AT&T launched its new streaming service DirecTV Now last month, but it appears to still be working out some of the kinks in the system.
DirecTV Now subscribers have been complaining on social media in recent days about problems with the service using #QP1502, a nod to an error message some viewers have run into.
#qp1502 filing a complaint with the federal gov't about this, other users should as well https://t.co/0ebeJHX6sw #directvnow
— Dennis Hendrickson (@denhendrickson) December 19, 2016
@DIRECTVNowHelp get error #QP1502 every night using #AppleTV and no response from #customerservice
— RJAnderson (@rjanderson123) December 10, 2016
We reached out to AT&T, and the company issued the following statement: “With any new technology there are going to be fixes that need to be made. While we understand we still have work to do, overall feedback on DirecTV Now has been very positive. In this instance, only a limited amount of customers are affected and we are working quickly to address.”
DirecTV Now has been responding to frustrated customers on social media, saying the company is aware of the issues and is working on it.
Hi Richared. This is a known issue that is being investigated further. We do appreciate your patience! Thanks! ^PheG
— DIRECTV NOW Help (@DIRECTVNowHelp) December 12, 2016
DirecTV Now is aimed at cord cutters and people who either can’t afford cable television or don’t want to be locked into restrictive contracts. The service combines live television from networks like Fox, NBC, ESPN and many others, with a full complement of programs available on demand.
DirecTV Now has several packages to choose from, starting with a $35 per month package that includes more than 60 channels. Users have three other packages to choose from, with the most robust offering coming in at $70 per month for more than 120 channels. Users have the option to add premium networks like HBO and Cinemax for $5 per month.
Convenience is at the forefront of the service, and the internal motto for DirecTV Now is “rules free TV.” DirecTV Now doesn’t require a cable box or satellite, and it works across a variety of devices. It is free of long-term contracts, and users can shuffle between various packages when they want.
“Consumers want more TV freedom,” Brad Bentley, chief marketing officer for AT&T, said at the launch event. “They want all that great content and they want it everywhere, and they don’t want limitations around that content, and they want great value.”
With DirecTV Now, AT&T is going after disillusioned cable customers — AT&T also has the most pay TV subscribers — while simultaneously staking its claim for dominance in the crowded streaming arena. AT&T appears ready to invest in original programming to compete with streaming heavyweights like Netflix and Amazon. At the launch event last month, AT&T announced a Taylor Swift documentary series as well as a partnership with actress Reese Witherspoon called Hello Sunshine that focuses on content created by women and for women.
