Thread regarding AT&T layoffs

Here's why DIRECTV is still relevant:

1. Broadband in America is horrible. There are huge swaths of the nation without access to anything beyond dial-up, unless they pay through the nose for satellite broadband. Streaming won't work for them.
2. Television viewership is declining, but not dead. Home television sales continue to be robust, so people still buy and use TVs – even if for more things and not as much as they used to.
3. DIRECTV still has about 17million customers (maybe more). That's a lot – more than HBO Max, Uverse, and ATTTV combined.
4. Live, unscripted television (news, sports) is not yet a pleasant experience by streaming because of latency, screen size, etc. A lot of this is because of #1, but some is just normal. A football, soccer, or hockey game is simply easier and more pleasant to watch on a large screen. Ditto many movies.
5. In order to get the same amount of options (movies, tv, sports, etc) from streaming one needs to use multiple streams ... and at some point the monthly cost comes close to DTV.
6. Even with declining subscribers and no interest by ATT, DTV continues to generate the largest amount of money in video for ATT. DTV is the bank used by ATT to finance ATTTV.

Now, that isn't to say DTV is positioned to thrive in the new landscape without change. It needs a lot of adjustment from package selection to tech. But (and here's the thing), if ATT had placed the same level of energy, money, and effort into fusing DTV and Uverse and developing both a linear and streaming model, it could be pretty solid. Instead they rushed DTV Now (flop). Are ignoring both DTV and Uverse (dying), launched ATTTV (underperforming), and just now HBO Max (doing very poorly).

The problem isn't DTV. It's how ATT treated it, abused it, screwed it up, then discarded it. Worse, ATT knew absolutely nothing of the entertainment industry when they acquired DTV and Warner, and have done the wrong thing at every step.

Had the geniuses in charge recognized that a DTV-Uverse-Warner hybrid offering satellite, cable, and streaming options there would be no need for ATTTV. Or HBO Max.

But that would take vision.

@1ivi+15wMIWjv

Directv was "the best" when the barrier to entry for Video Entertainment was much higher. T has no business owning something like Directv, but let's not pretend it would be flourishing if it were never acquired.

Directv has been the best television experience the USA has ever seen! Just ask any technician that has been installing the Service pre ATT!When I say technician then I mean most reps had experience in the field and also the managers were installers before they managed and everyone that was involved knew the product we gave the customers 100% and we can do it again as long as there is the CODE then people will pay for a service that is reliable and they are not given the run around if they ever have issues. I say I bleed Directv blue day in and day out and Directv should people should be more aggressive and focus on putting our service back on top. Just remember we knew how television is supposed to be not a phone company!So I am calling that all Directv stand up and grow cahunas and tell Att this is how we do it, not how T wants it done! Don’t just watch tv. Directv!

This message is from an old fart just like you. not just DTV, but TV service as we know it is phasing out either we like it or not, who's kids are sitting watching TV? they are all on gaming consoles, streaming, on TikTok or watching other kids playing games on YouTube, i even wasted my money paying for HULU and Netflix for a while.
that's it folks we can't stop the progress, people are buying internet only which means they don't need as many of us(less hours/tech), less techs, less management all the way to the top of the pyramid, and wait until they figure out the 5G distance/obstacle issues, no one will need a router at home, no construction, no cables, no installs.
keep doing what you doing and learn some other skills, and remember it's easier mentally and financially to find a job on your own terms when you have a job.
the wait for the severance money myth hurts.
With love from an ex coworker who was part of the 03/28/19 lay-off who's AT&T's name on the resume didn't weight or help in the hunt for a job.

"Face it dtv is not a moneymaker, it’s dying.

Wow... This is the most wrong, vicious information I ever heard above. HBOMAX and ATT.TV is doing great with those massive 5K - 3star rated Google Play Down loads and less than 100k total subscribers. Terrible un-usable UI which is stated in the 100's of negative comments about the effort. The end is near for T's "premiere" streaming video services, as this service is not a smart choice for any cord cutter, don't believe me?? get these products and see for yourself.. to all the DTV haters and nay say-ers Stop looking around the sandbox when you call out proven products with over 18.5 million paying customers making up over 25% of T's total entertainment revenue. T has choked the DTV acquisition off to steal the video content, segregated all of its networking capability and will lose all the rights to the NFL Sunday Ticket. NFL will never deal with greedy telecom T as they also gave the Heisman to Verizon Wireless. T stole the wheels off a Lamborghini and installed them on a Ford Fiesta with a Macco paint job. Amazon will now enjoy exclusive NFL Thursday Night Football thanks to T's appetite of destruction tour. You people are sick and all should be held accountable for destroying a terrific service and a national icon. El Segundo will make a nice used car dealership...……

"Like it or not, DIRECTV works. It's a stable service, with great performance. And it is pretty much self-sufficient."

Tired of the rumors and negativity in this entire organization and on this platform.

Let the Purge begin!

@kgp: DTV is dying from neglect, mismanagement, and internal cannibalism. Would it be shrinking regardless? Sure. But not as badly and not as fast.

As far as it being a moneymaker - it is, barely. But since it's in the greater video business, it doesn't matter because the rest of the video products - ATTTV, Uverse, HBO Max are bleeding money. At least HBO Max and ATTTV are. And that means that the loss of DTV customers makes it worse, when if it were standalone, it wouldn't be suffering so badly.

The really sad thing is that ATT had a chance to really do the right thing and combine DTV and Uverse into one product and include a streaming option. They kind of tried with DTV Now but it was poorly made, with many technical and service problems, too confusing in terms of packages, and over-priced, that it failed. They rushed it, and had that complete mo–n Devin Merrill in charge.

And they didn't learn, because other than Merrill's incompetence they're doing the exact same thing with HBO Max. Too high a price, too confusing a launch, and a sub-standard interface and technology.

Like it or not, DIRECTV works. It's a stable service, with great performance. And it is pretty much self-sufficient. But it can't support Uverse, ATTTV, and HBO Max.

The real tragedy is that ATT put Stinkhole in charge of DTV first, then Warner Media. Stinkhole doesn't know the first thing about entertainment, so he's a horrible choice, and he's pretty much single-handedly destroyed DTV, and we're seeing the first signs of death for Warner Media and HBO under him.

None of this current problem is because of the DTV acquisition. It's because of what Randy, Stink, and the rest did to DTV after the acquisition. They chased this dream of being an entertainment company, even though they don't know spit about that business.

And ... here we are.

@pyo+15wMIWjv..
Face it dtv is not a moneymaker, it’s dying.

@ leo+15wMIWjv dont be surprised if after DTV re-emerges, T buys it back for another 50billion.

They should sell. It’s hemorrhaging subscribers quarter over quarter.

I can see it now:

AT&T sells DIRECTV for about half what they paid (if they're lucky). And then ...

AT&T TV continues to flounder, as it is a bad choice for customers in non-fiber areas including most of New York City and Los Angeles. Sales and subscribers remain flat and total customers remain below U-Verse numbers.

HBO Max fails to gain momentum because of the high price, poor technology. awkward interface, and lack of availability to Roku and Amazon users. Further, mismanagement and constant meddling by Stanky (who now thinks he's some sort of Hollywood mogul) drives away top talent and HBO declines in popularity.

Meanwhile, under new ownership, DIRECTV repositions itself with a revamped streaming-satellite model, simpler package choices, and more friendly marketing and customer service, eventually emerging once again as the leader in video service.

As a result, AT&T loses more market share in video, the company undergoes another radical restructuring that will "guarnatee" success, another 30% of the AT&T workforce is laid off, and Stanky gives himself a massive bonus and a 15% raise for a job well done.

Ah yes, the rumor of DTV being sold is here again.

DTV still has about 17 Million subscribers, almost all of them at least a year with the service. AT&T isn't spending money trying to get new subs, and they aren't going to use aggressive credits to save the customers who want to leave, and aren't spending nearly as much on maintenance as DTV did pre-merger.

In other words, at this point DTV is actually generating money. Not a ton, but it in itself is a net positive on revenue. Unfortunately, that profit is being washed out by the mismanagement of other video services, like ATTTV and HBO Max, as well as other costs in the BBV group.

More than that, ATT is still trying to use that huge subscriber base for new services, etc. So, unless ATT can get a premium price for the service, why sell it? ATT can still squeeze a few cents out of DTV and they won't let go until it is dry.

Check yourself. DTV isn't going anywhere. Yet. Besides, until and unless ATTTV or HBO Max start to take off, DTV is still the jewel of ATT video service.

I work at El Segundo... they are not selling DTV. Can that rumor die already...