AT&T's DirecTV Now follows Sling TV, YouTube TV in hiking monthly fees
As of August 1, prices for all of DirecTV Now's packages will increase by $5, making the cheapest buy-in for the live TV service $40 per month for 60-plus channels.
Accordingly, the company's "Just Right," "Go Big," and "Gotta Have It" bundles will cost $55, $65, and $75. These offer 80-, 100-, and 120-plus channels, respectively.
The new pricing is comparable to PlayStation Vue or YouTube TV, and follows hikes by the latter and Sling TV. It also comes shortly after the $85 billion Time Warner takeover by DirecTV Now's parent company, AT&T.
The carrier defended its move as a way to "continue delivering the best possible streaming experience for both new and existing customers" by "bringing the cost of this service in line with the market."
It did recently launch a cheaper alternative, WatchTV, available as part of "Unlimited &More" data plans or as a $15 standalone service. This offers just over 30 channels however, and no sports or local options. It also lacks any DVR functions.
Apple is preparing to get into the video game itself, developing an original slate of TV programming for launch in 2019. The company is even rumored to be considering a bundle of Apple Music, Apple News, and original video subscriptions, which might pose a challenge less to DirecTV Now than services like Netflix and/or Amazon Prime Video, depending partly on how much it costs.
Apple is reportedly spending some $1 billion on the video side of the equation, and has lined up exclusives with J.J. Abrams, Jennifer Aniston, M. Night Shyamalan, Oprah Winfrey, Reese Witherspoon and other big Hollywood names.
Supported Apple platforms for DirecTV Now include the iPhone, iPad, and Apple TV. iPhones and iPads must be running iOS 10 or later.
Accordingly, the company's "Just Right," "Go Big," and "Gotta Have It" bundles will cost $55, $65, and $75. These offer 80-, 100-, and 120-plus channels, respectively.
The new pricing is comparable to PlayStation Vue or YouTube TV, and follows hikes by the latter and Sling TV. It also comes shortly after the $85 billion Time Warner takeover by DirecTV Now's parent company, AT&T.
The carrier defended its move as a way to "continue delivering the best possible streaming experience for both new and existing customers" by "bringing the cost of this service in line with the market."
It did recently launch a cheaper alternative, WatchTV, available as part of "Unlimited &More" data plans or as a $15 standalone service. This offers just over 30 channels however, and no sports or local options. It also lacks any DVR functions.
Apple is preparing to get into the video game itself, developing an original slate of TV programming for launch in 2019. The company is even rumored to be considering a bundle of Apple Music, Apple News, and original video subscriptions, which might pose a challenge less to DirecTV Now than services like Netflix and/or Amazon Prime Video, depending partly on how much it costs.
Apple is reportedly spending some $1 billion on the video side of the equation, and has lined up exclusives with J.J. Abrams, Jennifer Aniston, M. Night Shyamalan, Oprah Winfrey, Reese Witherspoon and other big Hollywood names.
Supported Apple platforms for DirecTV Now include the iPhone, iPad, and Apple TV. iPhones and iPads must be running iOS 10 or later.
Comments
It's really the same old thing. nothing has changed. Still Channel bundles of crap you never wanted to get the channels you do want. Still wanting to jack up prices far faster than inflation. Jumping up another $5 on a $35 service is a huge up in price. F them, it's what I expected would happen. It's the creep up to end up paying what you were paying when you cut TV service from the cable company. Instead you're going to end up paying the same price, but now to maybe someone else instead. You now have a choice of who you want to screw you over. No thanks,...
"bringing the cost of this service in line with the market." is just a euphemism for "we're bigger an have closer to a monopoly so we're going to keep jacking the prices up."
Spectrum will start using the Apple TV instead of cable box. If they can identify customer's AppleTVs at home and allow 5 streams or so without worrying about homes sharing accounts, everyone would get that service. I think other cable companies would lose customers if they did not follow suit.
I have had DirecTV Now from its start at the $35 GoBig and the only thing I don't like is the 2 streams at a time limit.
I cannot get Spectrum in my area but if Verizon FiOS or Optimum would offer a similar bundle, I may drop my DirecTV Now + FiOS setup for the new package.