AT&T's 328K DirecTV adds more than offset by whopping 382K losses for U-verse

[Bruce]

AT&T (NYSE: T) continues see its U-verse video platform shrink faster than it can grow its DirecTV satellite TV platform.

The operator said it lost 382,000 U-verse pay-TV subscribers in the first quarter, losses that were only somewhat offset by the 328,000 customers it added to its DirecTV ranks.

The heavy U-verse losses compared to a gain of 50,000 U-verse TV subs in the first quarter of 2015, which was before AT&T acquired DirecTV and shifted its growth priorities to the satellite platform.

http://www.fiercecable.com/story/at...-offset-whopping-382k-loss-u-verse/2016-04-26

 

[CSM]

Does this look like AT&T doesn't know if it wants to keep UVerseTV or not?

 

[Jimbo]

I think it has a lot to do with the fact that att is pushing D* over U Verse.
If you already have U Verse, they will support it and it will stay available, but they will make an effort to move you to D*.

 

[goaliebob99]

Does this look like AT&T doesn't know if it wants to keep UVerseTV or not?

No.. they know. Uverse wont be around after 2020 like how we know it it now. The uverse platform is going away in favor of a satellite / IP hybrid form. You wont have to be on ATT's network to get TV anymore, where as with Uverse you have to be on ATT's internal network.

 

[goaliebob99]

I think it has a lot to do with the fact that att is pushing D* over U Verse.
If you already have U Verse, they will support it and it will stay available, but they will make an effort to move you to D*.

I wouldn't be surprised to see them kill the uverse platform shorty after the next gen box arrives, or begin the migration then. I say the Uverse platform gets shut off sometime in 2020.

 

[Jimbo]

I wouldn't be surprised to see them kill the uverse platform shorty after the next gen box arrives, or begin the migration then. I say the Uverse platform gets shut off sometime in 2020.

I think the intention is to keep the U Verse Internet in the long haul, this way they have internet in homes and D* available as well .

 

[CSM]

I wouldn't be surprised to see them kill the uverse platform shorty after the next gen box arrives, or begin the migration then. I say the Uverse platform gets shut off sometime in 2020.

Do you know when the next gen box arrives and what it will do?

 

[goaliebob99]

I think the intention is to keep the U Verse Internet in the long haul, this way they have internet in homes and D* available as well .

Correct.. I am talking about the TV platform.

 

[goaliebob99]

Do you know when the next gen box arrives and what it will do?

No one really knows the specifics other than ATT has already said that it will be a hybrid IP / Satellite box that anyone can plug into any internet connection and works. There were rumors that the IP part could take over the satellite part in a rain fade event. I don't think we will know more until next year.

 

[whitewolf8214]

There you go the numbers for U-Verse will keep going down util everyone is on DirecTV and hopefully soon but still DirecTV numbers every quarter seems like does good

 

[Mr Tony]

I think it has a lot to do with the fact that att is pushing D* over U Verse.
If you already have U Verse, they will support it and it will stay available, but they will make an effort to move you to D*.

but I'm sure they are prodding and poking you to move to Directv

 

[Jimbo]

but I'm sure they are prodding and poking you to move to Directv

When I talk to my customers and they ask me about them, I lean them to D* but I have used D* for quite awhile now so I'm familiar with it and can explain most anything they ask.
U Verse I haven't used myself.
However, from what I see from a friend's, I like it as well.

 

[CSM]

Over at DSLReports it was sounding to me like UVerseTV is now only available upon request.

 

[Jimbo]

Over at DSLReports it was sounding to me like UVerseTV is now only available upon request.

I mentioned that months ago, if your in the U Verse footprint and want it, you can get it ... That said, they prefer to give you D*.

 

[CSM]

I mentioned that months ago, if your in the U Verse footprint and want it, you can get it ... That said, they prefer to give you D*.

Sorry, I guess I should have looked that up using the search feature here. Since they are going that way I wonder if one easy way to quickly merge the two platforms would be to just do a software tweak to DTV's current guide so the UVerseTV boxes can use it? Unless they wouldn't be able to use the UVerseTV apps on the DTV guide?

 

[Jimbo]

Sorry, I guess I should have looked that up using the search feature here. Since they are going that way I wonder if one easy way to quickly merge the two platforms would be to just do a software tweak to DTV's current guide so the UVerseTV boxes can use it? Unless they wouldn't be able to use the UVerseTV apps on the DTV guide?

Np ... was just mentioning ...

 

[CK SatGuy]

Over at DSLReports it was sounding to me like UVerseTV is now only available upon request.

If you type in your address on att.com to check availability, they'll still let you order u-verse TV online if it's available and that's what you want. I've been with u-verse for over a year now, and if I was a new customer, I'd still go with u-verse tv (with the current all included promos) because I would still save $15/month over Directv for the channels I want.