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AT&T to Launch Netflix Competitor Next Year

The new service will bundle HBO shows with select films and TV franchises from Warner Media. But expect it to cost more than the $15 monthly subscription to the current HBO Now streaming service.

 & Michael Kan Principal Reporter

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AT&T will make a run at Netflix with a new streaming service that'll feature HBO and other media properties acquired in the Time Warner merger.

The unnamed streaming service will launch next year in the fourth quarter, WarnerMedia CEO John Stankey said on Wednesday. "This is another benefit of the AT&T/Time Warner merger, and we are committed to launching a compelling and competitive product," he said in a statement.

The new service will be anchored by HBO as the lead brand, but also host films and TV franchises from WarnerMedia, which owns Warner Bros., Stankey told CNBC in a taped appearance. So far, AT&T is remaining mum on pricing, but Stankey said it'll be more expensive than WarnerMedia's existing HBO Now streaming service, which goes for $15 a month.

"You can buy HBO separately, and that will still continue to be the case," he added.

In his statement, Stankey signaled that he wants third-party titles on the platform, too. "We expect to create such a compelling product that it will help distributors increase consumer penetration of their current packages and help us successfully reach more customers," he said in his statement.

When the service goes live, it'll face some stiff competition. Disney is also preparing to launch its own streaming service, which is reportedly set to arrive in fall 2019. Meanwhile, Netflix continues to add millions of new subscribers each quarter and has budgeted about $8 billion this year for new content.

To compete, Stankey said back in June he was going to boost funding to HBO's original-programming budget, some of which will go toward a new Game of Thrones spin-off series. Company subsidiary Warner Bros. also recently launched a $7.99-a-month comic-related streaming service called DC Universe.

Why doesn't AT&T simply funnel more money into HBO's existing streaming service? Stankey told CNBC the HBO brand offers a particular type of content. "This is a new bundle. It's a way to think about a bundle… and how to get the right brands together in an on-demand world."

Right after the Time Warner merger, AT&T launched a separate streaming service called WatchTV, which is designed for smartphone users and features over 30 live channels. It costs $15 per month as a standalone service.

About Our Expert

Michael Kan

Michael Kan

Principal Reporter

My Experience

I've been a journalist for over 15 years. I got my start as a schools and cities reporter in Kansas City and joined PCMag in 2017, where I cover satellite internet services, cybersecurity, PC hardware, and more. I'm currently based in San Francisco, but previously spent over five years in China, covering the country's technology sector.

Since 2020, I've covered the launch and explosive growth of SpaceX's Starlink satellite internet service, writing 600+ stories on availability and feature launches, but also the regulatory battles over the expansion of satellite constellations, fights with rival providers like AST SpaceMobile and Amazon, and the effort to expand into satellite-based mobile service. I've combed through FCC filings for the latest news and driven to remote corners of California to test Starlink's cellular service.

I also cover cyber threats, from ransomware gangs to the emergence of AI-based malware. In 2024 and 2025, the FTC forced Avast to pay consumers $16.5 million for secretly harvesting and selling their personal information to third-party clients, as revealed in my joint investigation with Motherboard.

I also cover the PC graphics card market. Pandemic-era shortages led me to camp out in front of a Best Buy to get an RTX 3000. I'm now following how the AI-driven memory shortage is impacting the entire consumer electronics market. I'm always eager to learn more, so please jump in the comments with feedback and send me tips.

The Best Tech I've Had:

  • My first video game console: a Nintendo Famicom
  • I loved my Sega Saturn despite PlayStation's popularity.
  • The iPod Video I received as a gift in college
  • Xbox 360 FTW
  • The Galaxy Nexus was the first smartphone I was proud to own.
  • The PC desktop I built in 2013, which still works to this day.

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