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Scientology is launching a TV network with streaming options
Scientology's relentless marketing push is evolving for the modern era. Hollywood Reporter has confirmed that the organization is launching a TV network on March 12th, and it'll include the virtually obligatory streaming apps. In addition to broadcasting on AT&T's DirecTV, it'll also offer streaming through mobile apps (at least iOS), Apple TV and Roku devices. It's not certain what the network will offer online as of this writing, but there will be on-demand clips in addition to live fare.
Sling TV touts 2.2 million subscribers as cord cutting continues
With how popular cord-cutting is, you'd think more services would be keen to share their subscriber stats. Dish pulled back the curtain today and revealed that its Sling TV service has some 2.2 million folks paying for the service. That's compared to just over 11 million Dish satellite customers. Those numbers don't mean a ton on their own, but when you compare them to AT&T's DirecTV Now numbers you can get a sense of where each are at. Last October, the telco reported that its streaming service had 787,000 subscribers. Of course, Sling TV has been around around a year longer, so that's to be expected.
DirecTV offers 4K HDR and Dolby Atmos for Winter Olympics replays
Comcast and Hulu may have already revealed plans for Winter Olympics coverage, but today, DirecTV is letting us in on what it has in store for the next several days. In addition to the regular prime time coverage anyone with access to NBC's family of networks is privy to, the AT&T-owned company has a few other things up its sleeve to enhance your viewing experience. We're talking 4K HDR and Dolby Atmos, for starters, when the festivities kick off this Thursday.
Amazon adds single sign-on across select Fire TV apps
Amazon teased single sign-in across apps when it launched its new 4K Fire TV last September. It's only now, though, that the company is making good on its promise. If you have a login from a cable TV provider that supports SSO authentication (like Dish, DirecTV, AT&T Uverse, Verizon FiOS and Cox Cablevision), you can sign in once and have access to a a ton of TV network apps. The new ability should roll out over the next several hours, according to an Amazon spokesperson.
AT&T CEO: DOJ never demanded CNN sale in Time Warner deal
Yesterday, reports surfaced that the Department of Justice (DOJ) had requested a sale of either Turner Broadcasting, which owns CNN, or DirecTV before it would approve AT&T's acquisition of Time Warner. However, the agency said that it didn't request those sales, but merely presented them as options that would quell its antitrust concerns over the $85.4 billion deal. Speaking at the Dealbook conference today, AT&T CEO randall Stephenson confirmed that, saying, "I have never been told that the price of getting the deal done was selling CNN. And likewise I have never offered to sell CNN. There is absolutely no intention that we would ever sell CNN." He added that AT&T was also not willing to sell HBO or Warner Bros., which would also come along with Time Warner if the deal goes through. "You shouldn't expect that we would sell something larger [than CNN] to get the deal done. It's illogical. It's why we did the deal," he said.
AT&T may have to sell major assets to appease DOJ in Time Warner deal
Last year, AT&T announced that it was going to acquire Time Warner, a deal that was initially expected to clear by the end of this year with little to no regulatory hurdles. However, last week, reports surfaced that the US Department of Justice (DOJ) was considering whether to file an antitrust lawsuit against the merger as its talks with the two companies over the deal weren't nearing a solution. Now, sources are saying that the DOJ is withholding its approval and wants either Time Warner to sell Turner Broadcasting or AT&T to sell DirecTV.
AT&T looks to DirecTV Now as customers ditch satellite
If you were wondering why AT&T is in such a hurry to reshape its TV business, the third quarter earnings report may provide some clarity. In the three months it covers, which are usually strong growth months with the arrival of subscribers seeking out NFL Sunday Ticket, things went in the opposite direction.
AT&T is making an Android-powered DirecTV streaming hub
AT&T might not rely solely on other companies' devices to pipe DirecTV Now and other forms of internet-only video into your home. Variety has unearthed a new FCC filing for an Android TV-powered set-top box dubbed the "AT&T/DirecTV Wireless 4K OTT Client." Just rolls off the tongue, doesn't it? The hardware isn't much to look at, but the manual talks about a voice-guided remote with touchpad as well as full access to Google Play. In other words, this is really a general-purpose Android media player that happens to be focused on services like DirecTV. You could just as easily use it to watch Hulu or Netflix, if that's your inclination. And no, there's no connectors to plug into DirecTV's satellite services.
DirecTV offers NFL Sunday Ticket refunds following player protests
Once you subscribe to DirecTV's NFL Sunday Ticket package, usually you're locked in. According to their support site, no cancellations are allowed once the regular football season starts. But in an unprecedented move, The Wall Street Journal reports the satellite broadcaster is offering refunds to fans -- a $280 value -- if the reason for cancellation is players choosing to kneel during the national anthem, protesting injustices against people of color in the US.
AT&T's latest tablet is basically a vehicle for DirecTV Now
AT&T would really, really like you to try DirecTV Now. So much so, in fact, that it's releasing a tablet where its streaming video services are the centerpiece. The Primetime is a mostly unremarkable 10-inch LTE slate in terms of hardware (more on that later), but it includes a TV Mode with quick access to favorite video apps from your home or lock screen -- naturally, AT&T hopes this means the preloaded DirecTV and DirecTV Now apps. You can use it to jump to the likes of Netflix or YouTube, of course, but the feature is clearly meant for the live TV crowd.
AT&T offers new DirecTV Now customers a free Apple TV, again
AT&T's offered plenty of goodies to entice customers into subscribing to DirecTV Now in the past. But, if a year's worth of HBO or a free Roku box wasn't enough to lure you in, maybe you'll take a liking to the carrier's latest deal. As of Wednesday, new customers who purchase the streaming service will get an Apple TV set-top box, completely free of charge. Those of you with a good memory (and a fondness for freebies) will recall the offer, which came bundled with DirectTV Now upon its launch last year.
Verizon can't find partners for its Sling-style TV service
Verizon has been trying to get its own Sling TV-like live TV streaming service off the ground, but that effort has apparently hit some snags. The operator plans to offer dozens of channels, including CBS and ESPN, to compete with rivals, including Dish's Sling TV and AT&T's DirecTV Now. However, it hasn't been able to sign enough broadcasters to kick off the effort, according to a report from Bloomberg. That means the launch, originally scheduled for the summer, may be put off until after the fall.
CBS, Showtime and The CW are coming to DirecTV Now
This is a little convoluted, so bear with us: CBS will soon be available on DirecTV Now, the pay-TV provider's streaming service. CBS offers its own streaming service, CBS All Access, the exclusive home for Star Trek: Discovery. If you subscribe to DirecTV Now, you won't be able to watch that unless you pony up $6 a month for a subscription on top of what you're paying for DirecTV Now. You will, however, be able to watch NCIS (above) and its various spin-offs.
AT&T's 'next-gen' TV platform rollout will start on DirecTV Now
Later this year, AT&T's launching an ambitious plan to revamp and unify its disparate video services. In a move that chief marketing officer David Christopher called "going from a hardware-centric model to a software-centric model." Similar to Comcast's X1 platform launch a few years ago, the plan is to have a single base for how its video services -- whether internet-served like DirecTV Now, satellite-provided DirecTV, U-verse IPTV or NFL Sunday Ticket -- look and feel across every device. Where AT&T pushes things further is that it already offers a national internet TV platform, and that's where customers will see the new technology first when beta tests start later this year.
AT&T's DirecTV Now expands its local channel lineup
As pay TV subscriber growth declines, regional content affiliates are looking for more ways to bring in customers (and their money) via digital platforms like Sling TV, Hulu, PlayStation Vue, and DirecTV Now. One way to stem the tide of vanishing local cord-cutters is to offer more local programming, which could entice customers to bundled internet TV packages. AT&T's Direct TV now service just announced that it has more than doubled its own live local channel line up, adding local NBC, ABC and FOX affiliates around the US. The company claims that the expansion gives DirecTV Now local coverage for almost 70 percent of US households.
DirecTV Now will only stream in Chrome on the web
Heads up, DirecTV subscribers: AT&T's streaming TV service will drop support for Apple and Microsoft's baked-in browsers starting at the end of the month. According to Apple Insider, AT&T has already started directing cord-cutting Mac customers to tune in using Google Chrome. The same goes for anyone still streaming DirecTV on a PC using Internet Explorer.
AT&T's $70 bundle pairs unlimited data with 60 TV channels
First, it gave Unlimited Choice customers unrestricted mobile data, then it tried to lure people in with free HBO. Now, AT&T is attempting to win over more customers by sweetening its mobile deals even further. Today the company announced a brand new package for its Unlimited Choice customers, offering over 60 DirectTV channels for only $10 more a month than the regular Unlimited Choice bundle.
Watch DirecTV’s streaming service on your Roku device
Cable cord cutters, take note: AT&T's live TV streaming service, DirecTV Now, is available on select Roku models starting today. The service will work on nearly every Roku device out there -- 4K Roku TVs, as well as the Ultra, Premiere+, Premiere, Express+, Express, Streaming Stick model 3600R and the Rokus 4, 3 and 2 (model 4210). To access DirecTV Now on a Roku, new customers can sign up for the service from a computer, tablet or smartphone and then download the channel from Roku's store onto their device.
DirecTV doubles its live 4K broadcasts for this year's Masters
Last year DirecTV made history with the first live 4K broadcast -- the PGA Masters Tournament. It was only one channel, sure, but up to that point anything we'd seen in UHD had been pre-recorded. For the outfit's return trip to the 4K links, DirecTV is doubling the number of channels available. CBS is handling production duties for channels 105 and 106 from April 6th through the 9th. The former will feature views from Amen Corner, while the latter is dedicated to holes 15 and 16.
DirecTV plans to air 25 MLB games in 4K
If you're looking for more 4K sports to justify your shiny new TV, you may be in luck. DirecTV is gearing up for its second season of broadcasting MLB games in 4K, and this year you'll have a fairly wide range of games to watch in exceptional. You can watch as many 25 baseball games during the regular 2017 season, starting with the Cubs versus the Cardinals on April 4th -- there will be five in April alone. As you might expect, though, you'll have to jump through a few hoops to see last blade of astroturf on the field.
