American wireless major AT&T announced three new packages to access video services on DirecTV platform from any device — smartphone, tablet, Smart TV, streaming media hardware or PC.
The new service will be available from Q4 2016. With the latest technology innovation, AT&T users can avoid purchasing dish or STB.
AT&T can sell the application-based, over-the-top Internet video service to people outside its own TV and wireless subscriber base. The Dallas-based AT&T acquired DirecTV, the satellite-TV company, last year surprising several CEOs in the global telecom industry.
Bloomberg reports that Apple suspended plans to offer a live streaming service, though AT&T rival Verizon Communications and Sony currently have such offers.
The move of AT&T, the leading telecom operator in the U.S., highlights the pressure faced by large pay-TV providers to respond to revenue challenges from online services like Netflix and Amazon.com as well as pay TV bundles like Dish Network’s Sling TV.
AT&T will have 3 streaming options:
# DirecTV Now — a full range of live channels and on-demand shows
# DirecTV Mobile — a package of premium and made-for-the-Web video aimed at smartphone users.
# DirecTV Preview — a free, ad-supported video service designed to appeal to teens and millennials.
John Stankey, CEO – AT&T Entertainment Group, said: “These offers will provide a range of customers with greater freedom and choice to watch, binge and even buy premium content, regardless of how and where they enjoy their entertainment.”
AT&T serves more than 60 million video streams and downloads to TV customers each month. Today more than 60 percent of its network traffic is video.
AT&T will continue to provide DIRECTV’s satellite TV entertainment service, including live and on-demand programming choices and optional add-ons such as HBO, Showtime and its exclusive NFL Sunday Ticket Package.
AT&T also will continue to offer its U-verse TV and Internet service.
editor@telecomlead.com
