AT&T's U-Verse trumpets second quarter gains, new features while sneaking in more HD streams

Judging by its own report, AT&T is proud to have grown U-Verse to 2.5 million TV customers while adding features like My Multiview, which lets users plug in four channels of their choice to watch at once, and the new Chicago Cubs branded Multiview app that enables local fans to view the main broadcast plus three of any six additional camera angles on one screen. But one of the biggest recent additions wasn't mentioned in these press releases, as it's quietly strengthened one of the weaknesses we've complained about most, increasing from two simultaneous HD streams per household to 3 (or 4, as pictured above by U-VerseUsers forum poster txskeets.) VP Jeff Weber tells us the upgrade covers the overwhelming majority of users, so watching ESPN in one room, Shark Week in another and DVRing iCarly all in high definition should be no problem now. We're still waiting to hear specifics about Xbox 360 and Windows Media Center tie-ins, but we'll make do with this item being checked off of the list for now.

[MrMichael Posted Aug 6th 2010 2:53PM]

Are the HD streams still an incredibly compressed mess?

[muzzymate Posted Aug 6th 2010 3:07PM]

@MrMichael - Yep and I don't understand it either. Even at the rates they pump out, I've seen such better MPEG4 1080p content. Love everything about Uverse except the HD quality.

[Meekermoloko Posted Aug 6th 2010 5:04PM]

@MrMichael

Yeah ... and it really is annoying. I don't need any of this extra stuff.
I want to watch camera movement on my TV without it going to crap. The picture is fine if the camera or the actors don't move. Bah.

I don't even have more than one HD stream.

I don't recommend anyone getting U-Verse until they can send a decent picture. I get better picture from Netflix streaming and OTA ... so why should I keep U-Verse TV?

[morphinapg Posted Aug 6th 2010 3:15PM]

Mine still says 2SD / 2HD :(

Normally it's enough, but occasionally there's a conflict.

[Meekermoloko Posted Aug 6th 2010 5:06PM]

@morphinapg

Mine is 3 SD / 1 HD ... so you have it good.

At least I got six months of free HD for now ... but then again, they are starting to make HD free everywhere, so it's not a big deal.

[morphinapg Posted Aug 6th 2010 6:01PM]

@Meekermoloko FREE??? What? I pay $10/month for HD. There weren't any free HD deals going on when we signed up just a few weeks ago.

[Meekermoloko Posted Aug 6th 2010 10:32PM]

@morphinapg

I got a deal because I can't get 2 HD streams in my area for some reason. I only have one HD TV right now, but it would be nice to record two HD channels at the same time.

[muzzymate Posted Aug 6th 2010 3:51PM]

Drats, still at:

WAN: 1 SD / 3 HD
Ingress: 2 SD / 2 HD
Egress: 1 SD / 2 HD

Would love to get the 0/4, 1/3, 1/2 profiles

[Jodosh Posted Aug 6th 2010 4:46PM]

I will have to check when I get home. I am excied about this (although in the year we have had uverse the 2hd limit has been a problem only once)

anyone care to explain what the 3 different profiles refer to?

[kcmurphy88 Posted Aug 8th 2010 1:02PM]

I don't get it. Why would anyone put up with this when DirecTV, Dish, or your local cable company offers far better service? I live in an AT&T territory, but get my TV from DirecTV and my internet from the cable company. DIrecTV gives you 2 HD streams per DVR and up to maybe 8 boxes per house, all sharing content, all at much higher bit rates.

I don't get it. How does AT&T fool so many people into buying an inferior service?