AT&T TV Review 2020

Wait . . . Is this . . . AT&T TV? Or AT&T TV NOW, which was formerly DIRECTV NOW? Is this a streamable service? Or is this cable TV? Are you as confused as we are? We’ll try not to confuse you more.

AT&T TV is a streamable version of DIRECTV, the satellite TV provider. It’s a cable-like service with a set-top box, a two-year contract, some fees, and the same second-year price hike you get with traditional DIRECTV.

It’s perfect for those who don’t want to go through the hassle of installing a satellite dish and relying on that same dish to work during those harsh weather conditions.

AT&T TV also has a great channel lineup in all of its packages. Let’s dive in to see if this is the service for you and your family.

How much does AT&T TV cost?

Not so bad the first year, but the second year can get pricey.

When you compare the monthly price of AT&T TV to other live TV streaming services, the price is great considering how many live TV channels and on-demand content you’ll be getting.

But your monthly bill for the second year just seems outrageous.

When you compare the price of AT&T TV to DIRECTV, the satellite service, you’re paying a little bit more per channel for AT&T TV.

So, it depends on how you look at it. You’re paying a bit extra during the second year for a decent number of channels and over 40,000 on-demand titles. But you don’t have to worry about dish installation, and you can watch ESPN anywhere, anytime.

^{*Data effective 3/19/2020. Price and channel inclusion vary according to location.}

This could make or break your decision to get AT&T TV, but look below to see how much your monthly bill will increase during the second year of your service.

But if you love having all of your live channels and on-demand content in one place, it could be worth it. So, budget accordingly.

^{*Data effective 3/19/2020. Price and channel inclusion vary according to location.}

If you bundle TV with internet, you can save at least $10 per month over having two separate providers for TV and internet. And you only have to worry about one bill. Nice.

Make sure you check out our full review of AT&T internet.

Does AT&T TV have a contract?

Unfortunately, yes. AT&T TV requires you to sign a two-year contract.

And the price goes up during your second year. Sigh.

Does AT&T TV have fees?

As unfortunately promised in our intro, there are some fees with AT&T TV. The activation fee isn’t horrible, but don’t forget to add on that extra $9 to your monthly bill for the glorious thing we call sports.

• Activation fee: $19.95
• Regional sports fee: Up to $8.49/mo. (for CHOICE and above)
• Early termination fee (ETF): $15/mo. for each month remaining on your contract

But we might be able to help you avoid those cancellation fees.

Also, keep in mind that you will not receive a monthly bill because AT&T will require you to make automated payments. You will be able to see all of your account and payment information on att.com/myatt.

Going paperless is the cool thing to do now, of course.

Which channels does AT&T TV have?

Each package has CNN, Disney Channel, ESPN, FOX News, and TNT.

We must have our news, kids, entertainment, and sports channels. A good combination is what anyone is looking for. That’s what you’re going to find with each AT&T TV package.

Check out the full channel lineup for each package to make sure it’s the right one for you and your family, but we’ve highlighted the popular channels below.

Scroll down a little further for the good stuff. The sports, ya know.

AT&T TV ENTERTAINMENT channels include the following:

AT&T TV CHOICE channels include the following:

AT&T TV XTRA channels include the following:

AT&T TV ULTIMATE channels include the following:

• Starz Encore Action
• Starz Encore Black
• Starz Encore Classic
• Starz Encore Family
• Starz Encore Suspense
• Starz Encore Westerns

Premium channels and add-ons

AT&T TV’s website doesn’t list the premium channel prices, but they could be $1 or $2 less than DIRECTV’s.

Below we’ve listed DIRECTV’s premium channel pricing to give you an idea of how much you’ll need to budget to watch your Westworld and Outlander.

But when you sign up, you’ll get a free three-month subscription of HBO, CINEMAX, SHOWTIME, STARZ, and EPIX. Just make sure to cancel after those three months, or you’ll be charged $54 per month.

^{*Data effective 3/18/2020. Price and channel inclusion vary according to location.}

Which sports channels does AT&T TV have?

AT&T TV has got you covered with both classic and regional sports networks—especially CHOICE and above.

The only difference between the XTRA and the ULTIMATE package is the STARZ channels. So if you’re looking for a package with a complete sports channel lineup, then XTRA will suffice.

AT&T TV ENTERTAINMENT sports channels include the following:

• ESPN
• ESPN2
• FS1
• NBC Sports Network

AT&T TV CHOICE sports channels include the following:

AT&T TV XTRA sports channels include the following:

• FS2
• Golf Channel
• NHL Network
• Olympic Channel

AT&T TV device

Behold! The cable-streaming set-top box!

So AT&T TV is a streamable cable-like version of DIRECTV, the satellite provider. So instead of a satellite dish, you’ll be receiving a set-top box where you can record, watch live TV, and watch on-demand content.

And guess what? You can easily set it up! No IKEA instructions needed.

You also get a Google Assistant remote, so use your voice to watch what you want in seconds.

The AT&T TV device is included in your monthly price, and it gives you 500 hours of cloud DVR. That’s some decent storage!

You, your mom, and your daughter can all stream a Lifetime movie at the same time as three people can stream simultaneously.

Not to mention, there are more than 5,000 apps on the device, such as Netflix, YouTube, and Pandora, along with up to 50,000 on-demand titles.

But if you need more devices in your home, you’ll need to budget accordingly.

Which devices are compatible with AT&T TV?

If you’re not at home, you don’t have the option to watch Rapunzel’s Tangled Adventure or CNN Newsroom on your AT&T TV device. So you need to have another device that’s compatible with AT&T TV to watch on the go.

Here are a few to choose from:

• Fire TV Stick
• Android smartphones and tablets
• Apple TV (4th generation)
• iPhones and iPads
• Safari and Chrome browsers
• Chromecast
• Samsung 2017–2019 Smart TVs

We should also mention that AT&T TV suggests you have at least a 2.5 Mbps internet connection to stream. (Not sure what internet speed you have? Test it out with our tool.)

Recap: Is AT&T TV worth it?

If you want lots of channels without a satellite dish, AT&T TV is for you.

AT&T TV offers more channels than any live TV streaming service on the market right now. But it does come with a price, of course.

Beware of those second-year price hikes and fees. If you budget well for your entertainment needs, then you’re golden!

You’ll get to enjoy a solid combination of news, kids, sports, and entertainment channels. You’ll also get 500 hours of cloud DVR storage, so go ahead and record over 160 movies if you want!

If you’re curious about the streaming service, AT&T TV NOW, check out our full review. Or if neither AT&T TV nor AT&T TV NOW are what you want, check out our top live TV streaming providers.

FAQ

Q: Can I get NFL SUNDAY TICKET with AT&T TV?

Undeniably, one of the best parts about DIRECTV is NFL SUNDAY TICKET. It’s worth the second-year price hike to get access to all out-of-market NFL games!

But AT&T TV doesn’t offer it.

You might be wondering: but I thought AT&T TV was a streamable version of DIRECTV? We thought so too.

Maybe one day AT&T TV will add an NFL SUNDAY TICKET subscription option.

What do you think?

Do you have AT&T TV? What’s your experience with it been? Or do you like a different streaming service better? Drop us a comment below!