DirecTV Now adds 25 affiliate stations, leaks details on 100-hour cloud DVR

AT&T has announced significant additions to its virtual pay-TV platform, signing on 25 more network affiliates. 

Meanwhile, details of its in-the-works cloud DVR have leaked, revealing that the service component will have a vMVPD-leading 100 hours of HD storage. (Cord Cutter News caught wind of this leak.)

AT&T said last month that its nine-month-old DirecTV Now platform has amassed 500,000 subscribers. But the arms race in the very competitive vMVPD market is now centering on who can supply the most coverage of local broadcast networks. Hulu, for example, just announced that it has signed up more than 200 local broadcast affiliates for its vMVPD service. 

RELATED: Hulu, other vMVPDs ramp up affiliate deal chest-thumping

The new DirecTV additions include 25 ABC, NBC and FOX affiliates, upping the platform’s coverage to 130 local stations in more than 70 markets. More than 20 DirecTV Now markets are getting local coverage of ABC, NBC and FOX stations for the first time.  

AT&T recently announced a long-awaited deal with CBS, but the operator hasn’t yet announced any CBS affiliate ties for DirecTV Now. 

RELATED: DirecTV Now to finally get cloud DVR as part of AT&T video platform rollout

As for the cloud DVR upgrade, DirecTV Now users are eagerly awaiting this feature, which is found on most other vMVPD services. AT&T announced over the summer that a cloud DVR would be added to its vMPVD as part of a broad video platform upgrade that is currently being tested.