AT&T is inviting DirecTV Now users to test its upcoming Android TV streaming box

by 513
bromygod203

Direct TV priority box for their service? Sounds like a cable box.....

Carbon87

Anyone have any idea on their selection criteria?

Bodycount9

So they won't block other streaming services like PSVue, YouTubeTV, Sling?

Y2Bogus

Do they have an androidtv app yet?

arkestry2

I isn’t get an email :(

davefrom1990

Eh, I'll stick with my Nvidia Shield. Kinda retarded how they are making an ATV box but not a fucking ATV app....

watchyirc

I'm willing to blow someone for a beta device.

fienen

This feels like too little, too late, across the board. Android TV basically fell flat on its face. There isn't a single box I'd recommend people buy at this point, and I most definitely wouldn't tell people to get one from AT&T, even for free. And my guess is, anyone who would have any interest in something like this probably already has a Fire Stick. And I'm a Google fan. But Amazon has basically owned them in the media delivery market.

(Disclaimer: I am a DirecTV Now user. I've had two Android TV boxes. I now run Fire Sticks exclusively for media, and just added a Recast to the mix yesterday and it's incredible how good it all works.)

And the idea that AT&T is willing to give these things away to existing customers says a lot. DirecTV Now growth is stagnant and not replacing their existing customer churn on satellite. They know people won't buy them, which means handing them out is the only inroad to market share. It's like they're dangling a rotten little carrot out there hoping people will bite.

What they SHOULD be focusing on is making the DirecTV Now platform better in general, because it's a pretty hot mess. I've stuck with it because the lineup and price are desirable for me, but I'm on the razor's edge with all the problems they've had. It's usable on the Fire Stick, but it's not what I would call a "pleasant" experience. Given my experiences during the last platform beta period, giving the boxes out in exchange for "feedback" is actually a pretty dangerous prospect on their part as their history in this area simply isn't good. It's a high risk, low reward prospect. At best, it's a good device in a saturated market. At worst, people are going to rip it to shreds in reviews.