| NEWS Heads up AT&T / DirecTV customers, Disney (ESPN) carriage deal ends Sept 30th

[planomateo]

 

[planomateo]

Today AT&T sent shareholders an update for its 2020 goals. In that letter to shareholders, AT&T warned that they could lose over 1 million subscribers in the 3rd quarter of 2019. AT&T went on to warn that there could be more blackouts as contracts are coming up for renewal.

“Coming into the year, the company expected some tough content negotiations, specifically for retransmission deals. Stephens said the company has been holding a hard line in negotiations, which is allowing it to achieve its content cost management goals. In the third quarter, Stephens said the company expects an incremental 300,000 to 350,000 premium video losses above the previous quarter’s premium video results, driven by: aggressively managing costs with retransmission negotiations, some of which resulted in content provider black outs; and from limiting promotional pricing.” AT&T said in their shareholder letter.” AT&T said in the letter to shareholders.

In the 2nd quarter of 2019, AT&T lost over 778,000 TV subscribers. Adding an additional 300,000 would push them over 1 million subscribers lost in just three months. Disney has recently warned of a possible blackout, and that could be one of the blackouts AT&T says they are worried about. Yet it sounds like more contracts other than Disney will also be coming up for renewal.

The letter to shareholders went on to say that AT&T expected subscriber trends to improve due to far fewer customers on promotional pricing.
“In 2020, AT&T expects premium TV subscriber trends to improve due to far fewer customers on promotional pricing and the nationwide launch of AT&T TV, which delivers a premium streaming experience. Other factors that may help improve Entertainment Group EBITDA beyond 2019 include: broadband growth due to increased fiber penetration and availability of higher speeds; a higher-quality video and broadband customer base with lower churn and higher ARPU; continued cost management; advertising growth from Xandr and less pressure from declining legacy products.”

 

[rick4bama]

These cables company also had CBS off for a while too.

 

[50+yeartidefan]

Would be the end of directv....att has about destroyed it anyway.... after 10 years of having directv since att has taken over it has gotten worse....service is awful....
Dish network here I come if this happens

 

[planomateo]

DirecTV is PROUD of their product. Every year I called and spoke with their customer retention department threatening to leave, they'd reduce their rates by $20+ / month for 12 months. We did this dance every year. I finally cut the cord and haven't looked back.

ESPN thinks highly of their product, they are the problem in my opinion. They've found ways to bundle their product with almost all tv plans for years.

 

[50+yeartidefan]

DirecTV is PROUD of their product. Every year I called and spoke with their customer retention department threatening to leave, they'd reduce their rates by $20+ / month for 12 months. We did this dance every year. I finally cut the cord and haven't looked back.

ESPN thinks highly of their product, they are the problem in my opinion. They've found ways to bundle their product with almost all tv plans for years.

Well...Direct has been good and easy for me...all these new plans...and stuff....
But here in the country...haint got no internet.....so no way to use plans

 

[Bamabww]

Every year I called and spoke with their customer retention department threatening to leave, they'd reduce their rates by $20+ / month for 12 months. We did this dance every year. I finally cut the cord and haven't looked back.

I did the same with Charter, now Spectrum. While they were still Charter they would dance with me to keep my business. After they went to Spectrum, they no longer wanted to dance and called my bluff. I cut the TV off but kept the internet because it is the best I can get here. I'm trying Sling TV now and so far so good. It's still cheaper by $40 a month than the bundle Spectrum had me tied to with TV and Internet.

 

[XXL TideFan]

I did the same with Charter, now Spectrum. While they were still Charter they would dance with me to keep my business. After they went to Spectrum, they no longer wanted to dance and called my bluff. I cut the TV off but kept the internet because it is the best I can get here. I'm trying Sling TV now and so far so good. It's still cheaper by $40 a month than the bundle Spectrum had me tied to with TV and Internet.

Please keep me updated, I’m seriously considering the same. My only hesitation is my experience with Netflix. Tried for a couple of months and always had streaming errors.

 

[planomateo]

Please keep me updated, I’m seriously considering the same. My only hesitation is my experience with Netflix. Tried for a couple of months and always had streaming errors.

I have really slow internet in Montana, like 5Mb, getting upgraded on Monday to ~15Mb.

I stream Netflix daily on the slow speed and surf the web, it's slow...but works. It's the only way I watch TV at the moment, haven't found an OTA setup that works yet due to mountains.

Change you playback settings to something that is lower than High, screenshot below. Below works for me on 5Mb.

 

[#80]

I've been a DirectV customer for over 15 years. They provide the best picture greater bandwidth.

 

[RollllTide!]

I know my Son in law just changed to Youtube TV the paid version and is getting a lot of channels for $45 per month. All the ones I get on Dish My last months bill was over $100. I am going to call them.

 

[XXL TideFan]

My grandfather was retired Navy, so if I had to choose, the Midshipmen would be the team.

I have really slow internet in Montana, like 5Mb, getting upgraded on Monday to ~15Mb.

I stream Netflix daily on the slow speed and surf the web, it's slow...but works. It's the only way I watch TV at the moment, haven't found an OTA setup that works yet due to mountains.

Change you playback settings to something that is lower than High, screenshot below. Below works for me on 5Mb.

View attachment 12111

I have 200M internet. It was just netflix. I could stream from others and even bootleg movies.

 

[Bamabww]

I have 200M internet. It was just netflix. I could stream from others and even bootleg movies.

I have 100mbs with Spectrum and use Sling TV to watch the ballgames. There’s about a 7 second delay behind real time but no problems at all with the streaming.

 

[TerryP]

Dish network here I come if this happens

...and if they merge as they're reportedly considering?

I have 100mbs with Spectrum and use Sling TV to watch the ballgames. There’s about a 7 second delay behind real time but no problems at all with the streaming.

Ya know, the only downside I've found is watching Twitter or the game feeds here....seeing it commented on, online, second before you see it can be good and bad.

 

[PurlJam]

Would be the end of directv....att has about destroyed it anyway.... after 10 years of having directv since att has taken over it has gotten worse....service is awful....
Dish network here I come if this happens

I had Echostar back in the day, Dish is a spin off from that. I've had it from day 1, never had any problems.

 

[50+yeartidefan]

...and if they merge as they're reportedly considering

May be like when xm and sirrius merge.....first thought...great....second and forever after thought.....we be fu*ked....
ATT with directv has really been awful.... but its like all things good...somebody...will stepin and screw it up... for us country people....the big C band dish left.....direct n dish stepped in.... really great for RVing.... maybe a few more years n we shall see

 

[planomateo]

 

[OldPlayer]

If it expires on September 30, why wouldn't subscribers have access this weekend?

 

[TerryP]

If it expires on September 30, why wouldn't subscribers have access this weekend?

It's believed to be the 30th from what I understand. I've not seen an article that specifically spells out the date when the contract ends. It seems they are basing the date of the 30th off of the last deal agreed upon between ESPN and At&T.

 

[TerryP]

@OldPlayer

ESPN, ABC, and other Disney-owned channels could be pulled from DirecTV, U-Verse, and other AT&T platforms as early as Friday night

By now, you’ve probably heard (or seen, if you’re a subscriber) that AT&T and Disney are throwing elbows at each other, because the existing carriage agreement between the two corporate behemoths is in its final days. What hasn’t been firmly reported is exactly when the current agreement lapses...

awfulannouncing.com

According to Ray Cole, AT&T and Disney are extending their talks for a carriage agreement until 9 AM ET on Saturday morning, after an apparent deadline had been set for midnight ET on Friday night. AT&T-owned television distributors include DirecTV, U-verse, and AT&T Now.