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CBS goes dark on DirecTV Now, other AT&T services in price dispute
Media giants are embroiled in yet another fight over TV rates, and viewers are once again paying the price. CBS' channels in 17 markets (including New York, San Francisco and Atlanta) have gone dark on AT&T services like DirecTV Now and U-verse after the two companies failed to reach an agreement on a new carriage contract before the old one expired at 2AM ET on July 19th. As is often the case in disputes like this, the two sides are each accusing each other of being unreasonable -- though AT&T in particular has also claimed that CBS is using All Access as a weapon.
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's deal with Nielsen promises more accurate TV ratings
For years, TV ratings data has revolved around a small number of households using specialized gear to track their viewing habits. That's not completely representative of what the broader public is watching, is it? However, the accuracy is about to jump by leaps and bounds. Mere months after a deal with Dish, Nielsen has forged a multi-year agreement with AT&T to use set-top box data (thankfully, anonymized) to help determine ratings. Info from DirecTV and U-Verse subscribers will supply Nielsen with large-scale viewing patterns on top of its existing samples, providing a clearer picture of the American TV landscape.
DirecTV Now streaming rumored to supplant satellite by 2020
AT&T is planning to release a DirecTV-branded streaming video service later this year, but according to Bloomberg, it also expects for that to become its primary video platform soon. Earlier this week, its CEO Randall Stephenson confirmed the DirecTV Now launch is still on track for 2016, calling it an exclusively over the top product, with no truck roll, no set-top box or anything else. The report claims that at launch it will be limited to two simultaneous streams, with pricing similar to the $40 - $55 per month PlayStation Vue service.
AT&T is raising data caps to 1TB for U-verse subscribers only
Folks who have signed up for AT&T's U-verse service, your data ship has come in: The telecom is increasing your data cap to 1TB per month and providing unlimited home internet data at no additional charge to customers subscribing to its GigaPower 1Gbps service. But those still using their DSL services will see no benefit and remain capped at 150GB per month.
AT&T offers unlimited data on U-verse, with a catch
AT&T's U-verse internet service has had data transfer caps for years, but they're about to come off... if you're fiercely loyal to the company, anyway. The telecom is re-introducing unlimited data on May 23rd that will be free of charge, but only as long as you're also subscribing to either DirecTV or U-verse TV on the same bill. Determined to cut the cord? Unfortunately, it'll cost you $30 extra to get that same privilege.
AT&T loses Univision channels from U-verse in pricing dispute
There have certainly been some fierce disputes between TV providers and their networks in recent years, but few are quite so ugly as the one erupting between AT&T and Univision. AT&T has lost Univision's channels from its U-verse TV service after the Hispanic-oriented network pushed for higher carriage fees that it says would match those of its English-language peers, failing to resolve a contract dispute in the process. AT&T uses polarizing language to describe the spat, claiming that Univision is trying to "extort an outrageous price increase." However, Univision is even harsher: it's accusing AT&T of "redlining," or purposefully denying service and fair treatment along ethnic lines.
AT&T's unlimited mobile data plan is back
After discontinuing its unlimited mobile data plans back in 2010, AT&T has brought them back as a bundle with its U-Verse TV and new DirecTV services. If you're a subscriber on either of those, the plan costs $100 for a single smartphone, with additional lines at $40 each. That's a far cry from the $30 that grandfathered subscribers of the older Unlimited plans pay, though AT&T will also lop $10 off of your DirecTV or U-Verse bill. New subscribers will get throttled at the same 22GB limit as older users, but will also get unlimited texts and talking.
AT&T expands its fiber internet service to 38 new cities
AT&T's mission to blanket most of the US with gigabit internet is moving at full speed. Today, the network revealed that its GigaPower fiber service is coming to 38 more cities, adding to the 18 metro areas it's already available in. The newly announced places include Los Angeles, San Diego, San Francisco, San Jose, Indianapolis, St. Louis, Detroit, Cleveland and Memphis, along with 29 others. In a blog post, AT&T said that it's not done either, noting that it plans to bring GigaPower to over 14 million locations, both residential and commercial.
AT&T's first DirecTV plans include a $200 phone-and-TV combo
AT&T isn't waiting long to take advantage of its DirecTV acquisition. The telecom giant is introducing its first plans that incorporate the satellite TV provider, including a promo plan that could save you money if you need to get both cellphone and TV service at the same time. The offering gives you basic TV service for four receivers (through either DirecTV or U-verse) and four phone lines with 10GB of shared data for $200 per month over the first year. You'll need to agree to a 1- or 2-year TV contract and sign up between August 10th and November 14th, but you could save up to $600 in those initial 12 months -- no small amount, even though the rate is likely to change in the long run.
The FCC is set to approve AT&T's DirecTV acquisition (update: DoJ too)
As first reported by the Wall Street Journal, the FCC is gearing up to approve AT&T's $49 billion acquisition of DirecTV. Commission Chairman Thomas Wheeler confirmed that he is set to call a vote on the matter with the FCC's other four commissioners. According to Wheeler, the proposal will "directly benefit customers" by increasing competition in the broadband marketplace. Most importantly, the FCC's approval comes with strings: AT&T will not be permitted to exclude affiliated video services and content from data caps on its fixed broadband connections, and it must submit all interconnection reports to the FCC, as well as reports on network performance. If the deal passes their vote, it will be clear to close. The deal will transform AT&T into the nation's largest pay television provider as well as its second largest telecom, combining AT&T's U-verse and DirecTV's satellite offerings. Update: The Justice Department also announced tonight that it "will not challenge" AT&T's acquisition of DirecTV, clearing the path for it to go through once the commission votes. For AT&T's part, it says "We hope the order will be approved by the Commission quickly and we expect to close shortly thereafter."
iHeartRadio brings its streaming app to U-Verse TV
Even though AT&T's busy trying to merge with DirecTV, the company is still focused on improving its current home entertainment product, U-Verse. Starting today, customers who are subscribed to a television package can access iHeartRadio, the popular radio-streaming service. Once you tune in to the new channel (532 or 1532), you'll be able to listen to thousands of stations based on genre, keyword or location. There are also ways to save your favorite content and get personalized recommendations -- the more you listen, the more the app knows what you like. iHeartRadio says it's the first live-streaming radio application available to U-Verse TV subscribers, which also highlights AT&T's ongoing efforts to make the platform better for people.
AT&T will sell Hulu subscriptions, but not to watch on your TV
Hulu's push to put its content in front of cable TV customers has a new partner: AT&T. The streaming service already teamed up with Cablevision, and also announced it's working with several smaller cable providers to put Hulu on their customer's TiVo DVRs. While we're still not sure how the Cablevision deal will work, the situation with AT&T (which tried to buy Hulu) is clear: this isn't plugging into U-Verse TV boxes, and you will need a $7.99 subscription to make it work. As shown in the picture above, the two already have a partnership to put some of Hulu's free shows on the AT&T site, so this will expand that to include stuff people will need to pay extra for. While the two are "exploring a possibility" of bringing a Hulu app to TV, when they launch later this year AT&T customers will be able to browse the catalog via a mobile app or on the web.
AT&T's gigabit internet arrives in Apple's backyard
It's official: AT&T is offering full-fledged gigabit internet service in Silicon Valley before Google. After months of teasing, the telecom has launched its U-verse GigaPower service in Cupertino, Apple's home turf -- and a quick drive away from Google's headquarters, we'd add. Get ready to pony up if you're in the area, though. Gigabit access costs $110 per month by itself, and that's if you agree to AT&T's Internet Preferences (read: targeted ads). In other cities, it costs as little as $70. Still, this may hit the sweet spot if you're a local tech worker who just can't wait to download the latest test releases. [Image credit: Franco Folini, Flickr]
AT&T's gigabit internet service arrives in Google Fiber's original city
Need further proof that AT&T's GigaPower internet service is meant chiefly as a response to Google Fiber? You're looking at it. AT&T has launched its gigabit fiber option in the Kansas City area (both in Kansas state and Missouri), the original Google Fiber city. The monthly rate is the same as in other GigaPower regions (a Google-like $70 if you don't mind targeted ads, $99 if you do), but AT&T is counting on availability as its ace in the hole. It's using established networks and regulatory advantages to roll out in places that its competitor can't easily reach -- you can get GigaPower in Leawood, for example, while Google isn't allowed to hang its fiber on local poles. While AT&T doesn't shadow its rival all the time (it's offering access in cities Google hasn't even considered yet), it's clear that the telecom giant wants to avoid conceding ground. [Image credit: AP Photo/Orlin Wagner]
AT&T's GigaPower fiber set to hit Chicago and Atlanta
If you've tried burning incense or seeing an internet shaman but Google Fiber still won't come to your city, you may still be able to get gigabit speeds -- from AT&T. The carrier's U-verse GigaFiber service will finally venture away from Texas and hit Chicago and Atlanta. That marks 14 cities (including Cupertino and Miami) set to receive the fiber lines so far, on top of current locations Dallas, Fort Worth and Austin. On top of that, AT&T has announced 100 candidate markets -- including Mountain View -- which may have tweaked, well, Mountain View's nose a bit. Google's Fiber is still stuck in Austin, Provo and Kansas City, with 34 other candidate cites still waiting. There's no news of pricing or availability in the two new GigaFiber markets yet, but pricing in Texas is $99 a month, or $70 if you don't mind targeted ads. [Image credit: Getty Images]
AT&T tempts cord-cutters with $40-a-month broadband with HBO and Amazon Prime
If you tried to count the number of times that we'd wished cable companies would offer nothing more than HBO Go and broadband, you'd run out of limbs well before you hit the total. AT&T, however, is following Comcast's lead in offering a cord-cutter bundle that offers us exactly what we want without any of that messy cable grift we normally have to pay for. The $39 a month U-Verse + HBO bundle offers U-Basic TV and U-Verse Internet Max Plus, paired with HBO and HBO Go but also, more notably, a year's free Amazon Prime subscription as well. The company is also trialling a package that ditches the U-Basic TV and HBO options and just offers you broadband and Amazon Prime for $29 a month, although that's only available in Atlanta, Chicago, Houston and San Francisco. The catch here is that once the 12-month contract expires, you're bumped up to AT&T's standard rates, but, hey, at least that's a year you don't have to worry about paying through the nose for 900 channels you'll never watch.
U-Verse app gets more live TV channels, launches on Amazon devices
AT&T is making U-Verse more appealing with each passing day. After the carrier revealed it would beat Google to the punch on bringing gigabit internet to Silicon Valley, now U-Verse is getting a great deal of fresh content and making its way to additional mobile devices. Aside from launching on Amazon's Kindle Fire HD and Fire HDX, as well as the Fire phone, the U-Verse app today also welcomed over 50 new channels to its catalog of live TV streaming channels. This includes Cartoon Network, CNN, EPIX, ESPN, GolTV, HBO, HGTV, TBS, TNT and Travel Channel, plus many others -- most of which you can watch even if you're away from your home network. All in all, definitely a boost for U-Verse subscribers, and if you aren't, it's at least good to know that U-Verse looks to be a solid choice, especially now that DirecTV is joining AT&T's ranks.
AT&T to buy DirecTV for $48.5 billion (updated)
AT&T clearly isn't taking Comcast's recent acquisition efforts lying down; it just announced plans to buy DirecTV in a deal worth about $48.5 billion. The communications giant sees a takeover as an opportunity to expand how it delivers video beyond just the bundles it has today. If officials approve the merger, AT&T could send conventional and internet-based video to virtually any place you happen to be, whether it's on your phone or in mid-flight. This also represents a content grab -- DirecTV has the exclusive rights to NFL Sunday Ticket and other premium programming, so there's a chance that much of its content could reach U-verse and other AT&T offerings.
WSJ rumor has AT&T talking about buying DirecTV
With Comcast attempting to gobble up the second largest cable business in the land, it's no surprise that other rumors are said to be on the table, but this one comes out of left field. The Wall Street Journal (update: and LA Times) reports AT&T has approached DirecTV about a possible acquisition of the satellite business and its 20 million or so customers for $40 billion or more. While the combination of a telecom giant and satellite TV company sounds odd, the two already work together for services in places where U-verse TV doesn't reach yet and have a deal that will run until 2015 (which replaced AT&T's short-lived agreement with Dish Network back in 2009). Still, the timing of the rumor is curious, and it comes about a month after Bloomberg reported DirecTV and Dish Network were considering trying a merger again -- their first attempt in 2002 was blocked by by the government. A DirecTV / AT&T combo would put 26 million customers under one brand, compared to about 30 million for the Comcast + Time Warner Cable team-up once it's all said and done. As usual, the most likely answer is that everyone is talking to everyone else, but it's worth keeping your head on a swivel before your current internet or TV provider fades away. [Image credit: Patrick T. Fallon/Bloomberg via Getty Images]
