With Dish Network (NASDAQ: DISH) and Sony still working out the nitty-gritty content details of their respective over-the-top TV services, AT&T (NYSE: T) made its own grab for cable-wary cord-cutters and cord-nevers, announcing a $40 U-verse introductory package that offers broadband, a slimmed-down cable package, HBO and Amazon Prime (NASDAQ: AMZN) membership. The caveat? The deal lasts just one year, after which subscribers must take a higher-priced, traditional IPTV bundle.
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AT&T's online-only offer featuring a slimmed-down TV package. (Source: att.com) |
While AT&T has offered a $39 introductory bundle since April, DSL Reports' Karl Bode pointed out, the addition of Amazon Prime to the mix is new.
New subscribers will be able to activate the Prime membership online--which includes Prime Instant Video streaming among its benefits--after U-verse services are installed.
The "online exclusive" promotion offers 18 Mbps broadband speed, its U-basic TV package, and HBO, according to a promotion on its website. Subscribers will have access to HBO Go's content as well. New subs must also pay a $99 installation fee and must sign up online. Fine-print details are found here.
While it's neither OTT television nor true a la carte, AT&T is clearly crafting a package geared toward subscribers who won't pay for unnecessary television channels but do want access to both streaming and some premium content.
Meantime, Dish is still churning ahead with plans to launch an all-OTT television service with an announced $30 subscription price, likely at the end of this year. The pay-TV operator has inked deals with Scripps and Walt Disney Co. (including ESPN).
Sony, meanwhile, locked in a deal with Viacom last fall that will see some of the media conglomerate's channels streaming to PlayStations as well as mobile devices. Sony's OTT service is on track to launch by the end of the year, the company said this week.
For more:
- DSL Reports has this story
- see FierceCable's coverage
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