DALLAS—AT&T TV has announced new features that will expand its users' capability to watch content—increasing the number of possible simultaneous streams to 20 and offering an option for unlimited hours of cloud DVR.

AT&T TV had previously allowed customers to have three simultaneous streams. Based on customer feedback, AT&T TV will now allow customers to have as many as 20 simultaneous streams going at no additional cost and no action required. 

There are some restrictions to the increase in simultaneous streams—some networks are excluded, like Fox networks, Starz, NHL Network, Showtime and PBS; and customers can still only stream on three devices out-of-home.

The now unlimited cloud DVR will be available to subscribers of the 500 hours of cloud DVR package automatically. Customers that do not have an annual contract get 20 hours of storage included, with the option to upgrade to unlimited storage capacity for $10/month. Recordings can also be accessed from outside the home via the AT&T TV app.

Recordings in the unlimited DVR storage do expire after 90 days. In a series recording, a max of 30 episodes can be stored (oldest deleted first).

For more information, visit www.att.com. 

DALLAS—AT&T TV is now available nationwide, the new video streaming service with live TV capabilities from AT&T.

AT&T TV had been running as a pilot service in 13 markets prior to this nationwide launch. The service, which is powered by Android TV, includes live TV packages and streaming apps, which will include HBO Max when it launches this May.

Other features of the streaming service include a voice remote with Google Assistant that can be accessed both on and off-screen. The service also has a cloud DVR with 500 hours of storage. An app is available for smartphones and tablets to be able to stream AT&T TV anywhere, the company says.

Per TVT’s sister publication B&C, AT&T TV is designed to replace AT&T’s satellite-based service DirecTV, which has been losing subscribers.

AT&T is offering AT&T TV bundled with 1 GB of AT&T internet for $39.99/month for video and $39.99/month for internet for 12 months, and in some markets 24 months. AT&T TV’s basic Entertainment package unbundled with AT&T internet is $49.99/month for 12 months of a 24-month agreement, with prices increasing in subsequent years.

There are additional packages that offer more channels as well. The Choice package, at $54.99/month for 12 months, features all of the Entertainment packages channels plus more than 20 additional channels and an option to access regional sports networks. The Xtra package, with another additional 20 or so channels, starts at $64.99/month.

“Our customers told us what they want from their TV service and we built AT&T TV around that,” said Thaddeus Arroyo, CEO of AT&T Consumer. “AT&T TV is live TV made easy and when you add AT&T TV to our amazing 1 gigabit AT&T internet you can’t go wrong.”

More information on the AT&T TV service is available on att.com/tv. 

DALLAS—The AT&T TV launch is expected in the near future, just when that will be though is still unclear.

News site Cord Cutters News initially reported, citing unnamed sources, that a national rollout for AT&T TV was set for Feb. 11, but then followed up with an update that it had been moved back to Feb. 27. However, an official statement from AT&T on Thursday, Feb. 13, refuted that claim.

“We have not yet announced a national launch date for AT&T TV and any report suggesting otherwise is inaccurate,” said PR firm Fleishman in a statement.

However, TV Techcnology’s sister publication Next|TV says that during a fourth quarter earning call, the telecom revealed that AT&T TV would be “hitting its stride in the second quarter,” leading to expectation that a launch is likely to be happening in the near future.

For more information, read Next|TV’s coverage. 

IRVING, TEXAS & EL SEGUNDO, CA.–Nexstar Media Group and AT&T have ended a two month-blackout, agreeing to return all 97 Nexstar-owned stations to AT&T’s video platforms in a mult-year retransmission consent agreement. Nexstar local stations are now returning to any impacted DirecTV, AT&T TV and U-verse platforms.

“Our customers want more choice and value and we are pleased to deliver that through this new agreement with Nexstar and its many local stations,” said Rob Thun, senior vice president of content and programming, AT&T Communications.

“Nexstar’s long-standing commitment is to provide exceptional programming and service to the local communities we serve across the United States and this new multi-year agreement will allow us to continue delivering our stations’ leading network and sports content as well as local news and other programming to AT&T subscribers in our markets,” stated Keith Hopkins, senior vice president, distribution, Nexstar Media Group, Inc.

Both companies said they “regret the inconvenience incurred by customers, viewers and advertisers, and we thank them for their patience, as the new agreement was being finalized.”

Financial terms were not disclosed.

DALLAS—AT&T TV is live for some customers in California, Florida, Kansas, Missouri and Texas. The company’s IP-based streaming version of a traditional pay-TV bundle can be purchased by those living in Orange County or Riverside, Calif.; West Palm Beach, Fla.; Topeka and Wichita, Kan.; St. Louis and Springfield, Mo.; and Corpus Christ, El Paso and Odessa, Texas.

Customers can choose between multiple packages that offer a different combination of channels, “Entertainment,” “Choice” and “Xtra.” “Entertainment” is available as a standalone service for $59.99 for the first year of a two-year service, or $89.99 for the first year with internet (prices rise in the second year.) “Choice” and “Xtra” each add 20 additional channels of lifestyle, sports and movie content; they are priced $64.99/$94.99 (Choice) and $74.99/$104.99 (Xtra) in the first year of two-year contracts.

AT&T does charge early termination fees for breaking contracts. TVT’s sister publication Multichannel News has also found some additional hidden fees for the service, though does note that there aren’t many hidden payments, and service is generally cheaper than traditional DirecTV satellite services.

AT&T TV is also an Android TV-bases service, providing full access to Google Play Store features, which means that OTT apps like Netflix and YouTube are already integrated.

AT&T executives have reportedly said that this new IP-based service is more sustainable with today’s high program costs, as AT&T TV doesn’t need satellites or trucks to operate.

DALLAS—The era of DirecTV Now is over, as AT&T has announced that when it launches its new premium IP-delivered pay-TV service AT&T TV the service will have a new moniker, AT&T TV Now. This new service will be immediately available to DirecTV Now customers, as they will just need to re-accept the terms of service to continue to streaming content.

AT&T customers signed up for either AT&T TV or AT&T TV Now will be able to access the experiences through the same AT&T TV app through mobile or TVs.

The new service will be rolled out to select markets over the next few weeks; the AT&T TV app can then be downloaded through various app stores.

AT&T acquired DirecTV for $67.1 billion in 2015, but following a reported one million loss in pay TV customers in the second quarter of 2019, it appears that AT&T may be distancing itself from the satellite company.