DirecTV Now launch rocky with early adopters having poor experience, getting 'Error 60'
Wednesday saw the launch of AT&T's DirecTV Now internet TV service, but the first day of operation was allegedly anything but smooth.
Besides just apps on the iOS App Store not being discoverable for a few hours, a wide range of users have complained about poor performance. Some others have been completely locked out of streaming, getting "Error 60" messages displayed by an Apple TV trying to play back content.
Error 60 is the code that's displayed when a single user has too many streams going on. However, most users reporting the error are only trying to run a single stream, and getting the error anyhow.
Initial AppleInsider testing performed periodically after launch on Wednesday and in the early morning Thursday confirmed many of the issues experienced by customers. An "Error 60" we received cleared up after rebooting the streaming Apple TV, but very long streaming times, and interrupted streams persisted throughout most of Wednesday.
On early Thursday morning, problems seem rectified somewhat, with fewer instances of buffering playback stops, and no Error 60 manifestations. As the errors seem related to peak viewing times, and early service demand, it appears that the problems are insufficient streaming capacity on DirecTV's end.
Regular monthly pricing for DirecTV Now is split into four tiers: Live a Little with more than 60 channels for $35; Just Right with more than 80 channels for $50; Go Big with over 100 channels for $60; and Gotta Have it with more than 120 channels for $70. HBO and Cinemax are also available as $5-per-month add-ons.
For a limited time, customers who pre-pay for three months get a 32GB fourth-generation Apple TV with Siri remote, which according to DirecTV will take 3-4 weeks to ship. Users wanting to pay only one month in advance are given a Fire TV stick.
Further, AT&T mobile customers can stream content for free via the DirecTV Now app. In a move copying T-Mobile's Binge On, AT&T will waive in-network data fees associated with DirecTV Now or the company's existing FreeVIEW and Fullscreen on-demand services -- raising concerns about net neutrality violations.
Besides just apps on the iOS App Store not being discoverable for a few hours, a wide range of users have complained about poor performance. Some others have been completely locked out of streaming, getting "Error 60" messages displayed by an Apple TV trying to play back content.
Error 60 is the code that's displayed when a single user has too many streams going on. However, most users reporting the error are only trying to run a single stream, and getting the error anyhow.
Initial AppleInsider testing performed periodically after launch on Wednesday and in the early morning Thursday confirmed many of the issues experienced by customers. An "Error 60" we received cleared up after rebooting the streaming Apple TV, but very long streaming times, and interrupted streams persisted throughout most of Wednesday.
On early Thursday morning, problems seem rectified somewhat, with fewer instances of buffering playback stops, and no Error 60 manifestations. As the errors seem related to peak viewing times, and early service demand, it appears that the problems are insufficient streaming capacity on DirecTV's end.
Regular monthly pricing for DirecTV Now is split into four tiers: Live a Little with more than 60 channels for $35; Just Right with more than 80 channels for $50; Go Big with over 100 channels for $60; and Gotta Have it with more than 120 channels for $70. HBO and Cinemax are also available as $5-per-month add-ons.
For a limited time, customers who pre-pay for three months get a 32GB fourth-generation Apple TV with Siri remote, which according to DirecTV will take 3-4 weeks to ship. Users wanting to pay only one month in advance are given a Fire TV stick.
Further, AT&T mobile customers can stream content for free via the DirecTV Now app. In a move copying T-Mobile's Binge On, AT&T will waive in-network data fees associated with DirecTV Now or the company's existing FreeVIEW and Fullscreen on-demand services -- raising concerns about net neutrality violations.
Comments
Unfortunately you need Silverlight so it's a no-go for me on Safari for Mac, but on iOS it worked fine. They say it only works for the 4th gen Apple TV and up (due to the App Store), but they have an AirPlay button so you can very easily and with great results put to an older Apple TV (which I did last night). I'm not sure I'll use the service much, therefore I'm not expecting to keep it, but I did like their website's design and speed. A built-in DVR function and family accounts would be a nice addition, but seems like a decent way to cut the cord if you currently pay for cable TV.
did you already have DVT and you added this as a service or were you completely new. I have not called DVT yet, but was planning on talking to them over xmas about fixing my plan with them, the cost has gotten too high over the last few years and I was thinking about switching over to AVT and Hulu and Netflix only but would miss having live cable TV since I do not watch any local station.
As a TWC user where they had agreements with pretty much no channels to use their apps, I can now sign in on Disney and other apps now. Really nice to be able to do this. With Charter (who took over TWC) just raising my monthly bill by $61 I plan to kill my cable TV but keep the internet.
I'm sure you could, and based on your comment I wonder if you should attempt to do so to just how poor your willpower is. We all need to test to ourselves from time-to-time to balance ourselves so we don't make asses of ourselves by being hyperbolic, emotional wrecks on tech forums over an optional service that no one is forcing you purchase. I think it would be good for you to learn how to exhibit a little self-control.
I have been a DVT customer since 97 so I have lots of experience with their product. All boxes from all the content providers suck that is a given, I work in the this industry and extremely knowledgeable about how this all this works and DVT products tend to be a little better but have similar issues. Generally speaking DVT has always had the best product, I mean that from an overall experience, not just the hardware. Fios was the only product that came close to what DVT offer.
With that said I have to agree since AT&T took over, DVT is having issues I have not see before, as you pointed out freezing and slow channel changes and the DVR unit just locking up for no reason. In the last two years I seen more issue since the AT&T logo showed up on the screen, I wish DVT would not do the auto update of their software they fix one thing and break another. At least the fix the problem with the audio not working on HDMI when switching between channels.
I will also tell you part of the reason for freezing video, breakup and slow channel changes could be due to the HDD in the DVR unit. Video is first buffered on the HDD before you see it that is why you can stop and pause live TV. If your drive is having issues or has bad sectors which all drive do this cause issues with live TV being buffered on the drive. I put up with it since I know you will loose all your recorded content if they have to replace your DVR unit. Network DVR solves this problem but this does not work well for satellite based DTV.