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Advanced TV, AT&T Style
December 13, 2007


At 12:15 a.m. one night this week, I heard an AT&T commercial, out of the corner of my ear. It was pitching something called "advanced television."

Now this not something I'd heard AT&T promote before. And the next night, I heard it again.

At Multichannel News, we've naturally reported on AT&T and its U-Verse project, where it is rolling out TV services based on Internet protocols. In effect, data packet TV.

We've also reported on Homezone, which is a combination of Dish Network satellite TV and AT&T Yahoo! Internet service.  And we've reported on the straight delivery of Dish Network's TV service in bundles with AT&T phone service.

But "advanced television"?

Well, it's hard to find out. That's for sure. Type in AT&T Advanced Television into your Web browser and you aren't going to get much. Just some grousing at www.uverseusers.com about what the term might or might not mean. Go to www.att.com and there is nothing to help you there either.

But, as Jeeves99 says at the U-verse Users site, "By not explicitly saying 'Uverse' in the ad they also advertise the Dish satellite TV offering. Smart business move."

And that's the hedge. Typing in my zip code into the new customer field at www.att.com and then choosing "digital tv" yields three choices in my part of Connecticut:

> U-Verse, at $59.00
> Dish Network, at $54.99, and,
> AT&T Homezone, at $70.95

AT&T is completely hedging its bets and letting the poor would-be customer figure out:

a. What each service really is
b. How each differs from each other
c. Which is more "advanced"
d. And which is the best value

Without side by side comparisons or tutorials.

Not very advanced. But, hey, it's only TV.

Wait another couple months and you'll get another way to define "advanced television,'' on your own, at www.att.com

--

Posted by Tom Steinert-Threlkeld on December 13, 2007 | Comments (15)


January 7, 2008
In response to: Advanced TV, AT&T Style
Don commented:

OMG all of what this article has in it is what just happened to me. Except when I put in At&t advanced TV, I got this article. I surely wish we could get TimeWarner where I live.




January 10, 2008
In response to: Advanced TV, AT&T Style
Justin commented:

Don't be a fool - TWC is the worst cable company that I have ever dealt with. Their customer service, product line, and service delivery is absolutely pathetic. Once again, I missed work today for the TWC morons to fix my current issue and they did not show up. Oh, but they said they did as the csr state. Thank you!




January 11, 2008
In response to: Advanced TV, AT&T Style
Paul commented:

I have U-Verse love it. Had Charter before high price poor service.




January 14, 2008
In response to: Advanced TV, AT&T Style
Connie commented:

Had TWC and was very disappointed. I kept getting pixels in the picture and TWC kept saying it was my cables/wires. I switched to AT&T Uverse and am very happy. I have Uverse in 3 rooms of my house vs. one room of digital from TWC and was not charged extra. AT&T delivered what they promised and is not over priced like TWC.




January 30, 2008
In response to: Advanced TV, AT&T Style
me commented:

ATT UVERSE is the worst nightmare I have ever been through. Maybe they could find a small country to experiment on first before releasing another hair brain idea.




February 6, 2008
In response to: Advanced TV, AT&T Style
Carol commented:

I thought it was me, that I was doing something or hearing something wrong. I too wanted to know more about Advanced TV. I'm glad I found this article so I can stop looking. Thanks




February 9, 2008
In response to: Advanced TV, AT&T Style
Jolo commented:

These guys might have a brain aneurism or think they're too smart. You pick. They can call it whatever they like, it still sucks!




February 13, 2008
In response to: Advanced TV, AT&T Style
Danny commented:

I got this info off of the AT&T news room. Northeastern Illinois Launches into AT&T U-verse Northeastern Illinois Customers Gain a New Choice for Television; Largest AT&T U-verse Market Launch to Date AT&T Advanced TV Delivers More High Definition Channels, More Features and More Value to Customers Across Its Footprint Hoffman Estates, Illinois, January 28, 2008 Northeastern Illinois residents now have a new and better choice for their television and communications services. AT&T Inc. (NYSE:T) today announced the launch of AT&T U-verseSM TV, which strengthens the AT&T Advanced TV portfolio in northeastern Illinois. AT&T U-verse offers cutting-edge television and high speed Internet services delivered over the company's upgraded fiber-rich network. The northeastern Illinois launch marks the largest U-verse rollout to date in any AT&T market. Local customers looking for an alternative to cable can turn to AT&T Advanced TV services, which includes AT&T U-verse TV, AT&T HomezoneSM service, and AT&T | DISH Network satellite service. AT&T Advanced TV products are available to customers across the AT&T footprint and offer subscribers all-digital programming, more High Definition (HD) channels than cable and advanced features and control. "We're ready to show the state of Illinois why AT&T U-verse TV really is cooler than cable. With AT&T Advanced TV, consumers across northeastern Illinois have a video choice that gives them unmatched features, great value, and the content they want — like Big Ten Network," said Steve Mitchell, AT&T vice president and general manager for Illinois. "We couldn't be more proud that this is the largest market launch so far for U-verse TV. It shows how committed we are to bringing more choice, more innovation and more value to our Advanced TV customers." Customers can currently order AT&T U-verse services in parts of more than 175 local communities, including Bellwood, Buffalo Grove, Crystal Lake, Dolton, Elmhurst, Harvey, Hoffman Estates, Melrose Park, Oak Lawn, Orland Park, River Grove, St. Charles, Waukegan and others. AT&T will make U-verse service available in more homes throughout the area on an ongoing basis. AT&T is the only national service provider to offer a 100 percent Internet Protocol (IP)-based television service. IP technology helps make U-verse TV one of the most dynamic and feature-rich services available today, with advanced capabilities customers don't get from other providers and access to more than 40 HD channels in most markets. Where available, local AT&T U-verse TV customers can enjoy numerous benefits, including: An attractive selection of TV packages. U-verse customers have a variety of subscription options, which feature up to 320 channels, including digital music, local, movie and sports programming, as well as premium Spanish-language and international packages. With most programming packages, U-verse TV customers receive up to three HD-capable receivers — one with an HD digital video recorder (DVR) — at no extra charge. (Customers can add more receivers, up to a total of six, for $5 each a month.) More HD channels than the local cable providers. Local AT&T U-verse TV customers can access a lineup of more than 40 HD channels. U-verse TV supports both 720p and 1080i formats. Access to HD service is $10 a month with any U-verse TV package. The ability to set their DVR from any location. With AT&T Yahoo! Web and Mobile Remote Access to DVR, U-verse TV and Internet customers can schedule recordings from any Web-connected PC or compatible AT&T mobile phone (wireless service charges apply) by using their AT&T Yahoo! account. These features are also available with AT&T Homezone. The ability to record up to four programs at once using a DVR (up to four standard definition programs or one HD and three standard definition programs) — another feature exclusive to AT&T U-verse TV. AT&T U-bar, which brings customizable weather, stock, sports and traffic information to the U-verse TV screen, without interrupting the current program. Customers who also subscribe to AT&T Yahoo! High Speed Internet can personalize the U-bar from their AT&T Yahoo! home page to display weather at specific locations, their personal stock portfolio and scores for their favorite sports teams. YELLOWPAGES.COM TV, which lets U-verse TV customers easily search for local businesses and other information via their TV screen. AT&T Yahoo! Games, so U-verse TV customers can now play their favorite online games — including Sudoku, Solitaire, JT's Blocks, Mah-jongg Tiles and Chess — on the TV screen. Built-in Picture-in-Picture, which lets U-verse TV customers channel-surf on any television without leaving the program they're watching. A growing Video on Demand (VOD) library with one-touch access to movies and events. Advanced search to find upcoming linear or VOD programs using the title or an actor's name. Easy-to-use parental controls to block live programs, recorded programs or videos by a specific channel or rating. Specially designed U-verse receivers. All U-verse receivers are HD-capable and include universal remote controls with backlit buttons and one-touch access to VOD, recorded TV and other popular U-verse TV features. AT&T plans to continue evolving U-verse services by adding more channels and capabilities. Customers can customize their entertainment experience with multiple combinations of TV and Internet packages. U-verse TV offers five programming packages — U100, U200, the popular U300 and U400 packages, and U-family, a market-leading family-friendly programming option. Current AT&T U-verse TV pricing starts at $44 a month, depending on the selected programming package (other monthly charges apply). Professional installation is included for new U-verse TV customers. Customers who order a qualifying programming package by phone before Jan. 31, 2008, can receive their choice of free HD service for a year, a $100 cash-back redemption or a free month of the U200, U300 or U400 package. Customers who order one of those packages online will receive a $100 cash-back redemption and a free month of a qualifying programming package. AT&T U-verse customers can also choose from three different packages of U-verse enabled AT&T Yahoo! High Speed Internet to meet their bandwidth needs: Elite: Downstream speeds up to 6.0 Mbps, upstream speeds up to 1.0 Mbps. Pro: Downstream speeds up to 3.0 Mbps, upstream speeds up to 1.0 Mbps. Express: Downstream speeds up to 1.5 Mbps, upstream speeds up to 1.0 Mbps. AT&T also plans to offer a new tier exclusively for U-verse customers, AT&T Yahoo! High Speed Internet Max — with downstream speeds up to 10 Mbps and upstream speeds up to 1.5 Mbps — in February 2008. All AT&T U-verse high speed Internet packages include wireless home-networking at no extra cost, giving customers the freedom to access online photos, streaming video, games and other i




February 14, 2008
In response to: Advanced TV, AT&T Style
tom commented:

same story here TWC is very disappointing and do not want to enter into a contract with Sat provider with new tech right around the corner.




March 14, 2008
In response to: Advanced TV, AT&T Style
gale commented:

I am so grateful for this article. I looked on AT&T's site and found no mention of Advanced TV, but even more, I called AT&T Sale & Plans and the guy told me he never heard of it. Did I get the right company? and NO ONE has EVER asked him about Advance TV before. Go Figure. Their own people don't know.




March 20, 2008
In response to: Advanced TV, AT&T Style
Gary1776 commented:

Go here for everything you need to know about ATT, Etc. www.att.com/gen/press-room?pid=4800&cdvn=news&newsarticleid=24393




March 21, 2008
In response to: Advanced TV, AT&T Style
GatorCHAMPS!!! commented:

I met the AT&T people at a recent expo, and they themselves had no clue about the Advanced TV they are advertising. Interestingly, they could not list a single international TV channel that you can see on "Advanced TV". I vehemently dislike everything about AT&T... This vague nature of a new product typifies AT&T. They are irresponsible... useless! BTW, Go Gators!!!




April 27, 2008
In response to: Advanced TV, AT&T Style
MagicMan commented:

This is very very unsettling. I jusr received my landline telephone bill from AT&T and it states that I can save money by bundling my phone service with Advanced TV. The technicians have been in my neighborhood testing the lines (mine failed by the way) to see if they would handle the new technology but when I asked them about it they really didn't have any answers. Biggest secret known to technological man!




June 30, 2008
In response to: Advanced TV, AT&T Style
ejnorth commented:

Know the posts were a whole ago, try this link attyourworld DOT com/advancedtv/




July 23, 2008
In response to: Advanced TV, AT&T Style
Ian Agni commented:

You guys seem to be really tolerant of shills from corporations; or maybe there are just some folks who know the entire feature set and advertising strategy of major vendors..... It really brings any notion of neutrality or fairness into question.





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