AT&T WatchTV Review 2019

Posted by Rachel Oaks | Jul 18, 2019 | Streaming Review

Data effective 5/28/19. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change.

The bottom line

If you want the cheapest way to watch TV—and you won’t miss sports channels—AT&T WatchTV is what you need. It has both live and on-demand TV, so you can catch the newest shows while still always having something to watch.

With this service, you’ll get some of your favorite cable channels for less than Netflix’s premium plan.

AT&T WatchTV promotion

Want to get AT&T WatchTV for free? Yeah, that sounds like an awesome deal to us, too.
Sign up for the phone services AT&T Unlimited &More SM or AT&T Unlimited &MoreSM Premium, and your subscription to AT&T WatchTV comes included. Plus, you can stream it without eating up your allotted data because you’re getting both services together. Do you already have the phone plans mentioned above? Then head over to AT&T WatchTV and activate your account for no extra charge.

AT&T WatchTV plan

Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change.

Stream live TV for cheap

AT&T WatchTV comes with just one plan. It’s affordable and an excellent choice for someone who wants even a handful of the channels it offers.

But you’ll want to make sure you’ve got free time when your favorite shows air—AT&T Watch TV doesn’t have a cloud DVR to record episodes for later. At least its 15,000 on-demand shows make up for that a little.

Overall, AT&T WatchTV is best for someone who doesn’t share their streaming services, since only one person can stream at a time. (This writer, being single, feels vindicated in not paying for streams they don’t use.)

AT&T WatchTV channels and shows

While AT&T WatchTV doesn’t have any sports channels (unless you count MOTOR TREND), there are still 41 other live channels to check out.

The channel lineup is mostly entertainment focused, with plenty of lifestyle and family channels too. And if you’re ever in the mood for something less fluffy, there’s also a sprinkling of news channels.

AT&T WatchTV livestreaming TV channels

On-demand shows and movies

On top of all these channels, AT&T WatchTV offers 15,000 on-demand shows and movies.

Not all of the on-demand series include every episode, so it’s not ideal for binge-watching. And the movies aren’t exactly straight from the movie theater.

But if you’re looking to put on an episode of your favorite reality TV series, be it Hoarders or Say Yes to the Dress, AT&T WatchTV has you covered.

Watch AT&T WatchTV on demand

Local channels

AT&T WatchTV doesn’t offer local channels. Don’t be too bummed about this—it’s part of the reason it’s so affordable.

Luckily, since you’re a person and not a TV provider, you can get local TV for cheap. All you need is an over-the-air (OTA) TV antenna. We explain more in “What is OTA TV?”—if you’ve used rabbit ear antenna, you probably already get the gist.

Channel add-ons

While we like AT&T WatchTV’s basic price, the add-ons aren’t all sunshine and roses. This service charges top dollar for premium channels—while providers like Hulu + Live TV offer them at $3–$5 less per month.

• HBO® for $17.99/mo.
• CINEMAX® for $13.99/mo.
• SHOWTIME® for $13.99/mo.
• STARZ® for $13.99/mo.

But if you have the AT&T Unlimited &More Premium phone plan, you can choose one premium channel to come included at no extra charge. This is a great way to snag the hot movies and full on-demand series that AT&T Watch TV’s basic plan lacks.

Oh, and heads up—if you want to stream HBO® but don’t have the premium phone plan, check out HBO NOW. It’s HBO’s official streaming service, and it costs only $14.99 per month.

Combine AT&T WatchTV with another streaming service

If you’re a sports fan, don’t rule out AT&T WatchTV just yet. You can enjoy all the entertainment channels of AT&T WatchTV and supplement sports from other streaming services instead.

AT&T WatchTV specs and features

Although AT&T’s price tag is excellent, it skimps on a lot of the features that make streaming live TV so convenient.

Cloud DVR

Unlike many streaming services, AT&T WatchTV doesn’t have a cloud DVR. You’ll either need to take advantage of its on-demand options or catch the show you’re following live.

Multiple streams

Unfortunately, AT&T WatchTV lets you stream only one show at a time. That works fine if you’re just one person, but AT&T WatchTV probably isn’t the best streaming solution for families.

Still, if you want to make AT&T WatchTV work for two people, it’s not too hard. With the tiny price point of $15 per month, you could buy two subscriptions for less than most live TV streaming services charge for one package.

Compatible streaming devices

While AT&T WatchTV has a lot to offer in terms of price and channels, it doesn’t work on some of the most popular streaming devices Roku fans in particular will be disappointed to find they don’t have an AT&T WatchTV app.

Here is the short list of streaming devices that support AT&T WatchTV:

• • Amazon Fire TV
  • Android mobile
  • Apple TV
  • Chromecast
  • iOS mobile

Stream AT&T WatchTV

Video quality

Like most streaming service providers, live shows on AT&T WatchTV will play in High Definition at 720p. That’s higher than DVD quality (480p) but not as high as full HD (1080p) or 4K Ultra HD.

Adam Ruins Everything from truTV streaming on 60 Mbps download speeds.

Interface

AT&T WatchTV’s interface is the same as DIRECTV NOW’s, another AT&T streaming live TV service. In general, we’re not huge fans of DIRECTV NOW because it’s expensive, but we do love the user-friendly interface.

On the Watch Now page, AT&T WatchTV serves up shows playing now, the last thing you watched, and on-demand recommendations. If you’re not in the mood for channel surfing, this is a comfortable sandy beach to chill out on.

Use My Library to keep track of the shows you’ve bookmarked to watch later. This is a great way to load up new shows to marathon or old favorites you always want handy.

The Discover page is all about on-demand shows and movies. It could use a few more genre subsections (like action and kids) to make browsing easier, but it has enough categories to get you started.

Finally, Guide lists all the shows playing right now—and up to four days in the future. So while you can’t schedule anything for a cloud DVR recording, at least you’ll know when to plunk down in front of the TV.

A show you’re watching will continue to play in the lower right corner while you browse the site.

Our final take

If you like entertainment and lifestyle TV, AT&T WatchTV could be the right fit for you.

Sure, you’ll need Amazon Fire TV or Apple TV to watch on your big screen, and you’ve only got one stream. But AT&T WatchTV is an affordable way to pass the time. And sometimes cheap is just better.

Try out AT&T WatchTV

AT&T WatchTV FAQ

What is AT&T WatchTV?

AT&T WatchTV is a live TV streaming service that offers entertainment, lifestyle, and family channels. You can play shows on your computer or compatible streaming device using the internet.

How do I watch AT&T WatchTV on Roku?

Unfortunately, Roku doesn’t support AT&T WatchTV at this time. We’ll keep you updated if it becomes available.

How do I get AT&T WatchTV on Chromecast?

While AT&T WatchTV doesn’t have an app on Chromecast, you can cast the service from your phone or computer to your TV and watch it there.

What apps can I use to watch TV on AT&T phones?

There are all sorts of live TV streaming services that work on AT&T phones. But if you have an AT&T Unlimited &More plan, you get a free subscription to AT&T WatchTV. You only need to send a text to activate your account.

How do I create a channel lineup on AT&T WatchTV of only channels I watch?

Mark all of your favorite channels with a heart in the Guide. Then you can go to the Favorites tab to see what only those channels are playing.