DirecTV Now has 200,000 subscribers in first month

PanARMENIAN.Net - DirecTV Now added over 200,000 subscribers in its first month on the market, AT&T said in a filing with the SEC on Friday, January 20, The Verge says.

That figure represents only paying subscribers, meaning people who signed up for a trial period and can still cancel aren’t included. The figure also cuts off at December 31, so it’s likely grown in the three weeks since.

It’s a pretty good start for AT&T’s TV streaming service and seems to indicate a faster rate of growth than some major channels — HBO, CBS, and Showtime — saw when they launched solo streaming services, The Verge says.

DirecTV Now may have seen unusually high sign-up figures thanks to the great promo deals AT&T was running, offering what’s now a $60 per month plan for only $35 per month to those who signed up right away; many also pre-paid for three months of service as part of an offer to get a free Apple TV.

People who took advantage of those deals also weren’t aware of the many, many problems that DirecTV Now would have. It’s been plagued with issues since launch, making the service unusable at times for many subscribers. In the long run, that could easily hurt sign ups if the situation doesn’t improve.