2/3/2016 AT&T is ready to unveil its own video service that could top Netflix | | Dallas Morning News

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AT&T is ready to unveil its own videoservice that could top Netflix

Sean Lester

Published: January 26, 2016 11:07 am

This Oct. 17, 2012, file photo, shows an AT&T logo on an AT&T Wireless retail store front, inPhiladelphia. AT&T reports financial results on Tuesday, Jan. 26, 2016. (AP Photo/MattRourke, File)

AT&T will have deliver its fourth quarter earnings today butthe most hype might be surrounding a pendingannouncement of an AT&T video service that could topNetflix.

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2/3/2016 AT&T is ready to unveil its own video service that could top Netflix | | Dallas Morning News

http://bizbeatblog.dallasnews.com/2016/01/attisreadtounveilitsownvideoservicethatcouldtopnetflix.html/ 2/5

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Roger Cheng of CNETwrites that AT&T’sannouncement of itsvideo service could comeduring the earnings call.

But it won’t be justanother Netflix or video-on-demand service.Based on what AT&T CEORandall Stephenson hassaid, the service could bemuch bigger.

“While many channelsoffer their own app —take HBOGo andWatchESPN — AT&T envisions a single program that will letyou flip through channels on your phone or tablet as if youwere flipping through the guide on your TV,” Cheng writes.“There would be no need to constantly log into differentapps to prove you’re a subscriber.”

AT&T has consistently said the service will provide “TVanywhere”, allowing customers to watch video on anydevice. Any the video could be very diverse from Cheng’sobservations.

“Ever since AT&T closed its purchase of DirecTV in July, thecompany has been working to renegotiate its deals with keychannels and content providers like ESPN, HBO, Showtimeand Viacom,” he writes. “The talks have centered onsecuring ‘stacking rights,’ or the ability to offer the backcatalog of hit shows, like ‘Game of Thrones’ or ‘The DailyShow,’ and the flexibility to stream them on to mobiledevices.”

Services like SlingTV already offer a similar service wherecustomers can use a guide that shows both live televisionand Netflix programming all in one queue. But what AT&Toffers is diversity with an abundance of programming fromits DirecTV purchase as well as any live programming with

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2/3/2016 AT&T is ready to unveil its own video service that could top Netflix | | Dallas Morning News

http://bizbeatblog.dallasnews.com/2016/01/attisreadtounveilitsownvideoservicethatcouldtopnetflix.html/ 3/5

providers.

And as for Stephenson? He’s high on the video service andthinks it can be done right and be successful.

“I don’t think anybody has executed it very well,” he said ofTV everywhere in a CNBC interview last week at the WorldEconomic Forum. “Netflix has done the best.”

“It’s going to turn some heads,” Stephenson said.

As Cheng wonders, AT&T is big on the bundle so there couldbe a catch to the video service. The company did it recentlywhen announcing unlimited data plans for the first time inyears. The unlimited data comes with a bundle of its U-verse or DirecTV cable, of course.

The AT&T earnings call will take place today after marketclosing.

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