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AT&T Secures HBO For Upcoming New Streaming Service

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.

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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.
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mixdup
join:2003-06-28
Alpharetta, GA

1 recommendation

mixdup

Member

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
jorcmg
join:2002-10-24
USA

jorcmg

Member

Hedge

ATT 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.

mixdup
join:2003-06-28
Alpharetta, GA

mixdup

Member

Re: Hedge

AT&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
jorcmg
join:2002-10-24
USA

jorcmg

Member

Re: Hedge

No unlimited wireless access to the DVR to watch recorded shows. The unlimited landline does nothing for the people outside the 22 state region.

mixdup
join:2003-06-28
Alpharetta, GA

mixdup

Member

Re: Hedge

said 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.
jorcmg
join:2002-10-24
USA

jorcmg

Member

Re: Hedge

Limited 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.
Boojies
join:2015-05-21
united state

Boojies

Member

Re: Hedge

22 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.
Boojies

Boojies to jorcmg

Member

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.

kdwycha
join:2003-01-30
Ruskin, FL

kdwycha

Member

Snore

AT&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.

Karl Bode
News Guy
join:2000-03-02

Karl Bode

News Guy

Re: Snore

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.

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.
Boojies
join:2015-05-21
united state

Boojies

Member

Re: Snore

Zero 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.

bobjohnson
Premium Member
join:2007-02-03
Spartanburg, SC

bobjohnson to kdwycha

Premium Member

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.
Boojies
join:2015-05-21
united state

1 recommendation

Boojies

Member

Re: Snore

On average 10.00/month cheaper from what I could see, but no contract so you can add and remove at any point online.
XJakeX
join:2005-03-05
Coventry, RI

2 edits

1 recommendation

XJakeX

Member

Desperate to protect the cord

Based 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.

techfury90
join:2015-03-03
Carrboro, NC
ARRIS SB6183
Linksys WRT1900AC

techfury90

Member

Re: Desperate to protect the cord

said 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.
epoxymoron
join:2016-05-23
San Pablo, CA

epoxymoron to XJakeX

Member

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
XJakeX
join:2005-03-05
Coventry, RI

XJakeX

Member

Re: Desperate to protect the cord

It'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.