AT&T's DirecTV Now may include free Apple TV, Fire TV Stick
But a document leak hints that AT&T's upcoming streaming video service may also have one confusing caveat.
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Apple TV streaming devices may be included with DirecTV's virtual TV service as a perk for joining.
AT&T may be hoping a free Apple TV or Amazon Fire TV stick may be enough to get you to sign up for its upcoming DirecTV Now streaming video service.
The telecom giant could offer the streaming devices to people who subscribe to the service, according to a Variety report Sunday based on leaked customer-support documents. Consumers who commit to being subscribers for at least three months will be able to get a free Apple TV; those who pay for a single month earn a free Fire TV Stick.
The latest Apple TV starts at $149, while Fire TV Stick costs $40.
The service may also include channels from previously unannounced companies like Fox , CBS and Univision.
AT&T, Fox, CBS and Apple declined to comment. Representatives from Univision and Amazon didn't respond to messages seeking comment. (CBS owns CNET.)
DirecTV Now is slated to launch by the end of the year. It will cost $35 a month and boast more than 100 channels, AT&T CEO Randall Stephenson said at a conference last month.
The report, which may not accurately characterize what DirecTV Now will look like at launch, also indicated that DirecTV Now may have some confusing limits.
One stipulation may prevent members from streaming some local TV stations on their televisions (using just the kind of devices that AT&T may be aiming to give away). The docs suggest some local networks' viewing may be limited to computers and mobile devices like phones and tablets .
Update, 1:20 p.m. ET: Adds Apple TV and Fire TV Stick retail prices.