U-verse TV vs. DirecTV Stream

DirecTV and DirecTV Stream are currently the only TV services being sold.   UverseTV is no longer being offered.  Because of this, their On Demand choices are becoming a bit scarce BUT most programming can be streamed using the network's app.

DirecTV Stream is a STREAMING service like Netflix or Prime or Hulu which requires an internet connection and streaming device like a SmartTV, Roku, Firestick or gaming console.  A DirecTV Stream Device is available if the customer requires or prefers one.

ETA:  If you have more questions, try posting in the DIRECTV FORUM

If you like your U-verse TV, you can keep it.  For now.

Exactly what they said. For now, someone can keep U-Verse. I'd imagine there'll be a day when AT&T pulls the plug on U-Verse. However, nobody knows when, or if, that day will happen.

As far as DirecTV Stream, you don't *need* a special box, but you do need something to connect to the internet like a Chromecast, Roku or a game system. You can buy the DirecTV Stream boxes off eBay, although other devices might cost less money. If you get it through AT&T, I believe you need a contract. If you use your own device, no contract necessary.

As far as On Demand goes, it's my understanding that these options are becoming more and more limited across all providers. People would rather just use the channel apps which are available everywhere.

If you get it through AT&T, I believe you need a contract. If you use your own device, no contract necessary.

The option exists to buy the device $5/month or $120 up front.  The option exists to have a contract or not.  I think if you go for the contract, you don't explicitly pay a $120 fee for the device, it's included in the rate.  Be warned if you go the $5/month route and decide to terminate services before you've paid off the balance of the $120, the device is still yours and the balance becomes due immediately.

Not all options are available to all mechanisms of purchase (e.g. website vs AT&T Store), and I can't keep track of which ones can be done where.  I think (and therefore I am probably wrong) that the contract with box included option is only available at the stores at this time.

@Travis_Lloyd 

The way I read your OP, the question is about U-verse TV service still being around, and it is because we are still here talking about it. However what it is and what it does and how it works is irrelevant unless you are already an active subscriber.  If you don't already have it, you can no longer get it as was mentioned in prior replies. 

That was really the point of the question, whether or not "genuine" AT&T-branded Streaming On Demand was still available. It appears that the DirecTV Stream offering is now the only one available if you're a U-verse customer and want TV with your package. Thanks for definitively clearing that up (although it was not the answer I was hoping for).

I just fired up my U-verse app, went to On Demand and am watching an episode of a Starz series.   Is the breadth of content what it once was?  Probably not.  Is there still content?  Yes, pages and pages and pages of it.

@Travis_Lloyd 

The reason you can’t find a genuine Att branded streaming service is because Att sold all of its TV products to Directv, including U-verse by the way.  Att separated the original U-verse triple play bundle years ago into separate products.  You can’t have U-verse TV without Att Internet, but you can have Directv Stream with any ISP.  

I still feel I’m missing the point of your OP though.  If you’re really after on demand content, your Uverse TV subscription is very powerful as it can be used with source network apps to unlock content there using any steaming device or smart tv.  So I don’t really see a problem here other than the actual live TV package you want to subscribe to.  

"You can’t have U-verse TV without Att Internet,"

I thought you could. I've seen some posts from people who can get faster internet from elsewhere. Also, you can't get Stingray without AT&T internet, which seems to imply separation is possible.

And yeah, a lot of the on demand options (U-Verse channel 1 or the "on demand" button) aren't there anymore...but this is the case with a lot of providers. Use the apps. There's more there than was ever "on demand." Plus, you get full rewind/FF capabilities...which were never available with some shows.

@baseballisback The UVerse IPTV service can only be delivered over the ATT internet connection but that doesn’t mean a customer must also get ATT internet service, they can get any internet service available to them. When a customer gets both UVerse TV and ATT internet service, I believe a portion of that bandwidth gets dedicated to the IPTV service.