AT&T Launches AT&T TV Powered by Android TV

AT&T is launching a new TV streaming service as the company continues to face declining sales for its traditional TV services. The company today introduced AT&T TV, a new subscription service that brings together your favorite TV channels and streaming apps. It’s a new internet-delivered TV service that is much easier to set up compared to traditional TV services such as a satellite dish.

AT&T TV is available as a two-year contract, starting at $49.99 a month. The service comes with a free set-top box, but additional devices cost $120.

[ad unit=’in_content_premium_block’]

The new AT&T TV box is powered by Android TV, which means you can access the best of the smart TV world easily. You can use Google Assistant via the remote, for example, or access all of the Android TV apps. AT&T says you can download over 5,000 apps and games on the AT&T TV box. You can also record up to 500 hours of content on the cloud, and stream live TV from your phone, tablet, or browser via the new AT&T TV app.

AT&T TV comes with around the same amount of channels as DirecTV, reports The Hollywood Reporter. The service notably lacks the NFL Sunday Ticket. AT&T TV won’t require users to be an AT&T internet or wireless customers to sign-up, but AT&T is offering packages with AT&T TV and Internet bundled together. You can find out more about the service here. 

Tagged with

Share post

Conversation 9 comments

  • rosyna

    02 March, 2020 - 11:03 am

    <p>The $49.99/mo price increases to <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">$93/mo in the second year of the two year contract.</span></p>

    • qaelith2112

      02 March, 2020 - 2:08 pm

      <blockquote><em><a href="#525110">In reply to rosyna:</a></em></blockquote><p><br></p><p>That seems to be a recurring element of AT&amp;T service deals — you must lock in for two years, and the favorable pricing is only good for one of those two years. They are also prone to dishonoring the quoted pricing. In my case, I was sold DirecTV on guaranteed pricing for the contract term, but when it increased, the telephone-based customer "service" reps explained to me that really the pricing wasn't guaranteed, only the DISCOUNT that is applied to the underlying retail price, which itself can increase as much as they'd like. This wasn't what the rep at Wal-Mart had verbally communicated nor what was on any of the paperwork I had received. I suspect, though, that whatever I electronically signed did probably say this even if it was completely contradicting the stuff that was shown and given to me on paper. Not a company I advise contracting with in any case. Not that I endorse Comcast with any more zeal.</p>

  • roho

    Premium Member
    02 March, 2020 - 11:37 am

    <p>Just love the bait and switch being used more and more.</p>

  • jaredthegeek

    Premium Member
    02 March, 2020 - 11:54 am

    <p>I had DirectTV Now which is AT&amp;T TV Now and I have this box and have for at least a year now. Its actually a pretty decent streaming box, there are some HDR quirks but I would feel comfortable handing it off to my in-law or mother to use. The TV interface is front and center and the rest of the apps are all secondary. Much more aligned with traditional cable.</p>

    • bassoprofundo

      Premium Member
      02 March, 2020 - 2:44 pm

      <blockquote><em><a href="#525135">In reply to jaredthegeek:</a></em></blockquote><p>Agreed. I'm definitely not their target market, but the box and service would be pretty great for someone looking for an alternative to traditional cable or satellite service but still wanting "all their channels."</p>

  • Chris_Kez

    Premium Member
    02 March, 2020 - 12:26 pm

    <p>The fine print from their promotional page:</p><p>*$19.95 ACTIVATION, EARLY TERMINATION FEE OF $15/MO. FOR EACH MONTH REMAINING ON AGMT., EQUIPMENT NON-RETURN AND ADD'L FEES APPLY.Price incl. AT&amp;T TV Pkg., and 1 AT&amp;T TV device. New residential customers only, excluding DIRECTV and U-verse TV customers. Restr's apply.</p><p>This is just a fresh coat of paint on the same crap that telco's and cable companies have been doing for years. Their entrenched business model makes them incapable of providing (or perhaps even understanding) what people actually like about the new generation of over the top streaming apps and services.</p>

  • TroyTruax

    02 March, 2020 - 2:01 pm

    <p>When will they ever get past the cable TV pricing structure? The "first 12 months" is much lower than the regular rate and you're required to sign up for 2 years. From what I can tell each TV will need an AT&amp;T box (even if it has Roku built in).</p>

    • bassoprofundo

      Premium Member
      02 March, 2020 - 2:42 pm

      <blockquote><em><a href="#525178">In reply to TroyTruax:</a></em></blockquote><p>You won't need extra boxes. You can watch on any device using the AT&amp;T TV app or browser. I've had one of these boxes since they were in alpha, and they're really pretty good now. I've also used the service on a ShieldTV (needs sideloading), FireTV, Roku, Android phone, iPhone, iPad, and Fire tablet, and it works great on all of them. We can (rightly so) question pricing and terms all day, but the service is pretty great.</p>

  • hrlngrv

    Premium Member
    02 March, 2020 - 3:58 pm

    <p>As a <strong><em>FORMER</em></strong> AT&amp;T subscriber/customer, the only thing I can think of is BFD. The flip side of brand loyalty.</p>

Newsletter

Stay up to date with the latest tech news from Thurrott.com!

"*" indicates required fields

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Thurrott © 2023 BWW Media Group