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{{Short description|Television service provider owned by DirecTV}}
{{weasel}}
{{About|the current IPTV service|the former AT&T triple-play telecommunications service|AT&T Internet#U-verse}}
{{Unreferenced|date=November 2007}}
{{Infobox broadcasting network
| name = U-verse TV
| logo =
| logo_size =
| owner = [[TPG Inc.]]
| parent = [[DirecTV]]
| network_type = [[IPTV]]
| founded = {{Start date and age|2006|06|26}}
| website = {{URL|https://watch.att.com/uverse-tv/}}
}}


'''U-verse TV''' is an [[Internet Protocol television|internet protocol television (IPTV)]] service operated by [[DirecTV]]. Launched on June 26, 2006, U-verse was originally a [[Triple play (telecommunications)|triple play]] package that included [[broadband Internet]] (now AT&T Internet or AT&T Fiber), [[VoIP|IP telephone]] (now AT&T Phone), and [[IPTV]] (U-verse TV) services in 22 states.<ref name=att>{{cite web|title=AT&T U-verse Timeline|url=http://www.att.com/Common/merger/files/pdf/U-verse%20Timeline41907.pdf|publisher=AT&T|access-date=January 2, 2015|date=2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071015151925/http://www.att.com/Common/merger/files/pdf/U-verse%20Timeline41907.pdf|archive-format=pdf|archive-date=October 15, 2007|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=bbp>[http://broadbandpropertiesmagazine.epubxpress.com/wps/portal/bbp/c0/04_SB8K8xLLM9MSSzPy8xBz9CP0os3iLkCAPEzcPIwP3MF9TAyMnT0_PYDdvY3dLc_1I_ShznPIBxvohIBMz9SPNTCwtQMxi_UgDEF2gH2lsoF-QnZhUlRqpCADUQLI_/ Post Alexander, Atlanta, Ga.], p. 24. {{webarchive|url=https://archive.today/20130122071408/http://broadbandpropertiesmagazine.epubxpress.com/wps/portal/bbp/c0/04_SB8K8xLLM9MSSzPy8xBz9CP0os3iLkCAPEzcPIwP3MF9TAyMnT0_PYDdvY3dLc_1I_ShznPIBxvohIBMz9SPNTCwtQMxi_UgDEF2gH2lsoF-QnZhUlRqpCADUQLI_/ |date=2013-01-22 }}</ref>
[[Image:Uverse.png|right]]
'''AT&T U-verse''' is the brand name for a group of services provided over [[Internet Protocol]] (IP), including television service, Internet access, and eventually [[VoIP|voice telephone]] service. The new services are carried on phone lines (or over fiber to the customer's premises), and are enabled by AT&T’s initiative to push fiber-optic lines closer to customers’ premises. U-verse itself is a laconic colloquialism for "universe", designed to convey the scope the service will encapsulate as well as project an emphasis on the customer ("you").


On February 25, 2021, AT&T announced that it would [[Corporate spin-off|spin off]] DirecTV into a separate entity, containing the U-verse TV and AT&T TV services, selling a 30% stake to [[TPG Capital]] while retaining a 70% stake in the new standalone company. The deal was closed on August 2, 2021.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Goldsmith |first=Jill |date=February 25, 2021 |title=WarnerMedia Parent AT&T Sells DirecTV Stake To Private Equity Firm TPG |url=https://deadline.com/2021/02/att-deal-directv-with-private-equity-firm-tpg-1234701305/ |website=Deadline}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=AT&T Completes DirecTV Spinoff; Satellite Operator Unites Its Internet-Delivered Bundles Under New Brand DirecTV Stream |url=https://deadline.com/2021/08/att-directv-spinoff-tpg-streaming-bundles-warnermedia-1234807615/|website=[[Deadline Hollywood]]|first=Dade|last=Hayes|date=August 2, 2021}}</ref>
Unlike traditional offerings from U.S. cable companies, video is delivered over IP from the head end to the consumer's set-top box. Broadcast channels are distributed via [[IP multicast]], allowing a single stream (channel) to be sent to any number of recipients. U-verse uses [[H.264]] (MPEG-4) encoding, which compresses video better than [[MPEG-2]], which is used on traditional media, including DVD. Better compression means simply that less [[bandwidth]] is required for a given level of video quality. In this model, the set-top box does not have a conventional tuner, but is an IP multicast client which joins the IP multicast group corresponding to the stream ("channel") desired, so that only that stream is sent over the customer's connection. This contrasts greatly with conventional cable television service, in which all channels (streams) are sent to all customers over very-high-bandwidth connections, regardless of which channel(s) a customer is viewing or recording at any given time; in this case, the customer's line must carry mostly unused data, and each channel can only use a small portion of the capacity of the customer's connection. In the IP multicast model, only the streams the customer uses are sent, so the customer's connection need not have the capacity to carry all available channels simultaneously.


==History==
==Project Lightspeed==
The current U-verse TV ultimately derives from the IPTV part of the former [[AT&T Internet#U-verse|AT&T U-verse]] [[Triple play (telecommunications)|triple-play]] [[telecommunications]] service.
In June 2004, AT&T announced Project Lightspeed, the company's initiative to drive fiber deeper into its network with a planned investment of approximately $6 billion. Alcatel was named as the Systems Integrator for Project Lightspeed. AT&T originally planned to reach nearly 19 million homes by the end of 2008 as part of its initial deployment. In May 2007, AT&T announced that they would only be able to offer U-verse to 18 million homes by the end of 2008 in the original 13 state region that SBC served. U-verse will also be available to additional homes in the old BellSouth region.


[[SBC Communications]] announced its plans for a [[Optical fiber|fiber-optic]] network and [[IPTV|Internet Protocol television (IPTV)]] deployment in 2004 and unveiled the name "U-verse" (formerly "Project Lightspeed"<ref>[http://www.att.com/Common/files/pdf/att_u-verse_time_v10.pdf U-verse TV Timeline] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150923175957/http://www.att.com/Common/files/pdf/att_u-verse_time_v10.pdf |date=September 23, 2015 }}</ref>) for the suite of network services in 2005. SBC eventually became AT&T in late 2005, and the AT&T name was applied for the service. AT&T U-verse was commercially launched June 26, 2006, in San Antonio.<ref name="att" />
AT&T announced the commercial launch of U-verse services in San Antonio, Texas, in June 2006, following a controlled market entry that began in San Antonio in December 2005. AT&T expanded the San Antonio coverage area and launched HD service with 30 channels in November 2006. Houston was added as the second city for U-verse coverage in November 2006. Nine additional cities were launched in late 2006. AT&T is targeting the launch of the service in 30+ additional markets by the end of 2007.


By the third quarter of 2012, AT&T U-verse had 4.3 million TV subscribers.<ref>[http://www.att.com/Common/about_us/pdf/uverse_update.pdf U-verse Update: 3Q12] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120810120634/http://www.att.com/Common/about_us/pdf/uverse_update.pdf |date=August 10, 2012 }}</ref>
AT&T was known as [[SBC Communications Inc.]] before closing its acquisition of the [[American Telephone & Telegraph Company|"old AT&T"]] in November 2005, and adopting the [[AT&T]] name.


At an analyst meeting in August 2015, following AT&T's acquisition of satellite provider [[DirecTV]], AT&T announced plans for a new "home entertainment gateway" platform that will converge DirecTV and U-verse around a common platform based upon DirecTV hardware with "very thin hardware profiles". AT&T Entertainment and Internet Services CEO John Stankey explained that the new platform would offer "single truck roll installation for multiple products, live local streaming, improved content portability, over-the-top integration for mobile broadband, and user interface re-engineering."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dslreports.com/shownews/ATT-Outlines-the-Changes-DirecTV-and-UVerse-Users-Will-See-134789|title=AT&T Outlines the Changes DirecTV (and U-Verse) Users Will See|last=Bode|first=Karl|work=DSL Reports|date=August 14, 2015|access-date=August 15, 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nexttv.com/news/att-put-genie-u-verse-s-bottle-393005|title=AT&T to Put 'Genie' Into U-Verse's Bottle|last=Baumgartner|first=Jeff|work=MultiChannel News|date=August 17, 2015|access-date=April 24, 2022}}</ref>
Following the acquisition of [[Bellsouth]], then AT&T CEO Ed Whitacre stated the company would examine how to best rollout U-verse video services in the former [[Bellsouth]] territory.


In February 2016, ''Bloomberg'' reported that AT&T was in the process of phasing out the U-verse IPTV service by encouraging new customers to purchase DirecTV satellite service instead, and by ending the production of new set-top boxes for the service. An AT&T spokesperson denied that U-verse was being shut down and explained that the company was "leading its video marketing approach with DirecTV" to "realize the many benefits" of the purchase, but would still recommend U-verse TV if it better-suited a customer's needs. AT&T CFO John Stephens had also previously stated that DirecTV's larger subscriber base as a national service gave the service a higher degree of leverage in negotiating carriage deals, thus resulting in lower content costs.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2016-02-16/at-t-takes-u-turn-on-u-verse-as-it-pushes-users-toward-directv|title=AT&T Takes U-Turn on U-Verse as It Pushes Users Toward DirecTV|last=Moritz|first=Scott|work=Bloomberg|date=February 16, 2016|access-date=February 16, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nexttv.com/news/att-stops-making-u-verse-tv-boxes-report-402596|title=AT&T Stops Making U-verse TV Boxes: Report|last=Baumgarnter|first=Jeff|work=MultiChannel News|date=February 16, 2016|access-date=April 24, 2022}}</ref>
==Phone Company vs. Cable==
U-verse is a good illustration of the increasingly competitive telecom marketplace, in which cable companies are offering voice services and telecom companies are rolling out video offerings. Both cable and telecom companies are striving to offer customers a “triple play” bundle of voice, Internet access and video services. AT&T hopes to gain customers with many advanced features of U-verse, including an innovative, easy-to-use program guide, fast channel-changing, the ability to search for programs using title or actor’s name, and picture-in-picture functionality that allows subscribers to “channel surf” without leaving the program they’re watching. AT&T also offers other video products, including [[AT&T Homezone]], a new service combining satellite TV programming with AT&T Yahoo! Internet, and satellite service from AT&T | [[Dish Network]]. Other phone companies are also developing similar plans in their service areas or have already deployed them. [[Verizon]] has already launched its [[Verizon FiOS|FiOS]] service in select areas, though its technology is fundamentally different from that of U-verse.


On May 16, 2016, AT&T acquired Quickplay Media, a cloud-based platform that powers over-the-top video services.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://venturebeat.com/2016/05/16/att-acquires-quickplay/|title=AT&T acquires OTT video platform Quickplay ahead of DirecTV streaming service launch this year|last=Sawers|first=Paul|work=Venture Beat|date=May 16, 2016|access-date=May 16, 2016}}</ref>
==Network Upgrade==
AT&T has chosen to bring its next generation of services via both fiber-to-the-node ([[FTTN]]), in which it plans to run fiber-optic cable to within 3,000 feet on average of customers’ homes, and existing copper lines the remainder of the way; and fiber-to-the-premises ([[FTTP]]), in which it runs fiber all the way to the home. This access gear is fed using [[Ethernet]] switches and routers running the [[internet protocol|IP]] protocol suite over a private [[backbone network|backbone]] constructed for Project Lightspeed. Extensive use of [[VPLS]] and [[MPLS]] have been implemented to provide a resilient network which scales to support the broadcast TV (via IP [[multicast]]) and IP unicast applications and functions. After leaving its [[Protocol Independent Multicast|PIM]] transport, multiple levels of [[Internet Group Management Protocol|IGMP]] snooping and IGMP proxy further make bandwidth conservation possible with IP multicast.


On September 19, 2016, AT&T announced that the "U-verse" brand would no longer apply to its broadband and phone services, renaming them "AT&T Internet" and "AT&T Phone", respectively.<ref name="Bode">{{cite web |last=Bode |first=Karl |date=September 19, 2016 |title=AT&T is Getting Rid of the U-Verse Brand |url=http://www.dslreports.com/shownews/ATT-is-Getting-Rid-of-the-UVerse-Brand-137917 |access-date=September 19, 2016 |work=DSL Reports}}</ref><ref name="Arnason">{{cite web |last=Arnason |first=Bernie |date=September 19, 2016 |title=AT&T Says Goodbye to U-verse |url=http://www.telecompetitor.com/att-says-goodbye-to-u-verse/ |access-date=September 19, 2016 |work=Telecompetitor.com}}</ref><ref name="Farrell">{{cite web |last=Farrell |first=Mike |date=September 20, 2016 |title=AT&T Readies U-verse Brand for Ether |url=http://www.multichannel.com/news/telco-tv/att-readies-u-verse-brand-ether/407876/ |access-date=September 20, 2016 |work=MultiChannel News}}</ref>
In its more common FTTN version, the network topology of U-verse/Project Lightspeed is similar to [[Digital subscriber line|DSL]]; general network traffic travels no further than the FTTN node (analogous to a DSL remote terminal), while only the individual customer's traffic uses the copper wire to the home. FTTP follows a similar implementation where only the traffic destined for users on an FTTP node is forwarded there, then further downstream where only traffic for users on a specific fiber is sent to that fiber. Each user's home has a "Residential Gateway" from [[2Wire]][[Image:2Wire-family-04.jpg|thumb|right|2Wire Gateway Family]]2Wire Gateway Family that includes the [[VDSL]] modem, a [[firewall]], a [[wireless access point]], an Ethernet [[switch (network)|switch]] and an [[HomePNA|HPNA]] interface.


In selected markets, AT&T began to replace AT&T U-verse TV with a new service based on its DirecTV Now platform, [[DirecTV Stream|AT&T TV]], in August 2019.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2019-08-19/at-t-s-new-online-tv-service-looks-a-lot-like-current-offerings|title=AT&T's New Online TV Service Looks a Lot Like Current Offerings |website=Bloomberg.com|date=19 August 2019 |access-date=2019-08-30}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.fastcompany.com/90392042/is-att-tv-a-good-deal-for-cord-cutters-read-the-fine-print|title=AT&T TV is here, but cord cutters should read the fine print before signing up|last=Newman|first=Jared|date=2019-08-19|website=Fast Company|access-date=2019-08-30}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.cnet.com/news/what-is-at-t-tv-here-is-what-we-know-now/|title=What is AT&T TV? Here's what we know now|last=Blumenthal|first=Eli|website=CNET|access-date=2019-07-31}}</ref>
[[Verizon]], on the other hand, is deploying [[FiOS]] as a FTTP network using a mixure of traditional [[RF]]-style video as well as IPTV video for its [[video on demand]] service. Thus, the network topology of FiOS is similar to cable; all network traffic in the neighborhood travels over the fiber to the "optical network terminal" (ONT) just outside the home. The ONT is functionally similar to a [[cable modem]], but for fiber instead of coax. FiOS broadcasts video content to each ONT, and uses fixed bandwidth on a separate wavelength of light for each user's voice and data.


On April 3, 2020, AT&T began announcing that U-verse would no longer be available to new customers. New customers ended up receiving AT&T TV for TV service.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://tvanswerman.com/2020/04/03/att-stops-selling-u-verse-tv/|title=AT&T Stops Selling U-verse TV|website=TV Answer Man|date=3 April 2020 |access-date=2021-07-20}}</ref> However, by September 2020 AT&T spokesman Ryan Oliver, when asked if AT&T was still selling U-verse, said that “U-verse is available in select locations,” and "AT&T never stopped selling U-verse", even though an AT&T customer attempted to order U-verse, but ended up receiving 2 boxes of AT&T TV instead.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://tvanswerman.com/2020/09/25/__trashed/|title=Updated: AT&T Says You Can Now Order U-verse (Sort Of)|last=Swann|first=Phillip|date=2020-09-25|website=TV Answer Man|access-date=2021-07-20}}</ref>
Critics state that AT&T's tactic is not practical, due to the increase in HD and Digital channels which use high amounts of bandwidth. AT&T, however, contends that fiber within 3,000 feet of customers’ homes provides more than adequate bandwidth to provide four streams of standard-definition (SD) video and one stream of high-definition (HD) plus high speed Internet access and, in the future, consumer [[VoIP]] services. It should also be noted that AT&T's FTTN topology only requires copper bandwidth for the content actually being used by the customer, while cable must broadcast all neighborhood content to each set-top box or cable modem.


On August 2, 2021, the spin off of [[DirecTV]], [[DirecTV Stream|AT&T TV]] and U-verse was completed. It is now a wholly owned subsidiary of DirecTV, with AT&T TV becoming DirecTV Stream.


==Services==
==Internet Access and Digital Television and VoIP==


[[File:Uverseprogram guide.jpg|thumb|upright=1.4 |right|AT&T U-verse's [[electronic program guide]]]]
AT&T used the [[Ericsson Mediaroom]] platform to deliver U-verse TV via [[IPTV]] from the [[cable television headend|headend]] to the consumer's [[set-top box|receiver]],<ref name=attdvr>[http://www.att.com/Common/totalhomedvr/ AT&T U-verse Total Home DVR]</ref> required for each TV. Transmissions use [[Digital data|digital]] [[H.264/MPEG-4 AVC|H.264]] (MPEG-4 AVC) encoding, compared to the existing deployments of [[MPEG-2]] [[codec]] and the discontinued [[ATSC|analog cable TV system]]. The receiver box does not have a [[ATSC tuner|RF tuner]], but is an [[IP multicast]] [[client (computing)|client]] that requests the [[Television channel|channel or "stream"]] desired. U-Verse TV supports up to four/six active streams at once, depending on service tier. The system uses individual [[unicast]]s for [[video on demand]], central [[time shifting]], start-over services and other programs.


=== Carriage negotiations ===
AT&T U-verse customers can choose from any of five TV packages and three Internet packages.
* AT&T removed [[Hallmark Channel]] and [[Hallmark Movies & Mysteries|Hallmark Movie Channel]] from AT&T U-verse TV effective September 1, 2010, due to a [[carriage dispute]]. An AT&T spokesperson stated, "Hallmark has refused to provide AT&T and its customers with a fair deal—one that is no worse than similarly-sized and smaller providers—and refused to adhere to key obligations under our current deal", while Hallmark Channel's president and CEO Bill Abbott said he was "...stunned by the apparent disregard for the facts ... If they are really serious, my team and I are ready for truly fair negotiations." After the removal, the channels temporarily provided free previews of [[Starz Kids & Family]] and [[Turner Classic Movies]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.multichannel.com/article/456590-Hallmark_Channels_Go_Dark_On_AT_T_U_verse.php|title=Hallmark Channels Go Dark On AT&T U-verse|work=Multichannel News|date=September 1, 2010|access-date=October 3, 2015}}</ref> <ref>{{cite web|url=https://variety.com/2015/tv/news/hallmark-channel-att-uverse-1201545854/|title=Hallmark Channel Returns to U-verse After Nearly Five Years|last=Steinberg|first=Brian|work=Variety|date=July 22, 2015|access-date=January 3, 2016}}</ref> [[Crown Media Holdings]] operates the two Hallmark channels in the United States.
* [[Univision tlnovelas]] and [[Univision Deportes Network]] began on U-verse on May 11, 2012, after a carriage agreement was signed with [[Univision Communications]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mediamoves.com/2012/05/univision-signs-deal-to-launch-cable-networks-on-att-u-verse.html|title=Univision signs deal to launch cable networks on AT&T U-verse|work=Media Moves|date=May 11, 2012|access-date=October 3, 2015}}</ref>
* Just prior to the 2010 series premiere of the [[AMC (TV channel)|AMC]] program ''[[Mad Men]]'', AT&T and [[Rainbow Media]] resolved a carriage dispute without interruption to any channels. AT&T stated that Rainbow, "...had been trying to force the renegotiation of a contract for one of their other channels that is not yet expired." It was speculated that this additional contract renegotiation was for [[Sundance Channel (United States)|Sundance Channel]] and was successfully concluded, due to Rainbow Media's summation, "We're pleased to have reached an agreement with AT&T for AMC, [[WE tv]], [[IFC (U.S. TV channel)|IFC]] and Sundance Channel that truly recognizes the value of our networks."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2010/07/update-rainbow-media-and-att-are-still-talking-no-channels-have-been-dropped-54170/|title=UPDATE: Rainbow And AT&T Ink New Deal, 'Mad Men' Season Saved On AT&T U-Verse|work=[[Deadline Hollywood]]|date=July 2010|access-date=October 3, 2015}}</ref>
* [[HGTV]], the [[Food Network]], the [[DIY Network]], the [[Cooking Channel]], and [[Great American Country]] were temporarily inaccessible between November 5 and November 7, 2010, due to a carriage dispute with [[Scripps Networks Interactive|Scripps Networks]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://leisureblogs.chicagotribune.com/thestew/2010/11/atts-u-verse-drops-food-network-hgtv-and-other-scripps-networks.html|title=AT&T's U-verse Drops Food Network, HGTV and Other Scrippy-s Networks|work=[[Chicago Tribune]]|date=November 5, 2010|access-date=October 3, 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/2010/11/07/food-network-hgtv-back-on-u-verse/|title=Food Network, HGTV, Back on U-verse|work=[[Chicago Tribune]]|date=November 7, 2010|access-date=October 3, 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.multichannel.com/article/459564-AT_T_U_Verse_Scripps_Reconnect_On_Carriage_Contract.php|title=AT&T U-verse, Scripps Reconnect on Carriage Contract|work=[[Multichannel News]]|date=November 7, 2010|access-date=October 3, 2015}}</ref> U-verse vice president Brian Shay stated afterward that AT&T had received a "fair deal".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.deadline.com/2010/11/att-scripps-networks-reach-agreement/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101113152757/http://www.deadline.com/2010/11/att-scripps-networks-reach-agreement/|url-status=dead|archive-date=November 13, 2010|title=AT&T & Scripps Networks Reach Agreement|work=[[Deadline Hollywood]]|date=November 2010|access-date=October 3, 2015}}</ref>
* U-verse picked up the [[Longhorn Network]] on August 31, 2012, increasing its availability to 12.9% of the Austin, Texas television market.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.kxan.com/dpp/news/local/austin/uverse-flips-switch-on-longhorn-network|title=Longhorn Network hooks U-verse|work=KXAN.com|date=September 4, 2012|access-date=October 3, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130308072434/http://www.kxan.com/dpp/news/local/austin/uverse-flips-switch-on-longhorn-network|archive-date=2013-03-08|url-status=dead}}</ref>
* On January 15, 2013, U-verse came to terms with [[The Walt Disney Company|Disney]] on a new wide-ranging multiple-year carriage agreement for all Disney, ESPN and ABC Networks, which included the addition of Disney Junior.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/491363-Disney_Strikes_U_Verse_Carriage_Deal.php|title=Disney Strikes U-Verse Carriage Deal|last=Farrell|first=Mike|work=Broadcasting & Cable|date=January 15, 2013|access-date=January 15, 2013}}</ref>
* On February 28, 2015, 46 [[Music Choice]] channels and [[Music Choice Play|MC Play]] were removed and were replaced by 75 Stingray Music channels.
* On October 26, 2015, U-verse came to terms with [[Tribune Media]] on a new wide-ranging multiple-year carriage agreement for all Tribune stations, which includes the addition of [[WGN America]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://variety.com/2015/tv/news/att-tribune-directv-u-verse-wgn-america-1201626882/|title=AT&T Sets U-verse, DirecTV Carriage Deal with Tribune Stations, WGN America|last=Littleton|first=Cynthia|work=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]|date=October 26, 2015|access-date=October 27, 2015}}</ref>
* AT&T removed [[Univision]], [[UniMás]], [[Galavisión]], [[Univision Deportes Network]] and [[Univision tlnovelas]] from AT&T U-verse effective March 4, 2016, due to a carriage dispute.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2016/03/univision-accuses-att-redlining-retransmission-dispute-1201714354/|title=Univision Charges AT&T With "Redlining" As Programming Goes Dark On U-verse|last=Lieberman|first=David|work=Deadline Hollywood|date=March 4, 2016|access-date=March 4, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://variety.com/2016/tv/news/univision-u-verse-discriminatory-dark-retrans-1201722669/|title=Univision Blasts 'Discriminatory Behavior' as Stations Go Dark on AT&T's U-verse|last=Littleton|first=Cynthia|work=Variety|date=March 4, 2016|access-date=March 4, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/univision-goes-dark-at-t-872715|title=Univision Goes Dark on AT&T U-verse, Accuses Telecom of "Discriminatory Behavior"|last=Szalai|first=Georg|work=The Hollywood Reporter|date=March 4, 2016|access-date=March 4, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://hintsnewsnetwork.com/att-univision-communications-fail-to-reach-u-verse-distribution-deal/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171018045744/http://hintsnewsnetwork.com/att-univision-communications-fail-to-reach-u-verse-distribution-deal/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=October 18, 2017 |title=AT&T, Univision Communications fail to reach U-Verse distribution deal |last=Ramos |first=John |work=Hints News Network |date=March 5, 2016 |access-date=March 6, 2016 }}</ref> Although U-verse was in an integration process with DirecTV, which became a subsidiary of AT&T, it did not affect DirecTV customers during the process. All of Univision's channels were later returned to the U-verse lineup on March 24, 2016.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.multichannel.com/news/distribution/all-univision-content-restored-u-verse-now/403589|title=All Univision Content Restored to U-Verse, For Now|last=Eggerton|first=John|work=MultiChannel News|date=March 24, 2016|access-date=March 24, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.broadcastingcable.com/news/washington/all-univision-content-restored-u-verse-now/154942|title=All Univision Content Restored to U-Verse, For Now|last=Eggerton|first=John|work=Broadcasting & Cable|date=March 24, 2016|access-date=March 24, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/envelope/cotown/la-et-ct-univision-restores-unimas-galavision-att-uverse-carriage-negotiations-20160324-story.html|title=Univision restores UniMas and Galavision to AT&T's U-verse as negotiations continue|last=Villarreal|first=Yvonne|work=Los Angeles Times|date=March 24, 2016|access-date=March 24, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2016/03/univision-networks-att-uverse-carriage-deal-1201725920/|title=Univision Networks Return To AT&T's U-verse While They "Finalize" Carriage Deal|last=Lieberman|first=David|work=Deadline Hollywood|date=March 24, 2016|access-date=March 24, 2016}}</ref>


==See also==
The five base TV packages include:
*[[IPTV]]


==References==
* Family Package: Includes 50 family-oriented channels
{{reflist|33em}}
* U-100: Includes about 100 channels
* U-200: Includes about 200 channels
* U-300: Includes about 240 channels
* U-400: Includes about 320 channels

The U-200 and up packages include three receivers, one of which is a DVR, capable of recording up to 4 streams at the same time. This would be equivalent to a 4-tuner DVR, but the receivers do not use "tuners", instead they receive IP streams. AT&T is currently working on [[whole home DVR]], which would enable every set top box to act like a DVR, which is slated for release Q3 2008.

AT&T Yahoo! Internet Access, U-verse Enabled offers three tiers of downstream speeds:

* Express: Up to 1.5 Mbit/s
* Pro: Up to 3 Mbit/s
* Elite: Up to 6 Mbit/s

All packages have an upstream speed up to 1 Mbit/s. They are also planning on releasing a new level of internet speed referred to as "Turbo" that includes a downstream speed of 10 Mbit/s and an upstream speed of 1.5 Mbit/s. The internet service includes an AT&T Yahoo! email account along with a suite of security tools. Up to 10 active email sub-accounts can be created, each having 2 GB of storage space. The master account can be used to manage and schedule recordings on the U-verse DVR if available.

AT&T is now offering VoIP service in the Detroit market.

==Availability==
U-verse is available in the following areas:
<!-- sorted alphabetically by State, City -->
* [[Corona, California|Corona, CA]]
* [[Greater Los Angeles Area|Los Angeles/Orange County, CA]]
* [[Riverside, CA]]
* [[Sacramento, California|Sacramento]]/[[Stockton, California|Stockton]]/[[Modesto, California|Modesto, CA]]
* [[San Diego County|San Diego, CA]]
* [[San Francisco Bay Area|San Francisco/Oakland, CA]]
* [[San Francisco Bay Area|San Jose/Santa Clara, CA ]]

* [[Greater Hartford|Hartford, CT]]
* [[New Haven metropolitan area|New Haven, CT]]
* [[New London, Connecticut|New London, CT]]
* [[Stamford, Connecticut|Stamford, CT]]

* [[Anderson, Indiana|Anderson, IN]]
* [[Bloomington, Indiana|Bloomington, IN]]
* [[Indianapolis-Carmel, IN Metropolitan Statistical Area|Indianapolis, IN]]
* [[Kokomo, Indiana|Kokomo, IN]]
* [[Muncie, Indiana|Muncie, IN]]

* [[Kansas City, Kansas|Kansas City, KS]]

* [[Metro Detroit|Detroit, MI]]

* [[Jackson, MS]]

* [[St. Louis, MO]]
* [[Kansas City, Missouri|Kansas City, MO]]

* [[Akron, OH]]
* [[Greater Cleveland|Cleveland, OH]]
* [[Columbus, OH]]

* [[Oklahoma City metropolitan area|Oklahoma City, OK]]

* [[Austin, Texas|Austin, TX]]
* [[Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex|Dallas/Fort Worth, TX]]
* [[Greater Houston|Houston, TX]]
* [[Round Rock, TX]]
* [[San Antonio, Texas|San Antonio, TX]]

* [[Milwaukee–Racine–Waukesha Metropolitan Area|Milwaukee, WI]]
* [[Milwaukee–Racine–Waukesha Metropolitan Area|Racine, WI]]
* [[Chicago, IL]]


==External links==
==External links==
*{{Official website}}
*[https://uverse1.att.com/launchAMSS.do AT&T U-verse]
*[http://www.att.com/gen/sites/iptv?pid=8528&DCMP=att_ubelong U-connect]
*[http://forums.att.com/t5/AT-T-U-verse-Community/ct-p/ATTUverse AT&T U-verse Community]
*[http://utalk.att.com/utalk/ U-talk]
*[http://www.dslreports.com/forum/uverse DSLReports.com U-verse Forum]
*[http://www.uverseusers.com/ UverseUsers]
*[http://ucan.org/blog/internet_media/broadband_isps/use_at_t_u_verse_to_negotiate_a_better_cable_tv_and_internet_package_with_cox_and_time_warner Comparison of AT&T U-verse and other cable and Internet services]
*[http://www.clarionledger.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071211/BIZ/712110349/1005 AT&T's U-Verse coming to Jackson]


{{CATV America}}
{{CATV USA}}
{{Telecommunications}}
{{AT&T}}


[[Category:AT&T]]
[[Category:DirecTV]]
[[Category:Telecommunications]]
[[Category:Former AT&T subsidiaries]]
[[Category:Internet television]]
[[Category:Streaming television]]
[[Category:Telecommunications in the United States]]

Latest revision as of 02:03, 16 November 2024

This article is about the current IPTV service. For the former AT&T triple-play telecommunications service, see AT&T Internet § U-verse.
U-verse TV
TypeIPTV
FoundedJune 26, 2006; 18 years ago (2006-06-26)
OwnerTPG Inc.
ParentDirecTV
Official website
watch.att.com/uverse-tv/

U-verse TV is an internet protocol television (IPTV) service operated by DirecTV. Launched on June 26, 2006, U-verse was originally a triple play package that included broadband Internet (now AT&T Internet or AT&T Fiber), IP telephone (now AT&T Phone), and IPTV (U-verse TV) services in 22 states.[1][2]

On February 25, 2021, AT&T announced that it would spin off DirecTV into a separate entity, containing the U-verse TV and AT&T TV services, selling a 30% stake to TPG Capital while retaining a 70% stake in the new standalone company. The deal was closed on August 2, 2021.[3][4]

History

[edit]

The current U-verse TV ultimately derives from the IPTV part of the former AT&T U-verse triple-play telecommunications service.

SBC Communications announced its plans for a fiber-optic network and Internet Protocol television (IPTV) deployment in 2004 and unveiled the name "U-verse" (formerly "Project Lightspeed"[5]) for the suite of network services in 2005. SBC eventually became AT&T in late 2005, and the AT&T name was applied for the service. AT&T U-verse was commercially launched June 26, 2006, in San Antonio.[1]

By the third quarter of 2012, AT&T U-verse had 4.3 million TV subscribers.[6]

At an analyst meeting in August 2015, following AT&T's acquisition of satellite provider DirecTV, AT&T announced plans for a new "home entertainment gateway" platform that will converge DirecTV and U-verse around a common platform based upon DirecTV hardware with "very thin hardware profiles". AT&T Entertainment and Internet Services CEO John Stankey explained that the new platform would offer "single truck roll installation for multiple products, live local streaming, improved content portability, over-the-top integration for mobile broadband, and user interface re-engineering."[7][8]

In February 2016, Bloomberg reported that AT&T was in the process of phasing out the U-verse IPTV service by encouraging new customers to purchase DirecTV satellite service instead, and by ending the production of new set-top boxes for the service. An AT&T spokesperson denied that U-verse was being shut down and explained that the company was "leading its video marketing approach with DirecTV" to "realize the many benefits" of the purchase, but would still recommend U-verse TV if it better-suited a customer's needs. AT&T CFO John Stephens had also previously stated that DirecTV's larger subscriber base as a national service gave the service a higher degree of leverage in negotiating carriage deals, thus resulting in lower content costs.[9][10]

On May 16, 2016, AT&T acquired Quickplay Media, a cloud-based platform that powers over-the-top video services.[11]

On September 19, 2016, AT&T announced that the "U-verse" brand would no longer apply to its broadband and phone services, renaming them "AT&T Internet" and "AT&T Phone", respectively.[12][13][14]

In selected markets, AT&T began to replace AT&T U-verse TV with a new service based on its DirecTV Now platform, AT&T TV, in August 2019.[15][16][17]

On April 3, 2020, AT&T began announcing that U-verse would no longer be available to new customers. New customers ended up receiving AT&T TV for TV service.[18] However, by September 2020 AT&T spokesman Ryan Oliver, when asked if AT&T was still selling U-verse, said that “U-verse is available in select locations,” and "AT&T never stopped selling U-verse", even though an AT&T customer attempted to order U-verse, but ended up receiving 2 boxes of AT&T TV instead.[19]

On August 2, 2021, the spin off of DirecTV, AT&T TV and U-verse was completed. It is now a wholly owned subsidiary of DirecTV, with AT&T TV becoming DirecTV Stream.

Services

[edit]
AT&T U-verse's electronic program guide

AT&T used the Ericsson Mediaroom platform to deliver U-verse TV via IPTV from the headend to the consumer's receiver,[20] required for each TV. Transmissions use digital H.264 (MPEG-4 AVC) encoding, compared to the existing deployments of MPEG-2 codec and the discontinued analog cable TV system. The receiver box does not have a RF tuner, but is an IP multicast client that requests the channel or "stream" desired. U-Verse TV supports up to four/six active streams at once, depending on service tier. The system uses individual unicasts for video on demand, central time shifting, start-over services and other programs.

Carriage negotiations

[edit]
  • AT&T removed Hallmark Channel and Hallmark Movie Channel from AT&T U-verse TV effective September 1, 2010, due to a carriage dispute. An AT&T spokesperson stated, "Hallmark has refused to provide AT&T and its customers with a fair deal—one that is no worse than similarly-sized and smaller providers—and refused to adhere to key obligations under our current deal", while Hallmark Channel's president and CEO Bill Abbott said he was "...stunned by the apparent disregard for the facts ... If they are really serious, my team and I are ready for truly fair negotiations." After the removal, the channels temporarily provided free previews of Starz Kids & Family and Turner Classic Movies.[21] [22] Crown Media Holdings operates the two Hallmark channels in the United States.
  • Univision tlnovelas and Univision Deportes Network began on U-verse on May 11, 2012, after a carriage agreement was signed with Univision Communications.[23]
  • Just prior to the 2010 series premiere of the AMC program Mad Men, AT&T and Rainbow Media resolved a carriage dispute without interruption to any channels. AT&T stated that Rainbow, "...had been trying to force the renegotiation of a contract for one of their other channels that is not yet expired." It was speculated that this additional contract renegotiation was for Sundance Channel and was successfully concluded, due to Rainbow Media's summation, "We're pleased to have reached an agreement with AT&T for AMC, WE tv, IFC and Sundance Channel that truly recognizes the value of our networks."[24]
  • HGTV, the Food Network, the DIY Network, the Cooking Channel, and Great American Country were temporarily inaccessible between November 5 and November 7, 2010, due to a carriage dispute with Scripps Networks.[25][26][27] U-verse vice president Brian Shay stated afterward that AT&T had received a "fair deal".[28]
  • U-verse picked up the Longhorn Network on August 31, 2012, increasing its availability to 12.9% of the Austin, Texas television market.[29]
  • On January 15, 2013, U-verse came to terms with Disney on a new wide-ranging multiple-year carriage agreement for all Disney, ESPN and ABC Networks, which included the addition of Disney Junior.[30]
  • On February 28, 2015, 46 Music Choice channels and MC Play were removed and were replaced by 75 Stingray Music channels.
  • On October 26, 2015, U-verse came to terms with Tribune Media on a new wide-ranging multiple-year carriage agreement for all Tribune stations, which includes the addition of WGN America.[31]
  • AT&T removed Univision, UniMás, Galavisión, Univision Deportes Network and Univision tlnovelas from AT&T U-verse effective March 4, 2016, due to a carriage dispute.[32][33][34][35] Although U-verse was in an integration process with DirecTV, which became a subsidiary of AT&T, it did not affect DirecTV customers during the process. All of Univision's channels were later returned to the U-verse lineup on March 24, 2016.[36][37][38][39]

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b "AT&T U-verse Timeline" (PDF). AT&T. 2008. Archived (pdf) from the original on October 15, 2007. Retrieved January 2, 2015.
  2. ^ Post Alexander, Atlanta, Ga., p. 24. Archived 2013-01-22 at archive.today
  3. ^ Goldsmith, Jill (February 25, 2021). "WarnerMedia Parent AT&T Sells DirecTV Stake To Private Equity Firm TPG". Deadline.
  4. ^ Hayes, Dade (August 2, 2021). "AT&T Completes DirecTV Spinoff; Satellite Operator Unites Its Internet-Delivered Bundles Under New Brand DirecTV Stream". Deadline Hollywood.
  5. ^ U-verse TV Timeline Archived September 23, 2015, at the Wayback Machine
  6. ^ U-verse Update: 3Q12 Archived August 10, 2012, at the Wayback Machine
  7. ^ Bode, Karl (August 14, 2015). "AT&T Outlines the Changes DirecTV (and U-Verse) Users Will See". DSL Reports. Retrieved August 15, 2015.
  8. ^ Baumgartner, Jeff (August 17, 2015). "AT&T to Put 'Genie' Into U-Verse's Bottle". MultiChannel News. Retrieved April 24, 2022.
  9. ^ Moritz, Scott (February 16, 2016). "AT&T Takes U-Turn on U-Verse as It Pushes Users Toward DirecTV". Bloomberg. Retrieved February 16, 2016.
  10. ^ Baumgarnter, Jeff (February 16, 2016). "AT&T Stops Making U-verse TV Boxes: Report". MultiChannel News. Retrieved April 24, 2022.
  11. ^ Sawers, Paul (May 16, 2016). "AT&T acquires OTT video platform Quickplay ahead of DirecTV streaming service launch this year". Venture Beat. Retrieved May 16, 2016.
  12. ^ Bode, Karl (September 19, 2016). "AT&T is Getting Rid of the U-Verse Brand". DSL Reports. Retrieved September 19, 2016.
  13. ^ Arnason, Bernie (September 19, 2016). "AT&T Says Goodbye to U-verse". Telecompetitor.com. Retrieved September 19, 2016.
  14. ^ Farrell, Mike (September 20, 2016). "AT&T Readies U-verse Brand for Ether". MultiChannel News. Retrieved September 20, 2016.
  15. ^ "AT&T's New Online TV Service Looks a Lot Like Current Offerings". Bloomberg.com. 19 August 2019. Retrieved 2019-08-30.
  16. ^ Newman, Jared (2019-08-19). "AT&T TV is here, but cord cutters should read the fine print before signing up". Fast Company. Retrieved 2019-08-30.
  17. ^ Blumenthal, Eli. "What is AT&T TV? Here's what we know now". CNET. Retrieved 2019-07-31.
  18. ^ "AT&T Stops Selling U-verse TV". TV Answer Man. 3 April 2020. Retrieved 2021-07-20.
  19. ^ Swann, Phillip (2020-09-25). "Updated: AT&T Says You Can Now Order U-verse (Sort Of)". TV Answer Man. Retrieved 2021-07-20.
  20. ^ AT&T U-verse Total Home DVR
  21. ^ "Hallmark Channels Go Dark On AT&T U-verse". Multichannel News. September 1, 2010. Retrieved October 3, 2015.
  22. ^ Steinberg, Brian (July 22, 2015). "Hallmark Channel Returns to U-verse After Nearly Five Years". Variety. Retrieved January 3, 2016.
  23. ^ "Univision signs deal to launch cable networks on AT&T U-verse". Media Moves. May 11, 2012. Retrieved October 3, 2015.
  24. ^ "UPDATE: Rainbow And AT&T Ink New Deal, 'Mad Men' Season Saved On AT&T U-Verse". Deadline Hollywood. July 2010. Retrieved October 3, 2015.
  25. ^ "AT&T's U-verse Drops Food Network, HGTV and Other Scrippy-s Networks". Chicago Tribune. November 5, 2010. Retrieved October 3, 2015.
  26. ^ "Food Network, HGTV, Back on U-verse". Chicago Tribune. November 7, 2010. Retrieved October 3, 2015.
  27. ^ "AT&T U-verse, Scripps Reconnect on Carriage Contract". Multichannel News. November 7, 2010. Retrieved October 3, 2015.
  28. ^ "AT&T & Scripps Networks Reach Agreement". Deadline Hollywood. November 2010. Archived from the original on November 13, 2010. Retrieved October 3, 2015.
  29. ^ "Longhorn Network hooks U-verse". KXAN.com. September 4, 2012. Archived from the original on 2013-03-08. Retrieved October 3, 2015.
  30. ^ Farrell, Mike (January 15, 2013). "Disney Strikes U-Verse Carriage Deal". Broadcasting & Cable. Retrieved January 15, 2013.
  31. ^ Littleton, Cynthia (October 26, 2015). "AT&T Sets U-verse, DirecTV Carriage Deal with Tribune Stations, WGN America". Variety. Retrieved October 27, 2015.
  32. ^ Lieberman, David (March 4, 2016). "Univision Charges AT&T With "Redlining" As Programming Goes Dark On U-verse". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved March 4, 2016.
  33. ^ Littleton, Cynthia (March 4, 2016). "Univision Blasts 'Discriminatory Behavior' as Stations Go Dark on AT&T's U-verse". Variety. Retrieved March 4, 2016.
  34. ^ Szalai, Georg (March 4, 2016). "Univision Goes Dark on AT&T U-verse, Accuses Telecom of "Discriminatory Behavior"". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved March 4, 2016.
  35. ^ Ramos, John (March 5, 2016). "AT&T, Univision Communications fail to reach U-Verse distribution deal". Hints News Network. Archived from the original on October 18, 2017. Retrieved March 6, 2016.
  36. ^ Eggerton, John (March 24, 2016). "All Univision Content Restored to U-Verse, For Now". MultiChannel News. Retrieved March 24, 2016.
  37. ^ Eggerton, John (March 24, 2016). "All Univision Content Restored to U-Verse, For Now". Broadcasting & Cable. Retrieved March 24, 2016.
  38. ^ Villarreal, Yvonne (March 24, 2016). "Univision restores UniMas and Galavision to AT&T's U-verse as negotiations continue". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved March 24, 2016.
  39. ^ Lieberman, David (March 24, 2016). "Univision Networks Return To AT&T's U-verse While They "Finalize" Carriage Deal". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved March 24, 2016.
[edit]
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