Important: AT&T TV is no longer available and has been replaced with DirecTV Stream. Check out our DirecTV Stream section for updated information on this live TV service, including the channel lineup and our review.
AT&T TV subscribers can watch on up to twenty devices at the same time, but only when they are at home. This is a fairly generous number of simultaneous streams for a live TV streaming service, so subscribers should not encounter any major issues when attempting to stream on multiple devices. However, there are some caveats to be aware of when accessing AT&T TV on multiple devices, and especially when away from home.
The number of streams available to a subscriber can be as important as the price of a subscription or the channels included. While this is less of a problem when a subscription is only used by one or two people, the more people sharing a subscription, the more likely issues will be encountered. Due to this, understanding a service’s simultaneous streams policy and how many can watch at the same time is a good way to ensure there are no major interruptions when streaming live TV or on demand content.
AT&T TV has gone through a number of changes over the years. Originally DirecTV Now and then AT&T TV Now, AT&T eventually merged AT&T TV Now with its AT&T TV service that launched in March 2020. As a result, AT&T TV now offers both long-term streaming live TV packages and no-contract plans. At the time, the merging of the two services did not result in any meaningful change to the number of available streams, but AT&T has made some changes since then.
20 streams, but only at home
Regardless of the AT&T TV plan subscribers can stream on up to twenty devices at the same time. However, this is only when accessing the service at home. When away from home, AT&T subscribers can only stream on up to three devices at the same time.
It is also worth noting that these are maximum limits. Both home and out-of-home streams all count towards the same totals, so using streams away from home will count towards the at-home limit. The opposite is likely to be true as well, meaning a maximum of up to three streams are available when away from home, depending on how many are being used at home at the same time.
Another limitation to be aware of is that AT&T TV does not distinguish between live TV and on demand content. In terms of the number of devices, it does not matter whether watching live TV, on demand videos, or even recorded content. Anything that is being streamed through AT&T TV counts as a used stream.
Some channels limited to three streams
There are some additional restrictions with the twenty device limit. The main one being that not all channels can be streamed on so many devices at the same time. Compared to the others, these channels are limited to just three devices. Again, this is a maximum and it is irrespective of whether at home or away from home.
Channels limited to a maximum of 3 streams:
- Big Ten Network
- Fox News
- Fox Business
- FS
- FS2
- Fox Deportes
- Fox local channels
- Starz
- NHL Network
- Showtime
As an extension of this point, AT&T TV also supports TV Everywhere. This features allows subscribers to log in to many third-party apps to watch shows and movies directly through the network. However, AT&T TV’s simultaneous streams policy does not extend to TV Everywhere apps.
As these are third-party apps, they will impose their own restrictions on how many devices can access and stream at the same time. In instances like this, AT&T subscribers will need to refer to the individual network for specific restrictions on the number of streams.
AT&T TV simultaneous streams summary
Subscribers can stream AT&T TV on up to twenty devices at the same time, but only when they are at home. This simultaneous streams limitation is irrespective of the plan, channel lineup, or whether signed up to a two-year or no-contract plan. When away from home, the number of devices that can watch at the same time is limited to three.
Besides the away from home restriction, a number of channels are also limited to only three devices at the same, whether at home or away from home. This mainly applies to Fox channels and premium networks, although others may also be limited in the same way.
Updated February 24
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