Directv Now to become AT&T TV NOW

[mackie99]

I just received the following email:

Important information regarding DIRECTV NOW



We’d like to share some new changes coming to DIRECTV NOW℠!

In an effort to deliver the best service possible across our products, we will soon be reintroducing the DIRECTV NOW experience as AT&T TV NOW.

In the coming weeks, your DIRECTV NOW app will change to AT&T TV, but will continue to deliver the same great streaming entertainment. As an existing customer, your service will carry on as usual without any interruptions.

If automatic updates are not enabled on your device, you will be directed to download the updated app when you login. Simply follow the onscreen instructions and accept the Terms and Conditions to update.

There will be no changes to any network apps you’ve signed into. However, if you’ve signed into any network apps like USA, E! or ESPN and decide to sign out, you will need to select AT&T TV as your TV provider the next time you log in.

For more information on what you can expect from the change to AT&T TV, check out this FAQ.

Sincerely,
Your DIRECTV NOW Team

 

[harshness]

The name certainly doesn't roll off the tongue. ATTTV? AT3V?

 

[rad]

The name certainly doesn't roll off the tongue. ATTTV? AT3V?

It does if you normally stutter.

 

[buckeyebrian]

Well, they'll need more then a new name to be competitive with Youtube TV and Playstation Vue in my opinion. If they want to offer a skinny bundle without sports channels(Like Philo) that's fine, but any package WITH the sports channels need to be in the same price range as the others. HBO should be optional and not a reason for a premium package price.

 

[harshness]

HBO should be optional and not a reason for a premium package price.

That ship has sailed and it is taking on water.

Explaining the differences between AT&T TV and AT&T TV Now seems destined to be a mind-bender. You think they would have learned something from the HBO Go .vs. HBO Now tribulations.

 

[BearcatScott]

Does anyone know if you get to keep free HBO if you cancel DirectvNow? I originally signed up when the free HBO deal if you had unlimited AT&T data. I made a DirectvNow account that only got me access to HBO through the HBOGo app. I didn't sign up for DirectvNow until a while later. So now I'm thinking of cancelling DirectvNow but only if I get to keep HBO on the HBOGo app.

 

[Zookster]

Does anyone know if you get to keep free HBO if you cancel DirectvNow? I originally signed up when the free HBO deal if you had unlimited AT&T data. I made a DirectvNow account that only got me access to HBO through the HBOGo app. I didn't sign up for DirectvNow until a while later. So now I'm thinking of cancelling DirectvNow but only if I get to keep HBO on the HBOGo app.

Cancel and find out. If the only reason you are getting HBO is because you have DirecTVNow and you lose HBO by cancelling, you can just sign up again to get it back (it's included in both DirecTVNow packages). If you have HBO because of some perk with your AT&T mobile account (unlimited data), then you should still have it as long as the promotion is still current. If you don't need or want DirecTVNow, except for HBO, you can save a lot of money by just signing up separately via HBO Now or Amazon Channels.

 

[ncted]

Any AT&T TV Now customers still here on this site? My wife nixed the OTA+Sling solution, and AT&T TV Now seems to be the only option that is has everything we want for less $$ than YTTV. Prior to signing up for a trial, I thought I'd ask if there were any things I should know going in. I appreciate any feedback folks may have.

 

[Ronnie-]

Any AT&T TV Now customers still here on this site? My wife nixed the OTA+Sling solution, and AT&T TV Now seems to be the only option that is has everything we want for less $$ than YTTV. Prior to signing up for a trial, I thought I'd ask if there were any things I should know going in. I appreciate any feedback folks may have.

I havent used it in some time. It, like sling, became non options as neither offered any locals here. It appears ATT Now does at this point. I may look into it again.

 

[lparsons21]

Any AT&T TV Now customers still here on this site? My wife nixed the OTA+Sling solution, and AT&T TV Now seems to be the only option that is has everything we want for less $$ than YTTV. Prior to signing up for a trial, I thought I'd ask if there were any things I should know going in. I appreciate any feedback folks may have.

It works the same as ATT TV, the differences are channel selections, pricing and contract. IOW, it works quite well.

I like the app on the Roku better than on other platforms.

 

[ncted]

It works the same as ATT TV, the differences are channel selections, pricing and contract. IOW, it works quite well.

I like the app on the Roku better than on other platforms.

Excellent. What do like about the Roku app vs. other platforms?

 

[lparsons21]

Excellent. What do like about the Roku app vs. other platforms?

Primarily the use of thumbnails during fast forwarding. Only the ATT Osprey box and Roku do that. On AppleTV and FireTV you only have the time bar.

Otherwise you can get used to the differences in just a short while.

 

[ncted]

Primarily the use of thumbnails during fast forwarding. Only the ATT Osprey box and Roku do that. On AppleTV and FireTV you only have the time bar.

Otherwise you can get used to the differences in just a short while.

Ah. That would be an issue for us to be sure.

 

[lparsons21]

Ah. That would be an issue for us to be sure.

For me, if the Roku had HBO Max app, it would be my go to box. As it is I use the AppleTV with its horrid remote.

 

[Bobby]

For me, if the Roku had HBO Max app, it would be my go to box. As it is I use the AppleTV with its horrid remote.

I use my Harmony remote on my ATV 4K. I use it for my Roku 4K, Oppo UHD Player, Hopper 3, Denon AVR. It just does it all except my Fire Stick 4K which is RF only and I my Harmony doesn't do that one.

 

[NashGuy]

Any AT&T TV Now customers still here on this site? My wife nixed the OTA+Sling solution, and AT&T TV Now seems to be the only option that is has everything we want for less $$ than YTTV. Prior to signing up for a trial, I thought I'd ask if there were any things I should know going in. I appreciate any feedback folks may have.

Interestingly, I'm reading a few other folks on forums that are now trying out or contemplating the $55 Plus package from AT&T TV Now. In its original incarnation as DirecTV Now, its cloud DVR (which, to be fair, was still in an extended beta) gained a reputation for being very buggy. But the first-hand reports I've read this year for AT&T TV and AT&T TV Now (same back-end system) are that it's very reliable now and works well (as lparsons21 attests).

I doubt that the package gets all that many YTTV refugees, though. Yes, you save $10/mo but you give up some sports channels (RSNs, etc.) plus all channels owned by Discovery and AMC. Plus your local PBS station (although I have to think those will come aboard AT&T TV and AT&T TV Now at some point this year). Only noteworthy channels that the Plus package has but YTTV lacks are Hallmark Channel and Nick Jr. (OK, there's also Ovation and Revolt, but I wouldn't call them noteworthy.) But hey, if the channel line-up works for you, then $10 saved is $10 saved.

 

[lparsons21]

I use my Harmony remote on my ATV 4K. I use it for my Roku 4K, Oppo UHD Player, Hopper 3, Denon AVR. It just does it all except my Fire Stick 4K which is RF only and I my Harmony doesn't do that one.

I use my Harmony remote too and it is better than Apple’s horrid little thing. I use it to bring everything up and switching between devices but often use the Roku Ultra and Amazon’s remote for most interaction.

I can use the Harmony Elite with my FireTV Cube so don’t understand why you can’t use yours with a Fire Stick 4K. My Cube uses RF too and sits behind my soundbar so no line of sight.

 

[lparsons21]

Interestingly, I'm reading a few other folks on forums that are now trying out or contemplating the $55 Plus package from AT&T TV Now. In its original incarnation as DirecTV Now, its cloud DVR (which, to be fair, was still in an extended beta) gained a reputation for being very buggy. But the first-hand reports I've read this year for AT&T TV and AT&T TV Now (same back-end system) are that it's very reliable now and works well (as lparsons21 attests).

I would have gone with ATT TV Now if it had BBCA and AMC in the mix, but they don’t.

 

[Bobby]

I use my Harmony remote too and it is better than Apple’s horrid little thing. I use it to bring everything up and switching between devices but often use the Roku Ultra and Amazon’s remote for most interaction.

I can use the Harmony Elite with my FireTV Cube so don’t understand why you can’t use yours with a Fire Stick 4K. My Cube uses RF too and sits behind my soundbar so no line of sight.

Your Elite has RF capabilities, my 700 does not, it is IR only. I hang onto my 700s because I like having hard number buttons. While I probably could get used to touch screen buttons I’m afraid I might have wife issues with that.

 

[ncted]

Interestingly, I'm reading a few other folks on forums that are now trying out or contemplating the $55 Plus package from AT&T TV Now. In its original incarnation as DirecTV Now, its cloud DVR (which, to be fair, was still in an extended beta) gained a reputation for being very buggy. But the first-hand reports I've read this year for AT&T TV and AT&T TV Now (same back-end system) are that it's very reliable now and works well (as lparsons21 attests).

I doubt that the package gets all that many YTTV refugees, though. Yes, you save $10/mo but you give up some sports channels (RSNs, etc.) plus all channels owned by Discovery and AMC. Plus your local PBS station (although I have to think those will come aboard AT&T TV and AT&T TV Now at some point this year). Only noteworthy channels that the Plus package has but YTTV lacks are Hallmark Channel and Nick Jr. (OK, there's also Ovation and Revolt, but I wouldn't call them noteworthy.) But hey, if the channel line-up works for you, then $10 saved is $10 saved.

The Channel package works for us. Heck, Sling Orange would work for us if it had locals. PBS would be nice, but there is a PBS app that is essentially commercial free. The other stuff we don't care about. Even at $55, the price still seems too high for the 45 channels in this market. $45 would be better, but $10/month less than YTTV is still a win, assuming AT&T isn't going to raise rates again in 6 months at the same time they did last year.

Also, based on what lparsons21 says about the different apps on different platforms, switching to AT&T TV Now would mean switching to Roku for us, and that is problematic for us for several reasons. Even though I personally like the Roku UI better than FireTV, we have Roku remote issues on all 4 TVs in our house and private listening causes some serious stability issues. I seriously doubt my wife would consider the daily hassle of dealing with the Roku remotes to be worth $10 per month. In fact, I am certain she wouldn't.