DirecTV

Broadcast & PayTV

Too Big To Fail

September 8, 2020 FilmTake Comments Off on Too Big To Fail

AT&T is desperate to sell some or all of DirecTV to pay down its $180 billion mountain of debt. According to inside sources, the satellite service is being offered at a $20 billion valuation, marking a $29 billion loss since 2015.

Streaming

Yet Another AT&T Video Service

March 4, 2020 FilmTake Comments Off on Yet Another AT&T Video Service

AT&T released its answer to subscriber losses with an all-new set-top service called AT&T TV, not to be confused with a plethora of other options. The basic package includes 100 channels.

Broadcast & PayTV

Cord-Cutting Gains Momentum

February 11, 2020 FilmTake Comments Off on Cord-Cutting Gains Momentum

In the fourth quarter, two million US subscribers cut the cord on traditional television packages from AT&T, Comcast, Charter, and Verizon, up from 1.7 million in the third quarter.

Streaming

New Details Emerge About HBO Max

November 5, 2019 FilmTake Comments Off on New Details Emerge About HBO Max

AT&T’s WarnerMedia released details about its forthcoming streaming service HBO Max, which will officially launch in May 2020. The service will cost $14.99 a month, the same cost as HBO’s flagship service.

Cord Cutting Continues
Distribution

Cord Cutting Continues

July 28, 2019 FilmTake Comments Off on Cord Cutting Continues

During the second quarter, DirecTV’s traditional satellite service lost 778,000 subscribers and its streaming service DirecTV Now lost 168,000 accounts.

Cord Cutting Accelerates
Distribution

Cord Cutting Accelerates

April 16, 2019 FilmTake Comments Off on Cord Cutting Accelerates

There is even more bad news for pay television providers. Unlike 2017, subscribers signing up for cheaper online television bundles are starting to contract.

Buyers Remorse
Distribution

Buyer’s Remorse

March 20, 2019 FilmTake Comments Off on Buyer’s Remorse

Beyond maintaining AT&T’s core telecom business, the company is beset with declining DirecTV subscribers and a host of problems at Time Warner and Warner Bros.

AT&T Time Warner Monopoly
Broadcast & PayTV

Monopolies Win Again

March 4, 2019 FilmTake Comments Off on Monopolies Win Again

AT&T finally won its two-year anti-trust litigation against the United States Justice Department to acquire Time Warner.

AT&T DirecTV
Distribution

AT&T’s Big Gamble

February 8, 2019 FilmTake Comments Off on AT&T’s Big Gamble

The DirecTV deal was AT&T’s first big gamble on the filmed entertainment distribution market. DirecTV has been shedding subscribers since the beginning of 2017.