AT&T Enables Two HD Streams for U-verse

AT&T Inc. today confirmed release of its U-verse IPTV service, which will support concurrent high-definition (HD) video streams to consumer homes, previously the key shortcoming of the service.

While other telco TV offerings, such as Verizon Communications Inc.’s FiOS supported multiple concurrent HD streams, U-verse did not. That means, for example, a subscriber could view one HD feed, but not record a second on a DVR at the same time.

The ability to support two HD streams simultaneously is critical to the success of U-verse, considering the ongoing, industry-wide competition to provide HD programming. Combine that with the proliferation of DVR’s promise of whole-home DVR services and the stakes are high.

Some U-verse customers expressed frustration at the lack of support for two concurrent HD streams, while some telco TV service seekers looked elsewhere.

Further upping the ante is Verizon’s plan to compete head-to-head with AT&T in certain markets, adding another powerful player to the list of cable giants and satellite-based providers to compete with.

“We've begun rolling out the ability to watch or record two HD programs simultaneously,” said an AT&T spokesperson, who added the effort began earlier this quarter. The effort required changes in the company’s video hub offices and in provisioning systems. The company would not say what markets have the capability, nor provide additional detail.

With the spread of this capability quietly underway, another top priority for AT&T will be to enable whole-home DVR service, which it has reported will be deployed in the second half of this year.

Multi-room DVR services enable consumers to view content recorded in one room, throughout the house, without every other networked set requiring a DVR. At NXTcomm last week, Entone Inc. launched support for it on their in-home video gateways, which obviate the need for set-top boxes.

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