DirecTV Now is holding an invitation-only event on Monday, November 28 in New York City to “celebrate the launch” of the new OTT-TV service.
AT&T, which acquired DirecTV last summer, has said that it intends to launch the service sometime in November, with a starting price of $35 per month for a lineup of 100-plus channels.
RELATED: DirecTV Now to Cost $35 Per Month
While November 28 is the date of the event, it does not appear that it will also be the date that the service actually debuts on a commercial basis.
RELATED: DirecTV Now Coming in November
According to a company official, AT&T/DirecTV will be announcing details about the service at the event, including info on public availability.
Per the invitation, the press conference begins at 4 p.m. ET, with product demos to follow at 5 p.m. ET.
AT&T is also using the #MoreTVFreedom hashtag to promote the service.
DirecTV Now has not announced its initial channel lineup, though it has already notched carriage deals with several major programmers, including Viacom, NBCU, Discovery Communications, Scripps Networks, A+E Networks and Turner.
RELATED: Next TV Summit 2016: Goncalves: No Skinny Bundles for DirecTV Now
According to information that appeared temporarily on the DirecTV Now web site late last month, the offering will offer live local streams of ABC and NBC in select markets, with support for streaming platforms that include Amazon’s Fire TV box, fourth-gen Apple TV devices, Google Cast-based platforms, Web browsers and Android and iOS smartphones and tablets. Support will be “coming soon” to the Amazon Fire TV Stick and Chromecast streaming adapter, the site said at the time.
Variety reported earlier this month that DirecTV Now will look to drive subscriptions by giving away Apple TV and Fire TV Sticks to new customers. As part of the promo, DirecTV Now will offer an Apple TV device to customers who commit to three months, and a Fire TV Stick to those who pay for one month of service. Per documents obtained by the pub, DirecTV Now subs will only be able to stream the live local NBC feed in select markets on PCs and mobile devices. However, the lineup, and the limitations on access to certain channels, are subject to change as the service nears its commercial debut.
Given the initial price point and anticipated channe lineup, some analysts believe DirecTV Now will be operating on razor-thin margins at best.
RELATED: Moffett: DirecTV ‘Playing a Dangerous Game’ With OTT-TV Service
