AT&T Secures HBO For Upcoming New Streaming Service Wednesday Aug 31 2016 07:40 EDT AT&T is planning not one but three different streaming services under the DirecTV brand later this year. This is AT&T's major assault on cord cutting, though the company has made it clear that all three services (one with ads but free, two paid) will be used to upsell users to more expensive traditional DirecTV plans. And while we still don't know how much the service will cost (and whether AT&T will have the stones to exempt the service from its own fixed and wireless usage caps), we do know that the company has secured the rights to offer HBO as part of the packages. An AT&T announcement states that AT&T and HBO have struck a "historic, multi-platform programming agreement" that covers not only DirecTV and existing U-Verse TV subscibers, but all of AT&T's upcoming streaming services. “With this agreement, we have created easy access to subscribe and consume HBO’s premium content across all of our platforms," says AT&T. "We look forward to growing HBO and Max subscribers. This is a first-of-its-kind deal for both companies and a big win for consumers, building off AT&T’s industry leading scale as an HBO distributor for the benefit of our wireless, broadband, and entertainment customer base." As noted previously, AT&T's "DirecTV Now" will focus on streaming DirecTV TV content to your living room; "DIRECTV Mobile" will focus on delivering much of that same content to mobile users; and "DIRECTV Preview" will be a free, ad-driven service basically geared toward selling potential users to the other two services. AT&T's also cooking up a fourth streaming video platform that, like Verizon's Go90, will focus primarily on Millennials. |
mixdup join:2003-06-28 Alpharetta, GA
1 recommendation |
mixdup
Member
2016-Aug-31 7:53 am
Not all that shocking...This isn't really surprising given how HBO has been selling HBO Now through third parties already. The real question is, for the streaming-only product, is this standard HBO (meaning DirecTV will stream you the linear satellite channel + you get access to HBO GO) or are they selling you access to HBO NOW
And on that note, just now realized that DIRECTV NOW is named the same as HBO NOW....weird. Time Warner must be okay with it if they signed this agreement | |
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jorcmg
Member
2016-Aug-31 8:06 am
HedgeATT needs to give cap exempt viewing rights to the Directv DVR if they want this to have a chance and the prices for the OTT need to be on point.
So much of this depends on the rights holders. | |
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mixdup
Member
2016-Aug-31 10:01 am
Re: HedgeAT&T already gives you unlimited data on landline internet access if you have their TV service, and has it as an option for wireless if you have their TV service. No reason to think that they won't extend that to their internet-based TV service | |
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jorcmg
Member
2016-Aug-31 12:12 pm
Re: HedgeNo unlimited wireless access to the DVR to watch recorded shows. The unlimited landline does nothing for the people outside the 22 state region. | |
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mixdup
Member
2016-Aug-31 1:39 pm
Re: Hedgesaid by jorcmg:No unlimited wireless access to the DVR to watch recorded shows. The unlimited landline does nothing for the people outside the 22 state region. If you have AT&T wireless and have AT&T tv service, you have the option of buying unlimited data, period. There is no limit based on whether you're using your DVR or not. | |
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jorcmg
Member
2016-Aug-31 10:08 pm
Re: HedgeLimited unlimited. 23 Gig. Look it up...that is the throttle on wireless and Directv isn't exempt. AND, still no access to the DVR and the recordings. | |
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Re: Hedge22 and you may be throttled but only on a congested site for a temporary time. In most cases people do not have an issue with that. | |
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| Boojies |
to jorcmg
Data usage will be exempt to AT&T wireless customers with the Directv Now product. I am excited because they are releasing apps on the Roku, Apple TV, Google Cast, and several Smart TVs that will take place of the receiver boxes and no ugly dish on the house. Yes it will have linear TV as well as on demand product. Packages will compare to what is currently available with DTV just a lower price. | |
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SnoreAT&T in no way is going to make this service a valuable asset to most consumers. In no way will they canibalize their core product being the DIRECTV platform (They are trying to drive Uverse TV users to DTV in droves).
How will you get billions in synergies from the DIRECTV purchase by dooming your core product with an amazing OTT option that costs way less than what a lot of people are forced into now due to lack of options in some areas other than DTV and Dish. | |
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Re: Snoresaid by kdwycha:How will you get billions in synergies from the DIRECTV purchase by dooming your core product with an amazing OTT option that costs way less than what a lot of people are forced into now due to lack of options in some areas other than DTV and Dish. I have the same question, and as a result I bet the basic price isn't cheap. I imagine there will be some component of zero rating here to heavily incentivize usage. | |
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Boojies
Member
2016-Aug-31 10:59 am
Re: SnoreZero rating will be a component but there are different tiers so entry level is free but all you will get is AT&T produced content and possibly Otter media content. Just a little taste to entice you lol. | |
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| bobjohnson Premium Member join:2007-02-03 Spartanburg, SC |
to kdwycha
said by kdwycha:How will you get billions in synergies from the DIRECTV purchase by dooming your core product with an amazing OTT option that costs way less than what a lot of people are forced into now due to lack of options in some areas other than DTV and Dish. It seems that the idea is to get DirecTV service to places that are not uverse areas and can't have a dish would help with revenue. I don't see this being a much cheaper option, just a more convenient one. | |
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Boojies
Member
2016-Aug-31 10:56 am
Re: SnoreOn average 10.00/month cheaper from what I could see, but no contract so you can add and remove at any point online. | |
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XJakeX join:2005-03-05 Coventry, RI 2 edits
1 recommendation |
XJakeX
Member
2016-Aug-31 8:29 am
Desperate to protect the cordBased on the proliferation of streaming packages being offered by traditional cable/satellite TV delivery services and others, the content providers are being more and more flexible in how their goods can be sold. But its all just a desperate attempt to prevent more cord cutting. AT&T even admits these are just teasers to get people to sign up for the one of the full Direct TV packages.
Some people might get lucky and find the exact combination of channels they want at a reasonable price. (do they really think they can define a package just for Millennials?). Meanwhile, the entire system of entertainment packages and delivery options just gets more and more splintered, confusing, and complicated for the public.
Once upon a time, we had basic cable plus premium channels. Then there was basic, plus extended basic, plus premiums. Now look at it. When all we wanted all along, even before the idea of streaming TV was born, was fewer commercials and a la carte channel choices and unlimited DRVing. I will wait now for the inevitable "be careful, you might not like what you want" post by those who preach that a la carte will be more expensive. | |
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Re: Desperate to protect the cordsaid by XJakeX:(do they really think they can define a package just for Millennials?). I wanna see them try. The result would probably be so facepalm-worthy. | |
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to XJakeX
it will be more expensive per channel
but if it means i'm spending $30 and getting exactly what i want, compared to getting most of what i want for $60 and a bunch of stuff i don't, or over $100 to get everything i want, but so much fluff and filler that i don't
content providers/producers need to look at it this way, if i'm willing to pay you more for your content than what you would get from bundling why the heck are you bundling you content? cut out the middle man, get together with other content provider/producers, and make a standard platform for DRM with DVR support that way i just pay one place and pick what i want like Steam/Origin/U-play/Amazon Market Place for streaming channels but i get to pick and choice what channels i get on a month by month basis, and offer multi-month bulk discounts so if i buy a years worth of access to your streaming channel(s) i get a 25% discount or something like that or discounts for ads like commercial spots and/or between episodes, but only apply them when they aren't skipped, but have a check box to auto skip if you don't care to watch ads knowing you won't get a discount
but of course that will probably never happen, but if it does the first one to do it will be like Steam big kid on the playground. if i had the technical know how i'd be doing this. if any does have the technical know how and the means, do this, i'll be signed up within the first year | |
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XJakeX
Member
2016-Sep-1 4:39 am
Re: Desperate to protect the cordIt's not just the fluff and filler I don't want to pay for. I also refuse to pay to watch commercials. When ads accounted for no more than 10 minutes per hour of programming, I could deal with that. It was what kept TV free. When cable TV started, not only were we paying for each channel, but the commercial load gradually increased to the 20 minutes per hour we have now, and for me the constant interruptions have ruined the few good 1 hour dramas out there. in 2009 I kissed it all good by.
If my local cable company started to offer real al al carte tomorrow, I would not go back, at any price. I am perfectly willing to pay for quality entertainment, which is why my bill for Netflix, Amazon, Showtime, and HBO amounts to close to what I was paying for cable TV back then. But I will never again pay to watch commercials. | |
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