DirecTV to Launch Android TV-Based OTT Set-Top Box

Janko Roettgers, reporting for Variety: AT&T's DirecTV is getting ready to embrace internet-based content delivery beyond its DirecTV Now service: The company is about to introduce a new TV set-top box that's based on Google's Android TV platform and ditches satellite connectivity for over-the-top streaming, according to a new FCC filing. The new device, which goes by the model number C71KW-400, is being described by these documents as "the new AT&T/DirecTV Wireless 4K OTT Client." A user manual published as part of the filings specifies that the device won't be able to interact with any of DirecTV's existing Genie hardware, and hints at a future hardware product called HS27. Helpfully, the manual also supplies a definition of OTT as "the delivery of video via the internet directly into user-connected devices, allowing access to services anywhere, anytime, on any device." The manual also reveals that the set-top will shop with a voice remote with integrated touch pad, and photos show that it has Ethernet, digital audio, HDMI and USB ports, but no antenna connectivity -- meaning that any and all programming will indeed come over the internet.

...and DirecTV gives up

[turkeydance]

which sets up for a buy-out

Re:

[sims 2]

Well since it's android you can probably sideload kodi on the stock version.

What?

[XSportSeeker]

"We won't let you cut the cord you damn ex-costumers, we'll cut the cord ourselves". o_O

USB antenna in the works as an addon?

[Joe_Dragon]

USB antenna in the works as an addon?

OTT Defination

[Duckz]

OTT means "Over The Top". Netflix is a provider of OTT services. As is DirecTV Now. DirecTV requires a satellite, so it's using in house wiring rather than going Over The Top of existing wiring.

Silly.

[Anonymous Coward]

Good luck delivering massive quantities of 4K TV over metered, data-limited lines that most of us are getting now.

Re:

[CaptSlaq]

Good luck delivering massive quantities of 4K TV over metered, data-limited lines that most of us are getting now.

Implying this is a bug...

Re:

[Registered Coward v2]

Good luck delivering massive quantities of 4K TV over metered, data-limited lines that most of us are getting now.

Implying this is a bug...

If they follow their Uverse model there will be no data cap if you get internet plus DirectTV from them; or it will be high enough that 99% of the users will never hit it. That seems to be the new model, at least where I am. Even Xfinity has a 1TB cap which pretty much covers a lot of streaming, for current video. As for 4K, I would be not surprised if tehy "optimize" the data stream to reduce its size while not"impacting" the picture quality; since most of their subscribers won't notice the difference or e

Re:

[SScorpio]

Or like Uverse their TV streams remain in their network and don't count as data. I'm wondering if this is just a re-branding of Uverse, and tossing the old WinCE STBs for new cheap Android boxes.

A 4K HEVC stream is also really small.

Re:

[Anonymous Coward]

Good luck delivering massive quantities of 4K TV over metered, data-limited lines that most of us are getting now.

Thats the really insidious part. I currently have DirecTV and Uverse. When I log into my Uverse account, there is a section that displays your bandwidth usage and your cap. However, since I'm a customer of DirecTV it shows that I have unlimited bandwidth. This type of bundling shouldn't be legal.

No Antenna - no problem

[carlhirsch]

HDHomerun devices are very mature at this point. Integration with the "Google Channels" API just got support for subtitles.

This device will likely support HDHomerun as a OTA tuner out of the box.

Will they include a DVR?

[Registered Coward v2]

DirectTVNow has teased a cloud DVR is coming but has not yet made it available beyond a limited beta test. I suspect they want to unify their DirectTV, DirectTVNow and Uverse into a single offering; right now the lack of a DVR makes DTVNow less than compelling for me. The 4 day look back doesn't correspond to my viewing habits but add a DVR, especially a cloud one that allows viewing anywhere, and DTVNow becomes interesting; especially if the combine the Uverse channel list with DTV's resulting in a border

So what?

[OneHundredAndTen]

The bottom line is still the same: you have to pay for tens of channels in order to watch the three or four that you are interested in. Allow me to get those, just those, at a reasonable price (i.e. far less than what you charge me for those tens of channels that I am not at all interested in) and I might be tempted. Otherwise, forget it.

Fuck Comcast

[iamacat]

They still only offer TV on 80s style boxes and charge extra for HD. And refuse to sell good standalone internet without TV. That in the heart of Sillicon Valley, where people are painfully aware of the gap between what they are getting and what's possible in 2017. We need some hybrid middle range service between WiFi and cellular so that local companies can offer Internet service for a few blocks without breaking their backs on equipment.

This vs. Roku?

[sremick]

Why would I or anyone else want to buy this one-trick-pony device versus DirecTV Now running on a Roku?

Re:

[OYAHHH]

They will not and it will fail.