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Last year AT&T announced plans to launch yet another TV streaming service,AT&T TV,to its already crowded lineup -- now we know exactly what that looks like. The new service will offer largely the same channels as the existing DirecTV,but it'll come over the internet via an Android streaming-TV box,rather than a satellite dish.
The box is free to subscribers (although additional devices cost $120),can record up to 500 hours of TV and comes with Netflix and other streaming apps,much like Comcast's X1 cable box. Channel-wise,you can expect everything you'd find on DirecTV,although the new service doesn't have NFL Sunday Ticket. You don't need to be an AT&T internet or wireless customer to sign up.
So considering its similarities to an already-existing service,why bother launching AT&T TV at all? Costs,mainly,and declining viewing figures. As The Wall Street Journal reports,more than five million households in the US cut the pay-TV cord in 2019 -- the majority of which were DirecTV customers. Meanwhile,satellite TV involves fairly steep customer acquisition costs,namely in the form of gear installation. AT&T TV hardware,by comparison,can be self-installed by users.
A basic AT&T TV package starts at $50 a month for a two-year contract. Like DirecTV,there are various upgrades and bolt-ons,and if you're an existing AT&T customer,some discounts to be had as well. And,one of the main draws for those looking to cut the cord: no annual contract. Pay month-to-month,and cancel whenever it suits.
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