AT&T TV now available nationwide with Android TV set-top box — and a two-year contract

AT&T TV is launching nationwide right now after initially rolling out to over a dozen markets final yr. The subscription TV service — to not be confused with AT&T TV Now (previously DirecTV Now) — is contract-based, which is a departure from the liberty you get with month-to-month streaming TV apps like YouTube TV, Hulu with Dwell TV, and Sling TV. Signing up for a two-year settlement will get you an Android TV set-top field and a really cable-like distant management (with a Google Assistant button).

AT&T is attempting to place AT&T TV as its premium streaming TV expertise; it’s extra for individuals looking for a higher cable / satellite tv for pc different than a less expensive one. That is mainly AT&T’s subsequent play because it strikes on from DirecTV, which continues to bleed prospects every quarter as extra customers lower the twine. Alongside reside TV, you may set up apps like Netflix, Disney Plus, and others from the Google Play Retailer or management good residence units with the Assistant-enabled distant.

You may watch AT&T TV on the field when in entrance of your tv, and there’s additionally an AT&T TV app for iOS, iPadOS, and Android. (Internet browsers are supported, as nicely.) Setup is fairly easy. You plug the field into your TV’s HDMI port, enter your Wi-Fi data, check in together with your AT&T TV credentials, after which begin watching. The whole lot will really feel acquainted to cable/satellite tv for pc converts: the distant has quantity buttons, with a channel information that sticks carefully to DirecTV’s listings. However right here, all the things is streaming over the online.

The “residence display screen” of AT&T TV’s customized Android TV expertise is all the time reside TV. Everytime you flip it on, it’ll choose up from the final channel you had been on. Once more, very cable-like, and that’s really a contact that I respect. Having to search out reside TV could make issues really feel disjointed.

By itself, AT&T TV begins at $49.99 per 30 days. Right here’s the corporate’s channel lineup so you may see what’s supplied in every bundle. The bottom “leisure” bundle contains native broadcast channels, ESPN, AMC, HGTV, FX, USA, and a good choice of different cable networks. Sports activities followers will need to step as much as the middle-tier “alternative” channel bundle ($54.99), which provides regional sports activities networks — like all those that YouTube TV almost simply misplaced — and others such because the YES Community. The corporate is selling a bundle provide that features gigabit residence web (the place out there) and AT&T TV for a mixed $80 per 30 days.



However right here’s one thing to remember: AT&T TV costs go up dramatically after 12 months of service. Leisure goes from $49.99 to $93; Selection goes to $110; Xtra to $124; and Final to $135. You additionally need to deal with an activation charge and early termination charges should you cancel service earlier than your service settlement is up. (The ETF is $15 for every month that’s nonetheless in your contract.) In case you’ve obtained YouTube TV or one thing related, these would possibly strike you as ugly recollections of the cable days. And because you’re caught in that two-year settlement, there’s actually no approach to keep away from the substantial worth hike.

So then what’s the purpose? Nicely, AT&T is pushing a message of simplicity. You may search throughout reside TV, on-demand content material, and streaming apps from one central place with out having to change HDMI ports or juggle remotes. “For instance, you may simply swap between a reside basketball recreation, Netflix, YouTube, or hearken to music on Pandora or Spotify,” the corporate wrote in its press launch. The included cloud DVR allows you to save as much as 500 hours of exhibits and flicks, although content material will get deleted after 90 days.

AT&T TV permits for as much as three concurrent streams, so a pair individuals will be streaming reside TV exterior the house when somebody’s additionally watching on the sofa. I’ve been testing the field for the final a number of days, and I’ve had fun with the service to date. The menus are easy to navigate. If you don’t need to trouble pulling up the information, you may simply inform Google Assistant to tune to a sure community by title.

I’ll be spending extra time with AT&T TV over the following few weeks, and the corporate has mentioned that HBO Max will see deep integration into the service as soon as it launches in Might. Does AT&T TV make sense should you’re already proud of a unique web TV service in your Roku or one other streaming gadget? In all probability not. It’s onerous to justify these post-promo costs in comparison with different streaming TV apps. However AT&T is hoping that AT&T TV will come off as a “next-generation” alternative for cable and satellite tv for pc and assist stem its video losses.

The post AT&T TV now available nationwide with Android TV set-top box — and a two-year contract appeared first on gariwerd.com.



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