Free content available for our video customers during the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic

@gobarb26

Pay Per View (PPV)/rentals are still paid content. Having a couple (give or take) of them equals the value of a pack of premium movie channels. So extending some extra free previews is more affordable for the company, plus it gives a lot more content for the customer.

Since a lot of movies have switched from theatre to PPV because of Covid-19, or bypassed theatre completely, they are still making back the investment of making those movies in the first place. The normal order is Theatre to PPV to Movie premiums > and finally to any other network.

So AT&T has made accommodations for their different TV platforms. But in the end they are still a business, not a charity. So giving away content just because you cannot afford it, would not be a wise decision on their part.

https://about.att.com/pages/COVID-19.html

March 24, 2020

Movies and television have always been a welcome escape in difficult times. With many people staying at home, we’re giving our video customers additional content at no cost during this time.

We’ll kick things off by providing an extended complimentary preview of SHOWTIME for our DIRECTV and U-verse customers starting March 20 until March 26 (if SHOWTIME isn’t part of their current video package). Starting March 26-April 2, DIRECTV and U-verse customers will get a complimentary preview of Starz. In the coming weeks, we’ll offer additional previews of premium channels, while also expanding to include our AT&T TV and AT&T TV NOW customers:

EPIX: 4/2-4/16

HBO and Cinemax: 4/17-4/20

@Jojobeme99

Premium channels get the big new movies when they come out of theatre (properly come out, not the early transfer they are doing right now with Covid-19). So they work with a library of big blockbusters and some classics to give variety. I like the occasional movie myself, but I use them more for their original series.

As for the older classics. Check the Encore channels (part of Starz, but has their own pack, or in the Ultimate package). There is also the Movies Extra Pack (564 thru 573), a smaller cost option that has a variety of other content.

Though the Marx Brothers are the greats of their time, starting many of the running gags we have now, they don't necessarily speak to newer audiences. Especially since everything has background music now, and even I growing up on more classic content found it a bit jarring going back and watching a Marx Brother's movie and having so much silence. But you are most likely to find them on Encore or the Movies Extra Pack as opposed to others.

As you say you got DirecTV a couple months ago, remember those premium packs that are free for the 1st 3 months are roll to cost. So you call and remove when you are done. Hold times are high right now because due to Covid-19 stay at home orders, many call centers are closed and additional employees are on extended leave. A note though, assuming you have a Genie or regular HDDVR, anything you record from the satellite channels (not On Demand) stays until you delete. Is a way to build up a backup library before you remove any of them.

@Juniper - You are mixing the posts of at least a couple of different posts on this reply.

However, as to "Though the Marx Brothers are the greats of their time, starting many of the running gags we have now, they don't necessarily speak to newer audiences. Especially since everything has background music now, and even I growing up on more classic content found it a bit jarring going back and watching a Marx Brother's movie and having so much silence."

this section of your comment interests me because I absolutely HATE background music! I hate it in stores, I hate it in the gym and I hate it in instructional videos and I hate it on TV programs. In fact, I recently sent a note to (I think) Nature on PBS complaining of the unnecessary background music that made it difficult to understand dialog in certain places.

It's sad how many people can't seem to be alone with their thoughts any longer and need constant background distraction. Point of fact, there was a scientific study where people were asked whether they would prefer to remain in a silent room for 15 minutes or get an electric shock and be allowed to leave. A majority of people chose the electric shock option!

Too many people are distracted in life, walking down the street messing with their cellphones, oblivious to the world around them or out in nature on a hiking trail but having to listen to grating top40 pop songs or trying to text while driving.

People need to focus. Lack of focus is one of the (Edited per community guidelines) causes as to why so many things in our society are designed poorly or don't work right. If I were the owner of a company, I would not allow anyone to listen to music or do anything with the cellphones that was not needed for the work they were hired to do.

Follow the link in the orange box at the top of this page for all current information from AT&T. Additional programming has been made available along with premium channels.

@bearsie

Here are the free channels and when they are available

https://about.att.com/pages/COVID-19.html

March 24, 2020

Movies and television have always been a welcome escape in difficult times. With many people staying at home, we’re giving our video customers additional content at no cost during this time.

We’ll kick things off by providing an extended complimentary preview of SHOWTIME for our DIRECTV and U-verse customers starting March 20 until March 26 (if SHOWTIME isn’t part of their current video package). Starting March 26-April 2, DIRECTV and U-verse customers will get a complimentary preview of Starz. In the coming weeks, we’ll offer additional previews of premium channels, while also expanding to include our AT&T TV and AT&T TV NOW customers:

EPIX: 4/2-4/16

HBO and Cinemax: 4/17-4/20

You misunderstand the free movies.

PPVs are in the 100s. PPV On Demand is listed as 1100 for all.

SyFy on 244 has SyFy 1244. So any channel with an On Demand library is free as you would already have the channel in your package, just add a 1 in front. Also in the guide the network shows a + in the box, letting you know which ones have an On Demand library.

https://about.att.com/pages/COVID-19.html

March 24, 2020

Movies and television have always been a welcome escape in difficult times. With many people staying at home, we’re giving our video customers additional content at no cost during this time.

We’ll kick things off by providing an extended complimentary preview of SHOWTIME for our DIRECTV and U-verse customers starting March 20 until March 26 (if SHOWTIME isn’t part of their current video package). Starting March 26-April 2, DIRECTV and U-verse customers will get a complimentary preview of Starz. In the coming weeks, we’ll offer additional previews of premium channels, while also expanding to include our AT&T TV and AT&T TV NOW customers:

EPIX: 4/2-4/16

HBO and Cinemax: 4/17-4/20

Additional ways all video customers can access content during this time:

There were some free previews offered. See this for what and when: https://about.att.com/pages/COVID-19.html#consumers

If memory serves me, the free channels started around March 20 and were in place originally for 60 days but was expanded to 90 days which brings us to June 20.

Which channel are you referring to and what TV package do you pay for?

Thank you.

Thanks! Must of missed the email. The one above choice. Maybe this is just the universe's way of saying we don't need to binge watch the vet shows anymore lol