prior to DTVN, my Comcast basic cable package, with HBO+Cinemax "deal" came to ~$51/month with fees and taxes.
One of the premium channels like HBO is $20 alone, or the sister channel packages like HBO/Cinemax, or Showtime/TMC can be had for the same price.
$19.67 Limited Basic
$19.99 Multiple Premium Package
$2.65 Digital Converter
$5.00 Broadcast TV Fee
$3.59 Taxes and fees
Limited Basic consists of the locals, their subchannels, a bunch of shopping channels, audio music channels, and Discovery.
So, to avoid poor OTA reception, and get HBO, it's at least $50/month. Even without it, a minimum of $30/month for basic service for one outlet.
A Comcast channel package comparable to Go Big, and including sports channels (which remain the last compelling reason for many to watch live TV)
starts at $45 with a 1-year contract, or $55 without.
Add $20 for the premium channels, $4 for an additional outlet (to match the two streams), $3 for the Regional Sports Network fee and the bullfeces $10 HD Technology Fee (which is waived only for the lowest tier). Note that the Broadcast Fee and RSN Fees are going up to $7/$5 respectively for 2017, as part of Comcast's clockwork
annual price increases.
Apples to apples, paying $35 for a $60 100-channel package with all the sports channels, compared to a what it would cost with Comcast isn't such a bad value. Even at "full" pricing, which DTVN will surely creep up toward, it's still a better value. And that's before the fees/taxes and more expensive premiums are added.
Whether you watch those channels is irrelevant; there is no à la carte service in the U.S., and as our Canadian friends have discovered, even when offered, it doesn't necessarily mean costs are any lower.
I don't even watch most of the channels in the Go Big packages, but by any objective evaluation, DTVN is a superior value.
And who would be foolish enough to not choose the Go Big $35 promo even if the you don't intend to keep it, or the price goes up? At the very least, you get a Fire Stick for free, some insulation from future price increases, and more channels to enjoy in the interim. Versus paying the same sum for the lowest "Live A Little" tier with none of those benefits? There is nothing to prevent one from switching tiers later.
It's almost certain that the $35 promos aren't positive for AT&T's bottom line. But as long as they're willing to bear those costs for acquiring users and building their customer base, it's not a bad idea to take advantage.
The TV industry can afford to not do business with whomever wants to "disrupt" their status quo and not eat the costs for doing so, like Apple. 80% of homes with TV are served by the MSOs who will pay their price, and then pass it on to consumers, with "cherries" on top.
